I went away for the weekend to Wilbur Hot Springs for some healing. Ahhhh... so blissful! I am creating new patterns of delicious self care.

I sat in the steaming water under the ripe, full moon. It was amazing... the water all around me seemed to be glowing a luminescent green which made me feel like a plant! Frogs were singing. Pine andother trees were rustling. And the moon was so bright! I couldn't remember the last time I sat naked under the moon in the water.

Tub time is kind of like hooping time, for me. I log in and connect. I spent 3 hours in on friday night soaking, almost 6 hours on saturday and 2 hours on sunday. I sit there with my pink 32 ounce water bottle full of spring water, sliced cucumbers and lemons floating at the top. Once I finish the entire bottle, I force myself to exit the pools and get more.

While I soak, I stare at the water currents. I observe my breathe. I thank thoughts when they appear and let silence happen for a while. I play with thoughts for a while and turn them around, Byron Katie style. But mostly, I do absoluetly nothing. I sit, crouch, lay or otherwise unfurl myself. I love it. I love that I am absouletly alone with no one to socialize with or talk to. I love that I can just enjoy getting to know my body, my skin, my feet, my calluses.. all of me.

This is a radical experience for me. I am a person who can easily fall into compulsive workaholism. I love what I do, so it is hard to set boundaries and create time for play. How ironic! My life path of hooping is about play, and yet I get so caught up in the "biz" sometimes, I forget. I geuss we teach what we most want to learn ourselves.

The water smells stronger than any other mineral water I have ever soaked in. I imagine that the minerals are soaking into my body through my pores and entering my own body's water chemistry. I visualize it re-patterning the structure of my body's water with fresh, pure, healing essence of nature. My blood getting cleaner. My skin cleaner. My soul cleaner. Like my body is a liquid crystal recalibrating, reorganizing. Creating a higher order to hum symbiotically with those blessed waters. Wow!

During the days the sun shone so bright! I actually got a sun burn! It's been years since I had that happen. A hummingbird kept appearing and humming so close to my head, and then it would disappear again. What a magical little green and pink bird with such a bright heart! Little nectar beings drinking flower essence all day long. What a neat life.

During down time I read the entire book of The Secret from start to finish. I just can't get enough of that information! I've watched the movie, listened to the book on tape, and now reading it helps me take it in on a whole other level. Amazing.

I also read from Byron Katie's A Thousand Names For Joy. She is either totally enlightened or totally insane. Either way, she has inspired me to unpack my thoughts and stories for a fresh perspective on life. Her work, actually called, "The Work" is remarkable. She asks you to evaluate the truth of your percieved reality with 6 radical questions. You can learn more at www.thework.com

So I ended my little retreat two days later by writing myself a wonderful thank you card, thanking myself profusely for taking some time out to nurture myself. I can't wait to get it in the mail!

When I got back, I felt grounded, present, and renewed. And then .... the workweek hit me! Monday was hectic, but I got a gift in the mail.. the latest issue of German SHAPE magazine which has a feature on HoopGirl. Publicity is such a gift!

Now everything is in flow again. So much to share, but I will leave it with this and tell more later. Kramer just poured a glass of wine and is waiting to spend a nice evening with me... he is folding the laundry I didn't do since I have been sitting at this desk way too long. It is time to stop.

Thank you Universe for all the abundance which you shower me with! I am so happy with my wonderful life. I am so happy to have a wonderful body which works so well. I am thrilled to be surrounded by such great friends. Thank you for providing for my every need! Thank you for so many unexpected miracles. And thank you for revealing the true transformative power of gratitude in my life!

I was listening to Reverand Michael Beckwith this morning in the gym. It was so nice to get back in there after having avoided it for a week! He asked two amazing questions: "are you ready to take complete responsibility for everything that has happened in your life right now?" and "what is your payoff for being a victim?"

