Lifts from the Waist

Thank you VERY much. The idea that I am holding a cup of something I don't want to spill was very helpful to get me to figure out how I am supposed to do this move. I don't have it down yet, but this really clarifies it for me when other videos did not.

First off, thank you for your great tutorials. I've learned a lot from you!

A quick question: what size and weight of hoop do you recommend for a beginner attempting lifts? The hoop I have now is my first and was given to me recently. It's got a large circumference, but it's very heavy. I have difficulty practicing these moves because my wrist simply isn't strong enough!

I recommend as light a hoop as you can manage for learning lifts and hand hooping. Build strength w/o injury. This tubing is 100 psi and has as small hand hold as I could figure out - 1/2 inch around. It's also made to the biggest diameter I can manage while vertical waist hooping at an angle w/t hitting the floor. I like it to be large as possible on the inside circle - slower coming round, gives more time to do the lift, allows you to press into each of the 360-degrees w/in the circle.

Usually that diameter is anywhere for 44 inches down 38" for me. I'd measure from ground to your bellybutton or so and multiple that number of inches by pi to get the radius of the circle so you'll know how many inches of tubing you'll need to make your hoop or to order it if you're ordering one. Hope this helps!

It helps to remember that your hoop is doing a circle so you don't want to pull it straight down. The hoop is on your hand so as you bring your hand down to the opposite pelvic bone you want to push out and away from your body so the hoop doesn't lose the circle it's already making. Now if you bop the back of your head, you've pushed to hard but it only takes one or two bops to get that. It's like water going down a drain, if that makes sense. If it doesn't, write me and I'll try to help.

First off, your videos are so helpful. You explain things very well without putting me to sleep like some instructional videos.

I'm having so much trouble with this! I got a cup and practiced , but I still can't get it. Here are my problems:

I'm left handed, so I automatically try to use that hand to lift, which direction should the hoop be going? I can't use my right hand to do this move because I have a messed up elbow from a broken arm, it bends differently. so I can't lift the same.

If you are lifting with your left from behind the hoop needs to be going clockwise (as you look down at it moving around your waist). Using the left hand for the front lift means the hoop needs to be going CCW.

I'm sorry to hear about your messed up elbow. Have you seen a physical therapist? Sometimes they have some very healing exercises. And perhaps try while turning really really slow to the right and breathing slow and lifting really slow. It might help you figure out a way. Good luck!

One more thing, if you start trying to rehab your right so that you can do this move, I recommend using a really light hoop. This one is 100 psi but you can make them even smaller, like the Native American hoopdancers use. That might help you build strength in your recovering arm also. Healing blessings to you.

There's nothing I can do about it short of re-breaking my arm, I broke it when I was four and it didn't set right. But I seem to be getting better at doing this anyway so i'm not letting it stop me. Thanks!

I have learned so much from your tutorials. Lifts from waist uses belly dance methodology and applying this while learning from you has greatly helped. I didn't "get it" before. Thank you so much for devoting your time to teaching your viewers, we appreciate you. Your movements are so gracefule and your personality is sunshine!!