Name: Gemma

Hoopaholic for: 7 Months

How did you get into hooping ? Why did you start hooping?
I used to do it as a kid but I got seriously hooked on hooping about 6 months ago. First of all I was thinking it would be a good alternative to sit ups and help with toning up the tum but once I brought my hoops I knew this was the start of something fun. At first it was just a challenge keeping it up but then as soon as I learnt my first trick there was no stopping me.

"Vera's article on foot and leg hooping got me inspired to write down the lesson I teach students when they are working on below the waist hooping. There are tons of tricks to do with your legs and knees once you get it so its worth the effort!

When I am teaching students how to get to hoop going around their knees, I tell them a few important hints to help them along their way:

1. Try to imagine your knees as your hips, just as your left and right hip have to move the hoop now your knees have to.

2. When the hoop is moving from your hips to your knees, speed up your hoop. You need to go a bit faster to catch the hoop around your knees because you are working harder against gravity.

Mutaytor's Karis aka the hottie hooper from Scissor Sisters Filthy Gorgeous clip - photo by Pixie

Pix by Nori Beppu pshop by Tim Hilton

Check out this great video for funky moves and some insight into the Hoop Revolution

watch video

Check out this website on the Native American Hoop Dance. This website encompasses different aspects of native Amercian Indian culture/art/dance with a short grab of hoop dance here

Interesting to see the hoops used in static form adorning the body - approaching the hoop in a different way.

"The hoops symbolize a sacred part of the Native American life. It represents the circle of life with no beginning and no ending. Watch as the dancer begins with on hoop and keeps adding and weaving the hoops into formations that represent our journey through life. Each added hoop represents another thread in the web of life." Native Spirit Production