Michael discussed the mistake of allowing things outside ourselves to determine how we feel inside. He spoke of how consensus reality agrees that outside determines inside, but that we have a choice about what reality we choose to live in! We can create an inner, spiritual reality which is about connection to the inifinite. We can create a new vibration and become high frequency, positive beacons of what is possible beyond the limiting belief systems of being "merely human".

Right on Michael! Wow. Total resonance. Especially as I have been reading, A Thousand Names for Joy by Byron Katie, which has been inspiring deep questions about how I create my reality through unquestioned beliefs. I'm having a blast questioning all my beliefs right now.

One belief I have been telling myself is a "poor me" version about my husband not sharing my devotion to a spiritual investigation of reality or raw food exploration. I have a story going through my brain that, "it is hard to be married to someone who does not share these beliefs and interests with me." This story allows me to hold back. It tells me that marriage is "hard" and that I am unhappy. It allows me to be a vicitim telling a story of "being alone on this path." This story makes me feel sad, disconnected and unmotivated to follow through on what I feel called to explore. And of course, it doesn't make me feel closer to my hubby! How would I feel without this belief? Lighter, more free, energized to manifest my own dreams. More attracted to praise my guy for all of his own unique callings and talents.

My payoff for allowing myself to be "the victim" telling a story about a husband who "doesn't share these interests" is that it allows me to slack. The truth is, my husband is a magificent being with whom I share so many soul connections. He continues to astound and amaze me with his own beautiful uniqueness. He is gorgeous, talented, inspiring, deep, generous, loving and present. I knew our philosophical differerences when I married him, and was thrilled because we enrich eachother's lives so deeply with our unique gifts. The truth is that this whole situation has taught me the power of resolution, devotion and personal responsibility to my own calling.

For so many years in so many relationships, I put on the brakes until i had a "travel partner". A friend or lover who would come with me to explore a new, unknown path. But the truth is I cannot wait for someone else to heed my own inner calling. Inner callings are calling me for a reason. I can only support others in heeding their own inner callings as well. But to be able to honor my own calling without projecting it onto those around me ... total liberation! It allows me to enjoy everyone at a deeper level, and it allows me to walk in truth.

BTW, If you are interested, you can subscribe to Michael Beckwith's Agape Wednesday and/or Sunday service audio CD's for a reasonable price by calling (310) 348-1266. I subscribe to both days, and they have changed my life. What a gift to be able to live so far away from him, but still hear his weekly teachings!

I am so grateful for the power of self inquiry. I am elated that I can easily unpack my beliefs and re-create them to be empowering, inspiring and liberating! Thank you, Universal Conenctedness Between All Things, for continuing to send people, events and resources my way which make me feel lighter, happier and peaceful. I am so happy to be alive!

I've gotten a bit more structured with my hooping... I set my alarm for one hour's time and went for it this morning in my tiny living room. I hooped in snake position the entire time in what Baxter of the Hoop Path calls, "second current", or my opposite (less easy) direction. I LOVE what this has been opening up for me. It is like my heart is opening even more. Every now and then when the hoop slipped I put some quick reversals in there for recovery, but then just kept it going. Keeping my eyes shut for lots of it, but opening them at the last moment when I thought I would hit the tv.

Wow, when we buy our new place I definately just need a separate room I can convert into a mini studio for hooping! Until then, I sure am grateful for our beautiful apartment.

Interesting, as I am writing, my right hand is tired... in fact my whole right arm is tired.I can tell it was compensating for my left arm.

I did kegels while hooping, for counts of five and then release for as much of the time as I could bring my mind back to it. As usual, I had to really keep conscious of my breathing. I need to remember to deepen it instead of holding it in response to the pelvic contraction.

Kegels are pelvic floor exercises which can tone pubococcygeus to accelerate spiritual development and enhance orgasmic potential. I have been doing these a lot lately. It feels really good. Like I am pumping up the volume on my chi. And my body warms much faster as well. I think this is a vital part of my work in HoopSexy (a movement laboratory which I will be providing at least once at month from now on) and I can't wait to play with it even more in my other classes.

