I want to take you back to a time when there was only one yoga studio and one teacher. At the time, it was a very small subculture in our city, but now, this impossible-to-miss practice of health and balance is found all over town.
And before you get your hot and funky smelling yoga spandex in a bunch when I say hooping could be the next thing, I ask you remember all that went with that stereotype.
If you are with me on this cross-generational journey, then you know that both groups have had to overcome stereotypes. And after a half hour with Miss Audacious of Audacious Hoops, I am reminded of the ease at which we quickly want to pigeonhole something new and counterculture.
If you want to be on the front end of a trend, then join the line of circling and swinging hips at the Pyramid Scheme (68 Commerce SW) for the biggest day of hooping as Grand Rapids joins the international World Hoop Day event in a way never before experienced here.
“I think people have many of the same misconceptions of hooping as they did about yoga 30 years ago,” says Miss Audacious. Her has been chosen by
Hooping.org as an approved hooping event, and will be complete with the premiere of
The Hooping Life, a new documentary seeking to present both a historical context and living picture of the people who are making hooping so popular around the world.
“We wanted to do something that would help people understand the history of hooping and give them a chance to participate in workshops with talent from the East side of the state," Audacious says. "But, we most importantly wanted to have a venue big enough for performances as well as for vendors to showcase the very latest and best in hooping. I view [this event] as a great way to introduce [hooping to] our community members who are curious about this healthy and fun activity.
Miss Audacious also views this event as a great opportunity to show visitors coming in from all over the state what kind of community West Michigan is.
“One of the things I really enjoy about hooping is that we are seeing the positive impact hooping can have on a community,” says Audacious, who claims that even ancient Egyptians were into hooping.
Well, if Miss Audacious’ research is correct, then we can not only say “walk like an Egyptian," but "hooping like an Egyptian," too.
Admission: Starting at $13 and up.