Many people find chest hooping challenging. In a recent comment on Facebook, a hooper commented: “I swear, learning to chest/shoulder hoop is going to be the death of me.” Hope not, but here are some helpful…

Hip The Hoopla tips, tricks and techniques to get you more successfully hooping on your chest, quicker!

Three tips (plus some other helpful hints, too) I use in my Hip The Hoopla class, will help — and FYI, most of my beginners even get it pretty quickly (and a performance video example below):

1. Begin in your warm up with chest isolation movement–without your hoop. Good positions for this are either seated cross legged, or standing with knees in a good bend (abs in, head & spine lifted, pelvis tucked in & under). I like to place hands on upper thighs and use them to push into my maximum chest extension. Move/slide/hit each position: front, right, back, left a few times.  Then smooth it out into a solid  circle…with your sternum (bottom center of front ribs) leading the movement & connect the points.  Speed the chest rotations up and then repeat and reverse that in the other direction (make sure to keep your shoulders parallel to the ground–they are not part of the chest isolation).

2. Start spinning your hoop above your sternum with your arms up and out of your hoop and just get the chest isolation going (while turning!).

3. TURN in the direction you hoop is spinning (and keep turning!). This is not only one of my favorite “recovery” methods to get the hoop back up the body (gravity makes it easy to move it down), it combines well with the other two basics:
Speed up your hoop (not waist/hip) “rotations” or “beats” as I call them–as you are focusing on using two contact points, ie., ‘front/back’, ‘side/side’, etc.
And Duck in (with a little speed wind up).

Important Distinction: When you are hooping on your core (waist/hips) you are NOT circling your body to get the hoop moving. (Way too much work…but if you really want to, knock yourself out!) Just a simple forward & back, or side to side motion will do.

…But…When you are chest hooping (above the breast line), you ARE rotating your chest!

When you want to get your shoulders inside the hoop with your chest hooping, your shoulders will be doing an alternating shoulder shrug (right shoulder up towards right ear, left shoulder to left ear). The shoulder shrug is done–WITH the chest rotations–help keep the hoop up on the chest. (Keep turning!)

When you have chest hooping you can challenge yourself to 1. Not turn with your hoop 2. Chest hoop on your knees (on a soft surface or with knee pads if you can), or  3. Seated (cross legged or seated on your knees).

Helpful tip: Definitely consider what hoop size you use. If you are working with a smaller lighter hoop, chest hooping may be way more challenging  for you than trying with a bigger heavier one. (Smaller hoop=you need to go faster/speed up, Bigger hoop=slower so you can catch up/recover more easily)

Getting specific information like this, is just one of the many reasons having a good class or teacher is really important. We can give you great hoop and technique advice, for your particular needs. And we can help you with ideas in the moment, based on what you are doing. You can tweak, correct, practice and get the moves quicker and with greater success and happiness.

With Hip The Hoopla, I like to teach with laughter and joy. That usually makes even challenging or frustrating things much easier to get!

***ALSO, please remember in your hoop practice (and as a metaphor for life):
You don’t have to get 100 of anything in a row for you to have the move. One or two successful rotations really do count when it comes to muscle memory and brain success Keep practicing!!!
Thank you Rachyl Frank for your inspiration

♥Hoop love & blessings ♥
~Ché Rippinger, head hoopstress at Hip The Hoopla based in Denver, Colorado

Please contact for classes, coaching, hoops & performances. 303-980-6295 Che@HipTheHoopla.com www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla  www.HipTheHoopla.com

Here’s two video channels to see Hip The Hoopla in action (more performance and tutorial videos soon): www.youtube/HipTheHoopla and www.youtube/ToucheToon
And here is a video example of my chest hooping from one performance (chest hooping at about :46 and 1:12)

Che Rippinger of Hip The Hoopla performing-example of chest hooping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP9AaDxjIfY

Whoo-Fire-Hoop! Che Rippinger of  Hip The Hoopla fire hooping at The Spin Summit 2013. Amazing professional photography by Don Searle Photography (This album on Facebook)

JUNE 2013 Hip The Hoopla Classes:

6/1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 & 29**Classes Tues. 6:30pm & Sat. 10am.** (Several fathers enjoy Hip The Hoopla classes-how about bringing yours to a class?)