Yesterday I was contacted my a reporter who heard about the book I am working on, Hoopgasm, and she wanted to more about sexuality and hooping. It was thrilling to know that people are getting so interested. Honestly, this turn in public interest in my work, from hooping as pure calorie blasting exercise to hooping as a path to overall happiness and health, is awesome.

There are so many cultures which have profound philosophies about the connection between pleasure and enlightenment! It has been fun to look over my graduate school papers from years ago and make connections between what I was intellectually fascinated by then, and what I am physically experiencing right now....

I also feel like this exploration is healing my body. By going "the opposite way" I imagaine I am shaking up the habitual movement patterns of energy in my body. Like a river, I have probably created "ruts" in my body's energy grid from moving in predictable ways over time. The second current exploration is hyrating the unexplored, dry "ditches" which may be within me. I feel like this in concert with the kegel exercises and deep conscious breathing is helping my ovaries in some way. Bathing them in some sort of etheric nourishment which may sooth my endometriosis.

I did a search on Kegel and for some reason a lot of German sites came up with this image of two cones seemingly extending down and up from a central point. I'm curious if there is some other definition of "kegel" which relates to energy which radiates?

Creator, thank you for reminding me of the importance balance and strength. I so am so grateful that my intention to bathe my body positive vibration while hooping will instantly cure anything in my body. Thank you for the blessing of my life and this exciting journey of human incarnation.

I am blown away by the natural brilliance of the human body to digest food! I don't have to think about it. I don't need to exert muscular effort. I don't need to do much of anything but put good food in -- it gives me energy -- and goes out. The human body is such a miraculous, self regulating system. It's funny... sometimes I don't take time to appreciate the wonders of my body until something happens and it becomes an effort to function.

Last night I terrible food poisoning. I had eaten the strongest, pungent, organic Indian food I have ever tasted. I remember thinking that the huge chunks of roots and herbs were so intense, it was an overdose of ayurvedic medicine. When I woke up this morning, I felt terrible. Complete lack of control of my stomach and intestines. All day, the same. Details are not important, but you get the idea.

Of course it was cooked and I have been eating raw for a while .. so at first I thought it was just a bumpy transition... but I have *never* experienced a day like today. Something was definately in it.

Being immobile all day, I had a lot of time to reflect. After a while, I was so bored all I wanted to do was push aside the coffee table and hoop, but it was unthinkable. I had no control over my body and the circular movements would have been impossible. Even turning over on the couch was or getting a glass of water was impossible.

Awareness. What do old people feel like who have no control over their body functions? How can people with major colon issues be active in life? What do those who live in third world countries without clean water and food do with their body's wrenching responses? I've been on cruise control taking the miracle of my intenstines and stomach, and the clean food I get, for granted.

What a gift just to be able to undulate! What a gift to experience sensation as joyful! I am so happy that I have the ability to enjoy my belly feeling good while hula hooping. What a generous giving from the Universe, that I live so much of my life in complete health and wellbeing. I am so grateful that I am able to move and dance freely. I am so glad that I can love my precious stomach and intestines by being aware of what I put into my body. Every functioning organ in my body does what it is supposed to do without me managing or following up. What an elegant miracle the human body is! All is well, and all is amazing! Thank you!

I'm in LA! Just getting ready to go teach a fabulous group of learners who have travelled from all over the world to participate in the latest HoopGirl Teacher Certification course. There is always so much wonderful anticipation before each training! I can't wait to meet them all and hear what has inspired them all to travel so far to be here. I brought Candice Schutter with me to co-teach and am excited to enjoy the day!

Thank you for this amazing opportunity to share health and wellbeing!

Day two of the Los Angeles Level One HoopGirl Teacher Certification Course. WOW! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with such inspiring and gifted students. Our program continues to grow by leaps and bounds in depth and complexity, yet the flow and fun of teaching gets easier every time. Specifically, the new licensing option is now available to those who take the course so that they can teach the branded HoopGirl Workout. We have worked so hard to create a turn key business package to provide new teachers with everything they could possibly need to get started with their new careers. Everyone really feels the love and good energy which has gone into it. I am so pleased the response is so positive!

