Pumping the hula-hoop around your waist provides a workout for your core muscles. To keep the hoop circling around your waist, move your hips in a forward and backward motion -- a push-pull -- as opposed to a circling movement. Begin by standing in the middle of the hoop with your feet staggered, lead foot about 12 inches in front of the trail foot, and knees slightly bent. Grasp the hoop and bring it to waist height, propping it against your back. Rotate your trunk to one side to wind up and then quickly push and release the hoop in the opposite direction. To keep the hoop spinning, immediately drive the hoop forward with your abdominal muscles and pull the hoop backward with your lower back muscles. Envision doing fluid and rhythmic hip thrusts to keep the hoop spinning for 10 to 20 minutes.