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I wanted to do something for this three weeks for dreamwidth thing, and I was thinking about fun things to post about, and, seeing as I just went to Kooza (Cirque du Soleil) last night, thought a post about that might be fun, but... well, the fun is in seeing people do amazing things, not hearing people talk about how they saw people do amazing things.
Then I remembered the highly amusing coincidence that Kooza has an act with hula hoops, and the fact that my silly goal for this year was to learn how to hoop. I missed the whole hula hoop thing when I was a kid and just never got it. Thankfully, when I announced that I was going to conquer this more or less useless skill but had no idea where to start, my co-worker said, "have you looked it up online?"
That's how I found hooping.org and learned two important things:
Apparently, the size of the hoop makes all the difference in the world. People who say they can't hula hoop MIGHT just need a larger hoop. Lord knows the ones you buy in the store won't work if you are not a very skinny person OR at least very, very stubborn... and quick. It's physics! Larger hoops move more slowly around the body, thus preventing you from looking like an idiot as you try to keep up with the hoop as it dashes toward the ground.
The rule of thumb I've seen is that hoops (on end) should come up to a person's navel, and, if said person (like me) is larger than average, the hoop should be slightly larger to compensate. Mine comes up a couple of inches past my belly button.*
Mind you, this rule is for basic hooping, and there are all sorts of reasons to have smaller, lighter hoops.
As for the second item, well, let me just show you, no?
Here are some videos of hooping that inspired me to keep trying while my hoop kept trying to dissuade me:
This one by SaFire. You can find a version of this on YouTube, but it doesn't have the right music. This is the one I first came across... I love it because it looks like she's having so much fun!
This one I just found today, but I like it because it shows all the imperfect moments of practice.
An unworthy thought, but watching this video, I think, "Okay, if he can do that, I probably can, too."
Here's a Cirque Du Soleil clip from another show:
*I also made my hula hoop, following the instructions found here.
Then I remembered the highly amusing coincidence that Kooza has an act with hula hoops, and the fact that my silly goal for this year was to learn how to hoop. I missed the whole hula hoop thing when I was a kid and just never got it. Thankfully, when I announced that I was going to conquer this more or less useless skill but had no idea where to start, my co-worker said, "have you looked it up online?"
That's how I found hooping.org and learned two important things:
- Size Matters!
- Hooping can be art!
Apparently, the size of the hoop makes all the difference in the world. People who say they can't hula hoop MIGHT just need a larger hoop. Lord knows the ones you buy in the store won't work if you are not a very skinny person OR at least very, very stubborn... and quick. It's physics! Larger hoops move more slowly around the body, thus preventing you from looking like an idiot as you try to keep up with the hoop as it dashes toward the ground.
The rule of thumb I've seen is that hoops (on end) should come up to a person's navel, and, if said person (like me) is larger than average, the hoop should be slightly larger to compensate. Mine comes up a couple of inches past my belly button.*
Mind you, this rule is for basic hooping, and there are all sorts of reasons to have smaller, lighter hoops.
As for the second item, well, let me just show you, no?
Here are some videos of hooping that inspired me to keep trying while my hoop kept trying to dissuade me:
This one by SaFire. You can find a version of this on YouTube, but it doesn't have the right music. This is the one I first came across... I love it because it looks like she's having so much fun!
This one I just found today, but I like it because it shows all the imperfect moments of practice.
An unworthy thought, but watching this video, I think, "Okay, if he can do that, I probably can, too."
Here's a Cirque Du Soleil clip from another show:
*I also made my hula hoop, following the instructions found here.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-29 07:28 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-29 10:29 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-29 10:53 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-29 11:08 pm (UTC)From:Too bad I couldn't bring one NEXT FEBRUARY. Maybe I should try making a collapsible one?
I really just need a better place to practice all those tricks. It's not yet comfortable to go outside to do it, and there's no ROOM inside. *sighs*