The company motto of "Get fit, feel sexy, have fun!" creates lots of room for teachers to emphasize their own talents and interests within a cirriculum which provides both structure and freedom. It is amazing to watch how each student's background informs their style, tone of voice, how they communicate through gestures, body language and choice of words.

Every single student here is bringing so much richness and presence to the program.

Stephanie and Colleen travelled from Miami, Florida. They are particularly interested in the "sexy" side of hooping, and are bringing the HoopGirl Workout back to start a hoop studio. Colleen's teaching style is assertive, yet provocative. I can't wait to hear more about how her students do... she is even playing with the idea of teaching a special sexy version of class for women in heels!

Kammi came from Alaska. She wants to bring some earthy, approachable hooping back to a community which knows nothing about it. Her style is grounded and engaging.

Catherine is from LA. She jumped into class at the last second and is bubbling with enthusiasm. When she led the mock classes, she spoke with presence and responded to difficult situations with care.

Justin and Mario came all the way from Tokyo, Japan. They are on a mission to introduce hoopdance and the HoopGirl Workout there. Despite having a language barrier and not getting the manuals ahead of time to study, they each brought unique gifts. Mario speaks with a delicacy I have never before heard in a hoop teacher. He uses very few words, but the one's chosen are precise and revealing. When dealing with a difficult student in class today, he looked at her in the eyes and said simply and with deep wisdom, "keep sexy", and moved on. She immediately stopped her acting up and the entire class sighed with awareness. His ability to teach "shining" and dance combinations was fantastic. Justin's giggles and laughter teach as much as his gestures and smiles. Together, they create a synergy which will be remarkable.

Maki is living in LA, but she is Japanese and moving back to bring hoopdance to Japan as well. She has an elegant dance style and is a budding performer. Her smile is non-stop and she demonstrates moves with grace.

Kelly came from Tuscon, Arizona. She is studying psychology and has been hooping with children from troubled backgrounds. She wants to focus on teen empowerment with hooping. She has a massive resevoir of enthusiasm that she taps into while teaching. She is brings a lot of joy.

Rikki is in her 60's and lives in the LA area. She wants to teach mature, older individuals who want to have fun hoopdancing. Her tone of voice and beaming smile are so soothing and peaceful while she teaches. She provided a wonderful reminder to s-l-o-w down and enjoy sensation and hooping as restorative.

Ms. Taj came from Chicago to take the training. She is an established yoga teacher and bellydancer and hopes to integrate hopdance into her teaching practice. She easily commands the room with her energizing voice and genuine smile. Her direct eye contact while teaching feels fantastic!

Elaine propells the energy of the class with her vocal power. She clearly demonstrates moves and inspired us with her increasing confidence as the training continued. She was also really creative with her words and hands-on somatic exercises teaching the booty bump.

Of course Candice Schutter, my co-teacher, continues to astoud and amaze me with her precise, insightful feedback for students after each teaching exercise. Her awareness of all the micro aspects of being a movement facilitator is wonderful. I love how seamlessly we teach together.

Thanks to Jordon of downtownfoto.com who took pictures! As soon as they are available, I will post the link so you can meet all these wonderful teachers.

Keep Sexy!

More updates tomarrow as the training comes to a close...

Thank you Divine Source for the gift of such enthusiastic students who have travelled so far to come learn with me. What a a gift! I see the HoopGirl Workout continuing to spread across the globe at quantum speed, bringing more light, love and joy into the world! Yes!

It was an amazingly insightful HoopGirl teacher training day with mock classes led in creative ways by the new teachers. As usual, the feedback sessions provided the richest material for us all. Watching how a budding teacher deals with the challenges of hands on teaching under these intensive circumstances is so revealing.

I was inspired by how many of the new teachers kept their cool when confronted by difficult learners. Everyone brought their own flavor to class instruction -- tone of voice, cadence, body language, choice of words... everyone is so unique. Each teacher generated the power of leadership from within, spiraling tangible presence, confidence and poise out into the class. It was delightful to witness it all.

