Hula Hooping and Democracy

What’s the connection between hula hooping and rekindling democracy you might wonder?

I’ve been mulling on this for a while. As I’ve witnessed the journey of the weighted hula hooping class Gill is hosting in the community. The idea came from a community visit to the L30 Centre in Netherton and seeing with our own eyes how Suey, the local fitness instructor at the centre, was inviting people into exercise. Suey had hosted some brilliant street exercise fun during the pandemic.

I’ve been paying attention to the way Gill has grown this, from the sidelines, and I feel there’s much to learn from sharing the way she’s nurtured the space. Yesterday I was sat in the community garden listening to the music blast out as the women enjoyed their first child free class after the family sessions over summer, and, it encouraged me to put pen to paper.

It started with women who were probably a good way away from traditional ways in to exercise and fitness. It was kept very private, word of mouth invitation from within some of the community spaces hosted. Dignity was considered and preserved, perhaps due to a deep understanding of shame. 

Each week the women learned to be more vulnerable in each others company whilst belly laughing and having great fun. They noticed the effects on their bodies too. Over six months or so they’ve kind of got the hang of it, on a good day, along with the kids who’ve joined in family sessions during the holidays.

So now Gill is opening up the class up to the wider community, having centred the women who often feel at the edge. Sequence is important, especially if we’re looking for inclusive participatory democracy.

Gill is a personal fitness trainer and has a deep passion for fitness for people who find traditional ways all too much and too far away.

She’s been nurturing this for over 18 months. Imagine how different this story might be if she’d turned up in the associational space with what she could offer. Who would show up and who might feel it’s not for them?

 I think there’s something too about the ways it’s connected and weaved with other spaces. We’ve kind of moved beyond the idea of projects here into a much more interconnected community space. A space without slogans or banners. It’s beautiful to experience. I feel sure these themes will emerge as we collect the stories as part of the systemic action research programme we’re part of. Who knows what else we might uncover.