Topic - Native American Hoop Dance - Anthropology Final Paper

I am publishing this due to a big response and request from Unity of the Hula Hoopers. I am not interested in any criticism or suggestions. This paper is finished and graded at 96%.

I am just posting as per your request to read a copy. Thanks!

Anthropology: Final Paper

How important Movement Arts are to cultures (specifically, hoop dance and the flow arts).

            The arts are incredibly important and crucial to cultures everywhere. Humans have a need to express their highly evolved feelings and ideas about themselves and their world. Art is defined as “the creative use of the human imagination to aesthetically interpret, express, and engage life, modifying experienced reality in the process" (Haviland, 2014). Art can be used to express parts of cultures in ways that every day storytelling cannot. Most societies use art as a symbol for their culture, with ideas about their family, ethnicity, identity, and religion. Art comes in many forms such as verbal, musical, movement and visual. Often, art is expressed in a combination of those forms (Haviland, 2014).

            One such art form that combines musical, movement, and visual forms is called “hoop dance”. Some modern presentations of hoop dance also include a verbal expression through text or voice within a video. Hoop dance is a powerful and beneficial form of art that is experienced and practiced among cultures around the entire world. The hoop dance culture is extensive, found everywhere, and can mean many different things depending on who you ask. The average person may only think of a kid’s “hula hoop”. If you ask a passionate hoop dancer, however, they may speak of hoops as a sacred, extraordinary phenomenon. One of the most widely known versions of hoop dance is practiced by Native Americans.

            The name of this particular culture’s dance is Native American Hoop Dancing. Paintings have been found that depict hoop dancing and are dated back to the 18^th century. The dance used to be called rainbow dance and several other nations started practicing it around this time period. It is believed that the Great Lake Ottawa were the first tribe to perform hoop dance with two hoops. This is where the dancers first adopted their practice of picking the hoops up with their feet before they touch them with their hands. Tony White Cloud is considered to be the founder of the modern hoop dance. He re-invented the art form by performing in public with multiple hoops at once. Now, modern day hoop dance can include as many as 50 hoops (Johnston, 2009).

            The reason why hoops are used to practice their dance is because the hoop is a sacred symbol. It signifies the never-ending circle of life. It is symbolic of the interconnectedness of life, and also symbolic of the continuity of past, present, and future. When more than one hoop is used, it represents how many things can live together in harmony. “Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round (Johnston, 2009). A dancer performing with hoops is paying respect to not only the sacred circle, but everything that is connected to it (animals, people, and nature). Within a circle, there is equality. “No one is in front and no one is behind, no one is above and no one is below" (Johnston, 2009).

            Native American tribes perform hoop dance much differently than other cultures around the world. However, the meaning behind the hoops and circles is somewhat universal. Most “hoopers” or “hoop dancers” around the world will agree that the hoops are a sacred thing in one form or another. Each hoop dancer in the hoop dance culture is expected to participate in a certain code of ethics/honor. If someone chooses to be a part of the hoop culture, they are expected to treat all others as equals, reduce or suspend judgment, support others in their goals and dreams, help others when they are in need, and to exhibit a lifestyle of kindness. Native American Hoop dancers and other hoop cultures can agree that hoops symbolize equality. A worldwide culture of equality is something worthwhile and meaningful.

            The art form is transcendental, exhilarating, and life-changing to say the least. The benefits of hooping are the reason it is becoming very well-known. So much so that a peer-reviewed journal was written about how hoop dance can be used to prevent severe health issues and occupational hazards. Although this document has been written for those in the nursing profession, just about anyone could benefit from its pointers. The title is “Hoop dancing to prevent and decrease burnout and compassion fatigue”. The article begins by mentioning that play is vital to our survival. “The opposite of play is depression”. As hoop dance is a form of movement meditation, it can prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

            Compassion fatigue occurs with caring professionals that experience and absorb traumatic stress from those that they are helping and also their family members/friends. They are witness to spiritual, emotional, and physical suffering on a daily basis. Burnout is characterized when one experiences depersonalization, feelings of low or zero personal accomplishment, and emotional exhaustion. The reason hoop dance is suggested here as a form of therapy is because hoop dance is a powerful play tool. Play is vital to physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. Hoop dance as a form of play requires presence, persistence, a positive attitude, and passion. Hoop dance produces the ability to let go of stressors and negative feelings. The hoop creates a special boundary between the person inside and any negative external factors in their lives. Although the article doesn't refer to hoop dance as an art, it is considered to be.

