IF it’s good enough for Michelle Obama, it’s good enough for me.

Ever since America’s First Lady was photographed hula hooping on the White House lawn as part of a fitness promotion, she has been credited with sparking off a new exercise craze.

Now – fuelled further by Nintendo’s Wii Fit game – hula hooping is becoming the hip-swivelling alternative to the weekly aerobics class.

Usually confined to school gymnasiums, hoop classes are springing up in sports halls across the UK and, says fitness instructor Sarah Gibb, they are filling up fast.

During an hour-long HoopFit session at Totton’s Testwood Sports College, would-be hoopers are put through their paces with a series of dance and aerobic moves designed to give a “full body work out”.

First, the hoop is used as a prop for some warm up stretches. Then the spinning begins. It’s a low impact class – so no bounding around or jumping – but I’m surprised to find that after 20 minutes I’m out of breath.

Larger and heavier than the plastic hoops used in school PE lessons, these fitness props are weighted, giving them more momentum and making them easier to keep up.

It’s surprisingly easy for a beginner to get the hang of but there’s no pressure if you do struggle to master a particular move.

“People need to come with an ‘it’s ok if I drop the hoop’ attitude,” says Sarah who runs classes in Totton and Salisbury.

With the emphasis on fun, Sarah takes us through a series of moves to music, from circling the hoop around our waists using a back and forth motion to whirling it around our arms.

Then comes the trickiest part – attempting to side step, walk, lunge and limbo while keeping the hoop in rotation.

“Hooping focuses on core strength,” says Sarah whose ‘Lovehoops’ Facebook group already has more than 50 members. “It’s a great toner for your abdominal muscles but it really is an all-over work out.”

By the end of the first session I feel a little bruised around my middle (which I’m told is to be expected for a first attempt) and by the next day I can definitely feel I’ve worked my waist and stomach muscles.

And, like all the best exercise, it’s so much fun you don’t even realise how hard you’re working. Bring on that Christmas party dress!