Little kids don't see spinning hula hoops

When someone buys a hoop from me, one of the things I warn them about is that little kids don't seem to "see" a spinning hoop. They'll just walk right up, and into, a spinning hoop. (Cute & LUCKY!) case in point.

The light, plastic kid's hoops that are commercially available don't do much damage, but my heavier, adult-sized ones can cause a bruise or two. So, be carefully, everyone! A kid will look you in the eye as you're waist hooping and walk right into your hoop!

My favorite hoop dance app

Yes, "there's an app for it!"

Okay. Not quite. There are plenty of online resources for hoop dance, but there isn't an app for it yet...that I know of. Hoop dance simply requires you, a hoop, and good old-fashioned practice. I do, however, have an app that appeals to me specifically because of my hoop dancing hobby.

It's Shazam, a free app that helps me identify the songs that I hear, but don't know. (And it's so popular that perhaps this write-up is simply stating the obvious, but I thought I'd go ahead and post this in the off-chance that there are a few people left who are not familiar with it.)

Before I took up hoop dancing, I was slowly losing touch with new music. (I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that this losing-touch process started before Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears came on the scene. I know this for a fact, because I vividly remember watching a news program in which they were both introduced...and recognizing that, were I more with-it, I would have known who the newscaster was talking about.)

Ahem. Anyway...ever since I've taken up hoop dance, however, I've been more aware of new and current music. I am always keeping an ear out for hooping-suitable music. Without Shazam, though, additions to my music library would be considerably more frustrating because sometimes I just catch a melody...or I simply can't understand what the heck the singer is saying (which is often).

I was sitting in a beauty salon when this song came on. Trust me. I would never have found the downloadable version without Shazam's help. (And this song's discovery lead me to this album. I had NO idea there was such a thing as electro swing. Yeah. Old fogey, right here!)

A hoop dancer for hooping enthusiasts

I have a select group of hooping videos that I re-share because I love them so. My favorite hoop dancers don't incorporate a lot of highly complicated hoop "tricks." They are simply dancing and their moves are completely reachable to every day hooping enthusiasts (as opposed to hooping "performers") like me.

Of the many hoop dancers that I admire, Beth Lavinder's style is the one that inspires me the most. In the following video, watch how she moves around the floor. Notice how she incorporates her arms and legs into her hooping. She is a true "hoop dancer" and one that I strive to emulate.

Hooping at Taste of Marietta 2012

Cooper hooping at Taste of Marietta
(Photo Credit: Lorene Shaw)

Did you make it to Taste of Marietta this year? Just as we did last year, we went early, hooped to the live music by Three Way Street, and left when the heat and crowds were no-longer hoopable. Well. That and the awesome band was going to wrap up soon so there wasn't much point to staying. Um. Except perhaps for the food. And the other awesome bands. And...on second thought, maybe we should have stayed longer, hoops and all!

Last year I didn't think to get advance permission from the Taste of Marietta hosts. This year I did, though. And perhaps we'll be lucky enough to be invited back again in 2013. I certainly hope so. I want to dance to Three Way Street again.

And here are several pictures of our hooping day. Thanks so much to Jason Bourne for taking them!

Taylor Oviedo
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Taylor Oviedo & Lorene Shaw/Alphabet Hoops
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Taste of Marietta hooper
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Lorene Shaw/Alphabet Hoops discusses hooping with new hooper Laura
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Dueling hula hoopers
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Taylor Oviedo
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Jason Bourne, Lorene Shaw/Alphabet Hoops & Cooper
(Photo Credit: Mason Shaw)

Taste of Marietta hooper
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

Taylor Oviedo
(Photo Credit: Jason Bourne)

My oldest at 4 weeks old

August 11, 2001 - Mason at 4 weeks old

While organizing my photo archives, I came across this image. My oldest son at 4 weeks old. I have no idea how much he weighed in this picture, but given that he was 11 pounds 2 ounces at birth, he wasn't a lightweight...

He's going to be 11 soon. I can't get enough time with my kids, y'all. This is a problem.

Sunday Funday at East Cobb Park

What could possibly improve upon a sunshiny day at the park, complete with (free!) live music? Why, hula hoops, of course! Last Sunday, Alphabet Hoops brought a stack of hoops and joined the fun at "Sunday Funday presented by Wellstar." With such a family friendly atmosphere, there were already a lot of smiling faces, but the hula hoops prompted some happy laughter as well.

Musician, Jay Memory

Lorene Shaw of Alphabet Hoops

 I really had a wonderful time introducing hula hooping to kids and adults. And I really appreciated the  occasional references to hula hooping that musician Jay Memory inserted into his songs. He made me smile every time he did that! Remember, Sunday Funday is free. And there's plenty of room for hula hoops. So bring yours, grab the family, and join in the fun!

About Sunday Funday by Wellstar: Located at East Cobb Park, Sunday Funday is held weekly on Sundays from 4-7 p.m., April 15 through May 27 (weather permitting). The weekly event features live musical entertainment performed by Jay Memory. Huge thanks to the the various sponsors who make this family-friendly activity possible for our community---Wellstar, Zaxby's, Willy's Mexican Grill, and Rohan Law PC.

Hooping with Mr. Marietta

Today, Jason Bourne, aka “Mr. Marietta,” honored me with the opportunity to teach him some hooping tricks. He is a natural. I am 100% sure that if hooping piques his interest, he will very soon have some isolation tricks to show me.

Jason Bourne and Lorene Shaw at Marietta Square

Are you interested in learning some hooping isolations? Here’s an online tutorial that includes instruction for several moves. Many hooping moves have more than one name. In the preceding tutorial, the instructor teaches what she calls a "full moon," "half moon," "shooting star," and "milky way." Watch the video to see what they are!

I often teach kids isolations because they're impressive to see and relatively easy to learn. (You should see their eyes light up when I show them the moves!) Personally, I enjoy them because they're a fun way to build some shoulder definition, as well as workout my triceps and biceps.