As one can easily tell, my blog has been under construction/on hold for a
few months. The general chaos of life found a way to hinder all of my
writing. However, after my vacation next week, the words of TwirlingCircus will
be back in full force!
My Skype Sessions are going
even better than I expected!! I've had the honor of working with a wide variety of
amazing hoopers as well as communicating with people who have struck an
interest in the art form. This is the perfect time of
year to start your hoop journey!! Why you ask??? IT'S FESTIVAL
SEASON!!! WOOO HOOO!!! As a performing art, hooping is especially
noticeable at music festivals. What better time to learn than before you're
heading to one??
A lot of people have been asking me questions about getting started, so I
thought I would put a little Q&A together based off of my most FAQ and
comments:
"What kind/size hoop should I get?"
For beginners, the recommended
size is the number of inches from the floor to your belly button. If the hoop
is too big or small it makes the learning process quite complicated. When it
comes to the type of hoop you're looking for, I personally recommend something
with a little weight to it. A lot of people want to jump right into tricks with
lighter hoops like polypros, but when you haven't learned the basics such as
body hooping, it is extremely difficult. A slightly heavier hoop makes it much
easier because you can feel the balance on your body. Dance/Exercise hoops are
perfect for this. HoopMamas on Etsy have a huge selection. When I realized
my first hoop was too big, I bought my second/beginner hoop from them and it
taught me almost everything I know. I still use it everyday for fitness! When
choosing a hoop, they give options for the tubing size. I've always suggested
100 psi and 3/4". These numbers don't make a lot of sense but they
represent the thickness and weight of the hoop. 100 psi isn't very heavy, so
you'll still be able to flow quite easily! If you're super determined to
dedicate a lot of time to hooping, get a polypro hoop in the same size so you
can learn on both!
"What's the deal with
Polypros?"
They are EXTREMELY light. The
momentum of the hoop can change from fast to slow in the blink of an eye. Body
hooping is a lot more difficult because it requires more effort to control the
speed. These hoops are great for learning on and off body tricks because they
are ready to fly at any time. Once you have the basics down, these hoops make a
great sidekick. I always have a heavy hoop and a polypro in the same size so I
can learn with both. A polypro will take you far on your hoop journey, but if
you don't understand the balance it will make it difficult to adjust and find
your flow.
"Got my hoop!!... Now what?"
The gateway to hooping is found
within you and the circle itself. In order to progress on your hoop journey,
body hooping is the key. It's extremely important to know how to keep the hoop
going on all parts of the body: waist, shoulders, chest, legs, etc. If you can
already keep the hoop going around your waist, start with your shoulders, then
chest, and then move on down to leg hooping. These things take time and
patience! Your body has probably never had to move in such a way and it can be
difficult as well as frustrating. The beginning is the hardest part of the
journey. It's almost like a test of dedication. Because body hooping is so time
consuming, you're going to get antsy and want to learn tricks as well. Set
aside a certain amount of time to spend on body hooping and use the rest for
the things that are typically more fun to learn. Isolations are another
fundamental aspect of hooping. When it comes to off the body tricks, the
limitless variations help with transitions and finding your flow. Start
yourself off by learning a basic isolation and gradually move on to different
variations. Lassos, vortexes, step-throughs, jump-throughs, and simple passes and tosses are
some fun tricks that all beginners are capable of! You can find tutorials for beginners all over YouTube! Just
search for 'beginner hoop tutorial' and take a look around! (If you have
trouble learning without any assistance, I'm still here to help!)
"I'M STUCK!":
Getting stuck in your hooplah
is NOT a fun feeling. There are endless possibilities as to why you may feel
this way. Sometimes we simply plateau and keep doing the same things over and
over. It happens to everyone. This is usually your cue to learn some new
tricks. Get on YouTube or Instagram and start watching some videos for
inspiration. Find something that intrigues you and start working on it! Another
suggestion I have is experimenting with your hoop. Try making up weird tosses
or isolations and just play with it--even if it looks stupid. You never know
when something random and awesome will happen!
If you're a beginner and you've already learned everything mentioned in "Got my hoop!!... Now
what?", there's a good chance this is a blessing in disguise! If
you've moved on to more complicated tricks and they make sense but just aren't
working out, it's probably time for a new hoop!!!! Yay!!!! Unless you feel like
you are progressing at a rapid pace, move down one size at a time--or if you
only have a dance/exercise hoop and don't know if you're ready for that, get a
polypro! When you get a new hoop it's like a quick redo. You have to teach
yourself everything you just learned all over again, but have no fear! Your
mind and body already know the motions, it's just a matter of picking up the
pace and you're ready to move forward!
"I want an LED hoop, but I don't know if I'm ready yet."
That's crap. Everyone is ready
for an LED hoop. My very first hoop was an LED, and if it had been the right
size, it would've been perfect. LED hoops are expensive, so it's understandable
that people would be nervous about such an investment. If you're worried that
you'll get it and be ready for a smaller one shortly after, get one in the size
you're going to move down to or just get one in the size you're comfortable
with. Also, there are ways to get LED hoops resized. Citiva
Creationz resizes LED
hoops for extremely reasonable prices and she makes GORGEOUS LEDs as well. You
don't have to buy a $600 Smart Hoop the day you begin hooping. There are
thousands of other LED options out there! Simply Google Search "LED Hoops" and see what you find!
Helpful Hints:
When you first start hooping,
patience really is a virtue. Remain calm, and make sure you're not restricting
yourself in any way. Hooping has no limits, so don't allow anything to get in
your way. The following tips will help you avoid these obstacles:
1) Wide open spaces!! A big/open room with high ceilings where you won't have
any room for fear of hitting inanimate objects is a necessity. You don't want
your subconscious getting in the way of your concentration. Hooping outdoors is
usually the easiest way to do this.
2) Less is best. When learning body hooping, shorts and tank tops are a
Godsend. Baggy clothes, t-shirts, and long pants can make things reallllly
difficult. It sounds kinda gross, but your bare skin will stick to the hoop and
simplify the learning process by giving you a little more control. The more
clothes you have on, the more they get in the way.
3) Listen to your favorite jams. Turn on whatever songs you enjoy dancing to
the most and get funky! Or mellow out and lose yourself in some calming sounds!
4) Record yourself. I'm not saying you have to make a YouTube video or put a
clip on Instagram, this is just a very effective way to track and continue your
progress. After warming up for a bit, prop your phone up or use whatever
recording device you have and film! Have a little hoop sesh after warming up and continue focusing on whatever
you've been practicing. When you look back and watch the footage, you can see where
you're struggling and find an easier way to fix the issue. More importantly, there will be so
many times you look back on the videos and surprise yourself. It's a pure
feeling of pride and accomplishment that you deserve!
If you need guidance at any point of your journey, that's what I'm here for!
Email me (twirlingcircus@gmail.com) ANY
questions at ANY time! If you're interested in lessons, I'd be happy to give
you all the information! They are extremely affordable, effective and fun!
Happy Hooping, everybody!!!
