9 Hula Hooping Myths

1. You have to be thin

Hula hooping is for anyone and everyone. People of all shapes and sizes, ages and backgrounds have learnt how to hula hoop, who’ve picked up a hoop, danced around and allowed themselves to have fun. Similarly, in the yoga world all different sized bodies are celebrated for strength and flexibility. Hula hooping is not just the domain of people who are slender. It is an inclusive community, and even if you are hula hooping by yourself, you are welcome, you are wonderful, and you can do it. An added bonus is the toning and cardio fitness that comes from hooping. It’s a bonus. It’s doesn’t have to be the focus.

Photo Credit: The Star

2. You have to own unicorn leggings

While there is a lot of colourful clothing in the hooping photos and videos appearing, there’s no particular kind of clothing you have to wear when you are hula hooping. The most important thing is to be comfortable – in your clothes, yourself and your body. This is what hula hooping is really about. Trust in your choice to wear whatever you want, whenever you want to. Sometimes people wear pyjamas to hula hoop classes or onesies in their backyard while hoop dancing. Be you, be comfy! And if that means colourful tights, great. If it’s trackpants, that’s fine too. If it’s hooping in your undies at home because it’s a hot day and hoops love skin – go for it!

Photo credit: Schimiggy

3. You must want to be a performer to hoop

Much like with any practice, you can go to hoop classes and become a student of hula hooping without wanting to perform. You might hula hoop because you like making friends, getting or staying fit or simply doing something FUN! The process is the fun bit, and just because some people do hula hooping professionally, it doesn’t mean you have to. Some people hoop in their living room for years, having a one-person dance party, until they meet other people doing the same thing. It’s all good! Just like you can enjoy singing along with the radio without wanting to become a professional singer, so too with hula hooping.

Photo credit: Sonali

4. You just don’t have the hips

Poppycock! If you’ve got a body and you’ve got some hips, that’s a great start. But even if you don’t have any movement in this area, there are myriad things you can do with a hula hoop that aren’t even on the body. Ninja off-body moves are a start. But in all honesty, with a good teacher you can achieve anything, even if it feels a little clunky at first. Also, a lot of people make the mistake with hula hooping where they try to use a tiny hoop. You need a bigger hoop! A proper hoop! From a hula hooping store! That’s our main word of wisdom if you are feeling “I just can’t”.

Photo Credit: Mike Yoder

5. You need to have rhythm

Nahhhhhh. You don’t. Trust me on this one. You don’t have to be a breakdancer or swing dancer or one of these elusive people “with rhythm”. Just like you learnt how to walk, with a bit of practice hula hooping becomes second nature, and you will naturally become a groover.

Photo credit: Howcast

6. You don’t have the time

This makes a lot of sense because many of us have busy, full lives. Hula hoop classes often help because by committing to a time it keeps you on track and accountable, becoming less of another thing to fit in and more something to look forward to. With classes, you don’t have to think about it, and can just turn up. Hula hooping can be a real stress reliever and will inject some fun into your week for sure.

Photo credit: ABC

7. You need to wear skimpy clothes or be in your underwear to hula hoop

Nonsense! You are most welcome to wear underwear during your hula hooping sesh. But you are absolutely not required to take off your clothes. It’s a myth that you need to be scantily clad, which also suggests hula hooping is only for showing/showing off to other people. Hula hooping really can be just for you. Hooping can be done fully clothed, in whatever you want, even if it’s a puffer jacket.

Photo credit: Telegraph UK

8. You need to post things online to be a hula hooper

It’s amazing that there’s so much content online now – hula hooping tutorials, hula hooping performances, hula hooping hula hoopy hoopity hoopers….. WOAH! But you don’t need to do any of that, and you certainly don’t need to concern yourself with producing content to share on social media. Full power to you if that’s something you’re into, but you really don’t need to.

Photo credit: Dank Lumper

9. You need to have coloured hair

Coloured hair turns heads and it’s so impressive, however, this isn’t a must! It’s a myth that you need to have your brightly coloured locks to be a hooper or to fit into the hoop community. You do you, and you’ll be on the right track.

Photo credit: Lime Crime

Can you think of any other hula hooping myths? We would love to hear from you!

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