Replies to This Discussion

ModPermalink Reply by Martika* of MartikasMysticDesign on August 22, 2011 at 11:29am

Stop thinking about what you want to do and let your body move. Just do what feels comfortable, natural to you. Find a slow song you really enjoy, close your eyes and do what comes natural to you.

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Permalink Reply by Sammy Sunshyne on August 22, 2011 at 12:03pm

Stop looking for it & you'll find you never lost it. ;)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Courtney B aka BreedloveHoops on August 22, 2011 at 9:36pm

Find music that moves you. If I feel passionate about the song I stop worrying about how I am moving.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tilly Whirls on August 23, 2011 at 11:33am

Maybe take a break for a couple days, or just do drills/practice new moves for a couple days and continue listening to music. (Radio, mp3s, Pandora, commercials on TV). Eventually something you hear will inspire you to move and you'll feel truly spurred to pick up your hoop and dance. Turn the music up loud and really allow yourself to feel it and don't over think what you're doing.

This happened a few weeks ago with me and it turned out to be a Coldplay song that made me want to move (Every Teardrop is a Waterfall). I don't normally dance to Coldplay but that's what did it. I also find I realllly get into my dancing and end up flowing like nothing else when I'm hooping to live music. The town I'm in holds these summer concerts on Friday nights and it's pretty much all (really decent) cover bands and just the live music alone really gets me moving. Last Friday I was totally blissed out and hooped like crazy for an hour or so nonstop.

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Permalink Reply by Gailya Wagner on April 22, 2013 at 12:21pm

Coldplay is great for movement and the parachutes album is helping me find mine. <3

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Permalink Reply by funk*blossom on September 6, 2011 at 3:05pm

I sometimes find the best thing to do is --> put the hoop down and just dance!

I think we (as beginners trying to perfect a new move or emulate another hooper) get caught up in the details too much and simply forget about the joy of dance and music and hooping and playing! Once you get your head into the dance space, into your own groove, your own beat,  grab your hoop and let it flow......

 

I also really really really love hooping to my shadow. (vs in a mirror)

I find that hooping in a mirror i tend to focus on the details and get caught up in "trying" too much where as dancing to my shadow is a much more organic, free form adventure.!  :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Kacie Knight on September 7, 2011 at 10:34am

A change of venue, a change in music, a change in state of consciousness, a change in your prop, or just a change in perspective could all be helpful. 

 

If you're feeling stuck. Switch it up. Something new and different to put a freshness on it, without "finding flow" as your goal. Maybe go hoop outside in a beautiful venue, with a natural rhythm, like by a river. Or put on some tunes you wouldn't normally hoop to.... a favorite album from high school? Change your headspace in a way you feel comfortable, maybe by meditating for awhile, or (if it's legal and your style) have a glass really good wine.  Dance without your hoop. Try spinning something else for a bit. Maybe some mini's or a staff or a flowwand. But most of all, don't stress if it isn't happening. There is a ebb and flow to all aspects of our lives.

It will be back.

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Permalink Reply by Onyx on September 7, 2011 at 8:55pm

i've been having this problem too. i perform with my hoop dance group alot and we just did a really great performance at the fair and the weeks after i was feeling so in tune with my flow and now it feels as if we are two strangers trying to make things work. Maybe because i have been entering alot of contests by video lately and i think im putting too much stress on the way it looks and not the way i feel. all the advice in this thread is really helpful. I'm up to try anything.

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