Im so excited to have Jo back again and this time she’s teaching us how to git our hoops MOVING!
How can you get into the spin?
Last week I told you all about my own hooping journey and went through some of the awesome benefits of hula hooping. Now it’s time to get into the spin yourself!
1) Get a hoop
It’s easy to make your own hoop very cheaply or you can buy one online or at the store. Make sure you get an adult sized hoop (36 inch diameter or bigger) NOT a kid’s hoop – ideally your hoop should come up to your hip bone when it’s standing up. The bigger the hoop, the slower it moves and so the easier it is to keep up.
2) Get it spinning
To get it spinning on your waist, stand up straight with your feet hip distance apart. Squeeze the muscles in your legs, butt and abs. Hold the hoop on your lower back so it’s parallel to the floor and give is a strong push around your stomach. You can start pushing forwards and backwards as the hoop comes around, or try a side to side push.
To save the hoop if it starts falling, you can squat down with your back straight (as if you were sitting on a chair), and stand back up, pushing the hoop the whole time.
Make sure you hoop equally in both clockwise and counter clockwise, to work your muscles evenly (even though one direction will feel much stranger than the other!).
3) Learn some tricks
Hooping ain’t just about the waist any more, there are thousands of tricks and moves you can do with your new hoop, both on the body and off.
Classes are a great way to learn what you can do with your hoop and get personal feedback. But if no one is teaching near you, or if you can’t afford classes right now, Youtube has thousands of free tutorials like these.
4) Be kind to yourself
And remember, hooping can take a bit of time to get the hang of. Be kind to yourself. Know that every bit of practice will make you a better hooper – it’s all going into your muscle memory even if it feels like you’re not getting it.
So smile when your hoop drops to the ground, laugh when your hoop flings off into the neighbours yard and wear your hoop bruises with pride (and with Arnica cream),
Can you help me spread the joy of hooping to kids in refugee camps?
I’m heading to the Thai/Burma border in January to work with children in refugee camps, teaching them circus skills, bringing them toys, performing silly routines to make them laugh and just generally giving them a bit of a childhood. I would appreciate any donations you could make. For more information, check out www.livelovehoop.com/spark
Your views
I’d love to hear what you have to say about hula hooping! Want to give it a go? Already a spinner? Got any questions or need some trouble shooting advice? Post a comment and I’ll help you out!
Love and hoopiness to you all,
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