Park hula
Last week I obtained some fairly impressive bruises from a seemingly innocuous sport: hula hooping in a park. It was worth it though.
The London Hula Hoopers run classes in parks all over London. Just turn up, grab a hoop and try to keep it off the floor.
Our class had about 20 people in it (just the one lone male), all of differing levels of competence. People brought their dogs and kids along. It’s all very relaxed. You just start hooping to music and talking amongst yourselves whilst the instructor goes around giving people tips and tricks to try out. It’s a great way to catch up if you’ve not seen someone in a while – makes a change from chatting over beers.
I may suggest it as a more joyful way to get through the grinding tedium of status meetings: ”Why don’t we get out of the boardroom! Let’s go forth and hoop! No? Ok, sorry. Can I interest you in a Boaster and some luke warm coffee?”
I was pleased to discover that I’m not too shabby with a hoop – I even managed to get it going around my arm AND around my neck (not at the same time). The lift thwarted me though. And I hit myself in the chin quite hard. And I think I’ve mentioned the bruises. But on balance I came out roughly on top.
I’m thinking of buying one but I’m not sure I have the confidence to just stand in a park on my own and do it. I might as well just wear a badge that says “Youths, please pelt me with stones for I am simple.” Feels like it would give you a proper nice J-Lo though, so it might be worth a try.
This looks like fun and I’ve been meaning to get around to going along to London Hulas for aaaages but never have!
It’s an excellent one for summer esp if you’re with friends (probably essential the first few times so you have someone to laugh at you when you hit yourself in the teeth).