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Ambassadors, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Hoopologie Team, Kate Ryan, Uncategorized

Increasing Flexibility for Hoopers

Increasing Flexibility for Hoopers

 

Hey Hoopers and gonna’ be Bendy Babes (boys and girls!).

Do the words “I’m not flexible” or “I’ll never be flexible” ring a bell?

They do for me.

Despite what you’ve been told, or may have been telling yourself, being flexible is accessible to any one of us that wants to be flexible. The  misconception here is if you haven’t been training since you were four, you will never make any progress now. How wrong that is!

Here’s my story. I was nineteen years old when I started training dance hoops and contortion. I had no experiencing in flexibility training or any knowledge of how my body “flowed”. I started from ground zero. What worked for me was having this realization that my body was merely made of knots. Knots that I had been ignoring for nineteen years, and each knot represented a part of my past. The more I worked on untying these knots the happier I was and the more flexible I became (in both mind and body, yoga jazz).

 

Upon the realization that I was flexible, my body became flexible.

As long as I worked towards untying those knots my body would loosen and bend into it’s new mold, that be touching my toes, going for full splits, or deep back bending. It took twelve uncomfortable months and many breakthrough moments but eventually I did touch my toes and as more time passed I saw my body accomplishing what I once thought impossible for myself.

And that will happen for you!

Hooping has changed the way I look at my health and potential. It has improved my cardio and coordination, strength and flexibility and inspired me to be in the best shape of my life.

Every milestone we pass, is another knot untied.

In this article I’ll be sharing tips and tricks on increasing flexibility to pull off some of those tricky hoop combos and yoga poses you want to perform. I wish you all the best in your bendy journey, keep practicing and keep playing – progress will happen! Let me know if you have any tips I may have missed, feel free to share them with the community in the comments section below.

1. Brainstorm and Visualize

 Seeing is believing! Think of some of the kick ass flex poses that you want to work towards and visualize yourself doing them. It will create confidence in the poses. I’ve gone as far as to dreaming my way through the trouble shooting of balance and poise. You can doodle, draw or paint the poses you hope to one day accomplish. Having a picture to look at every day will keep you inspired.

 

Create a list for yourself of what you hope to accomplish in the new year.

The first yoga poses/asanas I chose were;

– Forearm Stand (foot hooping)

– Anything with a Back-bend!

– Dancers Pose

– Shoulder Stand to Tiger Pose (footing hooping and roll over)

My shoulder stand to tiger pose (foot hooping roll over) was something I had thought of doing for years but doubted I could. One night, after visualizing myself performing the roll over I was able to troubleshoot the dynamics and perform the trick.

Share your brainstorming with us in the comments section,

 2. Join a Yoga Class

Yoga is pretty much accessible wherever you go. Search for studios in your area and check out the local teachers. Practitioners of an advanced yoga background are usually more than happy to give you pointers on your journey.

When I first moved to Australia I couldn’t afford to take yoga classes as much as I wanted to, so I signed up for a “work trade” program. The work trade programs ask for you to clean the studio and work reception tasks in trade for yoga classes. This program is available all over the world but is not often advertised. You may have to ask around and check in with multiple studios before you find the right fit. This is an alternative way you can seek mentor-ship on a budget.

Having a regular practice and studio will motivate you to make use of the tools available for yourself.

3. Accept Growing Phase

When you first start working towards a deeper practice understand that almost everything will feel weird and new to your body. It’s not about looking pretty or getting there the fastest, take your time and enjoy the plausible falls and shakes.

When working towards an advanced goal, set mini goals.

For example,

“The next time I practice I will hold for X seconds”

“Today I will try X yoga pose/ asana”

Remind yourself of how far you have come. Taking progress pictures is a great way to keep up with your training.

 

 Take time and enjoy the knots you untie.

4. Bendy Friends and hoop

 

Having someone to stretch with will bring new energy into your practice and motivate you both to make progress in your training. Set play dates with your friends, gym dates, park dates, etc. It’s a great way to avoid repetitive practice.

You can challenge your friend and set goals together, or skill share your different experiences and specialties.

Acro Yoga is a great practice for improving your balance and coordination, join a class with your new best bendy friend and have fun!

