http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/ en-us Copyright 2008 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:38:36 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 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. I LOVE burning man. For me, it is a space which asks nothing from me... no appointments, no emails, no deadlines, no gigs. It is all instinct, gut desire, primal dance and hooping from the soul. Having a husband who is a complete rock star as well allowed me to let go and just surrender to cheering on his artistic brilliance in an unbridled and joyous way during his moments of glory, with sandstorms blazing and thousands of dancers going crazy. It was quite simply, insanely epic and sublime. I went in the best way one can go... zero expectations, lots of clothing options and a ridiculous amount of supplies to meet every possible whimsical need, all the while housed in a secure and climate controlled RV. Ah, life is sweet. What I loved most was how much I had TIME to immerse myself back into many hours of daily practice. For me, I woke up to my legs. It was a whole new world of leg-based hoopdance. I fell into repititions of fascinating new moves, over and over again, releasing the need to be the "performer" and letting my OCD side serve my gaining of mastery. One long practice session, day after day. Leg hoop work is so grounding, so basic, so foundational. It is like growing roots into the earth and plugging into a motherlode of energy. And that I did, hoop on my legs, while dancing, for minutes, hours and days upon days. I just love the juicey bounce of house music and how it drives my groove. The moments of the greatest joy were always driven by house. I am so grateful! A wonderful healing... a mysterious cry ... much sleep and lots of honoring my own rhythms. One note... It was a rude awakening to see how the technicolor glam goddess disco vibe has receded at the Burn.. I still feel the twinkle and shine in my heart and sometimes I got a bit self conscious while people walked by in sneakers, tank tops and shorts ... interesting how these extremes become mainstream and the watering down happens... meanwhile a fashion trend towards pricey madmax and vaudeville has made anything "rave" almost cliche... ah, the tragedy of it all. I love my glam. I'll wear it forever... There are so many things I could write about.. perhaps most fascinating is how far out I went into the dirt and beats and how quickly I have now snapped back into the grind of work, computer and appointments. I wish I had longer to acclimate... but alas, and JEEPERS, this is the life I have chosen. I love my Hoop Heaven crew! Here's to you all and I wish we all had more time to hang... I give thanks to the brilliant power which watches over me and all beings, bringing about our highest evolution and wisdom at all times. Thank you for the phenomenal gift of dance, of sweet soulful blessed sounds of HOUSE music, the groovy shimmy in my shoulders and head pumping, hand waving delight that sings in my soul... life is a gift.]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/09/burning_man_hoop_experience.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/09/burning_man_hoop_experience.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:38:36 -0800 Tonight I trained the HoopGirl Allstars in partner hooping (where two people dance at the same time in one hoop). Partner hooping is an amazing art form which is under-discussed in the public realms. Honestly I have stayed away from it for several years after finding that it "complicated" things too much. After a long hiatus, I finally felt the urge to step up and mentor the girls in it tonight. It was a blast! However, we didn't really get the opportunity to talk afterwards and we are now off going our separate ways for a few weeks. I suggested each member blog about their experience just to keep our communication going. To lead the way, here are my reflections. If I could sum up my experience teaching partner hooping in one word, it would be SENSITIVE. I basically had all my sensors on high so I could respond in a moment to each attendee. In teaching this art, I find that there are not only physical skills to impart, but also energetic entanglements, emotions, physical reactions, thoughts and theatrical skills which all need to be addressed. I found I had to be much more present than when teaching regular hooping because there was a much higher potential for the unknown to be experienced by each hooper. Teaching partner hooping playshop was EMPOWERING for me. Because I haven't taught it in so long, I was unsure if I could really impart the key components effectively. Honestly, I never fully taught this alone when I partner hooped... and so it was especially fascinating for me to teach a partner hooping course without an actual partner! I just kept pulling the girls up as live models to demonstrate and learn with me at the same time and it actually worked out great. I felt very confident and courageous and just followed teaching compass. The exercises in the beginning were a fun warm up for the girls. They did some closed eye exercises where they each played with a lot of energetics around the partner hooping experience, tapping into certain archetypes and embodying certain theatrical elements. It was really fascinating to notice which women felt more uninhibited with which each exercise... I let their bodies tell me what to say next. While at first I led them on a sightless guided journey, I found that putting on some really good music really helped everyone let go and get into it. When I first pulled Annie in as my first live model, I had some mixed feelings. I mean, Annie had been my office manager for 2+ years, so we already had a power dynamic from that work environment which is only now easing into a casual friendship... so pulling all of that into a partner hoop with the two of us was a