            Whether hoop dance is viewed as an art or just a form of play, it is most definitely an extraordinary art form. The cultural significance is easily understood within Native American Hoop Dancers, but there is also much cultural significance within other hoop dancers around the world. Hoop dance is just a small piece of a puzzle called “flow arts”, which opens up a whole new book of culture. The flow arts can be explained as the emerging movement based arts which integrate creative exploration, dance, and skilled prop manipulation. The flow arts combine many ancient and modern movements such as juggling, martial arts, circus, and hoops (Flow Arts, 2010).

            In the textbook on page 582, another example of a flow art is exhibited, called “Sufi Sema” or “whirling dervishes”. Many hoop dancers are interested in this as well because they utilize sustained spinning just as hoop dancers do. They also experience a state of “flow” while doing their dance. The textbook perfectly describes a flow artist’s experience with their prop and dance. It is the same transcendental feeling of being “freed from earthly ties and is able to jubilantly commune with the divine… an entrance from the material world to the spiritual (Haviland 2014).” Flow artists all around the world can find multiple ways to connect with each other on the same level and achieve equality. The flow arts unite people of all genders, backgrounds, beliefs, locations, and cultures.

            The movement arts can be classified in many ways. Dancing with or without props to manipulate can be a beautiful sight and feeling. Many people would agree that art can be a very powerful symbol. That symbol communicates an important message that “we’re still here, and we’re still a culturally distinct people with our own particular beliefs and values (Haviland, pg 617-618).” As humans, we are always going to express ourselves in any way we feel we can make the best, biggest statement about ourselves and our lives.

Works Cited

Haviland, William A., McBride, Bunny, Prins, Harald E. L., & Walrath, Dana (2014).                   

             Anthropology: The Human Challenge (14^th ed.). Belmont, CA. Wadsworth.

Johnston, R., Hixon, K., & Anton, V. (2009). The never-ending circle of life: Native american      

            hoop dancing from its origin to the present day. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & 

           Dance, 80(6), 21-25,30. Retrieved from  http://search.proquest.com/docview/215754751?

           accountid=39502

Sánchez, C., Valdez, A., & Johnson, L. (2014). Hoop dancing to prevent and decrease burnout    and 

              compassion fatigue. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 40(4), 394-5.           

               doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2014.04.013

The Flow Arts (2010). http://fundtheflowarts.org/the-flow-arts/

It is Time to Level Up! Honor Hoop Teachers

Teaching my small hoop class at the dance studio

What's Been Going on?

More people seem to be trying to protest our decision to ask for payment for classes. Many people are trying to find "loop holes" and refuse to pay for lessons. Many people attend hoop jams just so they can learn everything free. Hoop jams are meant for fun, practice, and being with other hoopers. I go to hoop jams to practice and flow. I do not attend or hold jams to teach or be taught. Some people are demanding that instructors teach them everything they want to know for free, simply out of the kindness of their hearts. 

Recently, I have been manipulated, insulted, and threatened by someone trying to get free lessons from me. This person cannot learn via YouTube tutorials and requires face-to-face lessons. They found someone who told them "it is a passion, not a job" and they agreed to teach her everything for free. Before she found this person, she was going to pay me for lessons and had no problem with it. She used to see the value in me. I offered her money-saving deals to work with her. I spent a lot of time and energy helping her, giving her advice, and even giving her the first private lesson free. She seems to have completely forgotten all that I did for her. Now, she's turned to insulting me and all hooping instructors. At this point, I've had enough and I decided to do something about it.

How do Hoop Instructors Feel?

 "We have an incredibly transformative tool at our disposal, yet people in our community can't make a living teaching it. This needs to stop. No matter what you are teaching to others, there needs to be an exchange of energy. If we spend our time giving hoop classes away for free, we'll all be broke, burnt out and would hate hooping! Does a teacher, doctor, lawyer, shopkeeper, or whoever give their stuff away for free? No. We shouldn't expect them to. Why is that just because it's a hula hoop that we can't charge for our time?  It's time for our community to level up. This is a tool for transforming lives. If we don't charge for it, who is going to see the value in it?"  Meagan Ruppert

The Simple Truth

It is NOT wrong to ask for compensation for our time, energy, resources, and valuable knowledge. It isn't simply showing up to a location to teach people some tricks. It goes far beyond that, as any hoop instructor knows. It took us a long time to build up our teaching skills. Some paid hundreds to get trained for teaching (although I could not afford that option). We have to pay a rental fee or percentage for the place we hold classes. We have to buy supplies to create special hoops for our students to use in class.  Some of us are dealing with an area with very few jobs. Rather than staying unemployed, we took a chance and are trying to create our own jobs. We spend hours outside of class preparing class outlines, lesson plans, business cards, and more. We know what we are doing and we know that asking for payment is justified.

