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Movement Meditation

Meditation, Meditative Hooping

Meditation vs. Meditative Hooping: Why Should You Practice Both?

What enters your mind when you think of meditation?

For many hoopers, hooping itself becomes so freeing, so opening, that the focus on our awareness and presence inside the hoop allows us to enter the ethereal flow state. Our thought process slows, and the movement takes a hold, providing a complete release from the need to think about how or what we are going to do next. Because this state creates such powerful feelings, often leaving hoopers high from the release, the term “meditative hooping” frequently comes into play. And once this state is felt for the first time, it almost always keeps us coming back for more. There are, however, some big differences between meditative hooping and meditation techniques where stillness is key.

Now, just because there are important differences between them that should be noted, that doesn’t at all imply one modality is “better” than the other. Rather, I’ve experienced a breathtaking synergy occur when both movement and stillness forms are practiced in every day life, and I wish to share in the hopes that you, my fellow hoopers, may experience it as well.

Meditative hooping becomes so transfixing to the hooper practicing it because it provides a release from the near constant thought process of our human reality. Mixing this release with movement (which inherently makes us feel better and is its own release in and of itself) ultimately allows us to expand our perception into a greater frame of reference. We receive in unconditional self-love, confidence, joy, and self-power, while simultaneously releasing fear, doubt, and worry. We can simply be the movement we are creating. And creating feels good. Very good.

The upside is that when meditation and meditative hooping are practiced on a regular basis, the benefits are utterly overwhelming and penetrate every facet of your life.

Amber Lane

So what’s the difference? Why should you consider incorporating one or more meditation techniques in which the body is still into your daily routine?

While meditative hooping and other movement based meditations allow us to connect with our bodies’ possibilities amongst the various planes of motion, meditation techniques in which we lie or sit still provide the opportunity to focus on the natural rhythms of the body that usually remain in the subconscious. Going even further, these modalities gift us the ability to focus on nothing but pure awareness. While it may seem paradoxical that practicing thinking to the most minimal degree possible sprouts incredible personal growth and new, enhanced thought processes, it remains one of the most important truths I’ve discovered in my life thus far. These types of meditation, such as Zen, Mindfulness, Vipassana, etc… have become so critical to my own personal well-being that I can’t imagine life without them. My body and mind crave that time every day to slow down, relax, and flow into the flow of awareness itself. In these moments I have witnessed myself effortlessly answer important life questions that were pertinent at the time, and quite simply experience raw happiness, which overflows into everyday life once these techniques have been practiced long enough.

Meditation, however, is by no means an easy practice. Just as hooping requires discipline, perseverance, and willpower, so too does the practice of being still. The upside is that when both of these are practiced on a regular basis, the benefits are utterly overwhelming and penetrate every facet of your life. However cheesy and cliché it may sound, I never thought these practices would help me surpass a level of happiness and contentedness I never knew was possible. This is why I implore you beautiful hoopers to give stillness practices a try. Whether it be five minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour every day, every little bit makes an incredible difference.

Below I’ll leave you will a few references to some wonderful meditations to help you get started. If you don’t like the particular voice of the person, that is perfectly okay. Simply search for another one of the type you enjoy, and you will be amazed at the results you discover. There is an overflowing wealth of free resources thanks to this beautiful tool we call the Internet, so take advantage of it! And if you ever have any questions, concerns, or thoughts you’d like to share, I’m always open to share space with you.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction meditation called a Body Scan (this kind is one of my absolute favorites, especially to practice before hooping).

This website provides countless varieties!

Yet another website with quite a few practices.

Just remember: Feel the movement, feel the flow, let go.

To get started hooping, Hoopologie and Hoopnotica sell a number of beginner and advanced hula hoops.

Hoopologie Beginner Fitness and Travel Hoops

Hoopologie Beginner Fitness Hoops
Hoopologie sells a wide variety of beginner and advanced travel hoops and is the leader in high quality hula hoop supplies.

Hoopnotica Beginner Travel Hoops

Hoopnotica Travel Hoops
Hoopnotica sells a wide variety of beginner travel hoops and fitness DVDs.

*Disclosure Hoopnotica is owned and operated by Hoopologie.

Ambassadors, Hooping flow, Meditative Hooping, Uncategorized

7 Reasons to Hoop this Summer

Ninja Hoops

Ninja Hoops Zach & Marria styling out their Ninja form on a beautiful Summer day in Boulder, Colorado.

1. You meet new friends

Hooping is an amazing way to meet new friends. You’ll be surprised how many other hoopers you can stumble upon around the city while going to different parks, especially during the summer! If you live in a more rural area, there is a high chance you can connect with hoopers near you through social media to arrange hooping meetups!

2. You get outside and improve quality of life

Being outside in nature is proven to naturally reduce stress and increase well-being, and that effect is amplified when you’re being physically active. Grab your hoops and head to a park or other grassy area and notice how your mood and demeanor improve!

3. You move your body and play with artistic expression, thereby enhancing your self-image

Moving, creating, and expressing are all amazing ways to get in touch with yourself. When all three are combined you become a powerhouse of artistic expression and significantly enhance your self-image, which has become a well-known benefit of hooping.

4. You might lose some weight and increase your metabolism

While many of us start hooping for fun, a wonderful added benefit is the ability hooping has to increase your physical health. Many hoopers lose weight unintentionally (or intentionally!), and if nothing else, you will most likely experience an increased metabolism and greater vitality.

5. You’ll be happier and relieve symptoms of depression

Hundreds of stories have surfaced from hoopers around the world sharing how hooping has helped them in extraordinary ways. Hooping can be a motivation to get outside and get moving when all else seems lack luster in life, or if you’re just feeling a little down. Movement naturally secretes endorphins and thereby causes us to feel better, so when hooping is done on a regular basis, there is a high chance you will start to feel happier overall and even begin to relieve symptoms of depression if present.

6. You’ll practice mindfulness and reduce stress

Meditation and mindfulness practices have been a proven catalyst for huge reductions in overall stress in life. Many people have found hooping to be a meditative practice because of the melodic repetition and focus it provides.

7. You can discover new music

Hooping provides a wonderful opportunity to discover new music. Put a radio station on Pandora or Spotify from a song or artist you love, and the floodgates of new, amazing music will open!

Danielle Odette spins her one-of-a-kind prop, called a SQUIDGE, in Boulder, Colorado.