bit intimidating for me. I noticed that I put up a bit of a wall to keep my emotions engaged so I could still teach the seminar while demonstrating with her. I deepened my breathing and focused on speaking about the anatomy of how we were pressing our bodies together. Of course getting close to her physically instantly effected my body. I got warmer, a bit self conscious, and was kind of enjoying it as well, all at once. All of a sudden I also remembered the onions I ate for lunch and then reminded the group that perhaps mouth wash prior to partner hooping could be a wise choice. ;) I noticed that as I demonstrated with different women, there was a different energetic created between us. While hooping with some I felt more of a slightly sexual charge than others. I just kind of breathed the energy up into my heart and felt it all easily manageable in that way. I am pretty straight, although I definatley respond to female beauty and physical sensation and proximity! But I do have to say, in general, being on hormonal management medication for my endometriosis has in general reduced my sex drive...while it was exhilerating to be close and tight physically, I didn't really didn't feel the same intense charge as when I did this several years ago. Lucky me? Well, it certainly made me more able to be an objective facilitator... but perhaps some of those crazy feelings are part of the magic of partner hooping that really can make you feel so breathlessly alive... To me, this is the fascinating uncharted territory of partner hooping... how it instantly energizes the whole body, mind and spirit. Perhaps it is something about bringing so many energy centers right up against each other... the hips and heart specifically... and also there is something about the reality of it -- two women pressed up against eachother, girl-on-girl, breathing deeply, pulsating together, joined in a way which is primally mesmerizing. As a trainer, I noticed I experienced an edge when one Allstar kept dropping the hoop again and again. I wanted to create a careful balance of providing guidance and also space for her to figure it out based on her body's own experience. It was actually just like the extreme sensitivity present in a first time hoop class... I allowed her to feel it out, try it with different partners and experience different hoops in addition to taking her into the hoop with me as well. I was easily able to help her experience success by taking on the "dominant" position as the leader and moving her body with my hands in ways that kept her body close to me and the hoop spinning. I hoped that this experience would help entrain her to experience what I call, "the sensation of success". Step by step, she got it. When she finally got it again after focusing on her contact points with another partner, I felt elated and got the whole group cheering! I wasn't expecting the whole experience to be so fun. Honestly, I haven't wanted to face dealing with all the complications that arose when I last did partner hooping and as a result I basically walked away from it so long ago. I wasn't able to give voice to these things as easily back then. But being able to step up to the plate tonight as a mentor was incredibly energizing and healing for me. I realize now that if I had only had better communication skills as I learned and started experiencing challenges in my hooping partnership years ago, I may have been able to prevent just walking away. What surprised me most about this experience was how much information naturally flowed through me about channeling the sensual energy inherent in partner hooping and flowing that in a mystical celebration of the divine feminine within us all. Transforming what some could view as a "blatent pelvic thrusting or just super hot and sexy" into a spiritual practice of personal transformation. This art form clearly brings up issues of control, body image, sensuality, boundaries, and power. Facing these complex issues and each person's response to them head on has an incredibly therapeutic potential. Basically facing fear when it arises and owning it so it can be released. So many invitations to communicate clearly, speak truthfully and explore how to work as a true symbiotic team. Literally experiencing a state of "one-mind" ... an almost telepathic connection. Partner hooping as a path to sacred transformation was implied in my past experience, but I never really thought or spoke of it so articulately then. Honestly, I think it's potential for me was unfufilled back then. Tonight, an amazing amount of information just downloaded out of me about all of this and it was amazing to watch the girls instantly embody it. Even more has arrived since teaching tonight, involving metaphors of Twin Flames and more specific guidance about use of the heart to lift the energy, even though the hips are the powerhouse, etc. Looking forward to sharing more soon... I'm so grateful for tonight's experience. I've been inspired to set up a Playshop training for the public in the fall! Stay tuned. Meanwhile... I hope this sharing will encourage the rest of the HoopGirl Allstars to authentically share as well. ]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/hoopgirl_allstar_partner_hoopi.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/hoopgirl_allstar_partner_hoopi.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:04:27 -0800 Tune in and catch me on "Live with Regis and Kelly" this thursday morning, August 7th! I'll be on the show on my way back in from England. I'm so excited! The producers have been really fantastic to work with and are so genuinely interested in the HoopGirl Workout!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/hoopgirl_on_live_with_regis_an.