master the hula hoop

I saw people hooping at All Good music festival in 08 and decided I wanted to learn. I went again this year and learned a few tricks… I have always been able to do it around my hips, but I’ve learned to bring it up over my head, hoop in my neck and around my legs. I want to be better though! Anyone know where I can learn around Baltimore?

It’s been months since I went to a meetup, so the other day I looked through all the groups to see what’s new. I saw this hoop dancing group and thought, “Wow, what a riot!” and signed up. It was good timing, too, since a new series of beginner classes was starting that Thursday (last week). I went to my first class. It’s surprising how much effort it takes, but that means it’s a good workout. Lot’s of fun. I bought a hoop and signed up for the series. An added bonus is that I won’t be alone in learning. There’s a nice group of grown women like myself re-living their shoop-shoop days. Whee!

Below is the warning included with the hoop. I find the syntax very charming. (really) So when I say “master” I mean just get up to 10 minutes a day. So we’re on a 3 week time table. Erm…yeah. Once I can get started…

CAUTION to new users of the Sports Hoop
Due to the strong impact directed upon the abdominal and other body muscles, some new users may experience muscle soreness or bruising in the first two weeks of use.
Suggested use for new users:
* 1-3 minutes only per day during the first week.
* 3-5 minutes daily during the second week.
* 5-10 minutes daily after two weeks, no more than two times a day.
* Do not use more than 20 minutes at one time.
Over exercise for new users may cause bruising in the first two weeks. Please start with gentle exercise. If bruising continues after the first two weeks please consult your doctor for suggestions on the right use of this product.

20 minutes today. Trying to nail anti-clockwise seeing as I can easily keep it up clockwise. You wouldn’t believe the bruises though.

I got my hoop on Wednesday, and it is enormous! I didn’t realize it would be so huge and heavy. My waist is 25 inches around, so it’s somewhat of an effort to keep the hoop spinning at a decent speed…that definitely never happened with the kiddie hoops!

I’ve always been able to keep a hoop spinning indefinitely, but now I’m working on spinning around while keeping the hoop going. I can turn to the left very well, but the right is more of a challenge. Unfortunately my dorm is pretty small and I can’t work on any fantastic moves that involve space.

I haven’t bruised, but I have a 1.5-year-old surface piercing above my belly button that lines up perfectly with where the hoop hits my stomach. :( Nothing horrible has happened yet, but I worry all the pressure may make it reject.

A 1kg/2.2lb one.
I hope it comes okay.
Weighted hula hoops are not cheap at all.

Today I bought a hoop on eBay…it should arrive by the middle of next week.

I bought a hoop from a local hooper who makes hoops and performs hoopdance. It is lovely!

My first day of practice was rough…. In about 1.5 hours, I only managed to keep the thing at my waist a handful of times (and even then, only for a couple seconds). I also hit myself in the nose hard!!! (I feel like only I could do that!) But I plan to keep practicing and trying at it. In a couple of days, I will get my beginners Hoopnotica video – can’t wait. In the mean time, just figuring out how to hoop is a challenge.

for a weighted hula hoop. I’ve read many a time that doing this can really help tone up your waist and lose inches in the process. Seeing as one of my sub-goals is to have a smaller waist, this sounds like a good plan.

I ordered the hula hoop today with a gift certificate I got for doing some health assessment thing at work. It is a 4 lb. hoop. Some people complain of bruising, so we’ll see how it goes…