Posts by Che Rippinger

How do I pick a hula hoop? What size hoop should I get? What kind of hoop should I get? Where can I get a hula hoop that is right for me and my needs?

So you want to hula hoop but don’t know where to start. O.K…let’s talk hoops! Here’s some hoop information for total beginners to help you figure out what hoop is right for you.

1.) My first recommendation is to invest in a Good Quality Professionally Made Hoop (like the custom hand crafted hoops by Hip The Hoopla!) — if you want the Best Success, and want to stick with it. You can just buy an inexpensive toy store hoop, but they are made for kids who can destroy them quickly, with really cheap tubing, and can break very easily. They are also usually too light, and small for most adults to use, especially if you want to do waist hooping and core fitness.

2.) My second professional bit of hoop advice is do not use a “weighted” hoop. Here’s why…

1st reason: You don’t actually need that added weight to get a great workout. With a good instruction (learn how to hoop with Hip The Hoopla), practicing particular moves, or just jamming to your favorite tunes, a non-weighted/regular pro dance hoop will have you hooping longer.

The next reason that I’d recommend you don’t use a “sport”/weighted hoop can cause injury/bruising. When you are first learning, you will be improving your technique, increasing your stamina and developing great foundation for your hoop dance skills, with dedicated practice. If you are bruised or super sore the next day…you might not pick up your hoop, the next day, or the next day after that! You wouldn’t walk into a gym, and just start power weight lifting hundreds of pounds, without building up some strength and stamina with lower weights first, right?!

Lastly, weighted hoops are extremely limiting, if you want to progress and grow in your hoop dance journey. This is simply because they are too heavy and cumbersome to maneuver easily and without extra strain on your body.

Are you still feeling a little hoop confused? That’s o.k. I’m here to help you be Goldilocks and find something that is “just right”…For You, and what your hoop goals are.

In case you are interested, I do a hoop consultation* (by phone, video chat, or in person) and even might have a special introductory private lesson special (if you ask), to your help build your hoop knowledge and make a smart purchase decision.

*Why would I give you my hard-earned insider professional knowledge? I want to get you on the right track. I didn’t have anyone to sit down with me and give me a bunch of good advice, based on what I actually wanted or needed! I had to figure it all out for myself. It’s taken many years of time (since 2008) and considerable expense, to learn what I know. I can help you SHORTCUT the hoop decision and hoop buying process–so you can feel empowered, knowledgeable and get the most bang for your buck.

Hooping is not cookie cutter. It’s not “one size fits all…and some, better than others.” Let’s chat and you’ll quickly understand and appreciate why your path is unique, and what you may want to get started and move up or over to as you learn and grow.

So, just when you thought weight, or where to get a good professionally made hoop from a reputable hoop maker was all you needed to know…

There are other considerations as well. The type of tubing matters greatly: in weight, durability and the way your hoop performs. Some of the main types of tubing are: 1.) PE tubing 2.) HDPE and 3.) Polypro

Now then…Even if you thought all of your choices were already exhausted…

But WAIT, There’s More!!!

MORE CHOICES!

You have taped versus naked (non-taped) hoops, AND the vast varieties of tapes and what the reasons, plus pros and cons of each are. That’s a whole ‘nother rabbit hole of “wow, grippy, pretty, shiny, sparkly, patterned, UV, glow in the dark, exponential possibilities.

Finding what’s right for you may take some time and research, to make a good decision to get something that you are hopefully are going to love and use for many years to come.

My philosophy is to give you really solid information, based on my many years of professional experience. Yes, I would love it if you buy from me. But really I want you as a happy client, (and positive recommendation) for life. I want to see you grow and develop…and stick with it, if you find hooping as addictive, enjoyable, and as full of variety, as I do.

As I mentioned earlier, hooping is a journey, and it is very personal. It’s based on your unique experiences, what you are going through, what your goals are, and your own personality and style. Some people use hooping as a form of meditation. For some it’s about fitness or losing weight. For others, it’s a way out of depression, or method to destress and detox.

Whatever hooping is for you, that’s what your hoop choice can represent.

Oh, an one more thing…there’s no rule that you can only have ONE hoop. (Insert Happy Dance Here.) You can have different sizes weights, tapes, travel capabilities, colors, and even multis for “multi hooping”…using more than one hoop at the same time. Your experience level may help shape your choices at the beginning. But then you’ll find yourself grabbing different hoops, depending on your mood or what you want to work on that day.

