Shut Up and Hula Hoop
An Ode to My Undying Love of Hula Hooping
I really want to write about hula hooping. I need to tell everyone about one of my all-time favorite activities.
In February of 2024, a friend mentioned a hula hoop fitness class that was starting at a local studio she attended. I was immediately intrigued. I’ve always enjoyed hula hooping. A decade or so ago I found a short little hula hoop workout challenge that I tried. That was nothing like what I was in for.
Let me set the stage for you.
At the time I was 45. I have never been an athlete. While I did workout pretty consistently between pregnancies in my 30’s, that’s kind of fallen by the wayside the past few years. I’ve gotten lazy, and I was starting to notice changes in my body as a result.
I’m also super clumsy. One would never describe me as graceful. I am hypermobile, which sometimes adds to the clumsiness. When holding my arms straight, my elbows naturally hyperextend and push forward. I didn’t realize this was unusual until my husband pointed it out one time. I’m learning that my body is constantly working harder than other people’s just to hold everything in place.
I have never been able to do a cartwheel or a split. Lunges are painful in a way that feels like “Oh, something bad is about to happen to these muscles and joints” and less like “I’m just not used to this movement.”
All that being said, when my friend mentioned this intro to hula hooping class that would take place on Friday nights in February, I was all in. I signed up with two of my friends. Our kids hung out together while we hula hooped. It was great. I thought we’d do this for 4 weeks, have some fun, and add it to our list of unique life experiences.
When we arrived for the first class, there were a few students who had already been taking hula hoop fitness classes at the studio. Our instructor Andrea explained how to choose a good hoop and we began practicing. Andrea, by the way, is a full time lawyer, mom of 5, AND owns the studio – where she teaches belly dance, hula hoop, and other dance themed classes. I had to give her a shoutout. I want to be her when I grow up.
The first thing I learned was that the hoop size and weight matter. Andrea makes her own hoops out of tubing and hockey tape. She has so many fun color combinations. Some are even sparkly! I ended up buying a waist hoop from her and a hand hoop from a friend so I can practice at home.
For waist hooping – which is what most people think of when they think of hula hooping – you want a larger and heavier hoop. When you are first starting out, choose a hoop that reaches to your belly button area when holding it upright on the ground. Make sure it has a little bit of heft to it. I’m not talking major weight, but a little substance is good. For most people, it’s easier to hoop with a heavier hoop than a lighter one. You have to work harder to keep the lighter hoop up.
For hand hooping, which was something brand new to me, you typically want a slightly smaller and lighter hoop. You can use larger, heavier ones, but that can make some tricks much more difficult. When we first started practicing hand hooping, the backs of my hands were sore and bruised for weeks! Now it doesn’t bother me at all.
Most people think of moving your hips in a circular motion when hula hooping. Don’t do that. Instead, try moving them EITHER side to side OR front to back. You’ll find what works for you. Don’t get frustrated if the hoop keeps falling down. That’s totally normal. Even pros drop their hoops sometimes.
Hand hooping has a whole variety of tricks. Andrea makes everything look so fluid and graceful. I can do some things smoothly, but I have a long ways to go to reach her level. Also, you will lose your hoop when hand hooping, especially when you are learning new tricks. My hoop has gone flying across the room so many times. I’ve smacked myself in the face multiple times. Other people’s hoops have rolled into me. It’s okay. It happens to all of us. We laugh, encourage one another, and keep trying.
That first intro session was special. I fell in love with hula hooping, and the people in the class were amazing. Everyone was so supportive and uplifting. It was really, really fun. Also, hula hoop fitness is no joke! I’d be sweating at the end of class.
After the class ended, Andrea offered longer sessions, which I eagerly signed up for. That summer she planned a festival, and she invited us to join a special class that would perform at this festival. I am very shy. I do not want to be the center of attention, despite my illustrious career as a high school cheerleader. I was so nervous about performing, especially since I was still fairly new to hula hooping. But, I loved it and I loved the people in my class, so I joined.
There were nine of us, including Andrea, in the routine. It was set to Daddy Yankee’s Hula Hoop, of course. This was a really fun song that just makes you want to dance (or hula hoop!). We practiced every week for two months. I could do the movements independently, but transitioning between certain ones was hard.
During classes we would laugh and joke around. We named ourselves the Hoop Troupe and our slogan was “Shut Up and Hoop” which soon became “Shut Up and Hula Hoop” so people didn’t think we were talking about basketball. Andrea got purple tank tops with this saying on it for our performance. I loved it!
Our Hoop Troupe was so special. There were parents of young kids and grown kids. We had a retiree, lawyer, doctor, corporate professionals, a psychic medium, stay at home moms, and everything in between. Some people were athletes, some had chronic illnesses, some were just looking for a fun way to be active. It was a really cool mix of people.
