Maybe I'll work in the circus (From Haringey Independent)

Maybe I'll work in the circus

9:28am Thursday 19th July 2007

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I am bruised all over my arms and legs this morning.

No, I wasn't in a fight and I didn't get run over. My injuries were sustained by a hula hoop.

I might be a little feeble but I mean the large kind that people twirl around their waists rather than the snack that comes in salt and vinegar and cheese and onion varieties.

Last night myself and fellow Haringey news reporter Neeta went hooping in Muswell Hill. It was the first in a series of sessions designed to be "fun, exhilirating, challenging and a terrific way to improve fitness, coordination and balance while lifting your spirits."

I was a little sceptical, not least because I am remarkably unfit and quite malcoordinated, but I thought I would give it a go.

After the initial get-to-know-you piece where we had to liken ourselves to a force of nature and then embody this in our movement (it did make me smile but for reference I was heavy rain), it was everything it promised to be.

Before we came to the class keeping the hoop travelling around our middles for more than a few seconds was a distant dream. Within ten minutes we were twirling with the best of them, and even managed to move it above our heads through our hands.

As our instructor said, "it's not that you can't do something, it's just that you don't know how yet."

She was right. Although next week we're apparently learning how to move the hoop up the body so it circles your shoulders. I'll expect to be completely black and blue on Thursday then.