SUPER Summer June Specials:

♥Hoop ALL OF JUNE for just $50! (That’s about $5 a class!!! Save up to $85!!!)
♥Drop In and TRY: “BRING A FRIEND for $10″  (you and a friend can come for $10 each, save $5 each!) (RSVP encouraged!)♥
♥ **HOOP LOVE UNLIMITED SUMMER SALE!** 30 days for YOU for only $60-UNLIMITED ($135 value-save $75! Good for 30 days from purchase date & you can ALSO  Bring A friend for $10 per class!) 

+CELEBRATE SUMMER!! Custom Hoops, Classes, Private lessons, Coaching, Performing, Merch, Gift Certificates, etc.

+Personal coaching sessions available (phone or in person!)
…RSVP your classes AND order your custom hoops now! ♥

**Please RSVP to guarantee your Hip The Hoopla class spot. Private lessons and coaching are available, too.

If you need a custom hand-made professional (hula) hoop, please call or e-mail to order (303-980-6295 & Che@HipTheHoopla.com).

More info on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla

And visit Things That Glow to see the Hip The Hoopla hoops selection in stock! Things That Glow 918 W 8th Ave, Denver CO 80204, 303-751-GLOW.

Please “Like,” visit often & recommend Hip The Hoopla on Facebook for schedule, updates, news and cool videos. http://www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla
Also find us on Yelp! http://www.yelp.com/biz/hip-the-hoopla-denver
…and LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/hip-the-hoopla
…and YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ToucheToon
…and another one on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ToucheToon
…and Pinterest http://pinterest.com/hipthehoopla/
…and Twitter http://twitter.com/hipthehoopla

Recommendations & testimonials are very appreciated. ~Thank You

We appreciate your interaction and connectivity!
♥ ♥ ♥
2013 is such a great year to Get Your Hoop On!!!

♥ June 2013 Hip The Hoopla ♥ www.facebook.com/events/312088945592725/

♥http://hipthehoopla.com/classes/♥

http://youtu.be/dnDeo0yhIws

5/18/13, Sat. 10am Hip The Hoopla class theme: Focus.
“Bring A Friend for $10″ until the end of May (you and a friend can come for $10 each, save $5 each!)
http://www.facebook.com/events/598916990125962/

Classes held at Red Elephant Workshop in Denver, 244 Sante Fe Drive.

Please call, or e-mail or facebook your RSVP. 303-980-6295, Che@HipTheHoopla.com, www.Faceboook.com/
HipTheHoopla

MAY 2013 Hip The Hoopla Class Schedule: 5/7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 (NO 5/4-Spin Summit)**Classes Tues. 6:30pm & Sat. 10am.**

Whoo-Fire-Hoop! Che Rippinger of  Hip The Hoopla fire hooping at The Spin Summit 2013. Amazing professional photography by Don Searle Photography

Tues. 5/7 at 6:30pm Hip The Hoopla class…”Hot New Moves, Part 1″ is the theme!

♥ Ché Performing at Boulder Creek Festival
Monday May 27, 2013, 1pm on the Dance Stage

**Please RSVP to guarantee your Hip The Hoopla class spot. Private lessons and coaching are available, too.

If you need a custom hand-made professional (hula) hoop, please call or e-mail to order (303-980-6295 & Che@HipTheHoopla.com).

More info on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla

And visit Things That Glow to see the Hip The Hoopla hoops selection in stock! Things That Glow 918 W 8th Ave, Denver CO 80204, 303-751-GLOW.

Shake your moneymaker with Hip The Hoopla 4/27 at 10am class (Theme: “Shimmy, Shake and Slide”…In honor of the Elevation Belly Dance Festival weekend), at Red Elephant Workshop: 214 Sante Fe Drive, Denver, CO.
Class Schedule ♥   Class information

RSVP your class spot: Che@HipTheHoopla.com or 303-980-6295 or on Facebook.

And come out with us and TRICKSHOT @ Rodzilla’s Roadhouse, 4/26/13, 9pm-1am ♥

NEXT Week is SPIN SUMMIT! Here’s your link to register NOW:
http://thespinsummit2013-HipTheHoopla.eventbrite.com/

“Super Trooper Hooper” Ché Ripinger

Friday, April 19, 2013 at 9pm with Champion for the Denver Digifest Kickoff party.  Ché was also interviewed by FOX31 KDVR.com in Denver and Examiner.com

Stay for the whole StarFest extravaganza or at least check out
Sunday, 4/21 her hubby Bill Owen of Elevated Color will present: “Getting Found In Web Searches” there, from 1-2pm at the Marriott DTC (4900 S. Syracuse St., Denver), Digifest 1 Room.