Soon fall came and it was time to perform. A week before the event, a few of us went to the festival location and did a performance there. It was at a craft fair, and we were just on the side of the parking lot. It was a sideshow, not the main attraction. Still, it helped me get some jitters out and feel more comfortable and confident. Plus, it was really fun!
Then it was performance weekend. We did a dress rehearsal on the stage the night before, which was very different from the room we usually meet in. In that room, no matter what class it is, I ALWAYS end up next to the pole in the middle of the room. I don’t know why. On the stage, I had more space to move around. After a few run throughs, we went home and rested up for the big day.
The day of the festival was amazing. The weather was beautiful, the people in attendance were wonderful, and the performances were outstanding.
A few of us gathered on the backside of the stage and practiced like crazy. We had our tank tops covered up until it was time to perform. Then, it was our turn. As we stood backstage waiting to go on, I was filled with nerves and excitement. I actually WANTED to perform, which was a very surprising feeling for me.
We went out there, did our thing for 3 minutes, and then it was done. I’m sure any performer can relate to that feeling. You practice for so long, and then the actual event goes by in the blink of an eye. I think we all did amazing, and I was so, so proud of each one of us.
All of a sudden, our inaugural Hoop Troupe was over. Andrea continued offering classes, with occasional breaks in between sessions. Some of us continued, some moved on to other classes at the studio. I’ve enjoyed all of my fellow hula hoopers, but that group was really special.
We continued with hula hoop classes, and hula hoop dance cardio classes, which are intense. Have you ever done step aerobics while hula hooping? (If you click on the link and watch the video, I’m the one in the back left in the white shirt) It’s hard. Like really, really hard. I kind of enjoyed the challenge, but I wasn’t mad that it was a one time thing.
Our second performance was at a showcase in the studio. This time the routine was set to Luther by Kendrick Lamar and Sza. I loved the flow of this song. It felt so smooth and graceful to hoop to. I loved it so much that I stayed in the class even though I was going to have to miss the performance due to a conflict with my eldest kiddo's robotics competition schedule. I got to see a video of the performance and they totally rocked it!
Our third performance was at a larger showcase last fall. This time there were six of us in the class, but only 5 performed. Our routine was set to Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. This routine felt so powerful and intense. I think this was the most challenging routine, and Andrea had to change it up a bit because we just couldn’t get some parts, although she did them so gracefully. We went out there, did our best, and had a great time.
That was my last performance. Andrea took a break from teaching hula hoop classes to focus on other endeavors with the studio. During this time, she offered pop up hula hoop and hula hoop dance cardio classes, which I tried to attend when I could I sat down for a informal interview with her, shortly after a special New Year’s Day hula hoop fitness class.
This summer, she brought the classes back. I was so excited!! I went to the first two classes and was excited to see new people giving it a try. Sadly, I had to stop attending class because I began experiencing problems with my eye. I was so, so sad. I had been eagerly waiting for classes to come back. I hope they are offered again someday. Until then, I will practice at home (once medically cleared) and continue to tell everyone how much I love hula hooping.
The video below is from the last class I attended before I was medically forced to take a break. The class was a mix of newbies and original Hoop Troupe members. During free time, I worked on a trick that I think is really cool. I practiced waist hooping and hand hooping at the same time. It took a few tries, but I got it.
If you have ever thought about trying something different, I'm sending gentle encouragement to you to give it a whirl. I'm so happy I tried the initial hula hoop class. I'm even more proud of myself for continuing when my friends took a break. That is huge growth for me.
I love waist hooping. I love hand hooping. I love learning new tricks. My favorite way to hoop is to actually slow down and let the hoop drop from my waist to my hips. I leave it there for a bit, then do a little shimmy to get the hoop back up to my waist. I’m a work in progress with chest hooping. Sometimes I can do it, sometimes I can’t. There are so many tricks and styles I haven’t tried yet. I’m looking forward to learning and practicing more new and exciting things.
I did this for me. I wanted to try something new and fun and challenge myself. However, I do think it's cool that my kids get to see me try something new and overcoming my shyness to perform. My oldest actually performed in the kids hula hoop routine at the first festival in 2024. His friend talked him into it, and while he had fun, he is also mortified at the thought of people finding out.
If you told me when I signed up for that first class that I would end up participating in multiple performances, sharing videos of me hula hooping on the interwebs, and finding an activity that resonates deep in my soul, I wouldn't have believed you but here we are.
Hula hooping has become one of my favorite activities in this beautiful, whimsical life I am creating.
What is something unique you have tried, or want to try?
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