This morning felt like an eternity, even though it was only 40 minutes. I think part of it was hooping to super slow music which drew out so many of my movements. Amazing how much more energy I can expend hooping slow and extremely articulate then fast at times.

Slow in hooping is a place which is easy for me to overlook. It really takes energy and discipline to slow. I resist saying, "slow down" because what is down about it? Although it grounds me, I feel so "up", connected and light.

My breathe was deep and steady and I had a lot of fun with all kinds of shoulder reversals. I never have focused so specifically on all the different combinations of vertical breaks I can do under and over my arm and on each arm and both directions. It was even more delicious to let my other hand do fun things like dart through the hoop to the other side at lightening speed, even though I was moving slow. There is something magical about contrasts while hooping. It moves me.

I played with body breaks as well, letting the hoop bounce off my thighs, buns, arms and even my chest, angled floats with breaks at my shoulder and reverses, and lots of leg lifting.

I am particularly fascinated now by the *shapes* that can be created while hooping, especially with vertical planes, bringing the legs into the dance more and noticing how straight legs versus kicks or bent knees or sultry slithers effects the mood. I love playing with what I think of as the feminine side of breaks. How can a break or warrior style become a *flowing* warrior style. How can angles and stops be softened into flow, but still retain the energy of hard stops. A fun place to play. Almost like walking a fine line between bellydance and tai chi with a hoop!

Thank you for the patince to *slow* and an endless stream of inspiration which keeps rushing into my life!