Why should kids have all the fun?

Exercise doesn’t have to be so serious.

Hooping is feel-good fitness! Have fun while you exercise, shape your core and meet new people.  The custom hoops used are not ‘kids hula hoops’: the beginner hoops are larger (35 to 42 inches) and heavier (0.5 to 1 lb), allowing them to rotate more slowly and gracefully around your body. More experienced hoopers begin to use smaller, lighter and more versatile hoops between 30 and 35 inches. This means that even if you think you can’t hoop, with one of these hoops you can, regardless of age, size, or sense of rhythm. You’ll be keeping the momentum going while learning tricks before you know it. The class is set to upbeat music, offers a great cardiovascular workout and builds muscle tone.

All-level classes are for the absolute beginner to the advanced student. Instruction is offered with basic and more complex variations so that everyone can get something out of the class.

Intermediate/advanced level class: If you’ve mastered some hula hoop basic moves, now take your hooping skills to the next level and learn intermediate and advanced moves. Grow your repertoire of tricks in order to allow freedom of movement and personal expression as you move with your hoop. Become more comfortable moving with the hoop and have fun with choreography. Prerequisites: being very comfortable hooping on the waist while turning, walking and moving your arms as well as having mastered basic off-body moves.

Drop in for your first class or, better yet, sign up for the entire session to progress week by week. Classes are taught by a bilingual instructor.

Hoops are available for use during class and for sale.

Interested in buying an adult-sized hoop? Check out the beautiful and high quality hoops at HoopCanada, which can be purchased online or at the circus school. See description below about choosing the right size of hoop.

Dress code: Ideal clothing is stretchy and non ‘slippery’ such as cotton yoga clothes. For comfort avoid clothing with buttons and zippers. Hoops are provided during class and for sale. You can be barefoot, in socks or have clean indoor shoes.

Bring: A water bottle, or buy one of ours (the tap water is good to drink).

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Playing with the right kind of hoop

Many people remember trying out a hula hoop from a toy store and dropping it after one or two rotations around the waist. Some have fond childhood memories of spinning the hoop on their waist for hours. Hooping classes are so much more…

First of all, we use pro hoops for the classes. Our adult beginner hoops (Earth hoops) are usually between 38 and 43 inches in diameter, much bigger than toy store hoops and heavier too, weighing in approximately 1/2 lb to 1 lb. The size and weight of the hoop allow it to rotate more slowly and gracefully around the waist. This enables you to hoop more easily and also to learn to hoop on all parts of the body—in all kinds of different figures and angles. This makes for a 1-hour class that is interesting, fun and challenging and a hoop practice that keeps you challenged but offers many different variations of movement. The hoops are decorated with grip tape, which prevents them from slipping, and eliminates the frustration some people have when trying to hoop with a ‘toy store kids hoop’. Intermediate or petite hoopers will like our lighter 1/2 lb hoops (Air Hoops), which are about 34 to 37 inches in diameter.

After the first class or three, hooping on the waist and some basic tricks will become comfortable. As the session progresses, you’ll learn to hoop on your hips, legs, neck and torso as well as off the body, manipulating the hoops with your hands and arms. You will also learn combo choreography that link all the moves together. This is all set to music, and enables a workout for your whole body that is so much fun that you barely realize that you’ve been exercising for an hour. Hooping strengthens mostly your core and arms, but works your whole body as well. Low-impact cardio gets your heart rate up and adrenaline pumping. Most students leave the class smiling and inspired.

Visit the HoopCanada website to shop for a high quality hoop that can be picked up in Ottawa or shipped in Canada.

Here’s what a few of my students have had to say about the beginner and intermediate hooping class:

– I’m excited [about hooping class] it gives me something to look forward to each week!

– I’m super motivated! Merci!

– I like how [Sophie] emphasized fun and enjoyment during the class.

– Awesome class!