I wish you many blessings and hope our circles unite at some point. Happy Hooping!

~Che’ Rippinger, Founder, Chief Hooping Officer, Professional Hoopsmith (Hoopmaker), Instructor, Perfomer, and Hoop Love Ya’ll Show Host

~Che’ Rippinger is Hip The Hoopla‘s CHO (Chief Hooping Officer)/Owner/Founder and head humorist, with heart. She’s been hula hooping since 2008 and founded Hip The Hoopla in 2011 – while teaching, performing and making pro custom dance hula hoops. A dancer most of her life (30+years), Che’ has also been a humor writer/columnist, illustrator and cartoonist for The Denver Post and her Touché! Cartoons have been featured in PLAYGIRL Magazine.

♥ Want more awesomeness? Sign up for our Whirled News e-mail and get your very own 10 motivational ways to make changes workbook.

Catch the latest hoop news with Hip The Hoopla on Facebook. Check out the Hip The Hoopla YouTube channel for the Hoop Love Ya’ll Show, plus tutorials, performances. Also follow HTH on Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Yelp, and Instagram.  To contact us for group classes, private coaching, premium service packages, VIP days, events, performances or custom professional dance hoops, please call 303-919-9280, visit www.HipTheHoopla.com or e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com. (Please do not add us to call/e-mail lists without permission.)

*IDEAS FOR GATHERING in 2020*
It’s 2020. All bets are off. But you still want to celebrate. Here’s some ideas how you can be part of the 20 countries and over 500 hoopers participating Worldwide goal:
1.) If you are game, you could create a small gathering of Circus and creative friends who are itching to get outside in a park.
FYI: HOOPING IS NATURALLY SOCIAL DISTANCING 😁👍
DIY it as a little potluck and you’ve got yourself a little party. If you do, please post it on the World Hoop Day Facebook group…before to gather excitement, and after with some pictures. We are all just doing ths best we can! I just had a handful of people last year, coming from a very large flow community in Colorado-I just did a baby version of our big event. Whatever works for you. Be part of the 20 Countries with over 500 Hooers worldwide goal‼
2.) Host a virtual event. Some people are really making this online connecting stuff really work! Gather their skills and get together. The internet this year is helping us reach out to more new colleagues, friends and flomies, who we didn’t know before.
3.) Do your own thing. Hey, if you want to participate but don’t quite know others to gather with or just want to keep it simple, celebrate in your own way. And do the World Hoop Day Dance, dress up just for fun, get some pics, shoot a video, and throw yourself a World Hoop Day dance party!!

⭕*TOTAL HOOP GLEE*⭕ That feeling you get from hooping…For me, it’s my students amazing me with their Happiness. Success, & total Hoop JOY! Hard to describe how thankful I am for each & every person I’ve been blessed to help in all the ways I can. The transforms are like watching butterflies blossom. I am blown away, & humbled. #gratitudeatalltitude #awesomeattraction #thankyou #hooptribe #hoopspiration
💞 #hooploveyall from #cherippinger of #hipthehoopla www.HipTheHoopla.com

For me hooping is healing, hope, humor, health and happiness. When I first got into hooping in 2008, my mom was sick with terminal cancer (misdiagnosed for 1 1/2 years). I had to run, and then close, our family business Southwest giftshop, by myself.

There were some days that all I could do was sit inside my hoop cross legged in the floor. It was my safe space, even if just for a few moments, when I said, “For just right now, All the bad stuff has to stay out there (outside of my hoop).”

After a year of library DVDs and just hooping on my own, I started going to hoop workshops by a lot of big name hoopers who came through Colorado to the Boulder Circus Center.

I continued to grow and develop as a hooper, and people kept asking, “Where do you teach?” I started my teaching and hoop making biz Hip The Hoopla in 2011, a year after my mom died. I’ve been trying to help people get happy and healthy with hooping ever since.

For many years I’ve helped out with Colorado World Hoop Day event, and even stepped up to take over creating the official dance.

This is my 4th year creating the original song and choreography. Plus…getting the word out for more hooping in the world to help bring peace, foster friendships, get people up physically active, and get hoops into the hands of kids in need, worldwide.

My mission is to help others. And, even though this is my marriage anniversary month (8 years now!), World Hoop Day is only a month away (Saturday October 3rd)‼

For more info on learning how to hoop or to volunteer to help in any way you can for World Hoop Day, please contact Che’.

