I want to start an annual event called Hula Hoop for Mental Health.
What does it involve? Well, that's what I'm trying to figure out.
Last summer, when I went to visit some wonderful friends in Toronto, we went for a walk through a big park downtown and saw this amazing hula hooping event. There was a DJ playing music. There were hula hoops waiting to be picked up by those passing by. There were people of all ages hula hooping - some had never picked up a hoop before, while others were such pros they were hooping around their neck.
It was just so cool and fun. Everyone was smiling.
It was just so cool and fun. Everyone was smiling.
Well, the four of us (three adults and one with her young son) couldn't hold back. We found some hula hoops and joined the crew. It looked a little something like this:
Surprise Hoop-off in the Park from Hello Sweet Thing on Vimeo.
Ever since that day, I thought about how cool it would be to have an event like that in my community. Of course, my city is much, much smaller than Toronto, but I still think it could work. The whole purpose of the event could be for mental health awareness, or mental health action - that's what I'm trying to figure out. I'd definitely be promoting Partners for Mental Health, but I'm still trying to brainstorm the event structure.
Here are my thoughts. This event could:
These are the things I'm rolling around in my brain right now. I know it's only January, but I'd like to give myself a lot of brainstorming time.
Here are my thoughts. This event could:
- Be held on a Saturday or Sunday this summer
- Be held at a large local park
- Be held for a few hours one morning or afternoon
- Include a DJ to play music all morning/afternoon
- Have no real structure - anyone could come by, pick up a hoop or bring their own, and just hoop for as long as they want
- Have a structure - hoop non-stop for a certain period of time/hooping contest/hooping teams
- Include some hooping lessons - I have very basic hooping knowledge thanks to my Hoopnotica videos, but now I can keep a hoop going indefinitely!
- Encourage signing a pledge?
- Offer photographs of participants with "Hoop for Mental Health" stamped on the images?
These are the things I'm rolling around in my brain right now. I know it's only January, but I'd like to give myself a lot of brainstorming time.
What do you think about an event like this? Would you go? What are your thoughts? I'd love to know! (Hey, that rhymed.)
Happy Sunday. :)
Happy Sunday. :)
Hello Allison, It seems you happened onto a local Toronto hoop jam. I may be able to help you in achieving some of those goals for your event as I have worked in many small towns providing hula hoop workshops and fun zones. Please feel free to contact me if you still desire a hoop event in the summer. I may be able to help you or there are other hoopers out there who may be able to help you as well.
ReplyDeleteHello Allison,
ReplyDeleteAre you planning to do this as a fundraiser kind if thing or just trying to encourage people to have fun and hoop? I think contests are fine but I think what's more fun is a creative environment as opposed to a competitive one. So maybe mini-workshops, a few performances, and an open jam.