Hey there fellow healer hooperz. I am from Carrboro, NC in my sixth revolution around the sun as a devout hooper. I've been making hoops, performing and teaching for most of that time, but just received an opportunity to teach hooping at a National Wellness Conference (nationalwellness.org). I am very excited because, as we all know, hooping has a great deal of magic and healing potential. It will be an honor to present our artform/practice in this context. I have already laid out my workshop plan, but I am preparing an introduction and would like to call out to other hoopers who would like to share with me healing experiences they or their students have had within the hoop.
In my experience, there's a wide range of possibility to explore hooping as a healing art. From the simple movement value to spiritual peace. From preventing diabetes to healing sexual wounds. From overcoming fear to increasing self esteem. In an overweight, depressed and overly medicated society, we should promote all the simple joys and healthy activities we can.
I watched one of my younger hoop students pour energy into the hoop when her parents were divorcing. Her family expressed to me that she went out everyday to practice alone and had dealt with the change the best of the siblings.
Once, after a performance at a Dance Exhibition at an Arts Council, a woman came to me in tears and expressed the deep connection felt while watching the dance and certainty the dance would help rape victims. She herself had experienced sexual assault and explained that years of bodywork and yoga had nearly healed her. She was sure that this form of movement would have expediated her healing. For her, it was a revelation that this form of movement that was powerful, sensual & safe. Deeply touched and honored for being blessed to have found this hoop movement, I believe. I have faith that this dance can empower, heal, transcend. I feel deep gratitude to be a part of this movement and to be able to share it.
If you feel able, I would love to hear your stories. If you want privacy, please feel free to email me rather than posting. I appreciate any responses. I think the recent "why do you hoop" post starts this conversation quite well....
In my experience, there's a wide range of possibility to explore hooping as a healing art. From the simple movement value to spiritual peace. From preventing diabetes to healing sexual wounds. From overcoming fear to increasing self esteem. In an overweight, depressed and overly medicated society, we should promote all the simple joys and healthy activities we can.
I watched one of my younger hoop students pour energy into the hoop when her parents were divorcing. Her family expressed to me that she went out everyday to practice alone and had dealt with the change the best of the siblings.
Once, after a performance at a Dance Exhibition at an Arts Council, a woman came to me in tears and expressed the deep connection felt while watching the dance and certainty the dance would help rape victims. She herself had experienced sexual assault and explained that years of bodywork and yoga had nearly healed her. She was sure that this form of movement would have expediated her healing. For her, it was a revelation that this form of movement that was powerful, sensual & safe. Deeply touched and honored for being blessed to have found this hoop movement, I believe. I have faith that this dance can empower, heal, transcend. I feel deep gratitude to be a part of this movement and to be able to share it.
If you feel able, I would love to hear your stories. If you want privacy, please feel free to email me rather than posting. I appreciate any responses. I think the recent "why do you hoop" post starts this conversation quite well....
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North Carolina
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sat, February 10, 2007 - 1:40 PMYour class sounds awesome, good luck! I am sure it will go very well.
I havent been hooping long and I dont get to practice as much as I like, but I began hooping because I saw it as a means of meeting people. I am a complete science dork and not the most social of people. I am also quite tall which is either a conversation starter or it intimidates people so this along with being a little shy makes me slightly socially awkward. My boyfriend has some friends at home that Hoop, staff, poi and he used to tell me about these parties that he went to where he saw people perform and talked about how cool it was. When I was home over the summer I saw someone hooping at a club and found it absolutly intriguging and a beautiful form of expression. I stewed over the idea for a little while when I got back to HI for school this year I decided I wanted to pick up hooping.
This decision forced me to seek out people in the hopping community. I used tribe to do this and I am soooo glad that I did. I have met many beautiful and wonderful people trough the Hawii Hoop group. I am only 22, but I have always been very mature and "grown up" for my age. I have naturally always fit in better with people a few years older than me, but had trouble coming across a group that was my speed since I am a college student. I feel that I finally found my click this year because of Hooping.
