It’s a new year. Time for a new you? New exercise routine? New skill to impress your friends and family with? How about hooping? Great! Here are some things to help you get started.
Firstly, you need a hoop. Not any old Wal-Mart hoop. You need something like this:

(afraid/constipated look not included)
The hoops used are bigger, heavier and more sturdy. The bigger the hoop, the slower it moves and it is easier to keep up.
Ok Sara! I do want a hoop. Where do I get one? Well, I got the orange and black single closure travel hoop from www.troohoops.com. It’s nice and heavy and they use cloth tape for extra grip. Oh hai, you can click on this pretty gif. and go to their website.

Or you can check out: www.hoopnotica.com, www.hooprevolution.com, or www.hoopgirl.com, and Hula Hoop Sassy (Choose Your Color)
There are a bunch of other hoop sellers out there so Google away and find what you like! www.hooping.org has a list of sellers, performers, businesses, and anything else hoop related.
OR you can make your own. I’ve made myself a couple basic ones. Go to :http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.html for the breakdown. DIY for life yo!
It’s easy and fun and customizable.
If you are lucky resident of Albuquerque, we have a hooper who makes and sells customizable hoops:http://www.etsy.com/shop/alaskaj
You can find examples of her work at the Magic and Juggling Shop and at Birdland costume shop.
Alright! I got my hoop. Now what should I do? I want to learn the basics and some nifty tricks. Groovy! I bought this book with dvd : Hooping: A Revolutionary Fitness Program (Book & DVD) by Cristabel Zamor. It’s a great book with detailed pictures and breakdown of the moves. There is also accompanying stories of how hooping changed Cristabel’s life and others through the joy of hooping. And seriously, a book and dvd for $10.85 ain’t that bad. You’d be crazy to pass this up.
Also check out : The Hoop Dance Workout by Cristabel Zamor and Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1 by Rayna McInturf & Keaton Talmadge. (Just a note, haven’t looked at these dvd’s yet. I’m sure they kick major booty.)
But you don’t need to buy a dvd or book at all. You can find your local hoop jam and hang out there and learn alot from those in the know. 505 resident, come out to Bataan Park every Sunday from 11 am till whenever for a hoop jam. There are tons of hoops and lots of space. It’s a great way to spend your Sunday.
Got some space in your house? Throw on your favorite tunes and go crazy. Just hoop around and have fun and get lost in the amazing feeling. You’d be surprised at the amount of sweat you build up!
Other sites to check out : www.hoopcity.ca, www.hooping.tribe.net, www.hooplovers.com, www.dukecityfix.com/group/albuquerquehoopers, and www.youtube.com for lots of hooping tutorials.
Have I included enough links in this post?