 

Bring your hoop to stretch with you.

Flowing through the poses with and without a hoop will improve your balance and coordination. Try footing hooping through a series of yoga asanas or standing balance poses while knee hooping.

Not sure where to find like minded bendy babes? If you have a circus studio join one of the drop in classes and ask around. Look into yoga classes and workshop series featuring acro yoga, hooping, etc. Join local jams and put yourself out there! Don’t be afraid to ask for support when you need it.

5. Youtube

When in doubt, turn to the internet for never ending inspiration and videos (but don’t spend to much time “training” behind your screen). There is a never ending source of flexibility training videos on Youtube targeting the muscles groups you want. The internet is also a great place to find hooping tutorials to help break down some of the advances bendy poses you are going for.

Below I’ve link some of my favorite flexibility and training videos.

Contortion Warm Up

Front Splits with Andrew McQueen (my first trainer in Australia)
Visha Lu Calgary Contortionist

Otgo Waller

Hoop Yogini, Hoop Yoga

and this girl, just for fun..

6. Stretch everywhere

Short and sweet, where ever and when ever you can, stretch! Try stretching during your every day tasks, like brushing your teeth or when you’re in the shower (don’t fall, that’d be horrible). You can stretch while you’re waiting for the bus or cooking a meal. It’s great to keep your body warmed up and those five minutes will make a difference in your practice.

That’s all for now, keep at it! Bendy Babes!

Love, Kate

Ambassadors, Hooping and life wisdom, Kate Ryan

HoopStar’s Code of Conduct Part Two

 

 

HoopStars Code of Conduct Part Two

For those of you just joining, this is part two of the HoopStar’s Code of Conduct written by Kate Ryan, Canadian Hoopologie Ambassador. Catch up with the introduction in part one here.

Hey Hoopers! Welcome back to the HoopStar’s Code of Conduct; Part Two. The HoopStar’s Code is a collection of ideologies, or the “How to Succeed without Really Trying” Chapter created from both personal and collective experiences in the industry I work in (performance art/ entertainment). It is the simplest way I could share the “quick fixes”, as to how one could succeed in finding their happy place.

It is what being a role model, and Ambassador means to me.

These are the lessons learned, ideas shared, and practices that myself, and many others have experienced in the wonderful world of HoopStars (all spinners and sinners included!).

So, lets get to it!

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HoopStar’s Code of Conduct

3. Perception & Perfection

Perception: “a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression”.

Perfection: “the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects”.

                I always wanted to be a performer. Growing up I had dreams to succeed in dance and performance art (as well as a million other dreams, a fairly imaginative kid I was). I wanted to be recognised for the work that I could create. Performing in front of the mirror; I would sing and dance pretending I was on the television. I remember singing Disney songs to my mom when I was just 8 years old. I believed I was meant to be on stage, what a cliché. I loved to make people laugh, make them smile, and inspire them to move.

 

Watching videos of dancers, gymnasts, anyone who moved… moved me. I would whisper to myself “I want to be just like them, I want to be a dancer”.

These people had found themselves entirely in their own bodies of work and I too wanted to find myself in the things I was passionate. As I aged, I grew to compare myself to others and by doing so I was unknowingly taking away from my own potential.

The more we tell ourselves “I want be someone else”, the less of ourselves we will ever be.

Based on my lack of credentials I was convinced I would never make it as a professional dancer. Realisically I would never be good enough. Despite this three years ago I started training, fully under the impression that it was far too late to have a chance at a ‘career’. My lines would never be perfect, my toes would never point and no matter how hard I trained there was always someone who made it ‘look’ easier. Criticism aside, I did enjoy dancing and it made me happy. It was only my own perception that made me feel like it wasn’t enough.

I needed to believe I was a dancer, maybe a late bloomer but capable of excelling. So I would tell myself over and over again ‘YOU are enough’. And even if i didn’t believe it sometimes, I would keep on reminding myself.

 The change of heart can be found in how we view, practice and set our intentions of moving forward. 

