Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by chels on February 10, 2011 at 9:26pm

I just think about how im spreading the hoop love. I totally talk up hooping! If people are approaching you with questions, then they will gladly listening to you talk about hooping. I always bring up how good it is for you..mind, body, and soul. I usually have extra hoops around so other people can give it a try, and that makes it a little less weird for me. As for gawkers, I don't mind. They probably are not thinking of something negative(how could they? Hooping is so awesome :P) but if they are, then they are not worth your thoughts anyway. Just continue to enjoy yourself!

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ModPermalink Reply by Martika* of MartikasMysticDesign on February 11, 2011 at 5:56am

you could bring extra hoops with you and let them talk for you. When someone asks about hoping you could give them a quick explanation about the growing spin community and hand them a hoop to try. I think it could lighten the mood for them and you.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah "Dwiizie" on February 11, 2011 at 11:01am

Smile and have fun! I remember feeling "not good" when I first started hooping in public, but then I remembered me in my pre-hoop life. Just being able to move your feet, sustain the hoop, and a lift is enough to wow anyone who hasn't been exposed to hooping before. Usually, when people ask specific questions, like "are you doing this for exercise" and I say "Well, I consider myself a hoop dancer, but its great exercise built into my favorite hobby" Then if they ask how or why, I just talk to them a bit while doing step touches with my feet and hooping, and it really gets me out of breath to talk AND do that at the same time, so they can SEE that its taking effort. Once I was asked if I took dance classes or if I was a dancer, and I said yes. They asked what kind, I said "Well, hoop dancing is a form in itself, but my roots are mainly in ballet, jazz, and tap." If they ask why I'm doing it, "Because I LOVE it!" and if they say "Yeah, but why do you love it" oh they've set themselves up for an earful. I don't stop hooping to talk to people, I talk while hooping, and yes, I always have extras on hand and am quick to offer them for "trial runs" Some people try once or twice and bail (they may be secretly plotting to go find info and try at home alone, free of embarassment, thats what I did lol. Actually, I didn't even approach or try hooping when I first saw and WANTED to, I got the courage later to go to a local group and try it, THEN I was officially hooked) Other people will start spinning and not stop until you revoke their hoop when its go home time, but they will be back lol.

I will say I have to tell myself things like "whats the worst thing that could happen, people will laugh, or think hooping is stupid...in which case its not their thing and oh well and, IMO, their loss. " or if I start thinking that I'm tripping over my words or not communicating effectively, I pause. I take a deep breath and fan myself because and say "wooo, its a workout, anyways, what I was trying to say is this:" That little time cushion gives me an excuse to take a break and formulate my next thought.

My go to one liner if its needed is this: "OH! Hooping! I love it so much, I can't even begin. Hooping.org has really great organized info that can answer all your questions though, and its a really great community." I had a bicyclist say "hooping.org...got it...awesome...thanks!" and he was on his way, but I KNEW from the way he said it that one day (maybe already) he will be in the hoop, if only to test it out.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Fleur de Hoops on February 11, 2011 at 1:12pm

I also have started having this problem.  I usually get responses after practice while I hoop on base (Navy) but out in town people come up to me out of nowhere (some are kind of scary looking.) I'm not big on people approaching me that I don't know and I really don't like being in places where it's just me and another person.  (I truly have major trust issues with anyone I do not know.) When i know someone then it is alright.

But when they do approach me I just make small talk about it...I'm not one to scream from the bell tower what I am doing, how I started, etc.  The positive attention makes me very uncomfortable too...I really just want to be left alone so i can practice.  I don't mind if people watch me and stare...I can always ignore that (unless it's one person, then I always have an eye on them...I'm very parinoid.)

I think what it comes down to is do what is comfortable for you.  I keep things short and simple. I haven't interacted with anyone like you mentioned, but if I do I will try to be polite.  I've noticed to continue hooping normally helps them get the idea that you want to keep going and not stop for time to talk.  And if you are still moving, they will also want to stop talking and watch you instead. 

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Permalink Reply by Leilani Berry on February 11, 2011 at 2:58pm

Thank you so much for your reply!!!! It's good to know someone out there feels a bit like me about it:) I want to be polite too! I just don't really like sharing stuff about myself with strangers and I'm not thrilled with strangers approaching me either! I suppose I'm going to get a lot of practice at this talking to strangers thing - because I love hooping! And I love hooping in big open spaces and at the beach. I'm not going to just hoop at home. Especially not now since the weather is getting better:) And I imagine when I break out my LED hoop out in public there'll be more questions too!

 

My neighbors come over and try to chat me up while I'm hooping outside. But that doesn't bother me at all. I like all my neighbors:) I live in the burbs and they're all very sweet. 