I also feel that the depth and value of my own feedback for students has gotten much richer over the last trainings. I can see and observe so much more about the obvious and subtle things going on with each teacher. I can identify things which before seemed elusive. Meanwhile, I feel my languaging is much more powerful and I can actually provide useful and concise feedback in a way which is easy to hear. I am so grateful for this deepening of my ability to percieve and express!

It was also very moving to have Maki and Justin teach in Japanese, and yet still have everyone understand exactly what they were saying based on all the non verbal cues of communication they used.

By the end, we heard from several new teachers, "this weekend changed my life." It was truely humbling and affirming that I am on the right path. I need to get to sleep now.... but I am so grateful!

I woke up still buzzing with energy from the whole weekend. Each training has been a precious gift! It is an honor to be in a room full of people who are all committed to moving to the next level in their ability to hold space for hoopers. One student commented to me quietly on the last day, "I was expecting this to be an aerobics training class, but what I got was something so much bigger with so much heart."

As the material has deepened (and by that I mean our teaching models, manuals, resources, tools and cirriculum) the quality and confidence of teachers becomes so much more pronounced. The HoopGirl program itself is taking on a life of it's own that is so far beyond me! It feels good. It is a toolbox anyone can use to actually download intuitive teaching methods from the power of their own awareness.

Having two men in the teacher training brought up the question about men and HoopGirl. Do men have a place? Of course! Justin and Mario led animated classes which really worked and were fun, even facilitating a group of women. Honestly, I chose the name HoopGirl because about 95% of my students are women, and I am driven to create a program and business model which empowers women. But men are welcome as students and teachers ... they bring so much! And I have seen first hand, it is possible to have a male HoopGirl teacher stand in the same values of fit, sexy, fun, in an approachable, real way.

I chose this image for today's blog because a large part of teaching the HoopGirl program is about how to tap into your own power of positivity and mobilize it. We teach how to share inner radiance which can inspire students to be happier, more vibrant and healthy. This goes beyond physical health to also include emotional, mental and spiritual aspects as well. Being a teacher becomes life practice of mindfulness. It provides opportunities for conscious langauging, intentional action and service. It also requires taking phenomenal care of one's self, listening to inner knowing and taking full responsibility for one's own health in every way. What a path!

I have to comment as well on the synergy created by co-teaching this material. When I taught this class alone, I found myself exhausted by the end. Bringing Candice Schutter on as a Master Trainer and Somatic Specialist has totally transformed this program for me and for the students. Together, we can actually model the values of the HoopGirl Company - abundance, co-operation and autonomy. Also, we learn from eachother and with eachother. Our conversations are able to go to places I have never been able to share with a fellow hoop teacher because we share the same paradigm. It continues to amaze me.

Candice is a life coach and Black Belt Nia teacher getting ready to birth her own creative projects through her SHINE project, and I can't wait to bring them into the HoopGirl circle as well as resources for our teachers. I know her Shine will help us all shine brighter!

I am realizing very quickly that I need a staff of Master Trainers to help us teach this material! Two of us can only train so many people with the quality of one on one attention and feedback that I want to provide. I know that the Universe will continue to send remarkable teachers our way who's expertise and enthusiasm matches our own.

Infinite field of possibilities, thank you so much for continuing to send talented, experienced hoopdance teachers my way who want to play a larger part in the HoopGirl Company. I know the perfect women are being magnetically attracted to contact me about their deepening interest in facilitating. I am so grateful for their expertise in human communication. I love how much integrity, joy and presence the future facilitators have, which will so enrich the expansion of this program. Thank you!

I am writing you to ask for your support! I have been presented with an amazing opportunity to bring my hoops and classes to a much wider audience than ever before... but to do it I must "prove" that hooping is changing lives in a tangible, measurable way.

If you have used HoopGirl hoops, taken my classes or used my DVD and experienced a dramatic transformation from hooping, I would love to hear your story!