What IS wrong is expecting us to give all of that away for free every time you want a free lesson. It is unfair to expect us to schedule you in for endless free services that others are happy to pay for. They see the value in us, even if you don't. You cannot force us to change our minds. You have no right to make hoop instructors feel badly about themselves for requiring payment. If you can't afford the classes, we should not be punished for that. If you know the actual value of hooping and hoop dance and the benefits it provides, you will know the value of instructors.

Since my low-income city provides very little opportunities, I will volunteer my time once in a while
for some events, but I usually charge for my services. I recently started putting out a tip jar.

The Struggle Where I Live

I often tell myself how much easier it would be if I just moved away from this low-income city. Most of the people are set in their ways and don't understand the value of what I do. I feel like I have been living in the wrong place for years now. However, I would feel guilty for leaving this city. My city would benefit tremendously from hooping in so many ways. I want to stay to benefit the residents of Titusville. I understand why adults want me to teach a kids class. Most of them probably still think hoops are only for children and haven't been educated about why hoops benefit adults. I have tried for over a year to educate the area's adults about the benefits. I prefer and specialize in teaching older age groups and it is what I have chosen as my path. I think adults need the stress-relief, anxiety/depression relief, weight loss, and the many other benefits that hooping provides. I never even liked hula hoops when I was a kid. I didn't see their value until age 25 and they changed my life.

What Should the Hooping Community Do?

We are asking hoopers to support ALL hooping and hoop dance teachers. To refuse to support others goes against what all hoopers stand for. Support for others and their dreams is ALWAYS #1 in the hooping community. This support doesn't just end at supporting hooping teachers. It also means charging for your own services. If you don't feel it is worth charging for, who is going to?

"It's time for our community to level up. This is a tool for transforming lives. If we don't charge for it, who is going to see the value in it?"

 

STOMP OUT NEGATIVITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

A Challenge to Change your Habits

I am writing this from a place of pure experience, struggle, and then sudden clarity. I have always been defensive. Ever since I can remember, I could not handle criticism for the most part. Something happened recently and I am not really sure what. A sudden clarity has hit me where it was always blurry before. I can suddenly walk away from social media situations that would have always made me crazy and spend hours defending myself before.

For about a year now, a  good friend of mine has been saying "What you see in others is a reflection of yourself". For a long time, it made no sense to me. I thought about it too literally. I didn't explore the thought for a long time. I thought things like "What does hating mean people have to do with me? How does that show a reflection of me? I am a good person." I could not see how things about others would be a reflection of myself. They had nothing to do with me. Or so I thought....

Then, I started to really think about it. If you have an issue with someone or something, it really is a reflection of you. This is because it is actually the process of you doubting your ability to deal with the situation. It is really your inability to just walk away from an issue. It is a reflection of your failure to find peace in the problem (whatever it may be). When you hate someone, that is your inability to deal with and find peace with the fact that you cannot control the behavior and thoughts of another. You simply need to realize they aren't worth your time and energy. The only thing you can do is to focus on what you can do in your life and how you can be a positive part of the world. Think of how much better life can be if you use this to suddenly have some control over things. You can ALWAYS control how you respond to other people. You are in control of yourself.

I don't know what clicked inside of me to make this clear, but I am grateful that it did.

The problem:

There is all kinds of negativity all over the internet. Some people are just plain hurtful. Most of them are just dying for a response so they can argue and feed off the debate. They will never go away. You cannot fix them. You may never understand any of them. Here's the secret:

You do not want to respond to them. Your response is actually likely to make you look like the bad guy (even if it doesn't make sense). This is something I learned the hard way. It is one of those things many people tell you (but you don't actually listen or understand it). People will often take the side of the original instigator simply based on the fact that you wanted to defend yourself (even if you had every right to defend yourself). 

SOCIAL MEDIA "STOMP OUT NEGATIVITY" CHALLENGE

I came up with this because I was in "Unity of the Hula Hoopers" (over 17,000 members) and read something that someone said about something I said earlier that day. I wanted so badly to respond and defend myself. However, I did not say a single word. I knew that I had control over how I reacted. I knew that defending myself would only make everything worse. So, I came up with the "stomp out negativity" challenge instead and I immediately posted it in the group. Within 48 minutes, it had 60 "likes". The photo below is something I am proud of and what I decided to post.

