Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rita SpinningEarth on October 29, 2011 at 8:57am

Find a festival where there will be hoopers.  Take your hoop, but tell yourself you aren't going to do any hooping, and plan to just watch.  Bet you will not be able to resist getting into it.  Focus on a different aspect than learning new techniques.  Focus on the feelings, maybe try the blindfold.

Permalink Reply by Tonya on October 29, 2011 at 9:03am

I think that's a brilliant idea Rita!  I mean, isn't that pretty much how all of us got turned on to hooping was by seeing some random hooper somewhere just doing their thing and we all thought "hey, I wanna do that!" 

Permalink Reply by Sue on October 29, 2011 at 9:00am

Don't give up. Just realign your requirements. So what if you haven't learnt certain things. Pretend there is no Internet to see others and you will become an instant star in your own eyes. I think it can be daunting to compare all the time. But we all have our own styles and that's fine.

I can perform a lot of different tricks when showed, but I tend to forget them quickly because on the whole I just love to dance about with the hoop on my core. Waist, hips, shoulders, all favourite places and I can enjoy myself for hours like that. Not much fun to watch, but fun to do.

If you simply think you can't do enough then forget about what you see and do what you like. Nome hoopers are almost exclusively off body, others exclusively on body. It doesnt matter. Remember it's not a competition. You are doing it for you. Just do it for you.

Permalink Reply by Tonya on October 29, 2011 at 9:08am

For a minute there I thought you were a newbie getting frustrated and then I watched a bit of your video....you're amazing!  Don't give up, maybe just change your perspective or direction (figuratively) or the music or the location....there's so much going on in our world today, don't give up on something that is so joyful...remember???

Permalink Reply by Infin8ti on October 30, 2011 at 1:22pm

I wish that was me. thats the amazing McXander. I posted it as one of my favs.

And thanks for the reminder :)

Permalink Reply by Laura Doty on October 29, 2011 at 9:41am

It might help to re-adjust your expectations.  I'm guessing that a big part of your discouragement is based on your own time-line of what you think it OUGHT to take you to master some techniques.  Everyone is different: it's taken me literally two years to really get comfortable with upper body hooping. I suggest you consider letting some techniques rest for a while and have fun learning others.  Watch different vids, try dancing to different music, switch up where you hoop and with whom...and give your brain a break from thinking about the how-to's....Try, instead, to focus on having fun.  Also, too: bear in mind that it's not what you look like from outside the hoop that matters: it's all the beauty and joy you feel and see from INSIDE it!!!  

 

Hope this helps!

Permalink Reply by Richie 'Monkey Mooncalf' Isaacs on October 29, 2011 at 2:41pm

I had the 'no new move' thing hit me a few months ago along with discouragement, my best friend (who gave me the hoop bug :) suggested that learning new moves wasn't the only reason to hoop but that maybe both just hooping and refining what I already knew might be all that I needed...she was right. That lasted a couple more months until it just plum wore itself out, and old moves polished up some and indeed the spark to learn came back (just like that Cat with The Hat!)

SO I think maybe just throw on your facourite tunes (or nature) and just spin, worked a treat for this here hooper xx

Permalink Reply by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on October 29, 2011 at 6:38pm

I think you've already gotten some good advice, so I won't repeat it.  I have a question for you: Do you have any moves you learned and then didn't use for whatever reason?  Maybe now is the time to go back to those moves and try them again.  Or you can do what I do when I start feeling bored with what I know and can't pick up anything new right away - I take what I know and mash it up into new moves and combos, or I let my imagination go into "what if?" territory and try to execute what I think up.

Permalink Reply by Infin8ti on October 30, 2011 at 1:05pm

To answer your question, I acutally use all the moves I have learned. Its expanding what I am able to do with my hoop, or the inablility I should say, at this point to do that which gets me discouraged.

Permalink Reply by Sheri on October 29, 2011 at 8:16pm

It is always too soon to quit.

 

Sheri

Permalink Reply by Infin8ti on October 30, 2011 at 1:01pm

Wow, thankyou over 40's for all of the wise advice....and compassion!

You have truly given me permission to be ok just where I am, and remined me what is at the core of  hooping.

I'm already feeling the itch....

With much gratitude, and big love,

Infin8ti