Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Domini on October 22, 2012 at 9:18am

It took me at least three months before I could get chest with arms out at all and another three for arms in.

I had to really work the hoop pretty hard at first to get it to come up and stay.  Turning in the direction of the hoop always helps, too.  And don't mind if you look like you're flailing at first.  Try holding your arms in different positions, from keeping them in your pockets to tucked right against your ears. 

Oh, and welcome to Hoop City!  Hope you have a good time here.  （＾－＾）ｖ

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StudentPermalink Reply by Caroline Molyneux on October 22, 2012 at 10:26am

I felt exactly the same as you. I wanted to learn these so much, especially shoulder hooping, but try as I might I just couldn't get it. Then I found a massive 50" hoop advertised and thought I'd give that a go. It came up to mid-chest height, and I'd watched a tutorial where the lady had been using a hoop that came up to about the same place, although admittedly she looked like she was a lot shorter than I am.

Anyway, with the larger hoop it just seemed to click in about 3 days, although it took far longer to become smooth and longer again to keep it up without turning. Once I could do it using the large hoop it was pretty easy to get to the point where I could do it with my regular hoop, so that's something you could try.

Oh, and this is my first post, so hi everyone.

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Permalink Reply by Moonshadow on October 22, 2012 at 10:48am

It took me several months to get shoulder hooping down.  I suggest trying chest hooping first.  Don't use your arms, just shimmy the hoop up to your chest.  This way, you can get some of the motions down that you need for shoulder hooping.  Once you've learned how to chest hoop, start trying to work your arms into it.  And don't be discouraged if you can't do it for a while.  You need to learn what doesn't work before you learn what does. 

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Permalink Reply by Christina Hummingbird on October 22, 2012 at 11:19am

a tip for shoulder hooping...think of it as you have a "pusher" arm and a "puller" arm. If you hoop to the left (like i do!) then your left arm is your pusher, and your right arm is your puller. If you hoop to the right, obviously, the right are is the pusher and the left arm is the puller. (I will be speaking as if hooping to the left) So the hoop going around your shoulders, connects with your chest, then your left shoulder, then your back, then your right shoulder. Essentially...everytime the hoop is touching your left shoulder, (coming around the front of you and connecting with your left shoulder) that left shoulder will be pushing the hoop almost forward and to the left of you. its a weird motion to break down into words...lol...and then the hoop will be connecting with your back...and you almost reach your right shoulder back, connecting that right shoulder with the hoop, and pull the hoop forward with your right shoulder...to bring it around to your chest.

i know this sounds really confusing...but if you read this slowly, and picture whats happening at the same time...maybe watch a slow motion shoulder hooping video at the same time...then hopefully it will connect. sorry for so many words...lol. but i know how frustrating it can be to try and try and try and not get a move down...good luck and let me know if i can clarify anything!!

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Permalink Reply by Roberta Cervantes Garcia on October 22, 2012 at 11:21am

Hola Jaime!

 

I'm pretty much in your situation. I'm currently getting the hang of chest hooping (without arms) and can do it smootly - or so I think - for a few minutes non-stop. As for shoulder hooping, I can do it for a few seconds while turning in a circle but when I don't move it's very hard to keep it up and it usually falls to the floor.

 

My suggestion would be like the others, to use a large hoop (maybe not too heavy for your boobs' sake - and use a good bra!) and practice,practice, practice! I thought I'd never be able to do chest hooping (without the arms), it just seemed impossible, and now I can evenwalk around a bit!

 

As for the movement, it's so hard to do because they are muscles that you don't move much in your daily life, let alone hoop with them. Practice the chest-circle movement and stretch (not too harshly) your torso before starting to practice with your hoop, and also, when you're not hooping (lke at the office desk, when you're watching TV, or any random moment you feel like doing it), it helps you loosen 'em up a bit so the movement becomes more and more fluid and stronger. The more you practice, the more you "waken them up" and therefore, you keep improving on your chest hooping! I've even noticed that now that I started working in an office cubicle again (sitting in front of the computer for hourssss), if I don't practice often that my chest hooping isn't as fluid as when I practiced it several times a day ; so being in front of the computer all cramped up affects, therefore make sure you keep it up ;)

 

I also want to chest hoop soooo badly!!! I'm focusing on it!!!!

Be sure to watch a clip from Hoopnotica on chest hooping (search for "strenghten your back with hoopnotica") it's really useful! I own all 4 DVDs they're worth the investment ;)

Good luck!

