Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Desi Fleming on May 31, 2012 at 6:08am

I am pretty new to hooping, and chest hooping took me a long time. What I found that worked for me was sitting on the floor and chest hooping. It helped me disconnect my upper and lower body and get the feel of what it would feel like when I was standing. I was unable to turn while chest hooping, it would always fall to the ground. What finally really helped me was attending a one day class with Ann Humphrey. She recommended a very large hoop. It came up to my breast bone and it was 1" tubing. That really slowed it down, she also explained how to turn and step. Much like you turn when waist hooping, you catch the hoop on your hip and turn with it, same with chest and shoulder hooping. Since her class, I have been able to turn and slow the hoop down and can now get my hands in and out of the hoop. Up to that point, I looked like I was having a seizure while chest hooping. Good Luck!

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Permalink Reply by Alexandra on May 31, 2012 at 4:19pm

I never would have thought of sitting down. I'm gonna try it! Thanks :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Scully on May 31, 2012 at 7:37am

What tutorials have you watched and what are the specs on your hoop?

If you are comfortable neck hooping try starting at the neck and shruging one shoulder in the hoop and then practice the other. Also remember chest hooping is more side to side for the momentum then front and back.

 

I still struggle with chest hooping quite a bit.

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Permalink Reply by Katie Emmitt on May 31, 2012 at 9:38am

i literally JUST made a tutorial for this this morning! check it out and see if it helps. i had the same issues with it going up to my neck when I first started too. it took me probably over a month to get it down towhere i was happy with it. but check it out, and maybe it will help you figure it out!

http://youtu.be/XOYNOUlKlHs

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Permalink Reply by Mina Bear on May 31, 2012 at 9:46am

The main trick I find helpful to chest hoop is that one arm helps to throw the hoop around, hard to explain, but maybe you will know what Im talking about. I hoop to the left, so while shoulder hooping my right arm will help to whip the hoop around and keep it up on my shoulders. Try to keep the hoop on the part of your arm in between your elbow and shoulder, theres like a groove there that it can sit in and get a good momentum 

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StudentPermalink Reply by Kacie Knight on May 31, 2012 at 3:28pm

Sadly this one really does take time to learn to do well... Generally a few months.

Chest hooping (with your arms out) is easier that shoulder hooping (with your arms inside the hoop), but they both require lots of practice.

I would recommend watching as many tutorials as possible. The one by hoopalicious (Annah) is really wonderful. Also, makes sure to practice in both directions from the get go!

Don't be discouraged if this particular trick takes more time than you think it should. It really is a lot about subtle movement that takes flight time to learn.

One big tip is to make sure you are really relaxed and fluid. Jello like in your chest, with cooked spaghetti arms. You need to be super supple and groovy to make it smooth.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Susan Killian on May 31, 2012 at 6:10pm

I can't get chest hooping... not even a little bit.  I've tried standing, sitting, spinning... I. Just. Can't. Do. It.  

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Permalink Reply by Alycia Betts on May 31, 2012 at 7:20pm

What worked for me was imagining that im passing the hoop from one arm to the other. 
Seriously just close your eyes if you cant get something and itll come. 

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Maxwell on May 31, 2012 at 8:01pm

I found that using my elbows more than my chest to try and keep it up helps. First though I just practiced without my arms in the hoop. Put em above your head and make your abs do some work! But if youre trying with both hands  in (moreso shoulder/chest hooping) then I would start by slowly trying to work one hand in the hoop while you waist hoop. Once youre comfortable hooping with one hand in while waist hooping I would try and stick my hand into my hoop so that the hoop contacts just above my inner elbow and lift. A lot of it is just gettin over the akward motion of gettin a hand in and keeping the hoop going while your hand/arm is also in the hoop. I learned to chest hoop vertically before I got it horizontally . Just think of the cat/cow yoga motion becuase thats basically all you have to do to keep it going.

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Permalink Reply by StacyAbbott of HoopinandGroovin* on June 1, 2012 at 8:27am

The following video is a pretty good overview, I do love she is going in both directions!  Always practice in both directions :)  Also, I'm with Desi, I too took Ann Humphreys workshop and loved her concepts, really brings another element into shoulder and chest hooping and is great for beginners, I shared it with my students that hadn't tried shoulder hooping and they got it right away, so check out the videos and practice practice practice :)   oh and definitely work with a bigger hoop, it will help a lot.

http://youtu.be/A2SxaN2qBEc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Givne8OzgUA

http://youtu.be/8DPg4f2aBPQ

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Permalink Reply by Anime Girl on June 2, 2012 at 7:26pm

Chest hooping is a pretty tough one to learn...I still can't chest hoop without spinning with the hoop and I got some serious elbow bruises.  I can only go in one direction now, but I was seriously about to give up.  Youtube several tutorials, one will click with you and a light will go on.  For me, I found it easiest to start from the neck and duck in one arm at a time (like in the SaFire tutorial) until I got the movement down.  Now my next frustration is learning how to shoulder hoop vertically...I can't seem to get the groove on it.  LoL

Here is SaFires tutorial that worked for me:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MslvDS_8z7Q

Good luck and don't give up.  :-)

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