The last few years I also kind of walk the line of being a little depressed. Since I am studying Zoology I spend a lot of time alone writting papers and studying. I dont have a lot of money to go out since I dont make much and I work a lot and volunteer at the local zoo as well. I have days when it takes all I have to get out of bed in the morning. My family and boyfriend are in Cali and I dont have a lot of people here that are constantly reliable friends. My best friend graduated last spring and I have not had her to lean on this year. As well as meeting new people and forcing me to go outside and get some fresh air, I found Hooping to be theraputic. Some days I get frustrated when I am just not getting a new trick that I want to work on, but other days I go out and am suddenly able to do what I have been trying to do and I get so excited. Hooping can be so exhilerating and it is so much fun. Its also a great workout when I am unable to make it to the gym.
So now I have kind of written a novel, but there are my reasons for becoming a hooper.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, February 12, 2007 - 12:42 PMThose are all lovely reasons to come to hooping. Movement is definitely a medium for creating change in our physical, emotional and mental states. Hooping, in particular, is absolutely joyous. I think if we didn't have drugs and alcohol, humans would still spin in circles until we were dizzy! And I've read recently that some psychologists are actually using spinning in circles as a treatment for depression. Apparently only 10 turns will slosh our inner ear juice around and reset our balance. In hooping we turn a lot more circles than that!
You're right, it's a great way to meet nice people. (Hoopers are some of the nicest people I know!) It's also a way to manage your mental health, increase your physical health and quiet the mind for your spiritual health. It's healing inside the circle.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, May 21, 2007 - 3:09 PMAh... A lovely topic.
I've only been hooping a matter of weeks. What started as a fun way to move with the intent of exercise, has become an amazing healing energy source for me. I was never a sporty girl, and therefore never into any sports. Ever. I love to dance, and always have, and the merging of dancing and the hoop movement has opened up an entire universe of connections for me with my body. The circular movement of my hips seems to have begun to 'unwind' a lot of memories from my experience as a victim of rape. After about a week of intensive hooping every day, I began to have dreams and memories relating to my past abuse. At first, I didn't make the connection, but the more I empower myself with the courage to face the abuse-experience, the more I notice how cathartic the hoop makes me feel. I've always had an intense wall, if you will, around me with regard to really connecting with my body -- feeling it, coordinating my movement -- and I feel the wall thinning, lessening and breaking down. I've lost a couple inches, as well as begun a process of healing -- and all thanks to a piece of hard plastic and pretty tape. Feels really good, and right on time.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Wed, June 13, 2007 - 10:38 PMIsn't there a comprehensive article on the healing power of hooping?
It was posted on one of the other hooping tribes but now I can't find it.
It was pretty comprehensive and quite inspirational.
Does anyone have the link?
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Re: hooping as healing art
Fri, April 6, 2007 - 12:02 PMHmm.. This is interesting. I work for an AIDS Service Organization. I run the prevention programs as well as many of the client programs. We are getting ready to go on a retreat out to beautiful Zaca Lake, CA for 3 days. Of course I'm gonna bring my hoop but now I'm thinking it really might be a good thing for our clients if I brought some extra ones. Not only will it help them get to know eachother and break the ice, but it really is a healthy activity. HIV + people who are physically and mentally healthier do tend to fare much better with the disease, so theoretically maybe hooping might be just the thing these guys need. -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Thu, April 19, 2007 - 10:52 AMSo we had out client retreat. Indeed, I did bring my hoops! I just sort of left them out to entice people. Naturally I heard the usual, "Oh I can't do that" and then I got to share the joy of people realizing that indeed, they CAN hoop! It was so great to see peoples faces light up while they spun the hoop around their bellys. I got some great pics, but I can't share them (client confidentiality) =(
One woman suggested that we should have made hoops for our art projects. I think that is an awesome idea! Next year, I'm gonna do it for sure and maybe even do a little workshop on the healing power of hoops. Does anyone have any information on hooping as a healing form? Especially in regards to immune function, HIV, and/or emotional/spirtual health? -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, April 23, 2007 - 8:39 AMI am sooo glad you did that! Wonderful! I used to volunteer with and HIV service organization just as I was starting along my hoop path. One day I got some of them using them and it was great to see folks moving and smiling. In my experience at the family care facility I worked with, there were some who seemed to be waiting to die and were either in too much pain or too depressed to enjoy life in the meantime. It was quite sad. I believe any activity that takes over the mind/body fully can provide tremendous relief.
