It was a sweet sunday morning dance session at the End Up club here in San Francisco for the Burning Man Deep End Camp. Kramer and I decided against the all-night option and instead got up at 4am for the sunrise set. It took me a while to get my groove on... for the first couple of hours I danced at about 50%, moving with the beat but not really "feeling" it. By 9:30, I was thinking of calling a morning but decided to spend a few minutes on the floor before going. What happened was what I went there for in the first place.

Sun-Woo was playing. Honestly, looking back, I can't tell you what he was spinning exactly. After a while, I noticed that I was travelling in movement patterns which were familliar. I tend to bob my head, pulsate my shoulders and chug my arms forward in a fairly predictable way when I dance on autopilot. Remembering the Nia training with Carlos, I started pushing through my dance habits and letting different parts of my body respond to the music instead of dancing to the music. Suddenly my elbows took control, leading me on an undulating path which took me high, low, in arcs, spins and leaps. My shoulder blades started hopping, and finally, I felt my feet lock into the beat. There was a tremendous rocking forward and back patten that emerged, a crouch and capoeira-like spin which evolved. A whole new vocabulary of moves gushed out of me, unstoppable and it felt so good! There was no thinking, just feeling. It was like riding a frieght train, feeling the heaviness of the bass and the whole room rocking. My own body was cruising at the speed of a cheetah. Every nuance in the music inspired a different muscle into the dance. It was like my body was the music! Powerful, articulate and fast. It was deep, driving house music. Dozens of sweaty people were going ballistic all around me in the dark and lights were flashing like mad. My vortex lasted about an hour. What a gift!

I have clarity I need regular bouts of this kind of groove kicking dance to build my endurance and creativity. It trains my body to amplify and radiate. This rhythmic body movement allows me to hoop in a way that feels amazing.

Now I'm resting a bit before a 3 hour hoop workshop. My ankle is a bit overworked, so ice, advil and some elevation and compression is called for.

Thank you. I am full of appreciation for the gift of grace through dance!

I am wiped out, but totally inspired! Tonight I went to John Baxter's Hoop Path workshop here in San Francisco. I have to say, it is a gift.

I have to start off by saying that this is a journal entry for myself rather than an attempt to teach anyone what I have just learned. I use a lot of HP languaging here, so I really encourage you to take a workshop and experience it yourself. Words cannot possibly do justice to the experience of this practice. But what I can say is that the Hoop Path practice is deepening my own HoopGirl practice in amazing ways.

Baxter taught the stories and principles presented in the Portland workshop, but I was able to really feel things at a whole new level.

What a class!

First of all, I totally got that upper body "paddling" can be effectivly done with the forearm instead of an open palmed hand. I also realized that there is an elasticity to breaking and reversing that requires letting the momentum become cushioned by a slight rebound of the body and a launch the other direction which is also joined by full upper body movement. The rolling exercises really helped me learn that. Also, the dynamism of how Baxter reverses is staggering. It is a lighting fast combination of upper, lower, inner and outer hand grips that is constantly changing.

I also watched Beth in class paddling with her foot and leg and started to realize that the possibilities of paddling are endless! Baxter showed us how all floats can even be like paddles, allowing the hoop to continue in flow without stopping it any way. Amazing to apply this principle when hooping in each direction and trying it with each hand.

Again, Baxter's devotion to his personal practice is humbling. He hoops 2 hours per day, every day. No exceptions! Wow. Again, wow!

He got into rolling and cross armed passes (which he did not cover in the Portland workshop). This means when you roll the hoop around your body from side to side, with arm crossing over arm and then a break and reversal. It can be done at the waist level or the upper body level. We practiced this for a long time. It is like a whole symphony of hoop possibilities opened up just from this one exercise!

We also did hooping on angles in reverse current and with breaks, which felt fabulous. It is amazing to feel my body awaken in the same way as when I first initially started hooping. Hooping in what Baxter calls, the second current direction, with awareness and control is wonderful.

I loved how he encouraged us to keep our hands in motion, like birds in flight. A wonderful reminder, as well, to keep our hands in touch with our feet. Deep body awareness!

Baxter also had us do blindfolded little sister work, helping us strengthen our weaker sides with sightless flight time. For the first time ever, I was able to do snake with barrell roll in the opposite direction! It was exhilerating to be able to do it each way, punctuated by breaks. I just wanted to keep going and going.