I especially need to hear from those who can attribute a portion of their weight loss to hooping, particularly if you have lost 20 or more pounds. For those who have lost weight, can you please email "before" and "after" pictures which can show your transformation.

I have devoted my life to bringing hoops to the world and I really appreciate the few moments it may take you to share a paragraph and some images with me. Your images and stories will not be shown to the media without your permission. I am asking for your stories and images so that the organization considering my proposal can complete an internal review process of my program to decide if it is a match.

Thank you!!!!!

Wishing you bliss in the hoop,
Christabel

http://www.HoopGirl.com
info -at- hoopgirl.com
415-661-4667

It's been a hard day. I had a long talk with my lawyer who strongly suggested I take legal action against another hoop company who has blatently infringed on my trademark. This is where the bright and beautiful aspects of hooping come into contact with the more harsh realities of running a business.

I let it go for a while, against a feeling in my gut which said what was going on was not right, but now I have been told that if I don't stand up for myself that I am endangering all I have worked to establish in HoopGirl.

I have spoken to this other company honestly about this uncomfortable situation before, and it didn't resolve anything. My lawyer didn't even want me speaking to the person involved again, but I felt I at least had to write and give him/her an opportunity to make things right. So I sent a letter today which felt very harsh, but at least created a window of possibility before legal proceedings begin.

I want everyone to be abundant! I want everyone to be happy! I want everyone to succeed! But now I am learning how I can be a generous, loving person who still has the ability to enforce boundaries.

I am moving forward with what has to be done, but my heart is sad.

Creator, thank you for everything in life. I know that I am learning valuable lessons which will help me become stronger, wiser, more loving and more giving.

Finally, after a long training and lots of work, I'm off to Wilbur again for some rest and relaxation. I am so pleased that I have been able to maintain this new tradition... a once a month retreat away from the world. Horay!

It's been quite a week, ending on a positive note of education for me. I've been studying anatomy and exercise physiology of the pelvis and am feeling quite fascinated by all of the structural and mechanical functioning of the hips. Hula hooping is such a phenomenal movement form on so many levels. I feel called to deepen my awareness even further to understand from as many different perspectives as possible what is happening within the body. Chi, or life force, is being churned up and delivered throughout the body. Emotional energy is cleared. But also... certain muscles are activating, pushing and pulling, contracting and releasing. Joints are in motion, bones are being stimulated by weight bearing movements, blood is circulating more rapidly while the heart pumps more rapidly.

I've got a great book to read at the springs called, Pelvic Power. It is all about the functioning of the pelvis and how to use mind-body imagery to gain more awareness of anatomy. But of course, I have my journal as well in case I just want to meditate and reflect.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to go into nature and enjoy healing hot springs! I am so grateful for the continued inspiration which pours into my life. Life is good! It is an amazing time to be alive.

The night I arrived at the hot springs, I walked up a hill to an overlook where there was a large flat camping platform. Perfect for hooping! It was nice ... no concrete, no cars driving by, no background noise from the city. Just the rush of wind flying through trees. The dry, crisp smell of tall yellow grasses. Crickets. Birds.

After a while, I dropped into a rhythm led by the sound of the hoop hitting my body. It was sweet to let go of music as the spark and just settle into a movement pattern created by the hoop. For a long time, I simply did breaks on my upper body in Snake position. It was soothing. Breathing in rhythm felt soothing. When I felt the bump of the hoop on my opposite shoulder blade, my hands got into the symphony of pushing -- outside hand pushing in, inside hand paddling in. It brought a real awareness of my centerline. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, over and over again. But what made it feel better was letting the lower half of my body twist with the break, letting my torso turn out to each side in an elastic, fluid way which softened breaks into more of a wave pattern.