Right now I am compiling info and stories to present 'hooping as healing art' at the fore-mentioned wellness conference. It is due in two weeks so i will post soon. My mother is a nurse practitioner who focuses in psychocology and spirituality. She has encouraged this hoop endeavor ever since she saw the way people, especially kids in difficult situations, responded to the hoops. I don't know of any quantitative studies, but from my experience and the stories shared with me, I am absolutely sure that this movement has the potential to have a profound affect on emotional/spiritual health and wellbeing. I trust that a more positive outlook and decreased depression will increase overall health. WE ARE the study. Would it be possible to get the folks some hoops before next year? It's so cheap they could participate in making their own hoops for less than $5 a hoop. Start documenting if you can. You could check in periodically and let us know if you see any changes or differences in attitudes, motivation, joy, physical health, immune function...
joy peace and health to you!
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sat, August 25, 2007 - 11:47 PMAlong with my parents (yep both of them) I also have a friend on the West coast who has cancer - I am making her a pink and gold hoop and going to ship it to her next week. People with lowered resistance really respond well to exercise, and hooping is so low impact I think it will be amazing for her.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, April 9, 2007 - 2:02 PMWow You Go! That's awesome.
I have definitely felt the healing ability of the hoop, I always say you can't be sad too long if you have a hoop on your body, and I do use it to create a quick lift me up when I am down.
I Have also used it intentionally in a chakra harmonizing, being a bridge of light meditiation and it works really well.
I have also been thinking about creating a curriculum (eventually) that explores these boundaries of healing with the hoop.
I trust your workshop/presentation flows smoothly and perfectly... thanks for takin it on.
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Mon, May 21, 2007 - 7:25 PMIts totally true hooping is a form of healing. I used to get depressed a lot I've been through a lot of struggle with family and am now facing leaving my mom and sister to go to school. Since I started hooping in March I could not be happier I really don't find my self stressed out irritated or depressed nearly as much, and even if I get irritated or upset I grab hoop and my radio and go out and hoop. It really is my form of therapy beats antidepressant drugs any day! The other thing hooping has done for me is I was born with hip problems and at age 15 I would barley be able to walk because they would get so sore, and it was getting worse and worse. I honestly thought hooping would be really bad for it but it has actually helped it. It made all my muscles in my hips a lot stronger. My boyfriend says hooping has become my life, I love it so much my hoop goes everywhere with me.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, May 21, 2007 - 8:01 PMHi Julah
English not being my first language, I hope I can put in words what the hoop has done for me :-)
I've dealt with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Panic Attacks since I was a kid; I've done cognitive therapy in my late teens, medications (paxil and clonazepam) all through my 20s. I started hooping last fall with a kiddie hoop found at a dollar store (I moved on to "adult hoops" late december!) and immediately, I found myself so much calmer after my hooping sessions.... so much, that I started hooping everyday; I eventually forgot to take my medication more often than take it and yet, my head is at peace and my body doesn't feel any of the anxiety.... I'm slowly getting off the medications (against the doctor's advice) and I am doing better than I ever did. I don't ever recall a time in my life where I didn't feel jittery, nervous, anxious...until now.
I've done ballet, gymnastic, fencing, I've worked out, but never before has exercising have any impact on the anxiety. I don't know what it is about the hoop but it is as if it's absorbing all that negative anxiety and spinning it away from my body :-)
I'm so happy I found this thread; it's fantastic to see that I'm not the only one believing in the healing power of the hoops! -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Tue, May 22, 2007 - 2:54 PMWow, reading both Martine and Stephanies posts, it's amazing (although not too suprising) how much hooping can help peeps! -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sat, June 2, 2007 - 1:20 PMI am also very touched. Thank you everyone for sharing.
