TUNE IN ON THURSDAY MORNING!

The Daytime Show segment I recorded in Florida while at the teacher training there will be aired tomorrow, on Thursday July 9! It airs in the following markets on the following channels at times indicated:

Learn about Daytime here: http://www.daytimeonline.tv

The self-development process for this shoot next week has been huge! I've been working with a personal trainer for 3 months now, dropping the winter weight and getting leaner. That was a huge up and down process for me, sticking with it for a while, then going into denial and resuming bad habits. It took 3 months to get super committed, along with daily dance training at ODC. Prep went into high gear over the past couple weeks, with studio rentals with memorized material repeated again and again in the mirror while hooping, sample classes for students with feedback, preparing choreography and basically getting my act together. Honestly, I have a habit of saying yes to big projects even if I have absolutely no idea how I can possibly carry them off. Then usually I figure it out along the way.

"Hoopdance for Beginners" was done pretty much by the seat of my pants and "Hulaerobics" was done with major preparation and support by Universal Studios UK. This project, however, has been the first one I have self-prepared for so thoroughly. From designing the class material, choosing all the music from licensed possibilities, choosing the multiple outfits, getting bronzed at the St Regis Remede Spa, facial at Aura, teeth brightened at the dentist, hair highlight touch up, mani-pedi tomorrow, and doing laughter yoga every morning to relieve stress and affirmations galore to ensure a super positive attitude. No rehearsals on site... I simply fly in and do the shoot and then that will be it. Phew!

Honestly, I know I didn't *have* to do all these things. But something inside of me really wanted to rise up to this opportunity and put my best self out there. I had developed some poor habits -- emotional eating, lack of movement because of too much computer work, etc. This project was a great excuse to really move to the next level in putting myself together and honoring my body. I'm excited to see what unfolds, how it comes out and where this path leads me. I know it will be fabulous! Life is such a wonderful blessing~ I am so grateful.

It really has been so long since I have written personally here on this blog. Honestly, while I have been delving into this physical transformation, I have had deep personal transformation going on too. I've been recording it all on my spiritual blog at www.lightbliss.com for those who are interested. So much opening, surrender, growth and gratitude! I am so happy to be alive!!!

A whirlwind in NYC filming the latest HoopGirl instructional DVD. Arrived Tuesday night, got up the next morning for a two hour photoshoot, a few hours of down time and then a 5 hour shoot for the DVD. It was a wildly different experience than my other personally produced project or the one Universal Studios did in that there were not 4 takes of every single chapter segment... much fewer for most and for many, just one! While this made my perfectionistic self a bit nervous, I have surrendered to the creative process and the standard protocal of this company. When it was all done, I was left feeling the adrenaline pumping through my body. All the weeks and months of anticipation, training, scripting, practicing and suddenly the main focus of my life for that moment was done. This DVD felt like a big project because there was no voiceover... it was all spoken by me while in action. This always takes a lot more memory, co-ordination and presence than voice over. Also, unlike the Hulaerobics project, there was no rehersal in the studio with the producer... just basically showing up and shooting on the spot. Also, there was no makeup or costume person, just me, myself and I. So lots to juggle and keep in mind in a very compressed time period. Honestly, I was nervous about it, but they were thrilled and said it came out fantastic.

This DVD will bust any hoopers buns, from beginner thru advanced~ guaranteed! It was taxing me just to teach the darned thing for the DVD. There are lots of costume and lighting changes and a bonus performance track, featuring a gorgeous dance in a costume from Annieland.net. I think this section should be especially dazzling! It was the first costumed performance I have done in over a year, since beginning my sabbatical, and a sweet way to end a "stage-fast". I walked away with a fat check and warm fuzzies from working with such kind and wonderful people.

Meanwhile, I was on stage last night at the Prepare for the Playa event here in San Francisco in a superfun performance which was a delight for me! It was completely unrehearsed and the costume was put together on the spot in neat costume bits I had purchased at the event. It simply felt so good to become another person on stage- to really live into the costume and persona I was playing with and offer it up to the crowd. I felt the medicine of performance flowing back into my body... the tickling sensation of "yahoo! this is fun!". The flow of holding and radiating energy. It was an entirely different look from what I used to wear ... Elizabethan stripes, lace, ruffles, tall boots, fishnet thigh highs, black booty shorts which said "WOW" across the back, and an elegant, royal, robe which I took off after sauntering onto stage and claiming the space. What fun! I look forward to more as the divine time unfolds... what a great crowd, and of course the complete lineup of photographers at the edge of the stage were a blast to play up to.

I feel like I really had to walk away from the stage for a while to be able to come back to it with such a fresh attitude... and also to make space for the girls to rise up and take my place in so many gigs which needed to be filled -- thereby rising to the next level in their own abilities to become superstars! It has also given me space to welcome other exciting things into my life, too ... pHD studies, writing, learning to dj, home shopping, revisioning the HoopGirl company and time with my husband, etc.

Life is just so darned fabulous! I feel back in the groove... still training daily at the gym, doing laughter yoga and dance class every morning ... my body feels great! I've been falling back in love with all that San Francisco has to offer... for a while I was resisting the weather, the concrete... but suddenly the electric energy is feeding rather than draining me.

