Hoop Flow

Foundations: Playing with space

2009-04-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

Before you try to learn fancy tricks and twirls, it's important to be comfortable with the space in and around your hoop. This is an essential foundation for shoulder hooping & helps to "connect" you with the hoop.
Play with the space...look down as your hooping, and dip your hands in and out. Get comfortable with where your hands can be at any given moment, without actually touching the hoop. Try this hooping in both directions, with both hands. When you feel ready, try it blindfolded (might want to bring your hoop outdoors for that one).
I promise it will help EVERY other aspect of your hooping, and help you find your "flow". Here's an example that I put together yesterday. There's some shoulder hooping and over-the-head maneuvers in the video, but don't worry about doing that stuff for now. Just focus on playing with the space...the rest will follow.

Breaking in my new PSI LED hoop

2009-03-04T17:35:00.001-08:00

Last night I got my first chance to really play with my new PSI LED Hoop. SUPER bright LED's, and there was absolutely no rattling coming from the inside. Everything was tight and secure. I got the dragonfly LED's, which are strobing and slowly change color. The dragonfly is best for fast hooping.

Compared to my other hoops it's really light. Not in a cheap way, the tubing is nice and rigid. It just weighs less, which is good for performances. I'll have to get used to it a little bit first, but I'll be able to do fast reversals and whip that thing around like there's no tomorrow!
Since the ground is still covered in snow, I've been hooping inside my living room. There's enough space to play, but I'm slightly limited. You can see the hoop almost graze the ceiling in the video...I sure do cut it close.

I tried to give a good demonstration on what the hoop looks like in different planes and movements, so that anyone else who is considering buying from PSI Hoops can see how they look.
Enjoy!

My new toy

2009-03-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

Trying to hoop in the dark at a music festival can be slightly challenging. Sure, if it's late at night you don't have to worry as much about clocking a little kid in the head with your hoops, however this won't stop the adults from walking right into your space. A seemingly "open space" of lawn can quickly become crowded.
I've seen LED hoops before. Years back actually. This year (before festival season starts) I decided I needed one. A good one. The BEST one I can get.
Doing just a little bit of research on the internet, it wasn't long before I found the rave reviews of PSI Hoops. Patrick of PSI Hoops offers custom orders with different types of LED's, and makes all of the hoops by hand himself.
In these same places I had read good reviews about PSI Hoops, I read about the disappointment of hoopers who had bought from "other" LED hoop companies. In short, you get what you pay for.
Parick talked me through everything ensuring I was ordering the type of hoop made for the type of hooping I do, and was overall very helpful.
I did the tape job myself, asked him to ship it bare. I know I wanted some tape for traction, but I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to do it. Eventually I decided that stripes would be better than cris-cross style...I didn't want to block too much light out, but I DID want to make a definitive black space (better for trails). I ended up taping a strip of sparkly tape down the center between each of the LEDs, then photo luminescent tape over both sides of the sparkly tape. The photo luminescent tape gets charged when the LEDs are on, so when I turn the LEDs off, the hoop will have glow in the dark stripes. Cool, huh? Just to the sides of the photo luminescent tape I used cloth tape for friction.
Last night was a bit short on time, so I didn't really have a chance to break this puppy in. Soon I'll be sure to get a video up on youtube and share the happy trails.

Have you tried it yet?

2009-02-25T04:50:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you've been inspired by this blog or any of the wonderful links I've posted, to get yourself a hoop, by buying one or making your own. I've been tinkering with my laptop's webcam, and am almost ready to prepare some videos of my very own. I'd like to do several series of videos, one entitled "Foundations". Foundations is just what the name suggests. Foundations are the movements you will need to master more advanced tricks. "Foundations" lends itself to the second series "Workout Moves". In this series I will show you exercises to tone up and target your whole body, with just your hoop. You can say goodbye to flabby upper arms if you stick with me, kid!

In the meantime, here are a couple more videos I've found that may help you learn, and find your flow.

How to hoop

2009-02-20T08:08:00.000-08:00

Hopefull after reading about all the reasons why you should try hooping, you've taken the plunge and gotten yourself a hoop. Maybe you haven't stopped hooping since it arrived...or maybe you are having trouble keeping the hoop up at all.
Fret not! These instructional video should help you figure out which direction you are most comfortable hooping in, and how to get started (and keep that hoop moving).

Why hoop?

2009-02-19T05:09:00.000-08:00

Why hoop? Well for starters, it's FUN! There's arguably no better way to bring out your inner child than to grab a hoop and shake your booty!

