So… I resisted bringing our hula hoop teacher training course online for a long time (like, 7 years long time). Reason being: I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to replicate the magic of our live training weekends via the online space.
If you’ve ever been to a hoop dance retreat or workshop, then it’s likely you’ve experienced the beauty of being in community with fellow hoopers. I’m not sure what it is about hooping that attracts such like-minded folk, but in my 12 years as a hooper, I’ve definitely found this to be true. We tend to be free-spirited, creative, fun-loving and playful people (I mean, we’re PLAYING after all). And my experiences at hoop dance retreats, workshops, and flow events have always been…. well, magical.
For the first 7 years of Hoola Fit’s existence, I refused to do online trainings. I didn’t think I’d be able to connect with our teachers-to-be in the way that I wanted to, if I brought the training online (and people were asking for it).
There’s just something incredibly special about being face-to-face with hoopers during our live training weekends. Trouble shooting, bonding & connection, the discussions that arise, and the experience of a group of people gathering with intention in the same place, at the same time. It’s really quite special. There’s also the benefit of receiving certification in just one weekend vs. an 8 or 12 week online experience. (Side note: We’ve since changed it so online trainees can go at their own pace. We’ve had some finish in just two weeks’ time).
So, when I decided to launch Hoola-Fit Online earlier this year, it was after much thought and consideration. I brought myself back to the reasons why we developed this training in the first place: to inspire, motivate and spread joy through hoop dance. I realized that we limited our reach by only having live trainings in Florida, and in order to get hooping to more people in more places, we need more joy spreaders teaching. Schedule, time, and travel considerations make the online training a better option for many.
It’s also important to note that online teaching platforms have evolved A LOT since the time our program originally came out in 2012. New technology is now more user-friendly than ever before. We now have ways to connect and build community online that we didn’t have years ago. And truth be told, I wouldn’t have launched an online course if I felt like we’d lose the community building component of it. We’re serious about hoop dance education, and creating a safe space to learn and thrive is what we expect our teachers to deliver in the context of their Hoola-Fit classes. So we had to do the same with our online trainings.
It ultimately boils down to personal preference when choosing which training experience will work best for you. If you’re someone who thrives in a face-to-face setting and you want to earn your Hoola-Fit certification in an action-packed 2-day training, then the live experience would best suit those needs. Maybe life’s circumstances make it difficult for you to jet off for the weekend (small children at home, crazy work schedule, expensive plane ticket, etc.). Or maybe you’re just someone who’d rather do the training at your own pace, from the privacy of your own home.
And for those of you pursuing Hoola-Fit Certification for the ACE Continuing Education Credits, it’s important to note that the online course provides 2.1 CEC credits (enough to keep you current for 2 whole years) while the live course provides 1.4 CEC credits (after the training, you’ll still need .6 CECs for your 2-year ACE Certification). The online course provides more because it’s a bit more time consuming to complete. And while the ACE piece of this is primarily relevant for the fitness pros, it’s also worth mentioning that Hoola-Fit is the only ACE Approved hula hoop teacher training in the country, and this is what helps our instructors get in the door with US-based gyms and fitness centers.
These are just some of the factors to consider when deciding which experience would work best for you.
I also invite you to browse around our site and check out the Frequently Asked Questions section for more info. Regardless of which hula hoop teacher training experience you choose (or even which program), we stand firm in this belief…
More Hoop Dance Teachers = More Joy Spreaders
NEXT Hoola-Fit STOP… West Hartford, CT!