I had this revelation this morning that I used to write my 15 minute miracle practice, I was wishing for a sense of home, time daily to write, more tight girlfriends, daily dance class with amazing women and to get a trainer and work out everyday. Now, this is my life! Here's to manifestation!

So this was the second thursday I was invited a secret hoop jam. Two hours of music, moves, sweat and inspiration. It was in downtown San Francisco in a dance studio with the heat cranked to a simmering 73 degrees -- a lovely tropical heat.

I was thrilled to get a repeat invitation. So happy, in fact, I made a mixed tape for the two facilitators with some nasty fast hoop tunes guaranteed to made sweat explode off their bodies. We rocked it. Fast, zippy, powerful moves. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, building muscle memory gradually through repetition. I felt so tickled to be in this environment, among fanatics focused enough to rent space on a weeknight and blaze through their personal practices at quantum speed and with total focus and presence...

Continental airlines still serves food! Plus they haven't discontinued pillows and blankets, like some other airlines. I was struck my there being a formal room in Newark airport alongside the "Continual Elite Club" called, Meditation Room. Amazing. Took my life into my hands with some airport sushi, which was just fine, and then prowled the gate area for an outlet to charge my computer.

I've never seen anything like it! No plugs anywhere, and around the occassional one, groups of people camped out on the floor gorging on the electric current, surrounded by Starbucks cups, food wrappers and travel bags.

Met up with my co-teacher, Candice of www.hoopshine.com. Amazing to connect with her brilliance. Can you imagine how wonderful it is to have a best friend is a phenomenal life coach? On we went together...

The plane ride from San Francisco to Newark, then to Birmingham, UK was mellow. Watched Catch Me If You Can and Penelope, which were both entertaining.

Gas here in Birmingham, UK, is the equivalent of $10.60 per gallon! Hello Smart Car~ I am *so* downsizing when I get back to San Francisco. I wish there was an electric option that was as cheap, but I suppose that will have to wait. The only problem will be... how will I shlep my hoops around? I'll need some kind of special hoop rack.

Upon arriving in Birmingham, I was stopped at customs and pulled aside for extensive investigation. I tried to be calm but my mind was slightly racing. Was there some kind of paperwork I had needed and never knew about? I had come in previously for work saying it was to teach hooping and was always waived through. They asked me all kinds of questions about how much I was getting paid, how many students and, where was this happening, etc. Listen up international hoop teachers! It seems that we could have gotten in a load of trouble if we were here to teach students hoopdance directly. However, because we were training teachers who were local who would in turn be teaching students here (and because they could get online and verify it on my website) they waived us on through. Phew!

John, our enthusiastic host, swept us up from the airport and drove us to our hotel, the historic Longshoot (http://www.thelongshoothotel.co.uk/). We stayed there for a day, but after it was apparent there was no internet there and no much to eat but meat, and not much around but wheat fields, a supermarket and a gas station, we took matters into our own hands. Candice and I bussed into town and beyond to a Day's Inn, which we decided was much more our speed, especially since there was a movie theatre, resturants and a fitness center nearby. Not as historic and pretty, but more suited to our needs with printing and most importantly... internet!!! So we bussed back to the first in, packed our bags, and bussed back to the new inn with bags in tow, bumping and skipping with the rollies on brick surfaces all the way. Phew! We were soooo pleased to finally feel connected to the world. Later that day, our lovely host John also gave us a cell phone with an international sim card, completing our sense of connection. So wonderful. Amazing how accustomed to these devices one can become...

Here is the iHoop Mix for August 2008! Enjoy!

My most sincere thanks to all of you who took the time to vote for me for the Best of the Bay Competition! HoopGirl won Best Personal Trainer. Honestly, I won this on behalf of all the amazing team of talented women who teach with me: Annie, Natasha, Satise, Shawna, Sylvia and Candice! Thank you ladies for your brilliance! Each one of you have won this award with me.

The award says,
"Shake off that flab, grind your pelvis, and work that ass with Christabel Zamor, the sexiest hula-hooping heroine in the world. www.hoopgirl.com". What a cool write up!

Phew... just winding down from a long yet wonderful day here in Nuneaton, a small burb on the outskirts of Birmingham. So much confidence and experience in this group of trainees. Today we hooped all day long, delivering essential skills. Power points, green tea, drills, and review.

The endurance of this group is amazing... their attentiveness and presence is inspiring. Always eager, on the edge of their seats and soaking in every detail. No matter how long or little they have hooped before, they have vision and clarity that hoopdance teaching is the path for them.

It is a glorious type of personality who tends to be attracted to these events -- generally women who are fiercely independent, creative, extremely artistic, insightful, compassionate and devoted to making a difference in the world. Visionaries. Pioneers. What a joy to be able to be in such a focused environment!

Tomorrow each student becomes the teacher... embodying the skills we have shared over the last 16 hours of training. I can't wait to experience all their personalities and gifts in this new role!

Off to sleep...

In gratitude...

*pictured here is Ingrid from our class, connecting~