Introduction to Hooping
"Hooping" is a term for hula hooping with large customized hoops. There are more and more people hooping all over America and around the world, but what the hell are they doing?
Historical Background:
The hoop has a long history, which pre-dates the 1950s hula hooping fad by several thousand years.
Hooping began creeping back into the American collective cultural consciousness a decade ago. Certainly, fans of The String Cheese Incident deserve some credit for kicking off the second revolution of hooping. The band has been known to toss hoops into the audience during shows since the mid-90s, and their fans began spreading the joy of hooping everywhere. Soon hooping began showing up at underground dance community events and raves. If you'd like to read more about this resurgant wave of hula hooping, check out: What Goes Around Comes Around.
Hooping vs. Hula Hooping: Hooping is way more fun than the hula hooping you remember as a child, because the bigger and heavier the hoop, the slower it rotates around your body. This means that even if you think you can't hoop, with one of these hoops, you can! Everybody can hoop, regardless of age, size, or sense of rhythm. When you're using a customized hoop that's four feet in diameter, the rotation is slow enough that even clumsy amateurs can keep the hoop going — and it's not too hard to get into dancing and even doing tricks.
Hooping also just feels good. Another advantage of a bigger heavier hoop is that as it circles your waist, it gives you a solid massage. Your intestines and organs get a firm rythmic rubbing. It feels great! Some claim that hooping has other energetic benefits as well, but I can only speak for myself: I find hooping quite meditative, and perhaps more importantly, hooping makes me smile. Playing with a hoop works up a nice sweat, and like any cardiovascular exercise, it can hit the reset button on a bad mood. It's simply a lot of fun; and I'm a firm believer that fun is healthy!
Want more inspiration?
Comments
A friend sent me this link because he knows I hula hoop daily. I love walking/running/dancing while hooping, but I've found that using my hoop during commercial breaks is a fun way to get off the sofa for five minutes and get some exercise. I've never heard of the type of hoop discussed on this site, but will check into them. I like the small one I have for dancing purposes, but the added weight would be good for exercise. Thanks for the tips!
Posted by: Jason | November 6, 2003 10:16 AM
Where can i buy the large black hoops and decorate them myself?
Posted by: elizabeth leonard | September 18, 2006 11:14 AM
Really the easiest thing to do is to make the hoop yourself. If you really wanted a naked hoop though you can try asking any of the hoop makers in our marketplace if they'd sell you one - or simply get the hoop decorated and remove the tape and start fresh. Tape not only adds decoration, it also adds weight and traction so you're not going to want to be hooping with a naked hoop for a variety of reasons, but I totally get wanting to do your own design.
Posted by: Philo | September 18, 2006 2:06 PM
just made a beautiful new hoop...hope to see you lovely hoopers at a festival sometime!
much love
Posted by: Mountain_Mama | October 9, 2006 4:20 PM
Hooping is also good for health! Look!
Posted by: Kay | January 8, 2007 3:16 AM
i just read, "what is hooping" and found out that i am not a hooper. as i use 1950's antique whamo's. so i am a hula hooper, but from the above, this distinction is clear. i suggest that hooping is hooping regardless of the size and that this 'ownership' of hooping is weak, and unfounded. It is that tendency of sheepish masses to subsume the past and put their name on it.
Posted by: anne | January 27, 2008 4:04 PM
Anne, I'd suggest embracing change today. Fear and resentment are worth letting go of. Try a larger heavier hoop, crank the tunes and see how much difference a pound or two and three times the space makes. We've already walked in your shoes and most of us we're not as blessed in being able to make it work with the store bought product. We're making our own or having them made for us and finding ourselves in the hoop. If the antique whamo's still rock your world, great! Embrace your inner hula hooper. The hooping community is inclusive and there are videos and photos and more of the old skool style here from time to time. But hooping 2008 is indeed different and it required language to get the point across, not to mention the Whamo patented trademark and their cease and desist orders for those that enfringe upon it. As many of the articles written about hooping today report: "These aren't your grandma's hula hoops." Hooping is a joy! Give it a spin and discover the difference for yourself. - Editor
Posted by: Philo | February 14, 2008 11:01 AM