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/hoopgirl_on_live_with_regis_an.html Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:39:12 -0800 A new day... Level 2 of the HoopGirl training here in England and a new exploration of the connection between body-mind and emotion. We have four new students who have joined some of those from the last group to make 14 total... Diana from London who is an expert fitness instructor... Jessica, a spritely, beautiful dancer... Sharna, a phenomenal leading hoopdance pioneer showing the way for all of the UK and Karin from the Netherlands who is an experienced teacher and circus artist. While we did loose the vitality and expert insights of some of our previous students, I have to say, every single one of our new additions has been an prolific contributor to our conversations and a radiant talent in the room to share skills. Considering the bus never showed up to pick Candice and I up in the morning, our phone went dead and the printer broke, I think today was a miraculous unfolding of perfection. Everything proceeded to occur magically -- easy, fun, and in total flow. Lots of master classes, active conversations, spirited exercises and more... it is such a pleasure to be here, sharing this material. Thank you! *Pictured here is Juanita breaking through ]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/more_refelctions_from_the_trai.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/more_refelctions_from_the_trai.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:26:29 -0800 Is it actually possible to overdose on gratitude? If so, I'm there! I spent three days surrounded by amazing women (and one man) stepping into their absolute magnificence. It is a beautiful and precious gift to be able to live the life that I do. So onwards about the brillance I got to play with... a few words about each attendee... Rose: Articulate, blossoming confidence, handled difficult situations with ease and woke up to her own inner dialog... Sue: The new UK identi-tape representative, here for personal development and realizations, brilliant business savvy Emma B.:Hooping only 3 months but with an enchanting smile and fairy blood, she held the space with presence Ingrid: Numerologist/Law of Attraction Specialist/EFT/Consciousness pioneer, her class was creative and soulful Michelle: a dynamite facilitator with a great sense of humor and creative imagery that made up jump like monkeys Audrey: Amazing attention to detail, specific direction, a contagious smile, an incredible workout leader Anna: Concise languaging (from her Polish roots!) a solid presence and a warm smile Rebecca: Sensually inspired teaching with body-positive languaging Gemma: Joy being sharing her inner bright light with confidence leadership and exciting and accessible teaching Tamara: Our youngest US woman to graduate! At 14, she exuded positivity and clarity beyond her years John: Our amazing hoopguy assistant! Can you say excitement and energy??? Enough said. Susan: Sensitive, outgoing, a beautiful smile, dynamism galore and from Wales Gail: Multi-talented in medical and spiral arts, uber hooper enthusiastic, a warm and authentic teacher Emma M.: Gorgeous eyes, experienced teacher, super confident and a wonderful laugh Tola: Radiated the love of being alive. Held the space with calm but tangible joy and experience Camelia: Bellydance background,shared brand new exercises and an ultra soothing wrap up to her class Ruth: A soft and nurturing presence and amazing responsiveness as a teacher Jodie: Mama hen energy! Extremely organized, articulate and even expert facilitation skills. Juanita: Beautiful Columbian hooper, creative, expressive and overflowing with enthusiasm. Kim: Claiming her voice, transforming, blossoming, owning her power in a big way! Laura: Powerful, passionate, a joy transmitter. Fitness trainer, kickboxer and x-bodyguard. Ultra goddess! (Pictured in this blog) I can't believe it is already over~ I also *appreciate* the organic co-teaching relationship I have with Candice. While we are here, we are constantly learning from eachother and how we each model different attributes and potentials. Meanwhile, our students are learning from watching our symbiotic dynamic about what is possible in collaborative partnership and friendship. It is pretty darn neat. A big cosmic thank you to all the forces and people who allowed this convergence learning and fun to happen! Thank you! Onwards to a blessed day off... phew .. much needed.. then on again to three more days of training with the Level Two group. It's midnight. :) y-e-s!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/day_three_of_the_uk_level_1_hg.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/08/day_three_of_the_uk_level_1_hg.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:06:16 -0800 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~]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/day_two_of_the_level_1_hoopgir.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/day_two_of_the_level_1_hoopgir.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:11:18 -0800 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!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/thank_you_for_the_best_of_the.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/thank_you_for_the_best_of_the.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:59:48 -0800 ]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/fresh_hoop_tunes_from_hoopgirl.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/fresh_hoop_tunes_from_hoopgirl.