Downsizing to a Smaller Hoop
After hooping with a very large hoop for several years, I recently made a change in hoop size going for a smaller version and it took some getting used to. Jennifer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is experiencing the same thing. She writes, "A few weeks ago, i made myself a 39" hoop so that i could start working on more off-body moves. but i'm feeling almost like a total beginner again! Something as simple as waist hooping is now tough again, the darn thing is crashing to the ground way more than i'd like. While i'm not surprised that a smaller diameter hoop needs quicker movement to keep going, and spins more quickly, I'm getting frustrated that I'm not able to hoop to some slower songs because when i move my hips to match the beat of the music, it's too slow to keep the hoop going - and i didn't have that problem when i used a 42" hoop. ... Is there a secret to getting a small hoop to move like a larger one? Or do you just switch up the hoops that you use?"
Silverstar in the San Francisco Bay Area notes, "Don't be in a huge rush to start hooping with a 32" hoop. If you are used to a 42" hoop, then a change of even 3" is a lot for your body and brain to adjust to. I used a 42" hoop for the first eight months I hooped. Then I made a bunch of hoops, each 1" smaller. The first few weren't too much of an adjustment in general (although certain tricks were a challenge), but I think that it helped me a lot to make the change gradual. Just going from 42" to 39" was noticeable. Now that I'm down to 36" I've realized how much of a process it was!"
In dealing with the music issue, Caroleeena in Raleigh, North Carolina, said, "I suggest that you practice playing with tempo. Tempo is the rate of a repeating event. If the repeating event is how often you move your hips forward/back, you can adjust that. For example, if the song is slow and the beat is a four count, consider breaking the beats from 4x to 8x. Instead of thinking one-two-three-four as the count you use for dancing, start to think in the pattern of one-and-two-and-three-and four. Like a waltz. And just as you can speed up to change your tempo, you can slow down your tempo. If the beat is fast, break a one-and-two-and-three-and-four beat down to one-two-three-four. It's the difference between 'regular time' and 'split time'."
Lauren in Washington, D.C., started out using hoops around 43-39 inches before making a big drop in size. She said, "I also started using less tape to get a lighter hoop just to see how it felt. It was a huge adjustment - initally i think i went from 38 or 39 inches down to 36 inches, and it took a lot of practice to get a feel for it. ... The small hoop felt like a rubber hair band on my waist at first. It just took time... But I personally love smaller hoops now that I am used to them. I can appreciate a good groove hoop and still use them, but I found it much easier to dance and have control when I used a smaller, lighter hoop. I like having a variety of speeds to play with, and different weights and sizes really help keep me from getting into a lull."
One of the deciding factors for me in going with a smaller and lighter hoop came about as a result of a thumb injury. I loved my big heavy hoop, but tossing it high into the air one day I swear I heard a cracking sound when it came down directly on my thumb because I was slightly off in catching it. Although it wasn't broken, it did take a few weeks for it heal. Now that I'm using the smaller hoop, I've tried using my big one every so often and it feels so heavy and cumbersome, but the momentum it carries with it is really fun to play with too. Nevertheless, I'm sticking with my new smaller and lighter one.