The Challenge:

When someone posts something that upsets you or makes you want to defend yourself, you should take a deep breath. DO NOT respond.  

Instead of defending yourself, post something about yourself that you are proud of in a new post. This can be pictures, videos, or describe in words. This isn't just for facebook. It can be for ANY social media platform. Be as positive as possible and encourage others to do the same.

Use the power of what you feel secure with to defeat any insecure feelings you have about what someone said. Security overpowers insecurity. Everyone should have something that makes them feel safe and proud.

If you don't have something to be proud of to post or share with others, you should start working on that right away. Find your "happy place". If you continue to try to defend yourself, it will keep negativity alive. Let's stomp it out!

How to Encourage Others to Take Part:

Copy and paste the following words (or use similar words) to go with your post. This will go with the picture, video, or words you want to share. (what you are proud of)

"When someone posts something that makes you want to defend yourself, DO NOT respond.  

Instead, post something about yourself that you are proud of in a new post. This can be pictures, videos, or described in words. Use the power of what you feel secure with to defeat any insecure feelings you have about what someone said. Security overpowers insecurity. Everyone should have something that makes them feel safe and proud. If you don't have something to be proud of to post or share with others, you should start working on that right away. Find your "happy place". Let's stomp it out!"

My Newest Project - Products Hoopers Love

Logo for productshooperslove.com

 www.productshooperslove.com

As an experienced hooper, I have noticed in the past couple of years that hoopers need help with finding products they will be happy with. This website is your one-stop place to find information on just about any product you can imagine as a hooper. From water bottles to smart hoops, my goal is to inform you and make you satisfied with your purchase choice.

This website serves the following purposes:

1. Extensive information

Each product featured on this site has been researched and/or owned by myself in order to relay accurate and complete information. Each product recommendation post will include information on products I own. For example: why I like it, how often I use it, experiences with it, how long I have had it, and more. They may also include information on products I do not own but have researched extensively.

2. Educational photos

Photos will often include a tutorial about how to use the product, how to find a feature on it, and more.

3.  Tutorials through video

Many of the videos will include tutorials on how to use the product, how to find the features, and more.

4.  Comparisons on Select Products

Purchases such as LED hoops, fire hoops and smart hoops are easier when you can compare them to others. This site will include comparison charts and other posts or documents to help you decide which to buy.

5. Troubleshooting

This website strives to only feature products with a great reputation and high customer satisfaction ratings. (Comparison charts are for comparison only and may not include only high rated companies). If you are experiencing an issue with a product you purchased after seeing it on this site, I will do my best to troubleshoot for you and find out how to fix the issue, fix the product, or return it for a refund. I will work closely with product manufacturers to ensure you trust this site to provide secure information and quality products.

My Hooping: How it All Began and Where it is Now

Me with my very first hula hoop: a $5 Walmart hoop covered in duct tape

As a child, I never liked hula hoops. I tried to do it and I never could. I actually refused play with them or to learn how to do it and gave up. Then, I found myself face to face with hula hoops again at age 25 on New Year’s Eve, 2011. My friend and I decided to goof around with some children’s hula hoops and I was not good at it. I tried it again with a group of friends about a month later and failed pretty badly once again. I had lost interest at that point. I had no motivation or reason to keep trying. Then, one day I went to Walmart and ended up purchasing a $5 hula hoop. I got it for my dogs to jump through for exercise and stimulation. When I got home, I put together an elaborate obstacle course for them. I tried picking them up and passing them through it. I tried throwing tennis balls through it, in hopes they would follow. They didn’t want anything to do with it. They were actually scared of it.

​

A few weeks later on April 1st, I noticed that hula hoop wasn't being used for anything. It was just sitting there. I decided to pick it up and try it out again. I had a determination about me that I never had before. As I was still struggling, I looked up “how to hula hoop” on YouTube. That is where I realized that the world of hooping was more than just rotating around the waist. I quickly found tutorials on many different moves and techniques. I saw Shakti Sunfire's Boulder Colorado Dance video and fell in love with how hoop dance looked. It was magical. 

After finally keeping it up on my waist, I moved on to my first trick, called the “lift-up”. I worked on that one for weeks. I had read that a heavy hula hoop was easier, so I went on to cover it in two layers of duct tape. The hoop was starting to dent, bend, and kink throughout learning. Shortly after, I discovered that I was using the wrong hoop. I found out that my hoop needed to be at least 40 inches in diameter, with thicker tubing and a heavier weight. I was going to purchase one, but my creative side took over and I decided to make my own instead. My husband and I went to the local hardware store and bought 50 feet of irrigation tubing, connectors, vinyl tape, and colored duct tape. We made one for each of us and found it much easier to learn.