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:18:38 -0800 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... Bussed back to town, set up the training space, bussed back to the new inn and connected to the world online. I had a flurry of deadlines which had to be met, so I sent emails madly, arranged a BBC story for our training, and made a dozen calls to the US to book a show appearance on my way back into the US. Had to juggle producers... apparently the US tv two shows which wanted to book me were "main competitors" so I had to listen to my heart and take a chance and go with the one which felt right (knowing that the second may now decline to have me on). Keeping fingers crossed... Changed flight for $568 and rolled the dice. So now when I fly back in from the UK and teaching two trainings, I'll get scooped up by a car and taken to NYC for a live show, then fly out to SF and my husband Kramer will pick me up, we will drop bags off at home, then zip to the Best of the Bay Award ceremony to claim the "Best Personal Trainer" award for the third consecutive year on behalf of HoopGirl, Inc. WOW! And all of this getting lined up before the training even started. Phew! So today we woke up early, bussed back to town to set up some more for the training. The group was AMAZING. I am continually astounded by the caliber of people that I get to meet while teaching hoopdance teachers! It is such a wonderful blessing. With attendees with roots in Italy, Wales, all over England and Columbia...I want to tell you about each and every one of the 21 participants, but will wait until tomorrow as I'm bushed and need to sleep and am a bit jetlagged. But at least, I need to document that: a) I am so grateful for John for his wonderful support in helping us arrange this b) I am so grateful to Candice for sharing her genius with me on all levels and co-teaching with me... wow! having a partner to teach with is so empowering c) I am so blessed to be surrounded by these amazing future HoopGirl certified teachers! Being in an environment such as this is one of the most enlivening, refreshing and inspiring things I could ask for as a hooper. To have all these people re-arrange their lives, invest their money and time and energy into this training is a great honor and it feels amazing to hold space and just pour out all I know. Signing off for now! Gotta take some melatonin and convince my body it is time to sleep 8 hours. xoxo pictured here is our original picturesque inn, The Longshoot]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/hello_from_hoopgirl_teacher_tr.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/hello_from_hoopgirl_teacher_tr.html Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:03:49 -0800 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. One started with silent prayers in his hoop before beginning, eyes closed in connection, hands clasped in a steeple. Another ripped off his pants to launch off in his customary underwear-only garb. Another pushed her hoop around, watching closely to notice the angles and rotational speed. Watching. Watching. Watching. And away we went. Sweating, breaks, jumping, launching, combining, teaching eachother, laughing. I played with adding the dance moves I have been studying with some martial arts style movements and the hooping and felt airborne. Faster, quicker, more responsive. It was a sweet challenge to play with the energy of acceleration and control at the same time and just hum along with the zip. Honestly, I haven't had this much fun hooping in a long time. These are sweet moments. Hard to repeat moments. There are no expectations to live up to. Just the galloping movements of devoted hoopers all around. It was the total passionate presence of everyone in the room to bust it! It is a feeling of being met in a wonderful way, even though our eyes rarely did. Pressure cooking our bodies to build new synaptic pathways, new cosmic connections, and yes, new callouses. Thank you!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/secret_hoop_jam.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/secret_hoop_jam.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:46:38 -0800 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!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/the_dvd_back_on_stage_and_feel.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/the_dvd_back_on_stage_and_feel.html Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:07:32 -0800 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!!!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/getting_ready_for_the_big_shoo.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/getting_ready_for_the_big_shoo.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:09:14 -0800 After 2 years of amazing help, our dear Annie is moving on to focus on performance, teaching and costume-making full time! This means that HoopGirl urgently needs an amazing new office manager/executive assistant to work monday, wednesday and friday from 9-5. We seek someone who wants to grow with our company over the next few years. We seek an organization guru! Your have significant administrative and sales experience, outstanding communication skills and a passion for detail. Mac, multi-tasking and people skilz a must. Must be able to self-manage and work well independently. You love creating newer, better ways to be more efficient and always complete tasks on time! Love of hooping a plus! You are positive and upbeat. Pay starts at $13.50 per hour and goes up to $15 per hour after a one month performance review. Unlimited free hoop classes on a space available basis. Must have car and phone. Office is in San Francisco in Bayshore. If interested, email info-AT-hoopgirl.com for a full job description, after which, if you feel you are a match, we will immediately set up an interview. Interviews July 18 and 21st. The perfect candidate will start training July 23 or 24th. Yes, you can take off for Burning Man. We are so excited for the perfect new person to come onboard!!!! ]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/hoopgirl_hiring_a_new_office_m_1.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/hoopgirl_hiring_a_new_office_m_1.html Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:11:53 -0800 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]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/hoopgirl_on_daytime_morning_sh.