He also encouraged us to try taking big leaping, wild steps and one leg balances while hooping in reverse current. Again, what a simple practice with so many gifts.

As before, the paddling and reverses and breaks captured my attention. There is something quite satisfying about the breaks and reversals which is appealing to my body right now. It feels so powerful to switch sides, back and forth. While I do not resonante with all the languaging of the "warrior's path", "demons" and "insecurities" which laces the Hoop Path TM philosphy, I totally resonante with the female centered mysthology and the felt experience of building neural pathways in my brain from so much back and forth, crossing and uncrossing, coiling and uncoiling.

Watching Beth was an amazing highlight. She just happened to be in town and has been studying with Baxter since the very beginning. I especially admired how she did vertical isolations with breaks and reversals, and also completely sideways tornados. Again punctuated by breaks. Also a stunning forearm and chest roll! Her languaging with the hoop is ridiculously fast and articulate. I can see so much of Spiral's dance ways in her as well! Absolutely gorgeous and inspiring beyond belief. It is so wondeful to have visiting dancers who push the envelope of what is possible here in San Francisco.

I used my new psi hop during the entire class to get used to the new hoop size, thickness and weight (37.5 inches diameter, 3/4 inch pipe, dragonfly design with extra led's added from www.psihoops.com). A whole different world. Good practice.

Source, I am so grateful for all the continued inspiration and talent which I am exposed to. Thank you for bringing me teachers who help me rise to the next level and shine brighter! Thank you for providing me with specific visions and resources to manifest positive change on the planet through hoopdance. Yea! Thank you!

This morning as the moon was approaching full I pushed back the coffee table and went for it in the living room. 1 hour of back and forth, back and forth, back and forth with hoop reversals. I especially enjoyed just doing endless break and reversals in barrell roll. After a while, however, my wrists felt a bit sensitive so I just focused on snake in my more challenging direction, trying to also synchronize looking left and right and taking steps on the beat of the music. Good stuff! Looking forward to some hooping this afternoon outside since the weather looks fanatastic!

Thank you for the gift of devotion.

Last night I attended a workshop with Baxter of the Hoop Path which blew my mind again. It added even more to my list of things to practice. It was such an honor to have Baxter teach the Allstars a private class, and I am so inspired that they have been exposed to this entire wealth of inspiration! Baxter is a true master of the hoop and a phenomenal hoop philosophy teacher -- the most authentic and gifted I have ever met. I also have to add that having Beth there was a joy! She is hoop rapture in motion -- one of my current hooper heroines and so inspiring. We did lots of blindfolded exercises which really opened up my senses and perception. Again in class, I felt my skin awaken as my muscular intelligence grew exponentially. I love all the skill building exercises which Baxter shares. It provides an actual structure which can be used to create a hoop practice (as opposed to "just dancing").

As soon as I woke up this morning, I felt inspired to build my "flight time". I began with a wonderfully loud 1 hour hoop session in my living room to one of Kramer's mixes. I kept turning up the volume until it reached an obsencely loud level and I kept my awareness keen in case a neighboor came pounding on the door. Lucky me, nothing!

I worked on the flying birds with feet exercise in my second current, first and second tree paddles in each direction and above and below the hoop, chi-ing, body rolling in each direction above and below the hoop and barrell rolls in each direction punctuated by breaks. Also, I just rocked out to the music, and realized rhythmically turning my head to the left and right on the beat while also dancing on the beat and hooping in snake in my second current felt really good.

And after this.. a long day of office work and meetings... and then another 3 hour workshop with Baxter! But I am so tired and need to stop writing. I'll share my experience of of tonight's workshop tomarrow.

I chose the image of "a path" for today's blog because it feels so good to be on my own path of hoopdance, so energized and so clear because of the amazing community which surrounds me.

Thank you! I am astounded by the beauty, generosity and creativity of those who surround me. Thank you!

Last night was an amazing gathering of devoted hoopers gathering for Baxter's Warrior path workshop. As usual, Baxter's voice provided a wonderful point of focus while he spoke in poetic terms about the mountain of skill we all climb and how to cultivate discipline and faith in the exercises to take us to the next level.

I love the encouragement to expand movement and open. I love that there is an endless series of exercises provided. The simple truth is that this class provides the inspiration to really build a true hoop practice. I like the discipline. I thrive from it! I am inspired to share this level of devotion to "flight time" with my students. The collective focus of a class feels so good to be in! It is also a wonderful shift to be there as a student rather than a teacher. My job is so simple .. just move, breathe, and give it my best effort. No responsibility, just response-ability in my own body. A welcome gift for my own growth.

