Workshop: Hula Hoop¶

A summary of the tricks can be found in the video next to the original file.

Technical Aspects¶

What's good to know?

The cheapest "backyard" hula hoops need to be weighted. You can do this by wrapping colorful electrical tape around the hoop.

A hula hoop from, for example, Decathlon or a similar store is already a bit heavier, but very slippery. It's worth lining the inside with tape to increase friction: use fabric tape, webbing tape, GAFFA/proGaff tape, or an adhesive bandage from a pharmacy.

Emilka and Anka from hooping.pl did a great job summarizing technical aspects of hula hoops. You can find their two-part guide on YouTube by searching for: hooping.pl jak dobrać idealne hula hoop.

Hula hooping is not primarily about spinning on your waist, but about doing many tricks with it off the body: spinning on your hands, neck, or ankles. Look for movements that will help participants engage with the prop, rather than emphasizing waist hooping. This is just one of thousands of possibilities.

Remember: participants will come with diverse movement experiences. Some may have sedentary jobs, while others are extreme sports enthusiasts. Waist hooping requires integrating the movements of the entire body and won't be immediately intuitive for everyone. Everyone learns at their own pace, and that's completely normal.

Safety Reminder¶

Do not use hula hoops with nubs or protrusions.

After training with such a hoop, you'll have many bruises. The effect of the exercises can be deceptive: we often see skin discoloration from the immense weight of the hoop. The muscles will work much less with such a hoop than with a regular one.

The heavier the hoop, the more it spins "by itself" and requires less effort from us. When using a light hoop and it's a challenge, but achievable, your abdominal muscles truly get a workout.

Starting and Distributing Equipment¶

Possible ways to distribute hula hoops:

• Roll the hoops to individual participants.
• Place the hula hoops in the center of the circle; everyone takes a hoop, but only one person can be in the center at a time.
• If people double up in the center, everyone puts their hoops down and we start over.
• Rules for the group version: no talking, no pointing with fingers or heads to indicate order.
• Support before starting: a few deep breaths and eye contact among participants.
• Lifting the hula hoop on index fingers in a group; fingers should be straight, not hooked.

Warm-up¶

This part can be done with a narrated story, e.g., a journey around the world.

• We're driving cars: the hula hoop is the steering wheel.
• We're getting into a helicopter: spin the hula hoop on the floor and jump into it a few times.
• We're making a train or caterpillar: rest the hula hoop against your stomach and the back of the person in front of you, connecting the whole group or subgroups.
• Challenges can be added to the train: a squat, a jump, a twist, the Mexican wave.
• The train cars scatter, and we form pairs: in pairs, use one hoop, shake hands as if greeting, and try to spin the hoop together.
• Pair variations: spinning in both directions, different tempos, passing the hoop to the other person's wrist, jumps, dancing, and music.
• Individual airplanes: hold the hula hoop in front of you with an underhand grip and spin yourself around.

Tricks¶

Recordings of the tricks are in the supplementary video attached to the original materials folder.

Games and Activities with Hula Hoop¶

More detailed descriptions of activities from this workshop:

• Ball Race with Hula Hoop
• Three Hoops
• Partner Juggling with Hula Hoop
• Pictures
• Building Machines

Shorter variations and inspirations:

• Needle and thread: in a circle, hold hands, and the hula hoop travels around; everyone must pass through it without letting go of hands or using their fingers for help.
• Needle and thread variation: hoops of different colors and sizes travel in the opposite direction.
• Needle and thread variation: hoops are moved along the floor with feet or passed to each other on the foot.
• Hot hula hoops: analogous to musical chairs.
• Obstacle courses.
• 1-2-3 juggler look: a game without a hula hoop.

Source Conclusion¶

If you find the knowledge gathered in these materials useful and want to show your appreciation, you can follow the author on Instagram and Facebook: @wyhulana.

See you next time!

Wiktoria Witenberg