Hula Hooping has become much more than spinning a toy around, especially in the Gainesville community.
The Gainesville Flow Arts Spin Jam meets the second Sunday of every month at Albert “Ray” Massey Westside Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
New and experienced flow artists listen to music, meet friends and share moves Sunday in the park, located at 1001 NW 34th St., on a field near the tennis courts.
Although the majority of the group members are hoopers, some practice poi, a performance art that involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns, as well as other flow arts.
Beth Hudson, 32, took over as an administrator for the group when the founder, Michala Jones, moved to Orlando with her hoop-making business last month.
Hudson says the term “flow artist” refers to any combination of dance and prop manipulation, and flow is a mental state in which the difficulty of the action and the skill level of the practitioner are perfectly balanced.
“When you experience flow you become totally absorbed in the activity to the point where you lose your sense of self and time, and experience happiness and fulfillment.”
Asaf Mor, a 19-year-old sophomore engineering major and vice president of UF’s juggling club, Objects in Motion, showed his skills at the jam on Sunday.
Although he enjoys flow arts as a hobby and is increasing in skill level, Mor said he mainly uses flow arts as a way to meet people.
“I’ve definitely met more like-minded people and made more friends from flow than I ever did from class, bars or parties,” Mor said.
Hudson said the jams are casual meetups and not a class, but all skill levels are welcome and there are usually extra hoops and help offered to new hoopers.
Hudson said today’s Hula Hoops are made of different kinds of plastics than in the past. They are a better size and weight for adults, which allows for a much broader range of motion that works the whole body and allows for the performing of tricks.
The next jam is scheduled for July 22, and Hudson said they plan to continue to meet regularly.
“The combination of play, exercise, practicing a skill and socializing are always an automatic mood-lifter.” Hudson said.
Updates and more information can be found on the Gainesville Flow Arts Jam Facebook page.
