Around The Fitness World In 80 Days: Day 22 ! Fire Hoop

Oh today, I’ve been looking forward to today’s class. It’s different, random and I only found it by sheer luck while I was searching for classes. Turns out that this week was London Hoopfest – a week long festival with classes, shows and workshops for all things hula-hoopy! Initially I was going to try out the HulaFit class – it’s more in keeping with a fitness blog afterall, but then I saw the Fire Hoop workshop and couldn’t resist. I’ll maybe try out the HulaFit class one day, if Fire Hoop can burn (Ha! Burn.)166 calories in an hour (and that’s including relaxed hooping practise, no tricks, no fire), I’d like to see what a fitness-focussed hooping class could burn.

So I dragged L’il Sis, who dragged another friend who dragged another friend (see how it spreads? Ha! Spreads.) over to the Mile End Art Pavilion for the Fire Hoop workshop. There were around 20 of us (fewer than I thought but probably due to some Health & Safety regulations I imagine) and everyone started with some non-fiery hooping practise. It became apparent pretty quickly that we were perhaps not the most experienced hoopers in the room but a couple of the other friendly students would give us a few tips and pointers for “easy” tricks. Now I can hula (or so I thought). I’m pretty comfortable with a hoop on the waist and kind of thought that was the main point of hooping. No siree. There are tricks with lifting hoops, turning while hooping, moving hoop upwards to neck (so much harder than it looks) and onto arms or downwards onto knees (also hard!), one leg hooping, one arm hooping, both at the same time – the tricks are endless!

And then you add the fire. To clarify (as the pictures and video will show), this is not a ring full of fire round the whole circumference. Logically, I’m not even sure if that’s possible – how would you hold it to start hooping? Anyway, it’s a few lit wicks attached to the hoop, which may sound a bit disappointingly “oh.” but I assure you it’s not. When you’re spinning that flamed hoop around you, it still feels like the whole hoop is on fire.

So after “dipping your wick” (Anna’s phrase ;-)) in the paraffin and “spinning it off,” you stand with the hoop, ready to be lit and ready to rock n roll. And when lit, there’s a very satisfying (if not mildly scary the first time) whoosh! noise as you start spinning. It’s a good thing to remember Anna’s “you won’t die” words at this point! I will let the pictures and video speak for themselves – though it is more a you-need-to-try-it-sort of thing. I’m not sure I would Fire Hoop every week but would definitely try un-fiery hula hooping again to learn more tricks. In summary, it was a totally new experience, loads of fun and a surprisingly good workout!

The Need To Know:

- Where: Mile End Art Pavilion, as part of London Hoop Fest.

- Nearest Station: Mile End(5mins).

- When: Part of London Hoop Fest, but you can learn Fire Hoop with Anna directly (http://hoopinganna.com/learn-to-hoop).

- How Much: £50 for 1-hr 1:1 or cheaper in a group.

- Special Note: You can also learn through The Fire School (http://www.thefireschool.co.uk) which also has crazy fire breathing or fire eating courses!

The Want to Know:

- Who’s it For: For those who like a little risk! And pyromaniacs.

- Sweat Scale: 5/10. The flames are warm but we were outside (in the rain).

- Strength / Cardio / Flexi / Tone: Mid-riff toning!

- Complexity: 7/10. Once you got the basics, you got it but tricks are tricky!

- Fun Factor: 8/10

- Changing Facilities: Toilets

- Instructor Inspiration: 8/10 – We didn’t see Anna hooping but judging from website, hooping can get you quite fit!

The Stats:

- Total Time: 59mins (total hooping time, lots of stop starting)

- Calories Burnt: 166 (Not bad at all!)

- Average Heart Rate: 95
- Max Heart Rate: 148