It's such a powerful "movement."
I'm thrilled to have not only the physical movement, the practice, but also the social movement. We are all so beautifully interconnected by our love for and fascination with this form of dance, expression, medicine and play.
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Tue, June 12, 2007 - 12:01 PMi am delighted to hear you are doing this--i believe that the hoop does help to balance and open chakras as well--especially the heart chakra--kind of like the whirling dervishes who spin into an ecstatic state to become one with the Divine---once the heart opens --it's intelligence is used to heal the body naturally(reference--heartmath institute and network chiropractic). The other chakras open too as the hoop moves circularly up and down the body creating a vortex of opening energies in the mind/body/spirit. Physically, the hoop massages skin, muscles, organs including various pressure points becoming activated and moving qi and blood throughout the body. I especially love the abdominal massage and the hips massage(awesome)--i also enjoy spinning around my neck to massage my thyroid.
thank you --i wish i could come help you in nc
let me know when you're coming to cali!
namaste,
cj -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Thu, June 28, 2007 - 2:35 PMI absolutely believe hooping is a healing art! I wrote an essay on that subject a while ago that was on Hooping.org - you can read it at my website: www.mandalahoops.com
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sat, August 25, 2007 - 11:42 PMI actually just logged on to Tribe to come and tell my story. What a coincidence that I found your thread!
I am a person who has experienced healing transformation through hoop dance. In the last 5 years, I have gotten divorced, moved across the country, dealt with my own devastating illness, lost jobs, moved back, sold most of my belongings (including my musical instruments) just to survive, and now that I am back home in NC, I am primary caregiver to my mother, who has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
Every night I give my Mom her evening injection, and then I take my iPod on the back deck, and I lose myself for at least 20 minutes. It is the best therapy I have ever found. It keeps me happy, joyous even, during a time that is unbelievably stressful. And I really think it is the reason I am able to just keep on trucking through it and be as helpful and positive as I am.
Tonight, I went out to the club where my hooping friend can be found, and we danced for a LONG time. The other club-goers really enjoyed it, and as I left total strangers were complimenting me on my dancing. It was an amazing feeling!
I honestly believe that the dance is why I am not a depressed, self-destructive wreck right now. Yes, my mother is incredibly ill and the caregiving is taxing as hell - but, I honor this time I've been given with her and I feel so lucky. And sometimes, she comes out on the deck to watch and just gets the biggest smile on her face.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sun, August 26, 2007 - 12:18 AMOne more thing I wanted to mention (yes, the benefits almost seem endless!) is that I have Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Arthritis. It has always been difficult for me to get any sort of exercise without being laid up in pain afterwards, sometimes for days. Not only is this workout low impact enough for me to do, but it actually helps with the symptoms of Fibromyalgia which include stiff and painful fascia that constrict the muscles and connective tissues, painful and sore muscles, and even depression and cognitive problems such as lack of concentration. Fibro and Arthritis also come with a hefty dose of sleep disorder, and if I get a good 20 minutes of hooping in I am actually able to SLEEP that night which is a major MIRACLE for me.
I think the Fibro community could really benefit from hooping. Hooping massages the stiffened fascia that causes our pain in the first place! It increases lymph and blood circulation and helps with balance (people with FM are known to be clutzes, haha!). Plus, it makes you HAPPY.
Perhaps I will start promoting hoop dance in the FM communities I'm on? -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sun, August 26, 2007 - 12:39 AMIf you think you should, you probably should. I just sent this conversation to someone I know who might be helped by it. I'd be interested to hear if it helps others too.
