Lola writes, “Hi everyone. This might seem like a dumb question, but I’m curious. I have a 4lb weighted hula hoop, that I like to use, and generally do between 20-30 a day. The thing is, however, that I can only go one way. Would it be more beneficial to try to learn how to go the other way as well? Or would it not really make a difference? Thanks for any answers.”
There isn’t a truly definitive scientific answer to this question. So, what do you think hoopers?
it can be helpful with tricks but i wouldn’t say it is all that important. it also depends on how you hoop though as you can put too much pressure on one side of your body/back and that can cause injury, you can check with a physio if you are worried. other than that who cares?lol the world isn’t going to end if you can’t and having fun is all that counts, there are some tricks i can not do certain ways but again i don’t really care i just love to hoop
I say yes! When I was first learning, my teacher (who had a background in some kind of medical science) explained the importance balancing out your movements. She described as “twisting” your body, and therefore, it is important to “twist” it back the other way. Made sense to me!
I read once of developing a “3 pack” hooping only one way, I thought that was funny. I try to learn everything both ways, even tricks, because I do feel more even and balanced. I also think of Rafael Nadal. One of his arms is bigger than the other hehe.
I believe that balance is very important (I’m a Libra.) Plus, I practice yoga. In yoga, if you twist one way, you twist the other way too. If you balance on the left foot, you follow it up with balance on the right. When I’ve FINALLY gotten a hoop move down and it’s easy for me, I try it the other way. Not only for balancing things out, but to challenge my brain and my body. It makes me laugh because when I’ve got it going one way and it seems so easy, I try it the other way and it’s a whole new world. Suddenly what I thought I knew so well is all different. I feel like a little kid trying to learn a new thing all the time – my world just keeps expanding!
I have heard it is VERY important to balance yourself when hooping… I have even had experience with back pain in the beginning of my hoop journey, only to be relieved by finally forcing myself to hoop in both directions. Not only will it balance your muscles on both sides, it also works your mind as well, just as our left and right brains need work.
From personal experience, I’d say yes. Its a good idea to hoop both directions. I’m one of those people that developed pain issues stemming from hooping mostly in one direction. Developed muscles on one side of the body and not so much muscle on the other side can cause all kinds of alignment problems. Stay in balance as much as possible! Even if, like me, you suck at your second current.
Plus like dinahmyte said hooping in both currents is also an excellent brain exercise!
first it’s a challange to learn the other direction. also, it is a more even work out. I actually challenge the people I have sold hoops to into learning both directions
Of course it matters! If you learn to hoop on both sides, you are doubling the dexterity of your muscles. It’s very healthy for your body, and it is also a nice mental workout as you try to use muscles you probably have been tried using before on whichever side is not your strongest. Plus, it gives you double the entertainment! It’s a real win-win-win situation
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I think its great, I tend to spin with my hoop a lot and changing direction helps me with dizziness!! Also, helps if you decide to teach!!
hello, if you are using a weighted hoop for exercise rather than funtimes then yes its VERY IMPORTANT! otherwise you are not balancing out.. also check your feet when your hooping, is one foot infront? if so try to keep them parallel so your abs are doing more work, and definitely learn the revers so that you can stay balanced! its taken me years to finally balance after only going in one direction for the first few years!! I feel much better
I’m re-learning to hoop because I only ever hooped in my first current (or in one direction). I’m re-learning in my second current and I see such a positive difference in my hoop practice. My body is more in tune, I have less strain on the dominant side, I have a more balance, strength and coordination. Hooping in both direction has done much for my flow and dance. And as Jazzy points out, if you want to help others (whether you are formally or informally teaching) it’s great to know where they are coming from direction-wise.
In a sense, using one side only made my hoop practice “lean” to one side. I was strong on one side only and it effected everything I did…not to mention led to injury.
My nutshell answer: learn to hoop in both directions. If you’ve already learned to hoop in one, it will feel like starting from scratch again, but your body and mind won’t regret it!
I discovered in Pilates how imbalanced my core strength was and it’s almost equal now since I began hooping on my weaker side. My back muscles were developed unevenly and my obliques were uneven probably from a slight scoliosis of my spine. I was working on it in Pilates but it’s the hoop that gave me much more of an awareness.
Since we’re not made by machines I would say that most people have some core imbalance and the hoop is a great way to work on it. The hoop helps free up the muscles on the weaker, tighter side resulting in better awareness and posture.
Definitely hoop in both directions. Just like you would do lunges on both sides, stretches on both sides, to even out your workout and provide a sense of balance, you should do the same with your hoop. I tell all new hoopers to practice more in their weak current (original hooping direction) than they do in their strong current. It is very difficult, especially while trying to learn tricks. I am guilty of failing to hoop equally in both directions every day, but when I do I notice an improvement in spinal mobility and alignment.
It is so important! I have a friend that developed functional scoliosis because of hooping in her dominant direction only.
When I was first learning, I had to learn reverses to be able to hoop in the other direction cause I had to trick my mind that it was the same motion.
I am joining the chorus of those telling you to hoop in both directions! I also tell my students to try both currents and feel how different they are. I think it helps with tricks, but also agree with those saying it’s better for your body, muscles, and spinal alignment to go in both directions. I practice with a bigger hoop to get the hang of things like the vortex in the opposite current.
My friend is an amazing painter & she says that if you can learn to paint with the hand opposite of your dominant, that you can master it! So I try to think of that. Im right handed, hooped to the left for the first 9months. One day I looked in the mirror & was shocked, it showed in the tone of my muscles! lol. Im also naturally horrible at doing ANTHING w my left hand & because of practicing the other current I can almost write w it, lol It flows into the rest of your life in my opinion
I am a hooper as well as a Structural Integration Practitioner ( I straighten crooked people out), and I would highly encourage you to spin both directions if you care at all about your body alignment. I have seen hoopers that only spin one way with back and hip problems originating form a twist in their spine. Try this, take you hoop and put it around your waist and close your eyes, feel where you push to keep the hoop going around. Does it feel symmetrical? Or do you push more on one side? Only pushing on that side for 20-30 minutes a day sets you up for a twist in your spinal cord, which equals pain in the long run.
So its up to you, how much do you care about your body?
Yes practice both ways, for all the reasons stated. It’s definitely good for the brain and feeling of balance- I’ve noticed that hooping in both directions has helped me smooth out poi moves such as pirouettes in my non-dominant direction, when I had a strongly favoured side before.
Don’t worry if it’s difficult at first, just keep at it, spend at least half your practice in your non-dominant current, and before you know it you’ll just be calling it ‘left current’ and ‘right current’ because neither feels dominant. It’s a great feeling!