Hoop for your mind: It will bring you into meditative states and help you become more in tune with yourself.

Hoop to reduce stress: Hooping won't make that pile of bills go away, or turn an overbearing boss into a pussycat, but hooping CAN change the way you look at the world, and how you react to situations. Find yourself in a hoop and suddenly life isn't as bad as you may have thought. Hooping is a workout, and will bring your heart rate up, and increase oxygen in the blood - making you feel energized and invigorated. Exercise is a great way to stave off depression or mood swings, so the next time you're feeling a little testy, grab a hoop. Within minutes you'll be feeling at least a little better, and have a more positive attitude to take on the world!

Hooping it up to slim down: As stated above, hooping is a workout. Depending on how hard you rock your hoop, you can burn upwards of 600 calories an hour! It would take you about three hours to burn this many calories on a treadmill if you were running at a pace of 3 mph. Who wants to run on a treadmill for 3 hours?? Not me, that's for certain. At a beginner level, with a slow pace, hooping is more likely to burn around 200-300 calories an hour. Not bad at all! And because hooping is so much fun, you are more inclined to hoop several times a week (or more) than running on a treadmill. Hooping tones your abs while strengthening your core muscles, and with specific moves can trim your butt, thighs, and arms. It will also give you increased flexibility and balance. Want to test this out? Before you buy/make your hoop, see how long you can stand on one leg. After a month of hooping, try it out again. Without a doubt you'll be balancing on that leg longer than you could before trying out hooping.

Skeptical? Try it for yourself. Get yourself a hoop and move that body!

Choosing the right hoop for YOU

2009-02-13T17:28:00.001-08:00

If you've decided you want to try out hooping, congratulations! Hopefully you didn't run out to Wal-mart and grab a child's $10 toy, because unless you are a child, you won't be able to do much with it. What you want is a sturdy, heavier hoop that won't kink after a few drops to the ground...and it WILL drop to the ground, at least a few times.

Here are some things to take into consideration before purchasing (or making) a hoop:

Size
Larger hoops revolve around your body slowly, allowing you to do less physical movement to keep the hoop going. If you have never hooped before, a large hoop will be your best friend and can give you the confidence you need to move to a smaller hoop. Some people prefer larger hoops, because of their trance inducing qualities. A large, heavy hoop allows for meditation not always attainable with tiny, fast moving hoops. If you are tall, above 6', you also would benefit from a large hoop. Large starts at about 42" in diameter. Once you get to 48" and beyond things get kinda silly. It's not impossible to hoop with a 50" hoop, of course, but think about where you will be hooping, and how you'll transport it...hoops are WAY too fun to just leave at home! Also, if you decide you want a super big hoop, make sure the tubing is not the standard 3/4" pvc tubing. You'll want a 1" tubing, to ensure that the hoop doesn't get floppy and wobbly on you.

Medium sized hoops are appropriate for a beginners, young and old. Unless you are really tall (or wide, for that matter), medium should suit you just find. Medium hoops are fairly easy to use, and allow for hoop dancing and tricks that you wouldn't otherwise be able to do with a big hoop. If you read through this and still aren't sure what size you should get, go with medium. They range from 39" to 41" in diameter.

Small hoops revolve around your body the fastest, thus requiring the most amount of movement to keep momentum. Small hoops range anywhere from 36" to 38". They are the most popular with advanced hoop dancers, because they are light, and allow for quick tricks. A small hoop would make a great gift for a child above the age of 3 (however just for the record I HAVE seen children spin with hoops that are 2 times taller than they are).

What's on the inside?
Many hoop makers will give you the option of putting water, beads, or beans inside your hoop. If you are interested in hooping as a way to slim down, and tone up your core, adding a little water to your hoop is a great way to intensify your workout. This will force your abs to work harder than a light hoop, giving you results faster. You should never be experiencing pain when you hoop. Listen to your body, and don't over-do it. Hooping bruises are normal for someone hooping for the first time, even with a light hoop. Know that these will go away, and won't come back if you continue hooping on a regular basis. If you (like me) couldn't stop hooping for hours once you tried it, and had bruises on your sides in lovely shades of blue and red, you may want to take a couple days off.
Beads and beans can be a fun touch, but realize that you'll be listening to it whirl around in there all the time. You might like it, or it might annoy you. It's a preference thing, really.