Also please keep up with Hoop News and Activities at:

http://www.HipTheHoopla.com http://www.Facebook.com/HipTheHoopla

www.YouTube.com/HipTheHoopla

www.Instagram.com/hipthehoopla

We’re doing a September Hoop Dance Challenge…learning the official Dance for World Hoop Day.!

Join us in the www.Facebook.com/whddance for “daily do it prompts.”

www.Facebook.com/HipTheHoopla

YouTube Video Playlist:
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfepHc2viWU32ntuIH_7mjEjCls3BMbYY

Places to tune in:
www.Facebook.com/HipTheHoopla
www.YouTube.com/HipTheHoopla
www.Instagram.com/hipthehoopla
www.HipTheHoopla.com

World Hoop Day Dance Challenge Schedule:
DAY 1-6 Learn and Do, DAY 6 Review
Day 7 Q & A: Freestyle Dance Intro, First Verse choreography
DAY 8-11 Learn and Do with Review plus Q & A Chorus choreography
Day 12 Full Dance Choreography Live Training
Day 13 Learn 2nd Verse choreography with review
Day 14 Optional Special Surprise!! Learn International Choreography Collaboration End counts + review
BONUSES: *“Performer’s Preparation: Quick Guide” https://youtu.be/pO2j4n4p4Uo
**“Video/Camera Tips & Tricks” https://youtu.be/EenkXsL4ZMc
***Be sure to check out the World Hoop Day Choreography Video after the full training, for a quick review of the whole dance. https://youtu.be/7tvSi8woibI

Welcome to the World Hoop Day Celebration and 2020 Dance Challenge! We are learning a dance choreography that can be done in groups, duets, or solo. Bite sized pieces will be in doable daily chunks that can be done in 5-10 minutes. (More if you want to practice to nail it!) Follow along and learn new hula hoop moves, add dance style, or increase your own personal challenge level. Please add your own pizzazz, smile, sense of fun, and love of your hoop.

***NOTE***: This dance is for ALL levels, ages, genders, body and hoop sizes. Please have fun, Smile LOTS, warm up so you can stay safe in your body, hydrate, and help spread the hoop love by sharing and teaching others to welcome them to the hoop circle. ♥Thank you♥
#worldhoopdaydance #worldhoopday2020 #whd2020

♥ Daily Challenge Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/yxe4a2qo
♥ Download the original Rock Star Produced SONG at: https://soundcloud.com/user836548562/getintolifewithahulahoopmix2
♥ Please Subscribe and hit “Notifications ON” for new videos for World Hoop Day, Hoop Tutorials and more!

I want to feel better. I want to move. I want to laugh. Is Hooping for me??

Does Size Matter. Why YES it is. Especially when picking a hula hoop!

Question:

So I got the arm hoop down…only right side so far. I had to stop. My hoop is too big and was hurting. So I think I need a smaller size.
I definitely don’t want to stop.

Answer:

Yep I definitely like to have what I loosely call On-body hoops (generally speaking a little bigger ad/or heavier), and Off-body hoops (usually a little smaller and/or lighter). That being said, you Can interchange the size/weight of the hoop, just know that the moves might move slower with the bigger hoop or faster with the smaller hoop. Also with a heavier hooping the moves on stronger body parts, like your may be easier to get and execute. If you are instead rotating the hoop on your hand, arm, foot, etc. you may want to use a smaller lighter hoop so you don’t have to strain as much to use it. It also helps prevent more bruising and injury.

~Che’ Rippinger is Hip The Hoopla‘s CHO (Chief Hooping Officer)/Owner/Founder and head humorist, with heart. She’s been hula hooping since 2008 and founded Hip The Hoopla in 2011 – while teaching, performing and making pro custom dance hula hoops. A dancer most of her life (30+years), Che’ has also been a humor writer/columnist, illustrator and cartoonist for The Denver Post and her Touché! Cartoons have been featured in PLAYGIRL Magazine.

♥ Want more awesomeness? Sign up for our Whirled News e-mail and get your very own 10 motivational ways to make changes workbook.

Catch the latest hoop news with Hip The Hoopla on Facebook. Check out the Hip The Hoopla YouTube channel for the Hoop Love Ya’ll Show, plus tutorials, performances. Also follow HTH on Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Yelp, and Instagram.  To contact us for group classes, private coaching, premium service packages, VIP days, events, performances or custom professional dance hoops, please call 303-919-9280, visit www.HipTheHoopla.com or e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com. (Please do not add us to call/e-mail lists without permission.)