Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Britt on July 9, 2012 at 5:12pm

Hey!

I'm a beginner as well and have asked myself the same question. I guess it's all about the way YOU learn best. I have decided to take SaFire's online classes (starting either this week or the next) because I prefer learning things in a somewhat organized way. I believe that it's better to learn certain steps in a certain order. But since I am still a beginner it's impossible for me to know the best order of learning hoop tricks so I like to have someone else who is more experienced to suggest an order of learning to me. Maybe it also has something to do with laziness: I don't want to click through a ton of tutorials before deciding which move/trick I want to learn next. Plus I think that SaFire's way of explaining things just works for me and I don't want to struggle with learning a certain trick only because there happens to be no good tutorial for it on youtube. But that's just the way it works for me... I know there are a lot of good hooping tutorials on youtube and if that's your way of learning I'm sure you can get awesome results (=mad hooping skills) through that, too!

I hope all this makes sense :)

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Permalink Reply by Fauna on July 9, 2012 at 6:36pm

I've been hooping for roughly a year and a half now and I have never paid to learn any trick. I only rely on youtube because I'm a pretty broke college kid. Yes, safire's tutorials are explained very well but a lot the basic tricks you need to build a foundation (i.e. chest hooping, knee hooping, vortex, etc.) are free on her youtube account. Agreeing with what Britt said, I guess it does depend on how you prefer to learn. Like I personally get a lot of joy from sifting through tutorials online and choosing which one(s) I want to work on. It's hard for me to be willing to pay that much money when I wouldn't care to learn every tutorial that comes in the package. However, there are some more advanced tricks that are hard to find free tutorials for (like shoulder passes). I feel like by the time I'm ready to learn tricks as advanced as those that more hoopers will have figured them out and posted a youtube tutorial for them by then, though

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Permalink Reply by Terry Gentry on July 9, 2012 at 6:53pm

i'm too broke to afford the online classes but i would only pay for classes that i could attend in person wether in a studio/festival setting also just learning during jam sessions

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StudentPermalink Reply by Jen Marchese on July 9, 2012 at 6:58pm

if you can afford it, i would pay for safaris online classes.  i love her teaching method.  if you can not have a live person in front of you teaching you then her classes are really good. but phoenix is right, it also depends on your money situation and how you learn.  I never seem to learn through you tube.  I get frustrated.  I am not a fan of online learning.  I think personal experience is better, but living on long island, in NY, there is no teachers out here.  

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Permalink Reply by Kelsey on July 9, 2012 at 8:33pm

I have always used YouTube videos...but I have noticed my progress being a bit slower than a lot of others...mostly went with the ones safire has up...but if Im really having trouble I would try looking for the same trick but a different person's tutorial...

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Permalink Reply by Carly Roseanne on July 9, 2012 at 8:53pm

I've been hooping for about 7 months now and have never purchased SaFire's classes or any in-person classes for that matter. Not to say that her classes aren't great or anything, obviously people love them and progress using them. I just a.) don't have the money to buy them and b.) even if I did, I probably wouldn't because I don't think that you should have to pay to learn. And that's why I'm all for youtube tutorials! It's all about commitment in the end, youtube or SaFire can't help you if you don't stick to it, make mistakes, and drop A LOT. In my personal practice expirimentation with the hoop has always been educational. don't be afraid to do something that feels good! Who knows, it may even end up being visually appealing :)

Have fun anways, whichever you choose!

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StudentPermalink Reply by Ashley Coyle on July 9, 2012 at 9:33pm

Safire's classes really are awesome! I do still use youtube, but if you do decide to sign up for a class, you won't be disappointed!

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Permalink Reply by Courtney Reeves on July 10, 2012 at 12:02am

Well SaFire does have some free youtube video tutorials. Personally I've learned from Youtube and just watching people hoop in general. I've come pretty far without a personal teacher, it really does depend on how badly you want to learn what you're trying to learn. :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Meg Murch on July 10, 2012 at 12:48am

I've learned alot from online you tube tutorials but Safire builds a really good tutorial. Precise instruction- I'm not always ready for the instruction but when I'm ready she provides the details that make it work- two hoops on the body, duck ins, combinations.   I've taken Blooming 1 & 2, minis and multi hooping, all good.  I've bought them a series at a time - I can't work on it all at once.  Enjoy

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StudentPermalink Reply by Ingrid White on July 10, 2012 at 1:03am

I started out with YouTube tutorials as I live in Australia and hooping isn't so big out here as it is in the US. It gave me lots to learn and I love the guys and gals who post these for us!
Then I bought Safire's blooming 2 classes and learnt heaps from that too.
Finally I attended a series of face to face classes in Sydney by Bunny Star.
Each method has its merits and the face to face classes meant I actually met some other hoopers for the first time.
Of course, the hoop gatherings would be a great way to learn as well but the really good ones are in the US too.
I guess if money is tight then use YouTube and find hoop jams close-by. I do think it is really wonderful to meet and hoop with other hoopers who share your passion. But if you are ready and can pay then get some classes.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tink in Tokyo on July 10, 2012 at 5:23am

I have used every resource available to learn: in-person classes, retreats, jams, YouTube, and SaFire's classes. You never really stop learning with the hoop; there's always another trick, a new style, or some nuance to pick up and practice.

SaFire's online classes are good; she gets deep into the details. I find myself referencing them not only to learn new moves, but to review things I've let slide and to pick up tips on tricks I already know.  I think they have been worth the money for me. If SaFire's style works for you, then her classes will be a good value.

Other tutorials are great, too, and some of the people teaching tricks do a great job.

Nothing really beats learning directly from other hoopers, though, so if it's possible to you to connect in person, do that!

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StudentPermalink Reply by MaisieHoops of *HulaHoopers.ca* on July 14, 2012 at 8:00pm

You said it very well Tink. I am a student of safire's teacher training and I love the way she breaks things down... Tons of angles and a lot of description for those who are auditory learners.

Where my real learning happens now is at workshops and at hoop jams. Attending Baxters workshop last year was, transformational to my hooping, to say the least.

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