My thoughts are with you and your mother right now. I am proud of you for taking care of yourself and of her. You are very brave. And I am glad you have hooping to help you. It's lovely that way and you deserve it. Best of luck to you hoop sister. -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sun, August 26, 2007 - 6:11 PMThank you so much! I appreciate your kind words. Having friend both off line and online is so helpful right now. Yay for hooper friends!
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sun, August 26, 2007 - 7:09 PMI've gotten a couple of people hooping lately and it makes me really happy that I was able to get them interested. I know each one of them will recieve many benefits and I feel grateful to be able to share that with them.
I can't wait for my tape to arrive, I have hoops to send out to friends all over the US. :-D -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, August 27, 2007 - 11:36 AMI picked up a hoop for the first time since probably childhood at the Pink Pussy Palace at a local (CO) burning man fest called Apogaea. It opened up new worlds of self expression for me. I've always felt self conscious with dancing in front of people (unless drunk, which is obviously horrible), but the hoop gave me something to focus on other than what my body was looking like, or if I danced "ugly" or whatever other lack of self confidence trait I could harp on. Hooping allows for amazing creativity and self expression with using just the body and a simple tool.
Hooping has also made me acknowledge to myself, in bold face, how I get frustrated with something I can't immediately pick up on and how that can often turn into giving up too easily on pretty much anything in life. I can pick up on a new trick and it's instant gratification after a lot of hard work. To expect to be a pro overnight is not going to happen. That might sound overly simplistic, however I think I've always given up and failed throughout my life, and for some reason I have no desire to give this one hobby (lifestyle?) up. I fully intend to use this in everyday living situations from now on as a lesson well learned. For some reason this didn't happen with yoga. I've been doing that for about 5 years now. Maybe yoga comes too easily so there wasn't so much obvious failure as in hooping?
Anyhow, I'm converted.... -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, August 27, 2007 - 9:08 PMArchel, I think it is so beautiful that you are able to keep a positive attitude right now despite life's challenges and attribute that to your hoop practice. It is such a blessing to have this playful, meditative opening movement form to center us and lift our spirits.
Hoopervillain ~ I can really relate to what you said about hooping liberating you from feeling so self conscious dancing.
I also think you bring up an interesting comparison between yoga & hooping. I took yoga classes for several years and surely enjoyed the classes - especially the after effects of practice. I've had some profound moments & realizations on the mat for sure. However, yoga didn't require my complete attention. If I'm sitting in a twist and my mind wanders, nothing is going to pop me in the face or hit the ground. Also, *certain forms* of yoga can be more rigid with attention to form and alignment. Of course this understanding of poses is important, but this can leave less room for creative and individual expression. There's such a feeling of discovery in a hoop practice. Plus, yoga teachers don't usually blast hip hop and dance music during class. That said, I am finding that I should be practicing yoga more to complement the exertion of hooping, but it feels more like something I need to do than long to do... -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Tue, August 28, 2007 - 12:36 AMThank you, Jewels. I've also recently found myself in a positive and healthy relationship, too...it seems that I have spun myself into a lot of positive changes. I'm excited to see what is next!
*and* I have found a hoop class down the street from me that I didn't even know existed. It's practically karmic!
You know, I noticed today just doing ordinary daily tasks that I move with more grace and intention. That is so cool. -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Tue, August 28, 2007 - 9:52 AMWho teaches the hoop class? It's in asheville, right? That's awesome. Maybe some of you Asheville hoopers would like to come down for shakori hills!! only 3 1/2 hr drive...
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Re: hooping as healing art
Wed, August 29, 2007 - 6:06 PMWhere is that Jewels? I am going to be in Winston-Salem for a few weeks while my Mom is there having surgery. I'd love to meet up with some folks.