​

At this point, I was discovering just how huge the hooping community was, spanning across the entire world. I knew I had found what I loved to do. For the first time in my life, I knew the group of people I fit in with. I began taking pictures and videos of myself hooping to share my experiences. I got a good response right away. I began finding other “hoopers” on facebook and building friendships. The first set of hooper friends I met around 2-3 months in were great at first, but ended up treating me badly. I went through a really hard time from this but I did not give up. Those people motivated me to be better than I ever imagined I could be.

​

I have struggled with severe depression and anxiety since I was about 15 years old. I had tried everything to get it under control. It ruined many of my days I could have spent functioning and happy. I mostly lived my life in a negative, sad, tired and pathetic way. I didn’t care to connect with other people or make friends. I was angry at and jealous of all people that were able to function normally on a day to day basis. That was before I discovered hooping.

​

I quickly began to realize that this hula hoop discovery was MUCH more than just something to keep me busy. It became the one and only thing that has made my depression and anxiety tolerable. Exercise is great for depression and anxiety, but this was much more than that. It was my exercise, hobby, escape, positivity, confidence, happiness, belonging, relaxation, challenge, health, motivation, inspiration, and my ambition. I am now turning this amazing part of my life into a career.

2 years and 4 months later:

Although throughout the years I was bullied, discouraged, broken, and hurt, I became a success story. I refused to be a victim to anyone who wanted me to fail. I used the hurt and turned it into proof that they were wrong. I wanted them to see me succeed, despite their great efforts to break me down.

Now,

I am sponsored by Citiva Creationz LED Hoops and Indika Creationz Clothing. 

I am a top paid writer for www.hooptricks.org. 

I have over a year of experience in performing and teaching hooping. 

I have taught classes at 3 locations so far. 

I have performed at over 20 different events. 

I have been partnered with YouTube with over 30,000 views and 435 subscribers. This means I am paid for certain videos and amounts of views on my channel.

Thank you to anyone who has been part of my success. Whether you have supported me or tried to make me fail. Either way, you helped me.

Extroverted, Hooping, and Social Anxiety

I wanted to write this to examine some strange and somewhat contradicting facts about myself. I am trying to find solace and therapy in my writing lately. I began keeping a journal of my most private thoughts as well.

A photo of me hooping at one of my favorite places

I am an extrovert. If you look it up, you will find that means I need to be around people to feel good and focused. The more people I am around and the more often, the better. Some people are the opposite, called introverts. This means they cannot be around many people for too long or they are drained of energy and unhappy.

Lately, I haven't had people to spend time with and it is taking a huge toll on my mental state and happiness. I feel empty because people fuel my energy. I don't have a large number of people to choose from where I live. I especially don't have many available people that share my interests that live in my city. I spend most of my time in my small house with my introverted husband. We've been together for over 10 years and married since 2011. He does not like being around people or having people over at our house, he has severe allergies and asthma and does not leave the house unless it is very necessary. I love him but he does not provide the energy fuel I need from people. He usually can't handle my high energy and intense presence. I have to leave my house to get what I need as an extrovert. Having severe depression and anxiety makes all of this even harder to deal with. People really do help me when they take the time to make plans and be there for me. It just doesn't happen as often as I need.

I am also a hooper. I like to take my hoops most places I go. When I hoop by myself, I am hooping alone. Extroverts are not happy alone and that is just how it is. Therefore, I usually only want to practice hooping and other things when I am with other people. I need feedback, communication, and a face to look at. I like to laugh and smile and be part of something outside of the walls of this house. Even hooping in front of a camera is better than hooping alone. I can upload it to be seen by people online. It just isn't the same, though. I would always rather be with other hoopers to share my experience.