Highlights for me to dwell on: flower meditation, blindfolded chi-ing, point (balancing) with swings and straight, behind back bow position with switching, switching points on the hoop 3-6-9-12, etc, wildwest start position with alternating grips lowering and passing up and back down again with body twist (which I saw Beth doing horizontally! Wow!), feeling the two trees with conscious stepping and balancing while hooping in second current, breaks on legs, leg paddles/chi-ing, breaks with pauses behind back and under legs, rolls alternating crossovers with lassos between...

Today, I woke up in a great mood. My whole attitude has changed. Starting off, I went to the gym for the first time in two weeks and worked up quite a lather while listening to a sermon from Agape. Wow. Came home and hooped for an hour. This feels great.

You can learn more about the Hoop Path at: http://tribes.tribe.net/thehooppath

Yahoo!

The first HoopSexy was last night! What a beautiful experience... a night of strength, power and passion. So many beautiful dancers expressing their creative rhythms. We opened with a circle where we each shared a word about what sexy meant to us and there was a wide variety of answers, from flow, rhythm, confidence and sensuality to honesty. It is so amazing how we can reclaim and re-energize words and concepts to harness their power for inspiration!

I provided occasional words or phrases while the music played. Some words were simple: breathe. focus. open. extend. Some were longer... such as Carlos Rosas' Nia advice: speed is the illusion of mastery. My intent was to amplify the awareness of those who came so that they could move through habitual movement patterns, push through resistance with joy and celebrate. I watched the room carefully and cued off of what I watched. It was a bit exhausting though, to dance and facilitate for 2 hours straight! Hopefully Dawn will be co-facilitating with me next month.

I played lots of different music and witnessed many different dance styles and hoops. Some women came bedazzled in beautiful glimmering costumes. Strawberries, rich chocolate and yerba mate flowed freely as we grooved and leapt. Two goddesses came all the way from Santa Cruz to attend. My friend Ann from Santa Barbara came who I haven't seen in 4 years! And we had the gift of Beth present from the South, mesmerizing us all with her liquid flow.

I brought a few colored lights to create a more festive dance environment... next time I will bring even more! It is my hope to basically throw a regular hoop party to celebrate the "sexy" within us all. Thank you! The event was a successful gift! I expected only a few intrepid movement explorers.. but the room was packed with more than 15 people. For me, this event was so nourishing.. an opportunity to welcome freestyle hoop play with intention in community. I was freed from actually teaching and could take on more of an energizing capacity, channeling phrases in the moment which felt resonant with the moving mosaic of the room. I can't wait for next month! Tentative date: May 18, 7:30-9:30pm at the Women's Building.

I intend to welcome radiant health and wellbeing into every cell of my body!
I feel wholeness, relaxation and a sense of peace.
I feel the anticipation that comes with an exciting new burst of creativity.
I feel a surge of revitalizing energy which restores every part of my body.
My mind is full of peace and stillness.
I am flooded with happiness, a sense of connection and love.
Thank you!

Today, commonly called Easter by Christians, is actually an ancient holiday called Ishtar which celebrates the rising sun. I've been thinking about the meaning of the word "resurrection".. the dictionary says, "returning to life". What a wonderful celebration! I plan on spending the whole day with this intention in mind...

Today I am returning to life!

A part of me has been hibernating during emotional ups and downs I've felt lately... mostly relating to challenges in my business. Today, I feel ready to commit to a more positive, self-generated attitude!

From today forward, I commit to remembering that whatever challenges are presented to me, I can find my way through them!

I remember how blessed I am to live a fabulous life.
I am brilliant, talented and empowered.
I can solve any problem with creativity and joy.
Everywhere I look, I am surrounded my miracles.
I am so grateful for a wonderful body which is strong and healthy!
I am so happy to be surrounded by loving friends and family.
I am thrilled to be working with so many geniuses devoted to wellbeing.
I am boundless and always have plenty of time.
Time expands when I need more and contracts when I need less.
Everywhere I go I create beauty, joy and radiance.
I honor myself with daily practice time which feeds my soul.
I am elated that I can move my body in beautiful, mesmerizing ways.
I welcome grace, precision, speed and ingenuity into my dance.
I am open and receptive to realizations, new ways of being and change.
I am happy that it is so easy to commit to the things that nourish me.
I am excited about all the wonderful opportunities racing my way!
I am ready for anything!
Thank you.

