This is for all you hoopers struggling with shoulder hooping and sensitive about being encouraged to use larger hoops.
First off, I think its important to acknowledge that somehow, at some point, hoop size became an indicator of skill. Small hoops were seen as more "advanced" and larger hoops as more "Beginner". Just letting this idea go will go a long way in releasing the pressure to hoop with any certain size in order to get or be "good" at hooping.
The truth is there is no "beginner" hoop or "advanced" hoop except as it relates to the specific skill you are trying to learn. When you are first learning to hoop on the body, waist and shoulders primarily, but also can include legs, a "larger" hoop is easier to learn on. When first learning anything off body a "smaller" hoop is easier to learn on.
Over time, you will discover how your body likes to move and what styles are most appealing which will steer you towards the hoop that suits you best. Inherent in this will be choosing which skills you are willing to sacrifice in order to be true to your movement style. For those that LOVE off body flips and iso's etc, you will likely sacrifice some of the ooey gooey on body movements and vice versa.
There is nothing wrong with this. I repeat. There is not one thing wrong with this!
However, if you want to expand your skill set, in either direction, you may have to increase or decrease your hoop size. If not forever, at least for some time for ease of training.
I am known for my body rocking skills. I started with a 42 inch hoop. Now I use a 34 inch 5/8 HDPE. I can still do all my yummy body flow with this MUCH smaller hoop. But it took me years of downsizing in order to help my body learn to stay flowy with it. And yeah, I totally suck at most of the off body stuff everyone is doing these days. And that's ok with me, because I go with what feels yummy for MY body and I encourage you all to do the same.
In closing, just because someone says you should "use a bigger hoop" doesn't mean you are being called out as a beginner... All hoops are equal. All hooping is equal. But different sizes DO lend themselves to different styles of movement. No judgment or resistance needed.
Flow on, dear hoopers and be kind! “
xo Anah aka Hoopalicious
