Yesterday I went into the studio to record the voice-over for the Hoopdance Evolution, Intermediate 1 DVD. WOW! It is an amazing process. I went into what felt like a closet with large sound absorbing panels on the walls. While listening to the DVD music in headphones and watching a screen showing each chapter, I would speak into a massive gold-plated microphone.

I think the most interesting aspect for me was recording the voice over for the warm up. Since I wasn't hooping, I stood for this portion and moved my hips around as much as possible to simulate the feeling of quickening which happens. But at the same time, it was funny because if I swung around too much, I would knock wires into the table which messed up the recording quality. Meanwhile, I really focused on keeping my body's energy flowing so I would really convey the energetics of "warming up".

It was super-entertaining to be in this tiny room, gyrating (but not too much), speaking into the mic, watching my vocal tones, looking out the corner of my eye to the video on-screen, keeping a meditative center and also telepathically transmitting good feelings through my voice to listeners/watchers.

I felt very, very clear energetically while recording. This is important to me. In all my HoopGirl teacher trainings I emphasize the importance of developing the art of vocal quality to enhance learning. Since all sound is vibration, we can use our voices as teachers to dramatically enhance learning. The frequencies of sound can soothe the nervous system or agitate it. I love exploring how I can modulate inflections, tones, and speed to deliver the information more clearly.

During the entire recording, I constantly flexed my body's energy centers, grounding when I felt my voice move up to my neck. I wanted to speak from my belly in a super solid, but also sensual way which would convey my own "signature style" of dancing, teaching and performing. To me, that style feels deeply sensual, playful, flowing and at the same time, powerful. For me, this feeling transmits my most important offerings: beauty, love and joy.

The level of presence I felt may have also been enhanced because I am on week 2 of my 21 Day Detox. My meals beforehand (for those who keep asking me for a food blog): for breakfast I had fresh made almond-milk from soaked almonds blended with agave nectar and vanilla mixed with Raw Power protein powder. For lunch I had a blended green soup of dandelion greens, spinach, tomato, spouts, 1/2 an apple, 1/2 an avocado, cayenne, a squirt of braggs aminos, and some apple cider vinegar.

I love to do a detox during big creative projects like this, when I am transmitting information to large groups of people. I feel so amazingly present. Lots of people say they are afraid to do a detox because they think they will "get crazy" or "unfocused" or "tired". I always have the opposite experience... I feel completely present, energized and full of creative insights!

The rest of the recording unfurled beautifully. In the sound bay outside my "closet", Kramer and our friend Mikeal listened to my voice at booming volumes along with the music and made instantaneous edits to little errors. Their computer screens were alight with digital file lists from each chapter of the DVD. I am continually amazed by their technological expertise... it is amazing to behold!

I feel so lucky. I am so grateful to be have the opportunity to bring my creative visions into reality. Thank you!

There is an undeniable childlike rush of enthusiasm that happens when you win a prize. I am feeling that fun zing right now. What an honor. Thank you! I so appreciate your votes for these two amazing awards from hooping.org.

There is something indescribably delicious about the body sensations I experience in a Nia class. Yesterday was no exception, as I was lucky enough to take a class with the founders, Debbie and Carlos, during their 25th Anniversary Nia tour.

Quite simply, Nia is my foundational movement practice. I've taken many forms of dance over the years -- African, Indian temple dancing, Middle Eastern, Afro-Cuban, various ecstatic and free forms... but for me, Nia stands out clearly as a way of educating the body which is simultaneously healing and also an entire philosophical approach to movement. It is my primary source of somatic education. All it's principles are universal, celebrate the divine feminine values of pleasure and ease, and can easily be translated to any other form of dance to take it to the next level...

I was reviewing an essay lately which I began with the words, "hooping is my life work." I struggled with this statement for a while, thinking about all the other important things in my life -- my spiritual life, my family, my marriage, my friends, my metaphysical projects, and strongly resisted the label. "Life work" is such a huge calling! To say that hooping is my life work implied that that was "who" I was. Again... resistance.

However, as much as I try to distance myself from my all encompassing world of hooping, it continues to inspire and renew me and fill my life with adventures and abundance like nothing else I have ever experienced. Honestly, my whole life did a 180 degree turn when I discovered hooping!

Opportunities pour into my life continually to experience joy, creativity, athleticism and connect with my higher self ... all from hooping. My personal growth has gone into hyperdrive and I've been flooded with inspirations. I've experienced rapture and transcendence. I've let go of negative emotions. I've felt connected to the All that is. In that small circle of plastic, I've gotten to take a very clear look at who I am and what my motives are and whirl into a beautiful new me...

I heard all about the auditions for America's Got Talent on hooping.org but wasn't really interested. Lately my focus has been on manifesting some major creative projects, not really on stage shows. So many people kept asking me, "did you hear that America's Got Talent is auditioning???". When the casting director called and emailed me directly, saying that I was strongly referred by an associate, I decided, "what the heck? what have I got to loose." There were just too many signs. I've learned to listen to these kinds of messages over the years.

So... everyone is now asking... what was the audition like??

I got dressed in my hotel room...