We seek male and female hoopers with a devoted and delightful hoopdance practice who have a genuine enthusiasm to teach!

You are: confident, courageous, happy, energetic, caring, a clear communicator, innovative and a passionate, talented hooper!

You are also interested in part time income made from helping people feel good with HoopGirl hoopdance classes. Applicants preferably do not have their own hoop companies which they are concurrently working on so that they have energy to invest into our team and company goals.

Our goals: To do everything possible to help students *feel good*. We want to share hoopdance with the world as movement medicine to help everyone get fit, feel sexy and have fun!

We have evening classes established and emerging in East Bay, North Bay, South San Francisco and North Bay.

Applicants must have completed the HoopGirl Teacher Training program or have the intent to enroll in the upcoming July San Francisco Teacher Training July 13-15.

Teachers get paid an hourly wage as contractors: $35 per hour. They also have access to HoopGirl products which they can purchase at wholesale and resell at class for additional profit.

Those interested can begin work as assistant teachers at the rate of $15 per hour to gain experience in the class environment and one on one mentoring from a Licensed Hoopgirl Teacher. Previous graduates of the level one teacher training can immediately then step into teaching. Those who have not yet taken it may step directly into solo teaching after the July training.

Financial assistance is available to those wanting to take the HoopGirl Teacher Training as a path to employment with HoopGirl -- Work-trade can be set up to exchange assistant teaching and office work for part or all of the training.

The HoopGirl company is growing fast and there are many opportunities for hoopdancers who begin as teachers to expand the range and scope of their involvement with the company. If you have spirit, talent and positivity, we welcome hearing from you!

To set up an interview, contact Annie at HoopGirl Headquarters between 9am and 5pm on monday, wednesday or friday at 415-661-HOOP. Thank you!

With gratitude,
Christabel

Begin your new career teaching hoopdance! Supercharge your life by empowering others to find joy, fitness and sensuality within the hoop.

At the invitation of California State University Long Beach's Department of Kinesiology, we have set up a Level One HoopGirl teacher training on campus for June 22-24! This is only *2* months away. Space is limited to 12 participants and spots are filling up fast.

Several faculty members from the Kinesiology Department want to undergo the training, along with students and others from outside the academic community. Don't miss out on this *rare* opportunity to study the HoopGirl Workout program within this intellectual community.

We will have all the same fun mock training drills, formatted class information, philosophy and hoop time which every other training contains. The forum panels, however, are sure to be off the scales!

You can sign up for the training immediately at the following link:
http://circushoops.sectorlink.org/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=13

The fee is $700 for the 24 hour training which provies certification. The optional yearly licensing fee is $199 and provides for an additional 100 page marketing and business manual, access to teacher forums, a cd with HoopGirl logos, the complete HoopGirl Workout program for Beginners, an actual laminated teaching license, a listing on the website, access to continuing education, wholesale prices on products, permission to use the HoopGirl program and materials, and more...

You can read more about our program at:
http://circushoops.sectorlink.org/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=13

I am so excited to share the joy of hoopdance with you! Candice Schutter, black belt of Nia, will be teaching with me at this training and sharing her expertise on facilitating, coaching, movement and body-mind-spirit fitness.

Love,
Christabel

Hooping in the raw! Yea!

As a hooper, I feel that a balanced diet which includes lots of raw foods energizes my whole body. I feel lean and strong. I know raw food has lots of vital enzymes which cooked food does not, and this allows the precious nutrients and vitamins to be utilized by my body more effectively. The radiant colors of raw foods inspires my senses and the wide variety of tastes and flavors is tantalizing. I make it a daily rule to eat as many brightly colored raw, organic fruits and veggies as possible. I am always trying to remind myself to eat as lots of green food to help alkalinize my body. Whether it is green drinks, green salads, green blended salads, or just fistfuls of spinach, green is the way for my body to get the glow I want. I know it!

Yesterday I grazed on some really yummy raw foods... I ate three tangelos, a pint of strawberries, a banana and an apple.... later on I also had some dates split in half with raw organic almond butter slathered on top. Yum! As usual, I am re-calibrating my inner compass to make it instinctual to grab a piece of radiance.

