Is it the lack of time, money or true love that stops us?
Hula hooping has seen a fun come back in the past few years, with most of the hoop dancers and teachers originating in the US or Australia. Can't blame them, the weather definitely helps when it comes to practising your hula hooping.
I got my first hoop almost 10 years ago and after a couple of years of training, I stopped. I don't even know where that first hoop is.
In 2016 I made a new friend and in the midst of a conversation, she mentioned she had a hula hoop and was very keen to learn new tricks. This was exactly after I had come back from Barcelona where I met a hooper from the UK. She was dancing on the beach and I went up to her and asked where she'd gotten her hoop from - she gave me my Hoopmaker's contact details and the rest is history. I started training again and haven't stopped since.
In fact, I wanted to hoop all the time, so badly, that somehow, I managed to find a free space where I could hoop throughout the winter months (with my friends), and this was the space where Planet Hoop came into existence.
WHY are you telling me this?
I wanted to share this with all the people out there who have recently found something they enjoy doing. If you live in a big city, where life takes over you before you can take control of it, trying new things can be difficult. Doing these things on a regular basis can be even more difficult. Improving significantly, finding the time and space to do so and actually gaining a new skill seems IMPOSSIBLE.
You could ask yourself a few questions.
Is this good/healthy for me?
Can I find a friend who would come along?
Are the logistics of it manageable?
Can I do this in my own way/at my own pace?
If the answer is yes, go ahead and do it. Make some phone calls, send a couple of emails, get yourself some gear and do it. Enjoy, explore, learn some more, fail a few times, give up, start again, whatever. But stick with it.
I live in London and I whole-heartedly admit that this place can take from you just as much as it can give. But one thing you will never lack in is things to do and people to join you in your fresh pursuits, no matter how crazy they may seem.
So if you find that thing that makes it worth it for you to get out of the house on a cold and rainy week-day, you are one lucky human and I hope you never stop doing what you love!
I found mine and it feels like the best thing that has happened to me.
