I decided to come up and spend some quality time with close friends in Bend and Portland for the Hoop Path workshops. I guess you can say I'm a junkie! Studying with Baxter and Ann last year really changed the course of my development as a hooper and teacher... development, which at that time was somewhat plateauing. They opened my eyes to practicing hooping as a LIFE PRACTICE. Before I was a "lifetime" hooper, loving it, doing it all the time, having fun, empowering myself and others. But afterwards, it was like I had the eyes of an old Chinese woman, looking deeply into the matrix of my body while hooping on a much more regular schedule... striving for every day if not several times per week -- alone-- doing it wether I wanted to or not. Pushing through resistance and just doing it the same way one would approach daily yoga, for the immediate gratification, but more so for the long haul of cellular transformation. I am so grateful...

I wrote this blog on my computer in the airport right after my last workshop with Baxter Saturday evening....

For whatever reason, I had a strong feeling that Baxter was leading me on a scuba diving expedition into the liquids of my body which connect the more etheric fibers of my being to a larger intergalactic whole-ness... Part preacher, part channel, part goddess worshipping mythologist, Baxter is a blast...

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...

An epic "Yea! It feels good..." This is the way my journey unfolded. Days alternated between solo sunset hoop jacks, meditation, lazy conversations with Ann and Baxter, wanderings to center camp to hoop, daily hoop jams with Rich and Lauren and Grant and Jasmine at Hoop Heaven Camp and sunset hoopdowns at the Deep End with cats like Kit, Goeff, Khan, Molly, Kay, Heather, Kyle, Lilly, Shakti, Hoopnoxious, Kelly, and many, many more. An occassional glimpse of Kramer, but also a surrendering to our different tribal affiliations...

Last night's celebration of the release of Hooping was a precious, heartwarming, a rockin fun good time with the super tight hoop community of San Francisco! Ariane and I arrived at the Make-Out Room before the event started and prepped the space, books, hoops and our outfits. We toasted a glass of pink champagne with Annie, who had also come early to set up for some Annieland vending she was doing. Even before anyone arrived, there were surging feelings. Joyfulness at our accomplishment of the book done and selling at bookstores. Relaxation that this project was finally done! Excitement about the evening and who would come play. Contentment with how the morning's interview had gone. Anticipation of the coming 15 city tour! Amazement at how things have grown and evolved over time. Gratitude for everyone who contributed their thoughts and pictures to the book... surges and surges of astonishment...

I only attended one day of the Harbin Jam since I wanted to heal my cold a bit between this event and Hoop Camp, but I am so glad I went! This event is organized by Merlin of Psi-Hoops and Nyali of Hoop Nectar, both based in San Diego. It was wonderful just to attend for an evening and have no responsibilities other than having fun... read on!