Hooped in a Saree and Started a Revolution

Some stories start with a plan. Eshna’s started with a hoop, a YouTube video, and a spark that changed everything.

We sat down with hooper, dancer and movement-therapy practitioner Eshna Kutty to talk about her journey, from a shy kid discovering self-expression to becoming the face of India’s hooping movement. Now she is taking it even further, bringing her passion to Bali with Eat Hoop Love, a retreat co-created with Experience Co.

Hooping feels like an extension of who you are. How did it all begin?

That’s such a beautiful way to put it. It’s definitely a part of me now, but it wasn’t always that way. As a shy, introverted kid I often felt invisible in class, so I’d drown myself in studies and good grades.

Then one day I saw a video of someone hooping, and something inside me lit up. I just wanted to try it. It was the first time I got excited about something so random, so far from academia, but so fulfilling for the soul. At first hooping, and the whole world of flow arts, was my own little secret. But the more I practised, the more in tune with my body I felt. I never planned for it to become something bigger. As I shared it with friends and strangers, it slowly became part of my identity. It helped me connect with all kinds of wonderful people, share joy, and inspire others to find their own form of self-expression.

So no, hooping wasn’t always an extension of my personality. But in the end, it helped me discover and embrace who I truly am.

You’ve become a cultural icon in India’s hooping scene. Did you ever expect that?

Not at all. I never set out to be a cultural icon, it just happened. At first the attention was overwhelming. I felt this pressure to represent something bigger than myself. But as I travelled and performed, I realised something was missing.

When I tried to emulate Western styles of hooping, it didn’t feel authentic. It wasn’t me. So I started incorporating elements that felt like home: the saree, Indian music, blending in more classical dance forms. That hit home for a lot of others in India too. Through hooping, I deepened a connection to my own culture.

Now you’re taking that movement to Bali with Eat Hoop Love. What’s the heart behind this retreat?

Eat Hoop Love is about connection. To yourself, to others, and to movement as a form of self-discovery. Yes, we’ll hoop, a lot. But we’ll also eat together, explore together, and create moments that go beyond just learning a skill. It’s about slowing down, rediscovering that childlike joy, and remembering what it feels like to move freely again.

We’ve put so much heart into this space, a place where everyone feels seen, heard and celebrated.

Why Bali?

Bali has a special energy I only understood once I visited. Its people, culture, nature and joy were infectious, exactly the backdrop I wanted for Eat Hoop Love. Logistically it made sense too. Experience Co. has a strong presence here, which makes everything flow smoothly. And it’s a great meeting point for my students from India, the US and beyond.

The retreat is intentionally small, only 14 participants. Why keep it so intimate?

Keeping it small means I can give every participant individual attention, across all levels of hooping. We also get a full week to really immerse in each other’s company and leave not just with skills but with a deeper sense of belonging.

You’re self-taught. How important is mentorship in hooping?

I learned everything in my early years through trial and error. It took a long, long time, and I often wished I had a mentor to guide me. A few years in, when I started attending in-person workshops, I’d crack so many moves in minutes after having spent months attempting them. A mentor accelerates your process. They give you guidance, feedback and support so you can avoid the common struggles and grow with confidence.

That’s why I want Eat Hoop Love to be more than just a class. It’s a space where we lift each other up and grow together. There will be structured hoop sessions every day, and every sunset we’ll have informal hoop jams for some self-practice, with access to analysis and feedback.

Eat Hoop Love welcomes everyone, from beginners to advanced. How do you cater to such a range?

Everyone learns at their own pace. I teach in layers, breaking each move down so there’s something for every level. And what’s beautiful about a mixed group is that everyone brings something to the experience.

• ✦Beginners bring fresh enthusiasm and joy.
• ✦Advanced hoopers bring technique and creativity.
• ✦And in between, we all learn from each other.

That’s why we hold open practice sessions, so everyone gets to experiment, share and grow, not just from me but from the whole group.

What would you say to someone who’s hesitant about joining?

I get it. The doubts. Am I too old? Too unfit? Will I fit in? I’ve heard them all. But after ten years of teaching, I can say with confidence: hooping is for every body. I’ve taught people from age 4 to 70. I once had a grandmother, mother and daughter come together for a workshop, each embodying movement differently. The daughter was upbeat and lively, the mother moved with a deep, steady tempo, the grandmother carried a gentle rhythm. That’s the beauty of it. Your style is uniquely yours.

And fitness? You don’t need any. Hooping naturally builds agility, flexibility, core strength and coordination as you go. So many people start here and are amazed at how quickly their confidence grows. It’s also low-impact, which makes it a safe place to begin even with injuries.

For the artist within you, it will feed your soul. Nothing beats those "did I really just do that?" moments full of creativity and curiosity. As for gender: yes, men hoop too. Hoop dancing, which originated in Native America, was once performed exclusively by men. It’s a female-dominated space now, but there are incredible male hoopers worldwide, and more men in India are picking it up. Flow arts have always drawn a beautifully diverse spectrum of people. Rooted in self-expression and fluidity, it offers a space where everyone can move freely, be seen and be celebrated for exactly who they are. If you’re hesitant, just know you’ll be welcomed like family.

If hooping gave you a superpower, what would it be?

Confidence. The power to take up space without hesitation. It’s basically my superhero origin story: one awkward, shy kid picks up a hoop, spins it a few hundred times, and suddenly unlocks the ability to embrace herself, quirks and all.

In Bali, I’d use this power to create a confidence contagion, where everyone who picks up a hoop feels instantly free, fearless and fully themselves. No capes needed. Just hoops as your armour, unapologetic energy, and the kind of freedom you haven’t felt since you were a kid riding a bike, wind in your hair, no looking back.

Ready to find your flow?

Come find your flow in Bali. If this calls to you, maybe it’s time to answer.