Connecting with the hula hoop can be a magical experience. There is truth to why the hula hoop can be such a heart opening and transformational tool. Anytime we choose to engage in the hula hoop, we create our own sacred space between ourselves and the hoop. The connection we develop with the hula hoop is our own and it allows us to embark on our own personal journey, if we so choose. The movement not only engages our core strength but our spirit. The circle itself is a sacred symbol, it draws us in.
The Meaning Behind the Shape
The sacred circle creates a space that is safe and shielding for those who choose to engage.
The circle means:
- universal
- mobility
- sacred
- divine
- inclusion
- centering
- protection
- completion
That is only just a few because just like the circle, the possibilities are infinite. The circle is endless in nature, and its energy waltzes along the rhythm of time. The shape of the hoop possesses great power that many different cultures look at as spiritual.
Certain circles can trigger awareness and consciousness. They demand attention and we abide by their power. Some common circles that trigger awareness are:
- Clocks- awareness of the essence of time
- Planets- being in tune with the universe
- The sun/moon- telling day from night
- Egg- new life
- Portals- access to dimensions different from our own
- Cells- the life inside us all
- Eyeballs- visions and the ability to see
- Compass- directionally aware
- Wheels- mobility and freedom to move
- Seeds- the start of life and nurturing
- Coins- currency and change
Cultural Significance
The circle is seen as a point of focus and concentration. It comes up a lot in esoteric alchemical art. The circle is used to put emphasis on the work at hand. It is often used when doing magic work or experimentation.
- Native American Spirituality
The circle can be seen as the Sun, the Moon, and her children. The circle embodies spiritual energies that consider it to be sacred. It is the integration of energy and matter. The Medicine Wheel is in the shape of a circle and it is considered to guide in treating illnesses. Illnesses come from spiritual imbalances, and the wheel brings about spiritual and physical balance. It also depicts the circle of life.
Circles were drawn as protective boundaries, not to be crossed by enemies or evil.They are also seen as a symbol of the cosmos which is an intangible process of time. It is a reminder of safety and sanctuary.
The circle symbolizes the shape of heaven. Earth takes on the shape of the square. A square inside a circle signifies the unity of heaven and earth. Also, the circle is seen as balance between the yin and the yang. It embodies duality and balance within that.
Movement for the Body and Spirit
Hula hoops bring about excellent physical activity that works in unity with the body and spirit. Hooping offers the opportunity to gain solid core strength that is essential for overall body support and movement. It also helps with spinal mobility which is essential for bending and stretching.
The Physical
Hula hooping is good for a number of reasons:
Hula hooping burns a large amount of calories and it gets your heart pumping, depending on how long you do it for. It allows your body to work for oxygen
- Beneficial to Joint Health
Hooping increases joint and spinal mobility. The rhythm of the hoop gives your body the chance to reach optimal joint health. This movement allows for your intervertebral discs to receive nutrients that are crucial for a healthy spine.
The repetitive hip movements can really help strengthen the muscles and core. A strong core can help support the back and lessen back pain. It also strengthens the lower back muscles which can help anyone with history of back pain. It also helps strengthen the upper and lower extremities. It also can work as many as 30 of your body’s muscles!
- Improves Hand- Eye Coordination
It challenges your brain and muscles! It sends signals to you brain for reversing direction, catching the hoop and reacting to the rhythm in which the hoop goes.
The Spirit
The movements hula hooping possesses are very spiritually driven due to:
Rhythm connects us to our primal state of being. Everything in nature is done in a rhythm when it comes to ocean tides, growing plants, transitioning from day to night, and the circle of life itself. When we embody a rhythm, we can default back to our primal energy and our natural selves. Hula hoops allow us to find our rhythm, in any way we choose, and flow with it. We go with the flow, and even if the rhythm changes, we keep flowing.
Spirals are sacred symbols that represent energy. If you look at pure energy under a microscope, it forms spiral patterns.They also represent growth and evolution. A lot of movements that are done in hooping encompass either a spiral activity or shape. Hula hooping creates spiral movements with the head and body, and the energy that is used creates alignment with the body and spirit. Overtime your relationship with the hoop evolves and grows, much like the representation of the spiral.
Hula hooping involves moving the sacrum back and forth in a rocking motion. This helps to loosen up energy blocks in the sacral energy or chakra. By becoming mindful of this motion when doing it, you can become more aware of your sacral energy. The Sacral Chakra is the center of feeling, pleasure, emotion, sensuality, intimacy and connection.
In many cultures the belly is known as the “seat of the soul”. The naval is where we first received energy from our mother’s womb. The blood, oxygen and nutrition flowed from her body into ours. The abdomen is sacred, it was the beginning of our energy flow. Abdominal massaging can increase blood flow to vital organs. It also helps to stimulate the body’s natural detoxification process and it releases emotional tension. Hula hooping can help massage the abdominals and it can make you feel good!
Whatever reason you have to hoop just go out and do it. Not only is there a lot to learn.But it is healthy for your body, mind and spirit.
SOURCES:
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/circle-symbol-meaning.html
http://altreligion.about.com/od/symbols/ig/Geometric-Shapes/Circles.htm
http://mmsl.wikia.com/wiki/Alchemical_Circles
http://www.support-native-american-art.com/Native-American-Medicine-Wheels.html
http://www.nextavenue.org/the-health-benefits-of-hula-hoops/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/124992-health-benefits-hula-hooping/
http://www.thespinsterz.com/blog/health-benefits-of-hula-hooping/
http://www.ancient-symbols.com/sacred_symbols.html
http://hoopnotica.com/blogs/stay-in-the-hoop/15471071-the-benefits-of-hula-hooping-aka-why-you-should-start-hooping-for-fitness-today
http://www.chopra.com/ccl/6-ways-to-create-a-sacred-space-at-home
http://www.chakra-anatomy.com/sacral-chakra.html
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-abdominal-massage/
AMMO