 

Robs B-)

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Permalink Reply by Roberta Cervantes Garcia on October 22, 2012 at 11:29am

Speaking of which... has anyone had pain in their lead side when starting to learn chest hooping? (without arms)

 

As I said in my previous post, I can hoop on my chest right underneath my armpits. I hoop to the right, so my "lead" side is my right side. After a while chest hooping, my right side (ribs) start to ache, a bit like when you get "air" inside you and it hurts to even speak! It hurts so suddenly I need to stop, breathe slowly and hoop on the waist until the pain goes away. Is it normal or am I doing something wrong?

Robs

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Permalink Reply by Christina Hummingbird on October 22, 2012 at 11:34am

Robs....how heavy is your hoop?? when i practiced on a big hoop...it was reaaaally heavy...and i had the breathing and speaking pain too..lol. i pushed through all of it...and kept going...and eventually moved to a smaller hoop. and now im down to a 31'' polypro. Maybe your hoop is too heavy for you?

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Permalink Reply by Roberta Cervantes Garcia on October 22, 2012 at 11:43am

Hi Christina! Thanks for answering :D it's a 40" HDPE of 1/2" thickness...meaning that it's very large but also very light...I have a 36" regular tubing hoop that is too heavy for my boobs (I use it occasionally).

Hmmmm...so do you suggest keep going until I can do it on a smaller hoop?

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Permalink Reply by Christina Hummingbird on October 22, 2012 at 11:52am

heck yes i do!!!! i suggest to KEEP GOING in general!!! lol...push through the bruises!!! push through the frustration!!! push through the pain!!! use that frustration and anger and pain to fuel your hooping!!! lol....but everyone is different. ive found through my hooping journey that i like to do more, faster...and that means having a smaller hoop. bigger hoops have become to slow for me...i mean i like playing with big hoops sometimes, but when it comes down to it...i like em small!!! haha...my polyflex hoops are 1/2'' also....so your 40'' shouldnt be too heavy. Also...i dont want to say push through the pain...and you to go out and hurt yourself...i definitely want you to be good to your body and by safe. Maybe practice stretching for a good 10 minutes before you hoop and after you hoop...to loosen your muscles and warm yourself up. 

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Permalink Reply by Roberta Cervantes Garcia on October 22, 2012 at 1:07pm

hehehehe Boot hoop camp yaaaay! :D  naww I'm kidding...aa-actually Christina I couldn't help giggling a bit with your answer, it just came at a right moment for enlightment! I just broke up with my bf yesterday after one and a half years (tragic) and I was really thinking that next time I practice my hoop I should take all the frustration on my chest hooping, instead of being a weeping couch potato (which one can't help sometimes, but still I think it's better to move my ass instead of sitting on it with a box of Kleenex). I'm quite determined to shake my bootay hooping and use the motto "look what you're missing, asshole!" ^_^ So yaaaaaay for hooping through bad times!!!!  :D :D :D :D 

I also like faster hooping, especially when learning new tricks. I also dreeeaaaam of buying a red polypro once I'm more advanced ;) As for my chest hooping, I will go steady and easy, if I get pain I guess I will take 5 min to recover and re-take it. And yes, I must admit, the pain isn't as often when I take my time to stretch and warm up properly, as opposed when I hurriedly run to the park and jump into chest-hooping. So yes 10 min for warming-up those muscles!

 

Thanks a lot for the advice Christine!!!! (even if you didn't realize it, was of great help).

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Permalink Reply by Christina Hummingbird on October 22, 2012 at 1:20pm

YESSS!!!! you go girl!!!! thats an awesome way to channel your energy!!! get angry with the hoop...get emotional..get sad...get happy and energetic!!! everything!!! yay im so glad i helped...and am ALWAYS here to help an anyway i can!!! also....get your red polypro...whenever you damn well please!!! i bought my first polypro after 4 months or maybe 5 months...of hooping. you are only as beginner, or advanced as you think you are. push yourself to the limit. show yourself how badass you are!!!!....all while showing that dude what he's missing!!!! <3

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Permalink Reply by Jamie Still on October 22, 2012 at 12:10pm

Thanks so much for all the comments! I've been practicing and practicing, my arms are feeling so beat up! I think I am going to just practice the actual movement with the chest and shoulders without the hoop because I have a hard time with it, even without trying to hoop. Going on day 4 of attempting to learn this trick! 

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