As the 2014 Winter Olympics come to a conclusion we all have the unique opportunity to witness athletes at the top of their game who have spent years honing their craft. These athletes inspire us with their amazing skill, elegance, grace, mental toughness, and ability to be fierce competitors. However, the most impressive are always those who are amazing in their daily life as well as their chosen sport.
Just as every sport/hobby does eventually, hooping has evolved by leaps and bounds, especially in the last decade. As more and more people excitedly pick up the hoop for the first time we witness the learning curve dramatically alter; so much so that the nature and style of hooping is even transforming. Hoopers are now gravitating towards certain types of hoops, tricks, styles, and/or groups. While some can more easily progress in amazingly short periods of time, for others the learning curve is much steeper- which is perfectly okay! Everyone experiences movement through different physical bodies and perceptive lenses, which inherently means we will all learn at different rates and in different manners. There will be those of us who don’t “get it” right away because we are not used to the type of movement hooping requires, or perhaps we are not used to feeling so free inside our bodies just yet. We could be wondering why everyone else is finding his or her flow, still waiting for that glorious day to finally feel it. Weeks go by, sometimes months, sometimes longer!
For those of us who find hooping comes easily, we may get excited at how quickly we progress, but eventually find ourselves feeling stuck in a rut or hitting a plateau. In the midst of mastering so much we may still crave to be more graceful, incorporate more dance, make tricks look smoother, or just be “better” in general. Sometimes we get discouraged and frustrated, and slowly but surely, hooping becomes less exciting than it once was; it becomes a chore. Contemplation of quitting or taking a break may even come into play, which is why the comparison game can absolutely take all the fun out of hooping.
Our experience can turn from a state of bliss into a battle of association. Instead of knowing what our real gifts and talents are, we might end up spending more time figuring out everyone else’s. Our world can become so high pressure and full of comparison that we barely have room to breathe outside of the hoop, so why would we want to bring that into one of our most sacred spaces? When we begin comparing ourselves to others it’s as if we are floating on a cloud, disconnected from our true selves. If we slip into this zone we have no idea who we are, what we want, what our dreams are, or what is even real to our true selves. But without some element of healthy competition, where would we find the motivation to improve? Would we really practice an extra half hour every day, stretch more, or try a trick just one more time? The truth is, we can channel this seemingly competitive vibe into one that serves us and helps us grow.
Living in a constant state of comparison can be incredibly exhausting. Instead, try practicing feeling your own heart inside the hoop. Hoop at home alone with YOUR music in YOUR style. Take it back to the basics. Hoop slower, hoop faster, hoop with different hoopers, hoop with a heavy hoop, hoop with your first hoop, hoop outside, and hoop on a mountaintop! Recognize when your mind begins playing those comparison thoughts like a broken record player in your head. Don’t listen to them! Take heart in your present experience. Look at your environment around you and find something beautiful to look at while noticing the details of this present moment. Intentionally find some commonality between you and that other person you seem to be comparing yourself to, for they are simply a soul who has found joy inside the hoop just like you. By learning to appreciate the experiences and teachings you’ve gained from other hoopers in a more objective manner, it becomes easier release comparisons and go your own way, which can ultimately help you with similar situations in every day life.
If you have honed the art of hooping, how do you go about sharing and spreading the love while staying true to yourself? People will naturally gravitate towards you when you are passionate about something and have simultaneously found a wonderful way to compliment living life in the moment. They will remember you more for who you are “outside the hoop” rather than “inside the hoop”. So share with us! How have you learned, or how are you in the process of learning to stay true to yourself within and without the hoop?
YOU are awesome! Thanks for reading!
Co-collaboration for this piece by Melinda Rider of Hoopologie and Amber Lane of Lucid hooping. ***Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping is a general lover-of-life and hoop enthusiast. After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and two herniated discs at the age of 17, she entered the world of medicine. She discovered the hoop and meditation in 2010 when she was 19 and instantly fell in love, not only because they boosted her self-confidence to new highs, but also because these modalities magically healed her chronic pain. Life since then has been a whirlwind of learning and sharing self-healing techniques and manifesting the life of her dreams. Through Lucid Hooping she hopes to help others in their journeys to health and true happiness through self-healing and transformation.