This Isn’t Your Mother’s Hoola-Hoop

When I couldn’t sit out from the music’s beat any longer, I ran into the corner with my hoop. The class was now moving the hoop up and down their bodies. I attempted to move the hoop from my waist to swing it up around my upper arms. Another woman in the class was having trouble like me, so she skipped over to work it out. “Let’s try together!” All of a sudden, I felt like I could do it. HoopGirl came over and demonstrated. “Your arms and hands want to move up and away from your legs, don’t let them. Hold them on your legs like they are suction cups.” Within minutes of concentration, I started hooping around my arms.

When the sweat glistens from everyone’s bodies and the music has taken a slower beat, HoopGirl has everyone circle up for the final exercise. One by one, each student has their time in the center of the “Performance Jam Circle” to strut their stuff. The seasoned hoopers use their eyes and bodies to communicate through their dance. I try a couple of solid moves that are easy and then dance through to do the hip bump I have perfected in class. My hands are behind my head. I lean my pelvis up and swing the hoop around my hips doing pelvic thrusts. The women hoot and holler to encourage my bold move. Am I a hoop dancer?

HoopGirl chatted with me after class to explain where this is all going. Her company has expanded to include other teachers, as well as teacher trainings, which exist all over the world. HoopGirl herself is on her way to a sold-out training in the UK. She performs monthly with a hoop dance troupe called The HoopGirl All Stars, in and around California, and she’s made two instructional DVDs. She mentioned that although this first started as dance, performance, and art, she now recognizes the need to serve others and their health.

“I’m noticing that a lot of Americans are stressed out. A lot of people are not eating right. A lot of people are not feeling good about their bodies. So now I’m weaving the cocoon of being an artist and a performer into focusing on wellness. I see myself as part of the ‘Wellness Revolution’ regarding preventative medicine. I believe that hooping is preventative movement medicine. Through gyrokinectic movement, we’re able to flood our body with good sensations and feelings and release energy that is pent-up. My vision is that I can be the leading pioneer in bringing hooping as a body, mind, and spirit practice to the world.”

Her eyes actually shimmered. In fact, they always do.

“Another thing that is really important in my work is women, because I am focused on women, and that’s why it’s called HoopGirl.