One problem I would love to work towards solving is that most people assume the hula hoop is a child’s toy, mere playground equipment for ages three to twelve. When I tell people I love to hoop they may think I’m referring to basketball. When I explain that hooping means hula hooping I open myself up to receiving strange looks from people, sassy comments, or just plain confusion. I have heard people say things such as “You deserve a medal if you can keep a hula hoop up for more than three rotations,” which is a gross underestimation of what many people can actually do with a hula hoop. Hula hooping is not just for kids, it is endless fun for all ages. Why else would hula hoops come in all different sizes and weights other than because they have many different uses? Some people use hoops weighted up to five pounds for fitness. It is a very effective way to get in shape because it increases flexibility, balance, and core strength. For many Native Americans, hoops symbolize special meanings and it is a part of their culture. They have a hoop dance style all their own. For me and many others, hooping is a dance, an art, a form of self-expression, and an outlet for infinite creativity. Everyone has their own style and one size hoop does not fit all. …show more content…
I have big plans for these marvelous hula hoops. I will dance with them and learn with them, and discover new things with them. I can constantly challenge myself. I am usually a very shy person but when I am hooping I am comfortable and confident in my own skin and I want the world to know it. It is an empowering feeling, but I still have a lot more to learn and hours of practicing ahead to perfect what I can already do and to increase the variety of things I can work into my flow. Fortunately, I am not alone in my hoop journey. There are whole communities of hoopers worldwide, many people just do not know about