Hula hooping is an old traditional activity that was said to
be created in England back during the 14th century,and hit international fame
in the late 1950's.
Traditionally the hoops were made out of willow rattan, grapevines and grass but today they air made out of plastic with creative colors and accessories. "Hula" came from the Hawaiian dance because of the hip movements you have to do in order to keep the toy swirling around your waist.
The "hula hoop" was used by the Native Americans as a form of storytelling dance, as they used over a dozen hoops to create shapes and formations representing symbols, animals, and storytelling elements.
Recently the popularity in hula hoop dancing has increased exponentially, especially in teens and young adults.There is actually a "World Hoop Day" to celebrate hooping and you can find the hooping activity at a couple of festivals. Today we consider hula hooping a recreational activity.
It creates a steady rhythmic groove when twirling the toy around your waist, neck, arm, or leg so that the hoop doesn't stop twirling. The hoop can provide a simple cardio exercise as it speeds up your heart beat, but also give you the sense of pleasure and fun.
Originally created for pleasure and exercise, the hula hoop was more often sen as a fun play toy, rather than an expression of creativity. But since individualism has become more highly prized in society, many teens scramble to fit in.
Adult hula hoops are about 40 inches and kid’s hula hoops are 12. Hula hoops are being made with certain weights and size due to the advancement in tricks, and modernization of hooping. The heavier and larger hoops are used for slow hooping and body tricks.
Lighter hoops are used for the hoop for fast twirling and quick hand tricks. Hula hoops are used in a glow in the dark circus act using glow sticks and LED technology, they are also used in tricks in which the hula hoop is set on fire through kerosene and professionals are able to hoop.
Since festivals and EDM have become a prominent part of young culture, many young people, and young adults begin using their leisure time to learn hula hooping, poi, and other related activities.
I (Aiden) went to Electric Forest and Camp Bisco my senior year in high school, actually the summer after I'd graduated. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had, both spiritually and mentally.
I'd never been out of state without my parents before, so both experiences fueled my independence. I felt like an adult, and individual amongst this sea of bodies, paint, and bright clothes.
After the festivals, I kept up my interests, even picked up some poi techniques. Poi is a combination of body and wrist movements which controls the direction of two balls, either colored or LED, which are held by rope or cord and spun.
I got the hula hoop pictured, Rainbow Dash, for Christmas last year and since the suns come out, I have been avidly trying to relearn all skills and tricks. It's been a struggle.
David did really well, keeping his body and legs even, and understanding that the correct hula hooping motion is back and forth with your hips, less of a "bring it around town" motion. He eventually got it on the third try, and kept the hoop on his hips.
The trick, called the vortex, is extremely hard to learn, but easy to master once you've gotten the knack for it. The rule is to use the opposite hand from the way your hoop is going.
You use the motion of the hoop to create the illusion of the hoop moving like a hurricane around you. Once you've mastered getting into the vortex, you can keep trying to get out, and then learn other tricks, like cat eyes, isolation's and others.
Keep practicing, and don't get discouraged! Hoop like nobody is watching!
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