All I've had for the last week has been excuses about why I haven't put in the private time, so this morning's 40 minutes were sweet! I had fun freestyling to the music, exploring Dolphin variations, all kinds of vertical twirls through the hoop in all directions, lots of outflow, some Swans. My buff was on my head and I impulsivly pulled it down over my eyes -- I never hoop in the buff at home since my practice space is about 4x5 with a big tv and other breakables on all sides... but suddenly I backed against the couch and realized that if I can just keep one leg against the couch at all times, there is no way I can bump into anything else breakable in the room! It was a huge revelation for me because I usually reserve sightless hooping for the studio... which takes away a lot of spontaneity around it. It felt really nice to get into a rhythm of playing the hoop back and forth and combining that with the sensation of stroking my pant leg in rhythm with the music between swings... almost a 3 dimensional sort of hoop experience.. those precious moments of feeling, breathing, connecting feed me so much now! The edge of "performing" has softened and now it is a sweet letting go to breathing and touching and all the happy potted plants surrounding me with green leaves.