A contradicting aspect of my extroversion is that I have social anxiety. It is actually somewhat common for extroverts to have social anxiety. Hooping definitely helps with this because I can be around people but don't have to be too close. I don't have to deal with many awkward silences or moments of "what now"?  I can just pick up my hoop, turn the music on, and be happy. Many people think I am just a selfish person for always having to bring things to do rather than being with them and being okay with just sitting and talking. I can sit and talk to people, but I need to get up and move too. I have a difficult tendency to have to control my environment. If I am invited to something I know I won't feel comfortable at, I sometimes just don't go. If I am invited to an event with activities (such as badminton or hooping), I usually want to go. I normally prefer places that will have alcohol because it soothes my social anxiety and really helps me. I found this thread to be interesting, someone speaking about how they are extroverted with social anxiety:   http://www.democraticunderground.com/11513798

If you are a hooper, an introvert, or an extrovert, or if you have social anxiety, depression, or general anxiety, I am interested to know more about you and how your life is going. We may all learn from each other. Feel free to comment or contact me.

10 Reasons Hula Hooping is NOT Only for Kids

This list includes reasons why you should not only expect children to be using those plastic circles. Hula hoops are for teens and adults, too.

1. Hula Hoops are Amazing Exercise.

Not only does the activity burn 400-600 calories per hour, but it can be low-impact for anyone with fragile joints. Kids have a very large variety of things they are happy doing for exercise. Adults, however, are harder to please and harder to motivate. Hooping is known for its fun, addictive qualities. It will keep us healthy and interested. It is known for a great way to lose weight, keep your heart healthy, and tone the muscles.

2. Not all Kids can actually do it.

Some people (clears throat) can't figure out how to hula hoop until they are in their adult years. Some children simply don’t have the patience or passion to do it. When it comes to learning the extensive tricks and combinations of moves, most kids can't quite keep up. It takes some good hand-eye coordination to do most of the tricks.

3. Happy Adults Make a Happy World!

If you really think about it, miserable adults can create a miserable environment. This can be at work, at home, or out in public. I think most people would rather spend time around happy and positive people. Hooping is amazing for creating good moods and more stable individuals. It is known to improve depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Adults need to play and laugh just like kids do. We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.

4. Adult Hoops

Walmart and general department store hula hoops are not the only hoops out there. Those are made for kids and are not made to last long. If you search amazon.com or etsy.com and type in “beginner hoop” or “exercise hoop”, you will find much larger, thicker, heavier hoops. These hoops are specifically made for teens and adults. They usually range between $15 and $40 but will last for a very long time if used correctly. The types and variations of hula hoops may surprise you if you look hard enough. (Hint: search for Smart Hoops)

5. Hooping can be Sexy!

Although most hoopers don’t participate in hooping for this reason, it still can be sexy. Hoops stick to the skin better than it sticks to clothing. Many hoopers wear little clothing in order to get the hoop to stay up. That along with the gyrating of the hips/body while it is on the body makes it sexy for adults. If you don’t intend to make your hooping look sexy, it likely won’t. However, it can be easily tweaked to get that effect.

6. Hooping Helps you meet New People

Once we leave high school and/or college, it becomes harder to meet new people. Hooping gives us a place to meet people with the same goals and interests. Not everyone wants to go to the bar or the club in order to socialize. Hooping gives adults a very healthy and enjoyable activity to do with other interested adults.

7. Hooping can cause Bruising

If you know a hooper, you will notice they have some pretty nasty colored bruises in really strange places. This is especially true if they just started and are using a HUGE beginner hoop. The tricks that teen and adult hoopers learn are known to produce bruises and some pain. Don't be alarmed, it is TOTALLY worth it!

8. Hooping gets you High

That’s right, you can get high from hula hooping. This feeling is similar to the “runner’s high” and is experienced most intensely when a hooper finds “flow” in this activity. As one becomes skilled and very familiar with their hooping, they can experience the flow variation of the hooper’s high. The other type of “hooper high” is when you finally achieve a new trick or movement after working on it for a long period of time. This type is the most common. Both types of hooper highs can last for hours.

9. Relate to Children

If you have kids or know other people’s kids but can’t quite relate to them, hooping is the perfect solution. Some people simply can’t find a way to get kids’ attention. In addition, you will have MUCH more energy to keep up with kids if you start hooping. You will likely be in the best shape of your life after 6 months to a year. Kids may actually sit down and watch you for a while, rather than the other way around.

10. FIRE hoops!

That’s right, hula hoops don’t just come in plain cheap plastic. They can be built to be set on fire using fire wicks that look like marshmallows on a short stick. The wicks are made from a material called “Kevlar” and they are dipped in specific types of fuel in order to be lit on fire. Fire hooping takes practice, focus, a spotter, and other precautions. You won’t see kids fire hooping (we hope).

If you are not familiar with hooping or hoop dance, do some research. You will be surprised!

I hope you like my first blog post! Find me on google plus, facebook, youtube, hooptricks.org, and other places on the internet.