Click Here for more Digifest Party Info

There is a phone app with the entire fab schedule (including Stan Lee-creator of Spider Man!!) Already met a real Oompa Loompa – Deep Roy at the Press Party

~Ché Rippinger has been a cartoonist for over 20 years with Touché! Cartoons, as well as the teacher, performer, coach and hoop-maker of Hip The Hoopla-humorous hoop dance fitness. For more info, please call 303-980-6295 or e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com.

There are many training options…

1. Take a workshop!

Many instructors travel around. Find them, connect with them and see what their schedule is. If you’re not on it, reach out and offer to help host them in your town. You get so much out of in-person instruction and connect with your fellow friends and peer community.
Recent Example: Vivian Spiral’s “Dancing on The Edge: Wheels, Rolls, Traces and Spirals” held at the Boulder Circus Center in Boulder, Colorado.

2. Go to a conference/retreat/camp.

This may be as simple as a one day excursion or a week or more of intense learning. Travel may be involved, unless you’re lucky to have it in your neck of the woods. You may have an excuse to plan a vacation getaway halfway across the globe to expand your horizons. Or even in your own backyard.
Example: The Spin Summit, Colorado Springs, Colorado, May 2-5, 2013. Click here to register!

3. Learn Virtually.

From YouTube videos to dvds to personal coaching via Skype, there are many ways to connect with some phenomenal teachers all over the world. Prices range, but spending a little more on personal tutoring can make all the difference in catapulting your know-how.
Examples: www.YouTube/TheSpinSummit and
www.YouTube/ToucheToon and www.YouTube/HipTheHoopla

Whatever your path to learning, the key is to take any steps to get there. You can find what works best for you by trying something and seeing if you like it. Hoop On!!

~Ché Rippinger is the owner, instructor and performer of Hip The Hoopla–humorous hoop dance fitness. She offers group and private classes, coaching, thoughtful critiques, performance tips, custom made professional hoops, jewelry and costuming. For more updates and “hoopspiration,” please follow on Facebook www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla, (and Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn, too!).

Here’s a few (Free!) Tips to get your Online Action Plan moving:

1.) Consider your business platform and highlight it. Contrary to popular stress-inducing media pressure, you don’t have to be everything to everyone. Pick a niche and promote that. You can see what works and tweak your action list it along the way.

2.) Pick what marketing venues you want to work with and link them. Just because there are a plethora of social media options out there, doesn’t mean you have to have a jump into all of them. Pick one or two to start with, and develop from there. There is a learning curve, plus, know that the time to keep up with the various changes takes energy, too.  Once you are posting content to one or more vehicles, there’s a way to reformat that material or upload it to several sources at one time.

3.) Tie everything to your web site and keep your site up to date. Social media is great for instant news, but the majority of people are going to (or should) funnel to your site. Keep your meat and potatoes information on your web site. For instance: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ pages) are most easily found as a direct page on your web site, rather than having to scroll through hundreds of Facebook or Twitter posts.

Want MORE tips specifically tailored to what you are encountering with your business or social media issues?

Please call Ché Rippinger who can consult with you onsite, online or via phone. Ask about our new customer promo specials! 303-919-9280, e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com, and visit www.ElevatedColor.com/marketing for more info.

*Need a great web host that is Eco-Friendly and Economical? This site is wind-powered and hosted by Cherished Solutions.

Please check which web service is right for your needs: https://www.cherishedhosting.com/whmcs/aff.php?aff=008

Rejuvenate your inner child…who really wants to dance, play and giggle a lot more! Taught with positive, happy encouragement, you’ll be hooping so much easier than you ever thought. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, there are always creative techniques to increase your skills and accelerate your happiness and health. Laughter & dance-adapted yoga are included with a sprinkling of belly dance, and both on and off-body hooping. Classes are Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 10am~RSVP’s are highly encouraged to guarantee your spot. Private lessons and coaching sessions are available. Discounted 5 & 10 class packs are still available, or you can drop in for $15.You are welcome to bring your own hoop(s) or borrow one at class. You can even order your own custom hand-crafted (with love) pro hoop. In-Joy your Hoopy Spring!
Here’s April’s specials:
https://www.facebook.com/events/470185283052777/

Also, here is a recent video for some Hip The Hoopla “Hoopspiration”…

http://youtu.be/pCyfhuHjUt8
For More information, please call 303-980-6295, e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com and visit (and Like) us on facebook www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla

Class theme Saturday 3/16 at 10am “Twist”
Info: http://www.facebook.com/events/419603358134654/