So much has flown by so fast this week... 4 tv show appearances in Phoenix, 1 in Dallas, at home to teach, lots of revelations and now I am here in Portland training 14 new HoopGirl Workout teachers! Obviously my blogs have falled behind but I will have some time to catch up next week. For now ... I'll share my now.
What a dynamic and diverse group we have here at the training. First of all, it is a total gift to be able to offer the training at Nia Headquarters. A gorgeous, palatial learning space with a huge wonderful wood sprung floor, dreamy white walls and curtains and lots of natural light, and a cozy seated learning studio with overstuffed chairs, spiritual images and warm rugs.
The dynamic leaders who have joined us...
Lynn from Boise, Idaho who wants to build a local community where she lives and learn how to be articulate while teaching.
Sabine from Quebec, Canada who has been hooping 1.5 years, having originally learned in Hawaii and who wants to teach with more structure and format.
Yvette who I actually met at my Zumba Teacher Certification course who would like to learn hooping as a sensual, empowering fitness class to bring with her to El Salvador where she is heading for the next 4 weeks to 6 months.
Nathan, a 13 year old boy from Portland Oregon who wants to teach hooping to teens.
Lori from Ontario, Canada has been hooping only one month but wants to gain confidence teaching and the ability to be smooth... especially since she has her first class of 15 students this coming Tuesday!
Ali from Vancouver, Canada who wants to empower others and inspire with the hoop.
Karly from Sisters, Oregon who wants to teach and loved that a Hoopgirl Workout teacher in her small town was excited at the possibilty of another teacher locally. For her hooping has been a miracle, "bellydance for the lumbar impaired".
Lacy Lee from Portland, Oregon for whom hooping has changed her life. She wants to help others dicover joy through hoopdance and share the "I Can" philosophy
Anne from Steamboat Springs Colorado who wants to get comfortable expressing herself in the hoop and be a pioneer in her new city where she is moving to -- Boulder.
Jennifer from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, who started hooping 5 years ago at Bonaroo and wants to lead a hoop movement in her area.
Rachel from Portland, Oregon, who wants a formula to teach with more regularly every week.
Ericka who lives in Portland, Oregon who has been making hoops for years and wants to gain confidence to teach.
Leslie from Seattle, Washington, who already teaches bellydance and wants to teach hooping and hold hoop events at the Seattle Circus School.
It is honestly the largest group of students I have ever had in the training since I like to limit it to 12 students so each student has lots of one-on-one attention. But this time, we had the lucky opportunity to teach in such a beautiful, massive studio, that I decided to restructure the program a bit and see how it felt with 2 more. So far, so good! I am co-teaching with the amazing Candice, for which I also feel very blessed. And we have a master trainer in training who is assisting... Taj form Chicago. Together the 3 of us are holding space nicely and all is flowing.
As usual, there is just such a huge volume of information to share that it feels as if the training could easily expand to be 4 days instead of three... but I think the reality is most people probably couldn't get 4 days away from their lives. We will see how that evolves over time.
Words I would use to describe the energy of this lovely group (every group is so different) are: expansive, enthusiastic, empowering, very skilled, clear in intention.
While here in Portland I am staying with my dear friends Jasmine and Carlos. I wish there were more hours in the day to spend with them. Last night after the training was done I took a Nia class which wiped me out. What a gift to be able to drop in on a Nia class with Carlos!
On to the day!