Music Makes the Difference

I've spent a lot of my hooping time practicing my movements without any music on. It's not so much that I intended for things to work out that way as it is that I was just concentrating so hard on getting the moves "right" that I didn't even remember to put the music on. And, if I looked way down deep inside, there was probably a bit of "I'm not a real dancer, so I shouldn't put on music" going on.

If that is you, let me invite you, with a big smile, to turn on the music and let yourself play.

Most of us are drawn to hooping because we want to dance. Dancing involves movement, sure, even precise movement. But it also involves music, and flow--both the physical and psychological kinds.

When I put on some music, it makes an enormous difference in my hooping. Instead of methodically practicing my waist and hip hooping and counting drops over and over, I start putting together movements, making up transitions as I go. Do I trip over myself sometimes? Sure. But the difference in how I feel while I'm doing it can't be denied.

One thing that's great about hooping is that it works equally well with slow or fast music, so whether you're a fan of dreamy new age tunes or bouncy hip hop or trippy electronica or just plain old pop, hooping will go with your groove. It's going to add passion, expression, and a vital ingredient for flow to your hooping sessions. Sometimes it might help to turn off the music to concentrate on getting specific moves down, just don't forget to turn it back on!

Some of my current favorites for getting my hoop on, in no particular order:

"A View to a Kill" Duran Duran
"Lights (Bass Nectar Remix)" Ellie Golding
"Artsy (EDit's Remix)" The Grouch
"Discipline" Nine Inch Nails
"Tear it Up" Young Wun Feat. DMX, Lil' Flip, & David Banner
"Too Close" Alex Clare
"Tigerlily" La Roux
"Derezzed" Daft Punk
"Make it Bun Dem" Skrillex and Damian "Jr Gong" Marley

If you have some awesome songs to hoop to, feel free to share them in the comments!
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Drop Update: It's been awhile since I've updated, but I'm proud to say I've kept up with the hooping. There's been some inconsistency due to a hectic schedule, but my current drop count is a healthy 240! I've also hit two personal milestones. On the 9th, I hooped outdoors for the first time ever, which was a lot of fun. On the 19th, while making some tea, I started hooping. The water came to a boil and the kettle was shrieking, so I instinctively started walking to the kitchen--while still hooping! Now it's not physically possible for me to fit the hoop through the doorway to the kitchen, but for a few steps there, I was walking and hooping at the same time, a brand new skill for me! Hooray!