Picture this, if you will...
I'm dangling upside down from a hoop, knees hooked over it, red in the face and trying desperately to do a full sit-up just so I can grab the hoop again and right myself, but my body... well, my body betrayed me in that moment, so I ended up flapping there like a flaccid, sweaty potato until my instructor took pity on me and heaved me up, "assisting" my sit up.
The next week, we're doing a beautiful pose which involved us sitting on the hoop, threading our outside arms behind us and grabbing the hoop from under our butts. I try a couple of times, to no avail and my instructor, seeing my pathetic attempts at trying to reach around my slightly rounded belly - "ok, so just try to slip down on the hoop a bit" I do so... she pulls my arm but it is NOWHERE long enough; "butt down, further just a bit", I obey immediately but my hand is just getting further away from the hoop now and I'm starting to understand something my instructor hasn't yet seen... my arms aren't long enough to go around my bigger-than-before butt. She ceded gracefully, saying that some people have shorter arms than others...
Trying something new is always a bit worrying, but what is easy to forget is is that despite all of the beautiful stills, and videos that go so smoothy anyone who does anything has at least 10 more videos or photos where they either don't quite get it, or they, like myself, are channelling their inner panda.
The next week, we're doing a beautiful pose which involved us sitting on the hoop, threading our outside arms behind us and grabbing the hoop from under our butts. I try a couple of times, to no avail and my instructor, seeing my pathetic attempts at trying to reach around my slightly rounded belly - "ok, so just try to slip down on the hoop a bit" I do so... she pulls my arm but it is NOWHERE long enough; "butt down, further just a bit", I obey immediately but my hand is just getting further away from the hoop now and I'm starting to understand something my instructor hasn't yet seen... my arms aren't long enough to go around my bigger-than-before butt. She ceded gracefully, saying that some people have shorter arms than others...
Trying something new is always a bit worrying, but what is easy to forget is is that despite all of the beautiful stills, and videos that go so smoothy anyone who does anything has at least 10 more videos or photos where they either don't quite get it, or they, like myself, are channelling their inner panda.
Not everything goes to plan
If you browse through social media, you could be mistaken to think that everything anyone tries goes well first time... let me dispell that illusion right here and now by talking about how much it hurts if you don't quite position yourself right.... yup, that hoop is much thinner than you might think and I can't say that having it between your legs is the best feeling in the world...
Or when you pose thinking that you look super elegant... but instead you look like you're fighting for your life (and that you have super short legs... why and how I'll never know)!
Or, and this is my personal favourite, your instructor has a lot of faith in you but you're DEFINTELY questioning your life choices right now...
The point?
I'll keep it simple my friends... doing stuff is hard and it doesn't always go to plan. But if you've ever wanted to try something and have been put off by "I can't do that" just remember this post, because no one can before they learn. So go out and give whatever it is a go, and if you take some embarrassing photos... well, all the better ;)
Oh, and I finally managed it... the invert and sitting up to grab the hoop. Sometimes, you just have to keep trying!
Oh, and I finally managed it... the invert and sitting up to grab the hoop. Sometimes, you just have to keep trying!
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