I go through phases. For a while, I start creating raw recipes. Something about the preparation feels nurturing. Then I get impatient and switch for a couple days or weeks and simply just eat whole pieces of fruits and veggies throughout the day. I am not 100% raw right now, by the way. For years I tried to go that way and was full of disappointment when I couldn't join friends for meals or stick to the strict requirements. Now that I am about 70% raw, I have permission to eat what feels like a good balance for my body. Lots of green foods, beautiful veggies and fruits, nuts, super foods like seaweeds, algaes, maca and more... and then sometimes sushi, cooked veggies and fish. I avoid processed wheats and rices as much as I can -- that means avoiding pastas and breads which intuitively feel like bloating, empty food to me. I also don't eat dairy or eggs. Giving myself permission to create the perfect balance of what feels right to my body is awesome! My body is more lean and I feel good. I don't have the vulnerable lightheadness that comes for me with being 100% raw, but I still get the luminosity!

By the way, I have been going crazy for tangelos lately. When I walk into the corner market, their neon orange color just grabs me and I hardly know how to resist! They literally are *glowing* and they are 100% organic. I have just been giving in and having about 3-4 per day. The same with the strawberries... so bright red, juicy and sweet! Tis the season for strawberries!

I have also been consciously focusing on making water my ally. I remind myself every day that water is my best friend and favorite beverage. I like to generate an excitement response within myself when I realize I have the chance to drink more water. YEA! I would LOVE some water!!!! I have to psyche myself up like this because it is easy for me to become dehydrated. It is easy for me to check out of my body while working at the computer for hours or focusing on some other project. I'll can sit there for hours and not have a single drop.

I can tell when I am dehydrated while hooping. My hands look more lined and the backs look weathered. When I push breaks off with my hoop, my wrists get sore quickly and I get blisters. My lower back aches. It is amazing how clearly the body can communicate! A few hours after saturating my tissues with water again, I feel better. For whatever reason, having lots of water cures a lot of things within my body simply because I don't always drink enough of it.

Enjoy the beautiful day! Enjoy your body! Thank you!

We need help making hula hoops in San Francisco!

The job entails: carrying/loading/unloading coils of pipe and hoops, cutting, joining, and taping hoops in specific designs as well as packing, labeling, and shipping hoops at the post office. We provide all materials necessary as well as detailed instruction on how to make different hoop styles. Estimated work time is 15-20 hours per week. You can work from home after a few weeks of training in our office in Cole Valley. You are paid per unit made and a $15 hourly rate for hoop related errands. Hoopmakers average $15-18 per hour for the actual hoopmaking once they are in the swing of things. HoopGirl will hire you as an independent contractor, and payment will be made by check within one week from the submission of your bi-monthly invoice.

YOU ARE: strong, reliable, reliable, (did I say reliable?), have attention to detail, a precise sense of design, love working with colors, can follow through on deadlines, have the ability to make and submit a simple invoice, have a car and the ability to drive around the bay area, check your email and voicemail, able to return phone calls within 24 hours or less, have strong hands and arms, can carry loads of coiled pipe, can carry out tape and pipe inventories, can commit to showing up on time, are resourceful. You are also prosperity oriented and emotionally balanced! You *do not* have your own company making hoops or plan to start one. You are also team-oriented and excited to be a part of our hip swinging team!

Call Annie at 415-661-4667 on M, W, or F between 9-5 to apply. Thank you!

Beautiful divine Universe,
Thank you for amazing strength!
Thank you for slowing things down.
Thank you for making space for love, friendships and laughter.
Thank you for making time for my husband and I to enjoy the little things that matter.
Thank you for giggles and silliness and joy.
Thank you for free time for frolicking!
Thank you for reminding me I can learn through joy and fun.

Thank you for the inner knowledge that all is well.
I am so happy that I have time to organize and bring beauty into my life.
I love that time seems to stand still and I can just play and play and play.
I am so happy that I have time to whistle, sing and skip.
Thank you for the infinite wellspring of abundance, which is pouring into my life!
Thank you for giving me time to relax and enjoy my success.
Thank you for amazing girlfriends with wonderful, inspiring lives.
Thank you for sending the perfect experiences and opportunities my way.
Thank you for inner stillness.
Thank you for the feeling of connection I feel at all times.
I appreciate my body and all the physical gifts of being human.
I love my emotions and all that they teach me about this world.
I am grateful for my thoughts and how peaceful they are.
I appreciate how natural it is to feel good in every moment.
I am so happy that I know how to access my inner knowing at all times.
I love my journey of awakening.

Thank you for the light at the end of the tunnel which is bathing me in radiance!

YES!