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/07/hoopgirl_on_daytime_morning_sh.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:34:59 -0800 WOW! I arrived with no expectations and I was completely blown away by the place, the people and the experience. First of all, the weather was warm and mysterious compared to San Francisco... warm in the high 80s and 90s and muggy -- which I loved! I spend the first day after the media appearance on the beach with Abby and Taylor, munching on grilled shrimp and salad, then swimming in clear blue waves as warm as bathwater... then soaking in the sunbeams. Ahhh! What a sweet way to begin a training. The location we used was fantastic and expansive... the women and gentleman in the training were are bubbling with excitement and exceptional in their skills and commitment to hoopdance. I felt so honored to share the material with them all. Abby was my hostess with the mostess! I felt so welcomed and taken care of by her, and she is intending to take the HoopGirl Workout all over the Tampa area through her company hoolamonsters.com! Always smiling, always zipping on the dancefloor full force with her hoop. She is a powerful dancer and a warm teacher. I know she will be wildly successful! Thank you Abby! Jodi was my assistant. An amazingly efficient and organized woman with flaming red hair and crystal clear teaching abilities. Jodi anticipated every need and then some, and she helped hold the space in such a nurturing way. Again, thank you! Gina. (Sigh! Smile...) What can I say? It is always an honor to meet someone who feels it is such an honor to meet me! I am so humbled and blown away by your WonderWhirl hoops and all the loving devotion you share through your craft. Gina makes takes many hours to make each hoop and does the most intricate design work I have ever seen. She also adds gemstones and even does hoops which correspond to your Astrological chart reading. Amazing! Morgan! Morgan had a very grounding and comforting presence as a teacher and she was very specific with her teaching instructions. She is heading to Reno, Nevada and will be starting classes there in a few months. I am so excited to talk with you more and learn more about all your work... Leandra! The first thing that comes to mind is smiling, smiling, smiling! You were brimming with excitement and questions about building your business and I know you will do it with grace and success. Keep promoting yourself passionately! Danielle... your tribal goddess presence was a super delight to have in our group and I am truely touched that you came knowing nothing about me or my work. Wow! Your teaching just got more and more brilliant as the weekend progressed and I can't wait to hear more about how your classes take over Boca Raton! Michael!!! Yahoo! Our first US based male licensed HoopGirl Workout instructor! I loved how secure you were in who you are and how open and receptive you were to learning more and refining the art of your dance. You have openhearted inquisitiveness which is so rare today and I know you will rock the house at the gym when you teach your new classes. Thank you so much for stepping into our circle and holding space in such a powerful way. Christine. Demonstrating what is possible with positive languaging! It was fantastic to watch the evolution of your guiding words and see you smiling more and more. Your courage to attend after having recently broken your leg was so inspiring. We support your healing! Cassandra. Schoolteacher, poet, hooper. Wow! I LOVED how comfortable you were holding space as a teacher. You made us all feel so supported and your words were lovely to behold. Jessica... The grace and elegance and stamina of a very experienced hooper was so wonderful... it was hypnotizing to watch you whirl in your mystical ways and your teaching was spot on! I would love to take your class. I love the how the HoopGirl family has been growing so exponentially... so full of talented teacher-artists who are so committed to facilitating transformation through the hoop. Our graduation ceremony jam took place on the beach at Treasure Island at the drum circle. Abby was bubbling with excitement on the way there, saying that there would be SO many hoopers there on the special occassion. And there were! As we walked over the boardwalk to the white sands and blazing sun with the blue waters in the distance, there were hoops galore! And dozens of drummed synchronized with fantastic pulsating music which was rich and inspiring. Unlike the rag-tag music in Santa Barbara, these drummers seemed much more serious. Many were chocolate skinned and with a strong energy of focus on the music and intentionally creating crests and peaks. Lots of bellydancers, lots of dancers, revelers, poi spinners. It was fantastic! I felt something deep within which I had held inside during the training start to shake loose. Having to hold space as a teacher, my thoughts and body were focused on facilitating for others for the whole weekend. But once we got there I could just totally let go. And I did! I had an epic moment of complete connection to the drums ... and a realization that I was exactly where I was supposed to be in my life. As I hooped, I really got that I am doing the perfect thing in my life right now by holding space as I am in trainings. The fact that the perfect students show up so interested and open and excited to learn, and that I am able to articulate so any nuances about teaching and business building is just too much of a synchronicity. I love my life! I love that I get paid to share this work, which feels like so much fun to me. It is work, but it is my passion and I feel so blessed! Thank you!]]> http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/06/congratulations_tampa_hoopgirl.html http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/2008/06/congratulations_tampa_hoopgirl.html Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:47:00 -0800