Even with four years experience on the high beams I still was an awkward kid. Picked last in gym class, I had no rhythm. But I believed that I was graceful. It wasn’t until my vulnerable teenage years that I allowed others to sow seeds of doubt in me.

Today I percieve myself not as perfect but as able. I am able to be the woman who I had always dreamed of, and in this I feel confident enough to move forward.

I allow myself to Shape Me.

…and as my sister’s husband admitted to me last weekend “for a Ryan girl, you’ve actually got grace”. I think it is working.

 

Perception is an essential tool in creating your happiness.

There are days when you wake up and feel as if you will never be good enough. And then there are days, moments before you step on stage where you feel more in control than ever. You feel your body as your own best friend. Those are the days where you can feel at home in your heart.

That is the perception of self.

There are days when I grow to accept I will never be Julianne Hough, and days where I happily accept being me, Kate Ryan. There are days when I feel years behind, regretful that I had dropped out of gymnastics and damaged my potential. Then there are days when I feel for a moment I do embody some elegant ballerina, who studied and practiced for years. I look in the mirror and see myself as graceful and capable.

Perfection may be defined by the book as “the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects”However freedom is not a part of perfection. It is the exact opposite. You will never be free of your flaws or defects; these are the things that make us different. We wouldn’t want to free ourselves from the little things that make us unique.

 

I will never be perfect.

I will never be free of my knobbly knees, or wobbly toes.

And I wouldn’t want to be either.

When we let go of our expectations to be ‘perfect’ we allow ourselves to authentically BE.

I see myself as both a dancer and a clown. I embrace the body in which I am feeling into every day and every day is different.

If I chose to embrace the woman who I see myself as tomorrow, today, she lives right here and now.

It is a matter of perceiving ourselves as able beings, it is the moment we stop comparing ourselves to others and embrace who we are at the very core.

The moment I began to experiment with my potential (no matter who thought otherwise) was the moment I could truly breathe. It is a matter of accepting where we are in the moment, and potentially making a huge mess of it.

Make it messy, and have all the fun!!

You are capable of living to your fullest potential, and today that is more than enough.

Ambassadors, fresh and new, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Hoopologie Team, Kate Ryan

Confessions of a Hoop-Star

The How to Succeed Without Really Trying Chapter.

Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Kate Ryan. I am a professional street performer, circus artist, corporate entertainer, festival shaker, and hoop maker, among many other quirks of the “oddball” trade. I am not much different then you. I have my hopes and dreams, and I aspire to be the best version of myself daily. Some days I fall short, some days I don’t. Some days I find myself in quite the pickle. Thankfully, there is an abundance of good-will and lucky charms in my life, as there is in yours. I am surrounded by beautiful people everyday, as are you. I listen to what the world around me is saying and try my best to be what we consider a “good person”. I have my shadows and my flaws. These are the things that make us unique. When I was 19 years old I visited my childhood dream of traveling the world. I left with a measly $800 and traveled two countries for 15 months. I had some help during my travels, in which I am forever grateful for. I studied traditional circus hoops and social circus overseas and returned home to Canada this summer to solidify my career as a Hoop-Star (like a Hoop-ster with more glitter and glitz). I am currently in the beginning stage of my North American tour, and this is my third tour funded and supported by the art in which I create.

It has been anything but easy.

This November I was named the first Canadian Ambassador of the respectable Hoop-Everything company, Hoopologie. In this moment I realized I had many unanswered questions about myself and my work. So I began asking what it really meant to be an Ambassador for this well-rounded (see what I did there!) community. I knew being named an Ambassador was more then just a title, so what was it?

“How did I get here?”

“What does it mean to represent a global network of Hoop-Stars?”

“What do I want to manifest out of this career?”

“What ideologies will I chose to represent and live by?”, and most importantly, “In what ways will I use my voice to contribute to the hoop community?”

I began to summarize a list of experiences I have lived through and set apart the good from the bad; what has worked and what has not? What have I learned that has brought me here today, and how will I pass this knowledge on?