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Permalink Reply by Kate Lovenote on February 11, 2011 at 1:26pm

If people are giving me positive feedback I generally just thank them, and let them know how much I appreciate them saying so. When they ask me questions I usually stop hooping to answer them and then let them try using my hoop. Normally people try it and recognize how hard it is and can't do it for very long and that ends the conversation!! I'm still working on not getting sweaty and shaky and dropping the hoop when people are watching lol. . . .but its always a good opportunity to share my love of hooping! If people are that interested you can use that opportunity to sell them a hoop or a class (or direct them to a website like this!).

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Permalink Reply by Leilani Berry on February 11, 2011 at 1:59pm

I guess part of the thing is my intention. I'm really not interested in talking to strangers, I'm not interested in stopping hooping, and I really don't hoop in public for attention, promotion of any event/site or even of hooping itself. However I feel guilty about not stopping, not talking about hooping, and not sharing the love of hooping. It seems that many folks on this site and the other site I'm on are much more friendly than I am with strangers. I met strangers with a sense of wariness and discomfort in most situations. When I'm just walking or bicycling people only approach me if I stopped but hooping is different. I get that its more of a spectacle. I do love it and I do like talking about it but not when I'm actually hooping, flowing by the beach or dancing to some groovy beats on my mp3 player. sigh. I guess I'm just not very friendly except in certain circumstances. It's like the fact I'm heavily tattooed; people want to talk to me about my tattoos and expect I must WANT to talk about them since they're visible. But in fact, I have tattoos because I love them and they're meaningful to me. I don't have them to start conversations. I have developed some quickie replies to people that follow me around malls, stores, and parks trying to talk to me about my tattoos and that's why I thought I need/want something about hooping:) 

 

I also know that I feel more threatened by strangers because of a history of icky people trying to drag me off in the bushes, trying to touch me, etc. (none of which while hooping usually just walking through a parking lot, walking my dog in the park, clubs, concerts, etc.) And intellectually I get that talking to these hoop interested folks might get them hooping and they're not really a threat; they're just friendly. But sadly, I don't feel friendly or at least not yet.

 

Maybe I can make up some business cards with general hooping info like this site and hooping.org on it and have stack when I go hoop in the park. I can work up a 2-3 line quickie response and direct them to the cards and go back to my hooping? 

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Permalink Reply by Lacey on February 11, 2011 at 2:16pm

You could always say something like "My therapist recommended that everytime I feel like randomly killing 100s of people, I should hoop. Once my urge is gone, I'll be happy to stop my hooping and chat with you."  Most probably won't stick around until you're done :-)

 

Slightly less dramatic would be to just quickly thank them for their interest, but let them know that you hoop to meditate and talking prevents you from doing so. Maybe even offer to answer any questions when you finish, if you want. Even though it is often nice to be social with strangers, you don't OWE them a conversation.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Hoopmomma on February 11, 2011 at 2:49pm

Seriously, I am so passionate about hooping that people better beware of talking to me because I will talk their ear off. But really, it is about spreading the hoop love. Alot of people became interested because one day out of the blue they saw someone hooping, then they asked, and then they became a hooper.

 

I don't think you can avoid it. In  my first hoop class I remember my teacher told me to watch myself in the mirror and decide what to do with my arms because if you are hooping, someone is going to be watching and you don't want to look like a chicken flapping away. It is true, it really attracts attention.

 

However, if youa re really that uncomfortable maybe try Lacey's reply. :0)

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Permalink Reply by Leilani Berry on February 11, 2011 at 2:54pm

Yeah, I'm with you on that I probably can't avoid it. And since so far almost every time I've hooped in public people try to talk to me about it. Thus why I thought I'd for some suggestions here.

 

However it seems most folks here are waaaay more comfortable and friendly than I am with strangers. I suppose hooping in public is going to wear me down and maybe I'll just get more comfortable. laughs.

 

I don't really mind people watching. As a belly dancer and someone heavily tattooed, I'm pretty used to people's lingering gazes. I'm also good with a comment here or there. It's the "conversation" and questions and such that leave me feeling that I'm a bad ambassador for hooping (since I tend to say short quick answers and avoid talking.) 

 

sigh.

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Permalink Reply by Hoopmomma on February 11, 2011 at 2:58pm

You know, you don't have to stop hooping. I realy don't, I talk and hoop. Then you can use the spinning hoop as a barrier to keep your personal space. Perhaps this will be a good thing and help you become more comfortable in these situations, if you are interested in becoming more comfortable.

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StudentPermalink Reply by The CircularPhile on February 11, 2011 at 7:53pm

I have flyers for the local hoop teachers and a link to the local hoop group with me when I hoop in public. I tell people they should check the group's site and come to a hoop jam if they are interested in trying it out or asking questions. The hooping.org link is also a good idea. They can get answers to most questions there. I wouldn't feel bad about giving them some info and telling them that you have limited personal practice time, so you need to make the most of it.

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