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Re: hooping as healing art
Thu, August 30, 2007 - 1:29 AMOne of the reasons why I was so hesitant to try yoga was that I thought I would get so bored I'd fall asleep while lying on my mat. Eventually I have Bikram yoga a try, but that lasted less than a year. Hooping is so different because it's FUN! Don't get me wrong - I definitely benefited from taking yoga but I never found myself thinking, "Wow, this is so fun!" during class. I liked a lot of things about yoga, but that thought never crossed my mind. Hooping, on the other hand, is so fun. I can't stop smiling or laughing when I hoop. There is a lot to be said for something that brings joy into your life, and I believe that joy and laughter heal far better than many forms of exercise that are not as fun. -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Thu, August 30, 2007 - 8:39 AMi agree with hooping being more fun. Of course yoga has many other benefits and I still do that too, they're just really different to me. Yoga- although many teachers say this isn't so- to me is far more serious and strict. Also, in classes you're following what the instructor is doing. There isn't a lot of flowing self-expression- which is something *I* need more of. I'm more of an introvert so yoga hasn't helped me break out of my shell too much. I took a NIA class once and that was a little TOO loud and expressive:P Hooping is just right as it contributes to strength, creative self-expression, coordination, flexibility, getting grooovy, and is fun! What I love too, is I can go to a party and get down by myself but not seem like I'm not participating. -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Sun, November 25, 2007 - 1:41 PMThis thread is a little old, but I'll respond anyway.
I started hooping a little over a month ago, and I can't describe my transformation. I'm an artist, so I expressed myself through my pictures, but I've never had a physical outlet for anything, unless you count pieces that I did that are remeniscent to Pollock or something.... Anyway, I practice whenever I get the chance now and I couldn't be happier. I've recently been dealing with a lot of grief and trauma in my life. There was one really bad night that I was suffereing immensely after I discovered my best friend was an alcoholic, and had been stealing from me for about a month (yeah....it sucks). It was late at night and the house was empty, so I turned up my techno cd and just tuned out the whole outside world. I lost myself in the rhythm and started to cry, but the feling of the hoop around me just eased all the pain. I felt so much better and I feel so much more in control. I've suffered from depression before, but hooping just melts it away. I guess it's just the enforphins, but I'd like to think it's more that that. I love hooping!!!! -
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Re: hooping as healing art
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 8:22 AMThanks for responding Glenda~
It's an old thread, but will continue to be important, I believe. We are, as individuals and a community, in a continual process of healing and changing and new folks find the hoop for a variety of reasons everyday. I am continually awed by the hoop's magic and believe that it IS more than endorphins. We could get an endorphin release from plenty of exercise practices or drugs, but there's something special about this spiraling motion that gets our bodies and energy in sync with the entire universe. Not long ago, I had this experience hooping where I had a vision of - passing. By passing, I mean leaving the physical body and returning to the universal energy that exists and enlivens everything, everywhere. The vision was of my hoop spirit guide. She is of light - as is her hoop. She is very present in my day to day life - if I am sitting listening to music, she dances with her magically radiant hoop. She moves more fluidly than I and she reveals movements I've never seen or tried. I had been hooping all day at the Carrboro Music Festival and I spun my last dance in the space where the Sufis had been spinning all weekend to celebrate Rumi's birthday. I hooped for two songs, then sat down, closed my eyes and opened up my heart with a stretch. Then I saw her, dancing in another realm. I realized, in that moment, that this practice helping us to access our cosmic essence. I've known, intellectually, that the movement does represent the movement of our atoms and the galaxies- our micro and macro cosmic realities - but in this moment, I felt a deeper understanding and connectedness - as if this practice is training me for another more eternal realm, for passing from this physical existence. I was suddenly comforted and at ease with the thought of death. Perhaps I'll return to the state that I feel is so divine about hooping - the spiraling bliss that is attainable for moments at a time here, may be the ever present existence in passing as we return to the uninterrupted flow of spiraling energies that create the entire universe. This is not to say that the practice is not also training me for this life because the practice certainly is on several levels. I believe that understanding and feeling of connectedness is absolutely something to acknowledge and access into our physical existence. As we hoop, I believe we may be able to access this universal power and channel it into our lives in whatever way we need, consciously or unconsciously. No words are going to do this justice...
I read recently that uni-verse is literally one turn. I like that.
a smiling bow to you, sister in the sacred hoop
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