Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ariel Vandiver on September 13, 2010 at 3:52pm

I feel exactly the same way. I'll be practicing, and someone will walk by, and I will stop whatever trick I'm working on, and will do something I know really well so that way I don't look like a doofus. I finally tried to really ignore how I was feeling about people looking at me. I was for sure they thought I looked dumb, or silly, or like I am showing off. Someone from my college newspaper came up to me today though, and apparently they want to do a story on me. So I think people think it's much cooler than we think they think.
As for the girls giving you the stink eye, my guess is that they are jealous. Even if you don't believe it now, start saying it to yourself, and you will eventually start to believe it. Thats probably the truth anyways.

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Permalink Reply by MJ 'Dizzy hoops' on September 16, 2010 at 11:13pm

at bars i will suggest to guys who are hitting on me that they can try my hoop. typical response usually includes homosexual slander and i always replay "no, that is sexy" and 99% of the time ( i would say 100 because i never met a guy yet who did not respond in the following however there are always exceptions) they respond "oh uhhh, i mean, that is cool" and regret having said that because they now look well...dumb because they are. however it breaks the wall for them and many attempt the hoop

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Permalink Reply by Casey on September 14, 2010 at 5:50pm

yay~!great advice hoopers!

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Permalink Reply by Dani Dub on September 14, 2010 at 6:30pm

You know what, there aren't many hoopers around me. People don't really know what it is and it's new to them, so I get lots of honks, jeers, stares, whatever (but also compliments!). You're doing something cool and that's why they stare. Get some headphones, turn your music loud and just rock out to it, let yourself get lost in your own world, pretend like no one else is around, know that there are thousands of people on this site who love hooping too and no one here would look at you weird for hooping! People will make assumptions about others (not just hoopers) and it's their own ignorance that causes them to do this, so be proud! ^_^

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Permalink Reply by Myranda Hagemann on September 14, 2010 at 6:37pm

I hear ya on this one! I used to be a shy hooper, kidna still am actually especially during practice, but just hoop like no one is watching! Ill blast some jams and work on new or difficult tricks so that im so focused on hooping i dont notice others. Actually, now that I think about it thats how I dance too at shows, i hate when people thinkg youre showing off but really youre just loving what youre doing and going all out! If I hoop at parks going with a friend or two definitely helps or my boyfriend will come along and read a book or something makes me more comfortable. Communities like this are a great place to reach out and find some fellow hoopers in your area that would like to hoop with you. Then, the more you go out the more comfortable you may feel to hoop by yourself at times when no one can join you. I really like the idea, about offering a hoop to the girls that give you dirty looks, great way to get them involved. And Ill also practice in plain comfortable clothes if im shy about hooping in a public place. I really like to pretend that no one is noticing me, even though its hard not to notice when someones hooping. heh. I hope that helps! This is a great topic to address, and some awesome advice! Happy hooping and go get it girl! :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by helen on September 15, 2010 at 7:06am

I think most people probably feel this way unless born extroverts, I have found that eventually my intense cravings to hoop especially when in a hoopy environment just won out over my fears of looking like a show off or people thinking I'm rubbish.
I also found night hooping with an LED hoop a good way of getting used to attention when hooping too, as a-lot of the time people can't see you so well and you feel a bit protected by the dark :)
Happy hooping!
Hx

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Permalink Reply by Sherree on September 16, 2010 at 11:19am

Hoop with a friend or start a group. There is security in numbers and when you get a honk or a comment you can choose to believe it was for someone else in the group. Worked for me with belly dancing.

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Permalink Reply by Katie on September 16, 2010 at 11:29am

I have this problem. I have social anxiety, so for me the biggest issue is that i'm worried people will see me and want to talk to me.

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Permalink Reply by Stephy Mo on September 17, 2010 at 9:41pm

Yes Girl! I feel the same way. I live in row homes and will soon be moving to the city... I have woods down the street from my now and its the only place i can go to get some free hooping in. otherwise... i have neighbors stopping me every two seconds and kids runnin up to me and asking can they try...

Its not that i mind totally... but i feel like i dont get time alone. Im kinda shy. i put my headphones in and just jam out but i like to be alone too!

Dont feel weird. i went to the park and had all eyes on my... so i blindfolded myself so i couldn't see them! That was a great way to feel the hoop and not think about others.
I recommend trying that! let me know how that goes for you.
<3 Stephy

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Permalink Reply by Judy Durham Davis on June 19, 2012 at 11:03pm

I understand how you feel. I am very shy about hooping. I am almost 59 so you can imagine what people think when they see me Hooping. Tough!!! But I do feel shy about it at times.  I know when I started playing music it was really hard on me in public but the more I did it the easeri it got, I think it is the same with Hooping. Just keep doing it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Settle on June 20, 2012 at 10:55am

Yes, I know how you feel, Judy. I'm 58 and at times I'm conscious about my age, especially since even if I'm with other hoopers they are all much younger. But the more I hoop in parks with music, the more confident I get. Usually I hoop near playgrounds, and families with children come up to try it. Once the kids do it the adults join in! 

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StudentPermalink Reply by Allie Kazaam on June 20, 2012 at 6:21am

I was pretty shy about it. I stuck to my living room or my bfs backyard. Eventually there were tricks I wanted to learn where I needed more space, so I went to a park by my house. At first I was really shy and got embarrassed when I messed up, but then little girls kept coming up to me and asking me how to do tricks (the vortex gets them every time). Having kids around definitely helped. Eventually I got enough courage to bring my hoop to work and hoop at Millenium park on my lunch break. Having people watch there definitely gave me an adrenaline rush, and I actually learned shoulder du k outs!!! I think pushing myself to get over my fears of judgement have definitely made me a better hooper, and probably a more confident person. Go for it!

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