May
6
2010
6
2010
Learning To Hoop + Hoop City Giveaway!
Filed under: Hooping
Now that you’re all obsessed with hooping…it’s time to LEARN! So, how do you learn to hoop?
Learn With Other Hoopers
I feel that one of the best ways to learn is in community with other hoopers. I had been trying to practice different movements on my own…but as soon as I spent a little time with “real” people (as opposed to a video) who were hooping, it all clicked. There was just something about watching a 3-dimensional person doing it. There are many cities offering hoop classes and hoop meetups…but if your town doesn’t have anyone gathering to hoop, start a group yourself! Hooping is one of those activities that draws a crowd…so just break out your hoop in the park, bring extras and make some new hooping friends.
Videos
There are many, many tutorial videos on YouTube and elsewhere. We live in a really sweet time of technological advancement where we can share our lives with each other in detail. I can take video of me hooping and 10 minutes later, the entire world can see. It’s so fun to see everyone’s different expressions of hooping online. There are also fantastic DVD’s: HoopDance and Hoopnotica are 2 that I know of. The DVD’s are especially nice if your internet connection is slow and you can’t stream very well.
Online Community
Hoop City is an amazing community of hoopers (created by SaFire) who post videos, photos, and encouragement on the site every day. They have specialty “tribes”, and there is something for everyone. Hoop Mamas, Vegetarian/Vegan Hoopers, Curvy Hoopers…you name it. I could spend hours exploring the forums there. Good stuff. Hooping.org Magazine is another HUGE community of hoopers. It’s ever changing and has tons of info. I learn something new every time I visit these sites.
Online Classes
And lastly, there are online hooping classes. In particular, SaFire’s classes at Hoop City. When I first found her classes, I thought…”Why would I spend money on classes when I can just watch free YouTube videos all day?”. And then I took a class. And IT. IS. AMAZING. SaFire is an incredible teacher (she actually has a degree in teaching and fine art)…and she is able to break down the movements in such a way that makes it so easy to learn. She also teaches the “flow” of hoopdancing…not just one movement at a time, but actually how to piece them together easily. These classes are so detailed and full of inspiration…they are absolutely worth every penny.
Here is a photo of a lesson (click to enlarge once it loads)
Here is a sample of what a class looks like:
But before you buy a class…you can try to WIN ONE!
YES! You can enter this giveaway to win TWO online classes of your choice + her “Planting Seeds” course which focuses on general ideas for approaching your hoop practice, how to vary your style and general tips and tricks that SaFire has discovered in her years of hooping. Even if you’ve been hooping for years…SaFire will bring a freshness to your practice, teaching you new ways of entering/exiting a movement and adding new style.
I’m so excited about this giveaway because I know first hand how amazing these classes are! One thing that I love is that you can download each class so that you can have it on your iPhone / iPod and take it outside with you to hoop. Love that!
There are several ways you can enter your name in the drawing (choose as many as you like for multiple entries, but each entry must be a separate comment). I will choose the winner at random on Tue. May 11, at 12:00 p.m. CST.
- Click on over to Hoop City and JOIN the community of hoopers there.
- Leave a comment below and tell me something fun about your hooping adventures (your favorite movement/trick, your favorite hoop, where/when you like to hoop…basically anything hoop related and you’re good).
- For an extra entries, put a link back to this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter (and then leave a comment here that says “FB/Twitter”) Here is some sample wording for posting: I just entered the Hoop City Online Hooping Class giveaway. Come check it out ! http://bit.ly/9gtkqS . For Twitter, you can add the hashtag #hooping.
- Add another entry for becoming a “fan” of the SaFire Facebook page, Hoop City Facebook page or “Follow” Hoop City on Twitter.
- You will get yet ANOTHER entry for posting about this giveaway on your own blog (add another comment here that says “blogged here” with a link).
Thanks so much for stopping by…happy hooping!
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardvignola/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Posted by Sara @ 8:57 pm | Leave a Comment
9
2010
Joined hoop city, became a fan of SaFire and Hoop City on FB! I’ve been having fun hooping with my children-we tried to make our own hoops-EPIC FAIL! I think either I got the wrong tubing or wrong connectors. Is PEX tubing the same as polytubing? I couldn’t get the ends to soften to get the connectors in. We’re going to try again though.:)
9
2010
linked this giveaway on facebook
9
2010
i’m a fan of safire and hoopcity on facebook.
9
2010
Hi Christy!
Yes! Try again. What color is the tubing? It’s almost always black (irrigation tubing). It shouldn’t be hard to get the connectors in…Matt does it without even heating them. You should get 3/4 100psi or 3/4 160psi (the first will be lighter for kids).
Hope that helps!!
9
2010
I’m loving how hooping can bond people in laughter and playfulness. We’ve experienced that several times already this weekend.
9
2010
Tweeted!! http://twitter.com/OrganicSister/status/13698148358
10
2010
I joined hoop city!
10
2010
Became a fan of SaFire’s facebook page
10
2010
I do not know ANY hooper moves other than the basic swing the hoop around your middle and hope it doesn’t hit the floor 5 seconds later ; )
Looks like such fun tho. Who knew there was so much more to hooping. Not I. Would love to learn more.
10
2010
I just became a fan on Safire facebook page.
Thanks Sara for another funky, fun giveaway.
10
2010
I just made my own hoop and loved the process (besides finding the parts!). Go Lowe’s.
10
2010
Just made our hoops yesterday, we are all having a blast. The kids love playing around and I am loving how in touch with my body and movements I am feeling.
10
2010
Twitter
10
2010
FB
10
2010
Following on Twitter, Liked on FB
11
2010
I just joined Hoop City.
11
2010
I tweeted.
11
2010
I now follow Hoopcity on twitter.
11
2010
I just got a hoop on Sunday made by my aunt. I’ve figured out hooping at the waist and am now trying to figure out hooping at the knees. Thanks for the giveaway!
11
2010
I am a BIG fan of hooping! In fact it brought me out of deep depression. When I pick up my hoop I just get lost, NOTHING matters. I close my eyes and become oone with my hoop. I dont have a fav. move or trick, Just knowing that my hoop is there makes me feel like I have an excape. Thanks for the chance to win. I hope I do win….then I can take my hooping to the next level….I would love to have a pro teach me! Thanks agian. I am also a fan of Hoop city. BTW my 3yr old son wanted me to make him a hoop and he gives it all hes got!!!
11
2010
also blogged on facebook….
11
2010
also following on twitter!!
15
2010
Following on twitter; trying to learn something beyond hooping at the waist. I enjoy this site very much!