I'm finding that many people, who have never hooped before, think that a hula hoop is nothing more than a kid's toy and that hooping is just for kids. I can understand this because I used to think the same thing. One day, I was at a festival and there was someone selling hoops there. My husband dared me to give it a try. It was a much different from the hoop that I had seen in the department stores. For one thing, it was larger but it was also filled with water. I loved it so much. It was so relaxing that I actually forgot that I was standing there hooping in front of a bunch of strangers. If I hadn't been dared to give the hoop a spin I would not have ever taken a hooping class (because I would not have even known what hooping was), I wouldn't be writing this to you today, and I certainly wouldn't have ever been able to imagine that the hoop could have such an incredible impact on person's life.
My husband asked me if I wanted to get a hoop but I refused (after all, what would I really ever do with a hoop? Hoops were for kids. When would I ever use it? It would just end up covered with dust, taking up space in my house, and all the other excuses that my mind could think of at the time). I heard music so we took a walk and around the corner there was a band and a girl was hoop dancing. I was mesmerized. It looked like the hoop was floating. I couldn't believe it. I came home from the festival and I could not forget the feeling that I had while the hoop was spinning. I decided to go online to read about hula hoops and price them out. I did kind of want one (even though I still thought it was pretty silly) and I had some concerns about the idea of water being in the hoop (I am not always graceful and all I could picture was one day having it crack and all the stagnant water spilling all over me...ewww). I was shocked to see so much information on hooping. Videos, articles, blogs, tutorials. I realized there was a huge community out there and that I was not the only older person who had found the hoop amazing. I happened to see a video that was an interview about hooping with some people who weren't that far from where I lived. I called her the next day, we talked about hooping and hoops, and I ended up buying my first hoop from her the next day (I've bought about 20 more from her since, but topic is for another post). I have not regretted my husband daring me to try the hoop at that festival. In fact, I am so thankful that he did (also thankful that I can't pass up a dare from him).
I felt that I needed to share the background a little with you so that you can understand that I do understand why some people who have never hooped are hesitant to try it. It is scary to try new things and it is even scarier if you don't think that you will be able to do it or that you might look silly. I have been hooping for a while. I have done things since I started that I never thought were possible. The hoop has given me the courage to step out of my box in so many ways; but the one thing that I have resisted is posting a video of myself hooping for the world to see. I've watched hundreds of videos and I have had people suggesting that I do one for a long time but still I could not take that step. Until today. Today, I decided that I would step further out of the box and post it. (I want to give a special thanks to Sarah Jordan at http://hoopingbysarah.com for final push). The reason for this decision is because it has become very clear to me that I have to let you see that the hoop is not just some child's toy, it allows you to be creative, to move and to dance (even if you have never danced before) and have fun.
If you have never hooped before or if you just started, please keep in mind that everyone is different, everyone has a different body and everyone moves differently. If you begin hooping, you will never hoop like anyone else. You will have your own unique style and everything comes with practice (I spent and still spend hours practicing). I hope that next time the hoop crosses your path, you will take the opportunity to give it a spin. Don't worry, don't feel silly, don't think that you can't do it, just go with it, play, and enjoy yourself for a few minutes. See where that few minutes takes you.
Hooping must be to experienced fully understand what I am trying to say here but I hope that the video at least gives you more of an idea of what hooping is or maybe even encourages you to give it a try sometime. If you begin hooping you will grow in ways beyond hooping, in ways that will astound you!!!!!
Music by Faith Rivera - Alternate Ending
My husband asked me if I wanted to get a hoop but I refused (after all, what would I really ever do with a hoop? Hoops were for kids. When would I ever use it? It would just end up covered with dust, taking up space in my house, and all the other excuses that my mind could think of at the time). I heard music so we took a walk and around the corner there was a band and a girl was hoop dancing. I was mesmerized. It looked like the hoop was floating. I couldn't believe it. I came home from the festival and I could not forget the feeling that I had while the hoop was spinning. I decided to go online to read about hula hoops and price them out. I did kind of want one (even though I still thought it was pretty silly) and I had some concerns about the idea of water being in the hoop (I am not always graceful and all I could picture was one day having it crack and all the stagnant water spilling all over me...ewww). I was shocked to see so much information on hooping. Videos, articles, blogs, tutorials. I realized there was a huge community out there and that I was not the only older person who had found the hoop amazing. I happened to see a video that was an interview about hooping with some people who weren't that far from where I lived. I called her the next day, we talked about hooping and hoops, and I ended up buying my first hoop from her the next day (I've bought about 20 more from her since, but topic is for another post). I have not regretted my husband daring me to try the hoop at that festival. In fact, I am so thankful that he did (also thankful that I can't pass up a dare from him).
I felt that I needed to share the background a little with you so that you can understand that I do understand why some people who have never hooped are hesitant to try it. It is scary to try new things and it is even scarier if you don't think that you will be able to do it or that you might look silly. I have been hooping for a while. I have done things since I started that I never thought were possible. The hoop has given me the courage to step out of my box in so many ways; but the one thing that I have resisted is posting a video of myself hooping for the world to see. I've watched hundreds of videos and I have had people suggesting that I do one for a long time but still I could not take that step. Until today. Today, I decided that I would step further out of the box and post it. (I want to give a special thanks to Sarah Jordan at http://hoopingbysarah.com for final push). The reason for this decision is because it has become very clear to me that I have to let you see that the hoop is not just some child's toy, it allows you to be creative, to move and to dance (even if you have never danced before) and have fun.
If you have never hooped before or if you just started, please keep in mind that everyone is different, everyone has a different body and everyone moves differently. If you begin hooping, you will never hoop like anyone else. You will have your own unique style and everything comes with practice (I spent and still spend hours practicing). I hope that next time the hoop crosses your path, you will take the opportunity to give it a spin. Don't worry, don't feel silly, don't think that you can't do it, just go with it, play, and enjoy yourself for a few minutes. See where that few minutes takes you.
Hooping must be to experienced fully understand what I am trying to say here but I hope that the video at least gives you more of an idea of what hooping is or maybe even encourages you to give it a try sometime. If you begin hooping you will grow in ways beyond hooping, in ways that will astound you!!!!!
Music by Faith Rivera - Alternate Ending