Hooping- I'm not talking about basketball.

It might seem like a child’s toy, but to me it is a stress-reliever, hobby, passion, and work out. Hula hooping has impacted my life for the better. I can have really bad anxiety and I used to get beyond stressed out to the point where I didn’t know what else to do to take me-time and relax. I used to take my dogs for a walk, go running, or for a drive and blast music, but I started to get tired and bored of that. I started to notice at more concerts and music festivals that there were people dancing with hula hooping, or poi. I was always in aw when I would see them perform. Then, I saw people who would hula hoop with fire!! Yes, fire, crazy! I wanted to try it so badly, but I knew I would hit myself in the face at least 20 times per minute.

Photo Credits: Red Roll- Mark Reddington

I found myself adding and following hoopers on Facebook and Instagram, seeing hoop videos all through my timeline instead of drama, politics, or anything bad and upsetting in the world. I really loved how unique, different, and creative everyone’s flow is. So, I didn’t want to wait anymore. Around April of 2015, I went to Walmart and grabbed a toy hoop and started learning. I found more of a creative self inside of me that I didn’t know existed. I also found myself less stressed out, and it was very relaxing to take a deep breath, blast some music and pick up my hoop.

I started hanging out with a new group of friends a few years ago and one of the girls who is my best friend, started hooping not too long before I started. I followed her steps and learned a few moves from her. She motivated me to keep giving it a try, also because we didn't know a lot of people around the area who hooped too. Soon, I found myself loving it even more that I went on Etsy and purchased my first real hula hoop from The Spinsters Etsy page. I also went to Home Depot and bought polyethylene (polypro) tubing to make some of my own hoops since it is cheaper than buying hoops and easier to learn tricks with bigger, heavier hoops.

I probably should’ve explained the different kinds of hoops... There is polypro tubing, which most people use, and HDPE tubing. HDPE is a big more sturdy, durable and has some weight to it, compared to polypro which is as light as a feather, durable, but not as thick and see-through. You can get ½, ¾ths, 11/16ths, and 5/8ths tubing. I prefer 11/16^th or 5/8ths. Your hula hoop tubing can range from numerous different colors, and sizes (in diameters). You can also get your hoop taped with reflective tape, solid colors, color-morphing tape, tape with designs, and custom orders. Prices for these hula hoops can range anywhere from $15-$60. Until you start upgrading to LED hula hoops. Those can range anywhere from $50-$600+ (yes…you read that right). You can get a basic, single colored hula hoop, a color changing hula hoop, or a wide selection of hula hoops that light up and have all kinds of different patterns and designs, including DIY designs and patterns that you can upload onto your own hoop. And yes, I do own one of those fancy expensive hula hoops. Mine is an Astral Atomic Evoke and I bought it used for $315 after shipping, which is almost $100 cheaper than how much they are brand new. Luckily, most of these hoops come with a year or two or more warranty. I actually own about 13 hula hoops, including ones that I made. If you are ever interested, I recommend these Etsy pages, TheSpinsters, ShelLEDHoops and Lunar Landings.

 Photo Credits: Mark Reddington Photography

Okay, back to hooping haha.

My favorite thing about hooping is the dedication I have to learning new tricks, and the fact that it’s all for fun and relaxation, not a competition. Learning new tricks gives me a sense of fulfillment and I can’t even begin to express my feelings when I lock down a new trick. I always like having something to do, always staying busy and I love how with hooping that there are so many tricks out there and new combos that you can make that it gives me something to look forward to every time I have time to hoop. Unfortunately, between work and school, its hard to hoop more than once a week. 

Growing and progressing as a hooper these last few years has made me feel really good, relieved and inspires me to grow more as a person. It is always fun to bring my hoop around with my on nature walks, adventures, to concerts and festivals, it creates a unique conversation and definitely draws a crowd and some interesting questions most of the time. It's pretty funny to tell people I am going to hoop and they think I'm going to play basketball or they think I say "poop". 

BTW- Back to the hooping with fire, I have done that before and I am dangerously addicted.

I also feel like I see some body progress from hooping as well- aside from working out. Yes, hooping is considered a work out to!! You guys should try it, even if it is just waist hooping with a weighted hula hoop from Target.

Throughout these last few years, I've met so many nice, loving, helpful, respectful and encouraging hoopers all over that have inspired me and some even becoming current friends and long distance friends. My favorite thing is to go to concerts and festivals and see Instagram/ Facebook famous hoopers and get to talk/ flow with them. I am blessed to have such great friends, family, co-workers and be apart of a community that loves and supports my hooping. I never thought that this plastic circle would motivate me, and create this new world for myself either.

Photo Credits: Mark Reddington Photography

What inspires you guys? What is your motivation? Your stress reliever and hobby/ passions? Anything you do secretly that maybe not a lot of your friends and family know? Do you guys ever get really stressed out or have bad panic/ anxiety attacks and don’t know how to help it?