What's on the outside?
Most hoops are made from coiled pvc tubing, available at most large hardware stores. What makes hoops look so pretty are the colorful tapes used to wrap around them. If you tried to hoop with a "naked" hoop, you would have very little control, as the slick surface would slip against your clothing. Not only does tape make the hoop look nice, but provides a bit of traction. I've found that cloth and gaffer tape provide the most grip without being "sticky". Different people have different methods for taping hoops. My preferred method is 1 layer of electrical tape, to seal the seam and to cover the slick black pvc. Next I do a layer of pretty glittery shiny tape. This isn't necessary, but it's fun. Last I do my layer of cloth or gaffer tape.
For complete instructions on making your very own hoop, visit Jason Strauss's awesome tutorial site HERE. If you need a little help with the taping/wrapping, check out this informative youtube video for some pointers.
If you aren't crafty whatsoever, or just don't have the time or patience to make your own, there are MANY out there willing to make one for you. If you decide to purchase a hoop from a seller on ebay.com or etsy.com, contact them first with your choice of size, colors, and make sure they are using at least one layer of gaffer or cloth tape. It will save you frustration in the long run.
I can personally attest to the quality of the BodyHoops brand hoops. I have over a dozen of these and they are all great. The hoops are wrapped evenly in several colorful layers, the outside layer being gaffer, the grip tape.

Hopefully I managed to enlighten rather than confuse you, however if you have any questions feel free to leave comments and I'll address them in future posts. Now go get a hoop!

Introduction

2009-02-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hello world! This being my first post on this blog, I thought I'd share with you what got me interested in hooping in the first place. When I was in 4th grade our elementary school held a "field day". A day for children to forget about academics and get competitive with each other, in a variety of areas...racing, baseball, basketball, long jumping, and hula hooping. I've never really been athletically inclined, but hooping I was confident I could handle. Took the "gold" so to speak...I'm not sure how long I hooped for, but it was longer than everyone else that tried. It was fun, and it came naturally. My parents bought me a hoop and I had a fun summer. When it broke eventually, I never bothered to pester my parents for another one.

Fast forward 10 years. I am at a music festival in western Massachusetts, enjoying the jams and soaking in the smiling faces. On the field to the left I spot some hula hoopers! I just watch...I am in awe. One girl in particular is moving the hoop up and down her body effortlessly it seems, twirling, spinning the hoop above her head with her hands, and down back onto her waist with ease. I wanted to ask to try it out for myself. I thought back to my younger days, of my field day in 4th grade. I kept making excuses however ("those hoops are way bigger than the ones I remember" or "everyone is going to be looking at me") and never tried it myself. The whole weekend of the festival I longed to, but, in the end, didn't have the self confidence to try. On the drive home I was mad for not allowing myself to "let go", and silently promised myself that the next time I would at least try.

The following spring, I attended another music festival, at the same place, hosted by the same wonderful people. Things were different this time though. I walked over to the "hooper section" and started chit chatting with a lovely girl who showed me all the hoops that she had made, beautiful, large hoops, nothing like the flimsy plastic tube I remembered from my childhood. Some were filled with water for weight and momentum. She had carefully sewn over the thick tubing an array of different fabrics, all fashioned in a patchwork style. It was truly a piece of artwork in and of itself. She made sure to let me know I was free to hoop with any of the hoops that she brought. I stepped inside the hoop, picked it up, and placed the hoop against my back and gave it a good shove. I did it, and I was nothing short of elated. It was just as natural as when I was a child, only this hoop was larger, sturdier, and easier to use. I barely stopped hooping at all that weekend, and came home with bruises on my waist to show for it. I made sure I exchanged information with the angel who had shared her fabulous hoops with so many that weekend, and asked her make me a hoop of my very own. She did an awesome job, covering the hoop in colored and patterned fabrics of pinks and blacks. I have made and bought quite a few hoops since then, but that first hoop will always hold a special place in my heart.
That was about 4 years ago now, and I haven't stopped hooping since (well, except to work, eat, sleep, and bead, of course).
I hope I can use this blog to encourage others to get over any anxiety or fears they might have about hooping, and just DO IT! It is a wonderful workout, for both body and mind. Any hooper will attest to the meditative state you can attain from hooping. Larger, heavier hoops are especially helpful for bringing you to a trance like state. I highly suggest Karma Hoops if you are more interested in the meditative side of hooping. Karma Hoops are made specifically for opening up your chakras, and to help you find balance in life.
If you are more interested in melting away pounds and exploring sexy dance moves, then I suggest BodyHoops. BodyHoops can be ordered in a variety of sizes, and offers a DVD, perfect for beginners.
Stick around and I'll explain more about the benefits of hooping, what size hoop is right for you, and how to make your very own hoop.