Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on August 4, 2010 at 8:21am

Update, new hoopers, I can chest hoop!!!!!!! Yea for me!!! I finally got it this morning! Great news, huh? The not-so-great news is that I have to be completely topless to do it! (Although DH wondered when I told him why that was such not-so-great news, LOL!) Yep, you read that right. Totally and completely nekkid from the waist up! (Is there a hoop group for exhibitionist hoopers???)

I tried the tips I got up thread (trying it sitting down and moving in a circle while I attempted chest hooping) but to no avail. I have been thinking for awhile that I learned leg hooping by only practicing it with short shorts on to avoid any "slippage" of the hoop against the fabric of my clothes, so in theory, having more exposed skin for the hoop to stick too would be good for learning chest hooping. So, all alone in my basement this morning, I whipped off my workout top and started waist hooping with my flexi-bounce hoop from Hoop Girl. This hoop is quite large (like 41" and very light and thin) so I had doubts but was too lazy to go upstairs and get my heavier 40" hoop. However, the flexi-bounce is completely covered in gaffer tape, so it's by far the "stickiest" hoop I have. Anyway, from waist hooping I just worked that hoop up to my chest and I was off and hooping! I struggled at first, but I knew after the first few times I got it to go around my chest for just a few rotations that I was on my way! Eventually I was working it from the legs all the way up to the chest and down again. I was able to hold it around my chest for several minutes. Mind you I was a sweaty, huffing puffing mess (chest hooping take a LOT of work when you're first learning), and I'm sure I looked more like someone having a seizure than a graceful, smooth hoopdancer, but hey! I got it! I got it! I got it! And it's progress and it's all I need! I'm so happy!

It should be noted that I am very small chested and normally when I hoop I have on either a lightly padded workout top or a top with my regular (lightly padded) bra. (Sorry to all of you who say to ditch the padded bra and embrace my small chestedness, but I like a little something on top to balance out my hips so padded bras are for me!) I had been wondering if the padding was causing the problem, but I've seen many, many hoopers with much larger breasts than I have very successfully and gracefully chest hoop. So, I figured the padding wasn't the issue. After hooping bare chested for awhile, I did put my workout top back on and try again. I was able to do it, but for less time and with much more effort. I think I'll practice naked from the waist up as often as possible to build strength and gracefulness and then try it with a top on. I eventually have to learn to do it, right? I mean hooping naked is all well and good when I'm by myself or entertaining DH (smirk), but not so good when I want to hoop outside or in front of people or with my children running around. LOL!

I'm happy, hoopers! Progress. Progress is always good! And my accomplishment today made me less frustrated with the other move I've been working on, which is passing the hoop in the vertical plane continuously behind the back (using Caroleena's tutorial on YouTube). If I finally mastered chest hooping after a couple of months, I'll learn that move too!!!

Happy hooping, all!!

StudentPermalink Reply by jenn coulter on August 4, 2010 at 10:24am

Yay!! I finally got the hoop to move up to my chest but I can only hold it there for about 2 rotations. I wear padded bras too, have since I was 15 (when you are an AA cup and even after kids you still dont have boobs, yeah I like a lil something in my top k lol) and was wondering if that was one reason i couldn't keep it up. I am also having trouble getting the circular motion down to keep the hoop moving. My body wants to keep the side to side rocking motion as do my hips, the brain hasn't connected to the move yet I think once I get the brain connect it will go much smoother.

Hell I still can barely hip hoop and when I do get it going it ends up angled, not necessarily a bad thing just makes me move faster and sweat more!

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on August 4, 2010 at 11:09am

Jenn - I have to say it, try it with your top off. I'm serious. As soon as I did that, I was on my way. Before that, I couldn't hold the hoop around my chest for even one rotation. Good luck!

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on August 4, 2010 at 8:23am

BTW, it should be noted that hooping half naked is somewhat liberating and fun. I think everyone should give it a go! ;)

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on August 4, 2010 at 8:24am

Dizzy Dreamer - I just noticed that in your original post you mentioned "the escalator." What is that? (Can I do it naked??? LOL!!!)

Permalink Reply by Vallerie *Centrifugal Chemist* on August 4, 2010 at 2:10pm

you can do it with or without clothes, the escalator is where you start off holding the hoop and having it resting between your legs, which should be shoulder width apart. Then you "kick" it up over your body and catch it with the same hand you were holding it with..I know this paints a confusing picture, but it's a cool and fun move when done right. Youtube it, much fun! Clothes or not, lol.

Permalink Reply by Dizzy Dreamer on August 4, 2010 at 4:37pm

this video should help.... It is suppper easy

Permalink Reply by Dizzy Dreamer on August 4, 2010 at 4:37pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft5AeFOwFWg

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on August 4, 2010 at 7:36pm

Wow, awesome move! Now, I wonder if I could do it . . .

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on August 5, 2010 at 9:58am

Umm, yeah, I can. Just tried it last night, and I didn't do too bad. Have to work on "finishing" off the move. Right now I'm just thankful if I grab the hoop before it goes flying off into space!

Permalink Reply by Vallerie *Centrifugal Chemist* on August 8, 2010 at 7:30am

Ok, I've been working on and off of this for a while, but I got it..I got 1 LEG HOOPING (I know, ok for me it's a victory...) But my only question is now is there a nice way to bring my leg back in without knocking the hoop to the ground? I guess it'd be more practice....Still trying chest hooping, I don't know why I'm so chest hooping impaired.

StudentPermalink Reply by Kate on August 9, 2010 at 9:00pm

one leg hooping is definitely something i am still trying to figure out...but i feel as though i am getting better every day. practice really does make improvement!! i am hoping to figure out how to jump into the hoop and send it into a vortex right off the body above the head. i will hopefully have some videos coming soon!

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