Next I did the same thing with Float/Float down. I would Float the hoop up and immediately coil down into a Float Down. Then I would break the direction and do the same the opposite way. It was a bit slow going at first, as my right side lagged in speed. I felt a bit like a car with a flat tire on one side with drag. But after about 10 minutes, the "little sister" side (As Baxter of the Hoop Path would call it) started waking up and becoming alert and responsive. I could easily envision the thrill of speed with this move... seeing myself lifting and dropping the hoop at lightening speed, adding a crouching squat a the bottom and spring up at the top. How good it would feel to have that agility, control and responsiveness! To feel that power in my muscles. And then, in the back of my head, Carlos Rosas' words came from my Nia White Belt Training. "Speed is the illusion of mastery." And I slowed down. All in time.

I went until the sun crested on the hill and despite vigourous movement, my hairs stood up on my arms. Time to soak....

Soaking, soaking, soaking. Despite the hot waters, my thoughts held on for dear life and wouldn't seem to leave. The next day, soaking galore and a 4 hour hike on a high mountain ridge alone. Sweat, ankle speaking loudly to me, and I got a bit turned around. But still, my thoughts! I would focus on my breath in and out, trying to focus my awareness always back to the moment. The brilliant green leaf. The pale grey rock rolling under foot. The snake. The bird. The wind on my cheek. The sensation in my calfs as I climbed straight up. My breathe. The hat touching my forehead. The sweat on my neck. The bright yellow flowers. I went on like that, letting my focus travel from things in the now to the next now. But my brain still wouldn't stop it's loop, feeling regret something already in the past.

Later, A Thousand Names for Joy by Byron Katie was back in my lap as I sat by the mineral spring pool. Sweet relief! I read her words and my troubling thoughts lifted. "Reality is always kinder than the story we tell ourselves about it." (p. 231), "The balanced mind is always at ease. It isn't for or against anything; it only wants what is. Its at ease because there is nothing to be opposed to." (p241). "Grace means understanding that where you are is where you always wanted to be." (p. 234) And more... and it was like a switch turned on in my head. Suddenly, compassion.Loving the very thing I resisted in my mind as perfect because it was reality.

That night a massage dispelled thoughts even more and then I went out to soak again. Japanese lanterns glowed softly with a pale yellow glow as steam rose from all the pools and baths. Looking up, there was an endless expanse of dark sky with brilliant stars. Amazing. A satellite flew by. A shooting star blazed by in orange for a moment, then gone. And flickering stars just kept shining. Frogs singing. The contrast of cool air and the hot water. It was an amazing sense of being in the perfect place at the perfect time. I remember smiling and feeling good. Like I had finally arrived.

Creator, please help me remember that your definition of time is divine, and I am always in the perfect place at the perfect time. I love what is happening because it is reality! Thank you for the gift of retreat centers like Wilbur Hot Springs. I am so grateful for the beauty of the earth and the abundance of healing waters. I always remember to drink lots of water anytime I am in doubt! I always remember to breathe deeply and feel the sensations of my body to come home to the present moment. Yes.

Last night I taught a vibrant group of women at Dance Ground Keriac. We worked on barrell rolls and float on angles, framing our moves with dance, and creating combinations. We also played with some new material, playing with "body breaks". Body breaks are percussive hoop rotation reversals which stop and push the hoop the opposite way with body contact -- specifically on the feet, inner and outer thighs and buttocks. While the Hoop Path reversal style is hipnotic, it also has quite a "yang" feel to it because it works with such straight lines. I feel like body breaks bring a beautiful, sexy, flow to reversals which allows them to appear more liquid. I think it is because it really invites the lower body to dance more freely and become involved. It is also really sensual to feel the hoop making such extensive contact with the fabric of my skin, really taking advantage of the entire body as a participant in the dance. What a joy! We rocked out to some tribal house music during freedance moments to break up the vibe, enjoyed some work on shoulder duck outs and forward bend duck outs, and had an amazing performance jam circle... as usual! It feels fantastic to be in the area long enough to be teaching regularly again! Teaching is such a joy.... just another opportunity to keep learning.

Thank you Source for the endless flow of students coming into my life who have so much vitality, enthusiasm and joy within the hoop! I appreciate having the opportunity to help people connect with thier own creativity. I love watching all the unique expressions of dancers in class! Thank you!