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Permalink Reply by Scunshine on January 18, 2012 at 10:23am

I can identify with this a lot. what if you were to weigh down the smaller diameter hoops? would that affect your off-body flow too much? I really like using a mid-sized hoop with smaller diameter tubing to bridge between the large "body rocker" hoops and polypro. 

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Permalink Reply by Troo Hoops on January 18, 2012 at 10:29am

Speaking for myself, Sean, I totally understand. I love being able to jam out with the hoop off-body, but want to throw some on-body moves into the mix, but with my small hoop, it often results in hoop failure. lol. But my lady, Tash, does such a great job with both. It can be very frustrating because you feel like you've got one hand tied behind your back. 

But you've totally got the right idea. Practice, practice, practice with the smaller or lighter hoop. If you've been rocking out 3 years now, you've certainly got the drive to push through. Embrace these growing pains and let that influence your style. Soldier On!

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Permalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on January 18, 2012 at 12:51pm

The extra weight helps, for sure. I started using my smaller hoop for fire spinning (I have quick wicks) because the wicks kept hitting the ground with my larger hoop. And with the weight of the wicks, I found core hooping was easier with the added weight of the wicks, even though it was the same smaller hoop.

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Permalink Reply by Martika* of MartikasMysticDesign on January 18, 2012 at 11:17am

If you tend to hoop to fast music try changing it up and picking something slow. Doing on body sustained spinning to really feel the hoop move around your body and to feel how you need to move your body to maintain the rotation of the hoop. Then slowly transitioning into off body hooping.

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Permalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on January 18, 2012 at 12:54pm

I'm more of a mid to slow tempo hooper, honestly. At least most of the time. What really inspired this thread, however, was a friend playing some really crunchy up-tempo music that naturally lead me to my smaller hoop. But when I brought it on body, I felt like I was flailing around everywhere. 

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Permalink Reply by Caroleeena of Circles of Joy on January 18, 2012 at 11:23am

I have another suggestion, instead of trying to learn to body rock a smaller hoop, how about trying to learn the off body moves on a larger hoop? That's what I ultimately did and I like it so much better. It gives me more control of my body rocking but it also makes those other moves look soooo much bigger and more impressive. 

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Permalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on January 18, 2012 at 12:56pm

That's a glorious suggestion, Caroleeena! It seems to be the tendency in the hooping community right now to trade off in favor of smaller hoops. But in the long run I know I'd rather compromise or have to work extra hard off-body than give up my core flow. It may not be as "flashy," but it's where my heart is, ya know?

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Permalink Reply by Caroleeena of Circles of Joy on January 18, 2012 at 3:23pm

Believe me sister, I DO know!

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Permalink Reply by Vikki perry on January 18, 2012 at 8:34pm

+1 to both of you.  :D

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Permalink Reply by charlie bear on January 18, 2012 at 12:34pm

i was feeling this way for a long time (at least, the majority of the time i've been a hooper)...i'm still, like you, a body rocker ;) however, i forced myself to strictly hoop with a smaller than i was used to size until one day i was really good..which really only took a couple months. much shorter amount of time than i envisioned. ... and then i tried to go back to my reg. larger hoops and it hurt so bad because they were much larger, more awkward and much heavier... and then i realized, with out even trying, i was even able to successfully hoop tiny toy hoops from walmart, around the core, off the body, every which way i wanted.  i'm starting to introduce larger hoops back into my practices and am now getting to where i'm more comfortable with all the different sizes and weights. i'm getting new bruises again, but it's still so worth it.  you'll get there. in the meantime, vent away dear! don't give up!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Kerner on January 18, 2012 at 1:41pm

I was in the same boat a couple of months ago... My hoop sister so to speak is absolutely tiny, and uses a 30" hoop. I went from a 40" to a 33" in one hoop simply because she got an LED hoop that was 33" and I was so embarrassed that I couldn't play at first that I practiced with my 33" nonstop until I could rock that LED hoop. Shit was HARD! But basically having no choice one way or the other left me bound and determined to make it work. I highly doubt I will ever enjoy a smaller hoop than 33, I mean, it could happen, but realistically I think that's as small as it's going to get... but it's a good size for both on and off body for me. If I didn't have my girl using a tiny hoop or if she hadn't bought her LED, I bet I would still be working my way down from that 40", slowly but surely. Oh and I made that 33" 3/4 tubing hoop HEAVY. I mean, this thing had enough tape on it to clothe a small asian woman... it really helped being able to feel exactly where it was hitting me.. and made it painfully loud when I messed up haha... It's still my favorite hoop; I've stripped it of the insane amount of tape and still use that puppy every day. The larger hoops feel awkward and slow when I try to play now, and I can't do half of my favorite things with a hoop bigger than 36"...just spend a lot of time in that circle and it will pay off, to be sure!!

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Permalink Reply by Kacie Knight on January 19, 2012 at 6:02pm

I hear you with this... I sized down quite quickly to facilitate poi hooping with twins and quite a few off body moves... I like to hoop primarily with a 33" hoop, cause I can rock on and off body easily... I started performing with a 33" and practiced with it all the time...

But then I picked up  an old 36" inch hoop of mine, and found I was magnificent at dancing on body... I was suddenly far more elegant and masterful than I am with that 33" and I rediscovered the magic of the larger sizes...

My solution is to just keep a few sizes and play with them all. I find it makes me a better, more versatile hooper to switch it up. Keeps it interesting too!

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