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!