First, I will tell you a bit about myself. My name is Angela. I’m 42 and I LOVE to hoop dance! In 2010, while living in CO, I fell in love with hula hooping. I took classes and workshops and started hoop-dancing my way around CO.
Eventually, a fellow hooper and I started teaching all around Denver! It became part of who I was! Fast forward to today and two children later, I’m hoop-dancing my way around the country in a 5th wheel with my family! Currently in Chicago (but will be teaching from Lynchburg, VA). And I’m so excited to share my love of hooping with you!
Hula hooping comes with many benefits:
It works your entire body, including the brain
Boosts your cardiovascular system
Improves coordination
A sense of achievement (when you nail that one move!)
Meditative movement
Community (hoopers are supportive and encouraging and welcome all levels)
Most of all, it opens us up to our PLAYFUL side
Now that you’re ready to get started, you’ll need one thing! A HULA HOOP 🙂
Where do you start?
- SIZE. The bigger the hoop, the easier it will be to learn (as you progress you will go down in size). To figure out what size hula hoop, measure from the floor up to your naval (if you’re plus size go about two inches above the naval). I’m 5’7, 155lbs and my beginners hula hoop was 40in in diameter.
- Weight and Material of Hula Hoop. I recommended going with a heavier hula hoop using 3/4″ 160 PSI Polyethylene (not weighted hoops). And you will want some kind of grip tape around the hoop so it doesn’t slip and slide.
- Where to purchase a hoop. First off, I do not recommend the hula hoops from Target or Walmart. They are extremely light and hard to hoop with. Etsy is a great place to buy an affordable beginners hula hoop! And if you are willing to spend a little more money, check out these travel hoops on Amazon (made in the USA and come from a reputable company who have been in the hoop community for years).
- Or make your own hoop! I did this for many years and it’s easier than you think! You will need the following supplies (which you can purchase at Home Depot, Lowes or amazon):
- 3/4″ 100psi irrigation tubing (Polyethylene) This only comes in 100ft so it would be ideal to share the cost and the joy in hoop making with a fellow employee or two.
- 3/4″ connectors (1 per hoop and you can find them at most hardware store)
- Grip tape (or gaffer tape to avoid slipping and sliding)
- Pipe cutters (if you don’t already have them)
- Boiling water and measuring tape.
- Now to make your hula hoop. Here is a link from another fellow hooper to a YouTube video which is short and concise on How to Make a Professional Hula Hoop.
During our time together we will cover basic waist hooping, how to get the hoop on and off your body, hand spins (off body hooping) and a couple other fun off the body techniques. I’ll show you how to connect these moves to get you started on your hoop flow journey!
If you have questions on choosing/making a hoop, please feel free to reach out to me through email or by phone!
Happy hooping!
Angela Faes
Email: afaes78@gmail.com
Cell: 303-827-1860