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
6
2010
My first hoop was red and white candy stripe and was peppermint scented. I was seven. I haven’t done it since, but would love to!
6
2010
I followed hoopcity on twitter! (I’m @amberdusick)
6
2010
i’ve only been interested in hooping for a couple of days now (because of your blog post!) but i think my four-year-old wants a hoop too – she watched all the youtube videos with me!
6
2010
Joined hoopcity!! Wow, what a site! They are into some awesome stuff…I think you might have got me hooked!I think I used to hoop when i was a kid….I think!! Lol! Im really excited to get my two little girls into it…theyre gonna freak! Thanks Sara!
6
2010
Im a fan of hoop city and SaFire on facebook!
7
2010
I’ve never had a hoop (not even as a child – scandalous!). I’ve never been very good hulahooping (with friends’ hoops), it always ends up round my ankles.
7
2010
Tweeted it!
7
2010
Followed SaFire on FB.
7
2010
We’ve joined the hooping bandwagon! We got our tubing & tape Wednesday. Luke and Lauren decorated their hoops while I was at work yesterday so I need to get busy!
I can still do the basic spin pretty well from skills I learned as a kid, but after watching SaFire, I am so inspired to learn more! I’m getting ready to go tweet & add SaFire on FB. Thanks!!
7
2010
Jen…Yay! So glad your whole family is hoopin’ it up
So fun. I want photos!!
7
2010
Just recently my children have taken up hooping…they are naturals!!! Momma on the other hand could use some inspiration! I’d love a chance to learn from such a beautiful hooper! Lord knows, I need it…but until then our family will definetley be sharing some laughs over me attempting to hoop! : )
Sara…you said the larger hoops are easier than the smaller ones in a previous psot. I’m just using my kid’s one, but how big would you recommend making one? Our hardware store has all the items I’d need! : )
7
2010
I blogged about your giveaway…
http://serenitysgivaways.blogspot.com/2010/05/winner-of-yoplait-greek-nourish-your.html
7
2010
FB fan of SaFire….Love the videos! She’s amazing!!!
7
2010
I can’t hardly keep the hoop up! I’m lucky if I go a full minute.
7
2010
When I first read this post I thought, “nah, I probably won’t ever do that.” and then last night we ran into a hooping group! First dreads and now hooping! I feel as though I should ask you what to expect next.
7
2010
Ginger, Sara has saved me from a life of middle-aged suburban mediocrity! Can’t thank her enough!
7
2010
I would SO love to win this and start hooping!!! The need is diriving me almost crazy! I’m planning to make my own hoop very very very soon!!! Thank you for introducing us to hooping!!
7
2010
FB fan of SaFire. She rocks!
7
2010
Became a fan of Hoopcity facebook page! Yay!
7
2010
Joined Hoope City!!!
7
2010
Became a fan on Facebook
7
2010
Made a hoop for me and the little guy I nanny for, we’ve been having a LOT of fun!! Can’t wait to learn more!!
Are there any “teaching kids to hoop” classes?
7
2010
Joined Hoop City
7
2010
Became a fan of SaFire on Facebook
7
2010
Became a fan of HoopCity on Facebook
7
2010
First saw hooping at a Dead show and loved it! I have always wanted to be circus people…
7
2010
After getting to play with you and your hoops, plus great instruction…well…I want to develop this as a new hobby.
Thanks so much for the personal instruction and the tips!!! I WILL master that behind the back, over the head, swing it move. 
Blessings….
7
2010
I haven’t hooped since I was younger!! After watching your links my daughters and I are excited to start hooping!!!!!
7
2010
Joined Hoop City!
Got tubing today and am ordering tape soon! Ouch my waist hurts! ha!
7
2010
I want to hoop more often to exert some of that tension I get when my infant is restless. I can plop him down in the grass and hoop while he watches. He loves to watch!
I also loved hooping tonight under the stars! SO COOL! 
7
2010
Became a Fan on FB and following on Twitter!
7
2010
I have never tried hooping, ever. Even as a kid. But it’s interesting that since reading your post about it, suddenly I am seeing it everywhere. My friend recently posted this on her blog, I thought you might find it interesting: http://earthybirthydoula.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/hooping-for-a-healthy-pregnancy/
8
2010
Just joined hoopcity! Looks like lots of fun!
8
2010
Following @hoopcityhooping!
8
2010
I just joined the community at Hoopcity.
8
2010
I also became a fan of Safire on FB, what fun videos she has on there. My kids and I loved watching them, an now my kiddos all want their own hoops too! What a fun family activity this will be! The led hoops are so neat!
8
2010
I have not had a hoop since I was a kid, but I am actually really excited to learn and I know that my 6 year old daughter is going to love it, thanks so much for the inspiration!
8
2010
I linked up to this on FB.
8
2010
My children love to hoop and I so enjoy watching them go at it for long lengths of time.
Warm wishes, Tonya
8
2010
My lily is reading this with me and now has her day planned out
I’ve been out of blogging for a while, but am looking up all my old reads, and of course you were a favorite of mine! We are homeschooling this coming year, and one of the first sites I thought of for inspiration and encouragement was you…looking forward to slowing down the pace of our life, and unschooling!
8
2010
I NEED this–I am finding that I am hoop disabled. I can’t get the hang of it.
8
2010
Joined the Hoop City facebook page
8
2010
I need this… have been meaning to start hooping, but haven’t
Thanks for getting me off my bum!
8
2010
I’m new to hooping, so I don’t have a favorite part or memory or place.
I can’t wait to get started.
8
2010
Became a FB fan of SaFire.
8
2010
I loved hula hooping as a kid, and even won a couple public no-prize hooping contests. And I can’t wait to take it to the next level as an adult!
9
2010
I bought Liam a baby hoop (we went to ALCO to ride the electronic elephant for a quarter – our source of entertainment when Travis is working nights) and saw the “hoopdahoops” so bought a tiny 2 year old version for him, and it has to be about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen
We are going to ACE tomorrow to get stuff to make mama one!
I’m kinda a follower, but with as cool of a cousin, who wouldn’t want to be?!
9
2010
Trish…so fun! Thanks for the compliment
You’re pretty cool yourself. I can’t wait to hoop with you!! Now you HAVE to come up to Mpls 
9
2010
i just made 15 hoops for colter’s 6th birthday for the kids to take home with them. i will next make one for moi!
kelli
9
2010
i joined hoop city. yay!