Hooped in A Saree and Started A Revolution…
A Conversation with Eshna Kutty
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’s taking it even further, bringing her passion to Bali with Eat Hoop Love, a retreat co-created with Experience Co.
Because movement isn’t just about the body, it’s about who you become in the process.
Q: Hooping feels like an extension of who you are. But how did it all begin?
Eshna:
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 getting 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 away from academia, but so fulfilling for the soul.
At first, hooping, and the world of flow arts was my own little secret. But the more I practised, the more I started feeling in tune with my body..
I never planned for it to become something bigger. But the more I spread it with friends and strangers, , it slowly became a 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.
Q: You’ve become a cultural icon in India’s hooping scene. Did you ever expect that?
Eshna:
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 traveled 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 more classical dance forms to it - which I guess hit home to many others in India too. Through hooping, I deepened a connection to my own culture.
Q: And now, you’re taking that movement to Bali with Eat Hoop Love. What’s the heart behind this retreat?
Eshna:
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 creating this space—a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and celebrated.
Q: Why Bali?
Eshna:
Bali has a special energy that I realised only once I visited the place. Its people, culture, nature, and joy was infectious —exactly the kind of backdrop I wanted for Eat Hoop Love.
Logistically, it also made sense. 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 magic of a small mixed group? Everyone becomes both a student and a teacher.
Q: The retreat is intentionally small—only 14 participants. Why keep it so intimate?
Eshna:
Keeping it small means I can give every participant individual attention and it expands it to all levels of hooping.We also get a week to really immerse in each other’s company and leave not just with skills but with a deeper sense of belonging.
Q: You’re self-taught. How important is mentorship in hooping?
Eshna:
I learned everything in my initial years through trial and error—it took a long long time and I often wished I had a mentor to guide me. And a few years into it when I started attending more in-person workshops, I’d crack so many moves in just minutes after having spent months attempting them.
Having a mentor accelerates one’s process. They give you guidance, feedback, and support so you can avoid 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’ll be structured hoop sessions everyday, but every sunset we’ll have informal hoop jams for the participants to get in some self-practice with access to analysis and feedback.
Q: Eat Hoop Love welcomes everyone, from beginners to advanced hoopers. How do you cater to such a diverse range of skill levels?
Eshna:
Everyone learns at their own pace. I teach in layers—breaking down each move 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 have open practice sessions—so everyone gets to experiment, share, and grow not just from me, but from the whole group.
Q: What would you say to someone who’s hesitant about joining?
Eshna:
I get it. The doubts—Am I too old? Too unfit? Will I fit in?
I've heard them all.
But after 10 years of teaching, I can say with confidence: hooping is for everybody. I’ve taught people from age 4 to 70. I’ve seen a family—grandmother, mother, and daughter—come together for my workshop, each embodying movement differently. The daughter’s moves were upbeat and lively, the mother moved with a deep, steady tempo, and 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 in the process. So many people start here, amazed at how quickly their confidence grows. Plus, it’s low-impact, making it a safe place to begin for anyone with injuries.
For the artist within you—it will feed your soul. Nothing beats those "Did I really just do that?!" moments filled with creativity and curiosity.
And as for gender—yes, men hoop too! In fact, Hoop Dancing, which originated in Native America, was once an art form performed exclusively by men. While it’s now a female-dominated space, there are some incredible male hoopers worldwide. Even in India, more men have started hooping.
Beyond that, hooping—and flow arts in general—have always drawn a beautifully diverse spectrum of genders and sexualities. Rooted in self-expression and fluidity, it offers a space where people of all identities can move freely, be seen, and be celebrated for exactly who they are. And honestly, that’s one of the most beautiful things about this community. It accepts everybody with a good heart. If you're hesitant, just know that you'll be welcomed like family.
Q: If hooping gave you a superpower, what would it be?
Eshna:
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.