This year I decided to facilitate something vastly different from the sassy and theatrical class I led last year, “Hoop Sexy”. This year my course was entitled “Connecting to Spirit” and was largely influenced by the Level Three HoopGirl Workout spirit-based emphasis of moving etheric energy through movement.

While I was excited to attend, I got very sick and lost my voice a few days before leaving. I went anyways, even if I had to sit out for much of it. The mystery, though, was wondering how I would teach my class- the closing event of the retreat- with no voice. Since my focus was Spirit, I knew I would be guided…

So here I was, surrounded by about 150 hoopdancers for the weekend who all wanted to speak to me, of course. My DVDs were how many first got their start studying hooping and they wanted to chat about it, and others just wanted to just catch up and connect. Since I had only a certain number of words I could croak before my voice would completely leave each day, I had to take some serious care in choosing when and how to speak. I realized how many useless words I usually use. All the filler and excited chatter which I may rely on in social situations was completely unavailable to me. Whittling my communication down felt like a form of alchemy where I learned how to transmit essence without the need for filler.

I found that my eyes and breathe became a strong way to create connections with those who wanted to talk when I couldn’t. Drishti, which means, "point of gaze or focus", became my words. While others chatted, I just focused on taking long deep breaths and sending healing energy to my throat while deeply looking at whomever was speaking. I let my emotions open. It felt wonderful to harmonize in this way~ with gazes and breathing and only the occasional word.

When I did speak, the tonality of my voice was incredibly bassey, deep and resonant. This was a profound experience for me because it shifted the frequency of how I related with those around me. The vibration of hearing my own voice instantly grounded and centered me and slowed me down in a way which made me feel absolutely present. And something about it also effected people listening.

I ended up taking lots of naps and drinking gallons of tea. I took few workshops since my energy was low and focused on just being with people as I could. It was a wonderful opportunity for self-nurturing and learning when to just say “no” to overexertion. I spent lots of time with my close girlfriends, Candice, Jasmine and Keri and others, just visiting. By the time my workshop rolled around Sunday afternoon, I actually was able to speak continuously. But how I used my voice in class was completely influenced by the insights I gained from loosing it the two days before. It was fascinating to observe how people’s bodies responded differently to slow, careful, intermitant words spoken in a low voice. Something about it magnetized the attention of them, even though many were exhausted at the end of a long experience.

In the class I wanted to impart how I move spiritual energy through my body while hooping. Years of reflection has helped me realize that dancing with spiritual energy is just about learning how to become a receptive vessel and an effective transmitter. It isn’t “out there” and “woo woo”. It is entirely “in” the human body, in experiencing the muscles, bones, anatomy and breathe at a deeper level. So we did a number of exercise to connect to the music, build inner fire, align the spine and crown, develop agility and let go.

A fun highlight was a Cup Balancing exercise on the head inspired by a line I frequently use in my classes, “imagine that you have a teacup on your head.” Literally balancing an empty plastic cup upside-down on the head is an amazing way to build presence and poise, especially while dancing to music and doing a variety of moves. Another favorite I shared was Passing the Volleyball~ while in Snake and Barrel Roll, passing a ball around the body from hand to hand. We had to use balloons, which was actually a lot easier, but easier to manage. Watching all the students drop in to a deeper level of awareness, sweating and giving it their all with the class was amazing!

I love the feeling of community at Hoop Camp. I love seeing so many smiling faces, so many friends. I love the opportunity to try so many hoop styles and learn. I love being able to teach such a large group! So grateful for the opportunity and all the learnings which came from this year!