When I finally got around to practicing, it took several days of 1 hour sessions in my parents' driveway. Even then, I could only do it with my left foot forward. A couple of months later, it took several days of practicing in a parking lot to make me comfortable with my right foot forward, and commuting everyday in clips n' straps forced me to get more comfortable.
As for the no-handed, that one just kinda clicked. Backwards circles required a lot of practice, and it *certainly* helps to have a slight slope when learning those.