***Sidenote; this is not only for Hoop-Stars, you can apply these lessons in any practice, any play, any way in life!

 

Below is a collection of two life lessons I experimented with during my global travels teaching and performing in the industry of circus. This is not the ONLY way to succeed in manifesting your dreams, however. Allow me to clarify- this is only a collection of ideologies that has worked for me and my work. This is a collection of guidelines I will embody to my very best. If it helps in any way then my part is done, and if not, then my part is still done. Take what you wish from these lessons and always… PLAY!

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Hoop-Stars Code of Conduct 

1. Community & Competition

Community: “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.”
Competition: “the activity or condition of competing: rivalry” 

 

 I was 6 months a hooper when I moved to Asia and performed my first ever solo piece. It was magical. I was praised for my talents and devotion to such a practice. I held my head high, and it was the first glimpse of a woman who could make something of her life. It was the first glimpse of personal potential and power. Up until this point I had lived my life with insecurities and self-destructive patterns. In this practice I was able to see myself from a different perspective, and before I knew it I  developed an ego greater than the secret love of James Franco (who am I kidding, that’s no secret). I figured that I was some kind of Hoop Goddess (and the only one there ever was), meditating and yoga-ing in this magic circle…. I put myself on my pedestal and frowned upon the so-called communities around me….

What I actually did was remove myself from like-minded individuals and artists entirely. 

This became apparent upon my travels to the land down under.

I brought with me an ego bigger the the Buddha’s belly himself.

Because I had done this, I held my head higher than ever before. I was on the other side of the world, chasing my dreams and making them my reality. I was interesting, and my ego was apparent in my work. I noticed that I had zero “flow friends”, and I struggled with admitting I had no real idea of what I was doing. To be vulnerable was to be weak, and my ego wasn’t about to let that happen.

It wasn’t until I met the humble and sophisticated (and really human) Deanne Love that I was quickly removed from this place.

If Deanne Love (of HoopLovers) would want to be my friend and supporter, who the hell was I on this lonely pedestal?

When I arrived in Australia I was greeted with open arms by best of the best in the Hoop world; my ego took a beating. It became apparent to me that this was my ego, my problem. I thought I was special- the very best their could be. I was definitely not the best, and today I don’t want to be the best. I want to be me. In meeting these inspiring individuals I realized that we ALL have a gift that deserves to be enjoyed by others.

This experience, the one in which I hoarded and ate all the cake to myself…. overly indulging in self-love…. created a not so humble, competitive version of me. I secretly spewed hate at anyone who was living and breathing the life I so desperately wanted. I ignored the magic that was my life.

I found myself constantly comparing me to them.

I initially robbed myself of learning and being inspired by these Hoop-Stars. I was intimidated by the Hoop-Stars around me- I saw them as competition.

 

Negative perception only harmed me as an individual performer and artist. Thankfully my ego was​​ eventually bruised and slightly broken. Without my ego driving in the front seat, I was able to see the hard work and devotion that each and every artist puts into their work. I began to appreciate the individual for their gifts and what we could co-create as a community together. I learned more from my community then I ever would have myself.

This will forever be a reminder and something that I am constantly working towards.
Just last month I was greeted in Canada by another like-minded artist. She had hopes and dreams very similar to my own. You would think this would make us stronger- two heads better then one. I spent a day or two feeling disrupted by this presence. To move through this feeling I had created for myself…..

I had to move forward WITH her….

I would not remove myself from her and her gifts. I would not challenge her or separate our levels of work. No, I would do the thing I was most scared of… I would include her as if she was the only friend I ever had. And shockingly I was comforted to be surrounded by such a woman. I extended my hand in support and gratitude, and received very much the same back. We were living very similar lives, had many things in common, and were able to share with each other the magic in our lives. We each learned something new and were grateful for our short time together.

If you choose to view your communities as competition you will very well live your life on a different level, your level. You will take away the thing in which you crave the most. Removing yourself from support, skill sharing, and the occasional partner butt hoop – which is one of the most bonding experiences I have ever had.
On that note, competition CAN be a healthy outlet in creative aspirations, but only when you include others in your sometimes dangerous, sometimes vulnerable, safety circle. Competition can challenge us to try new things and enlighten us to a feeling of endless possibilities.

Remember, you are the BEST version of yourself….and so is Jimmy, Timmy, and Kimmy…

We are in this together. 

Forever, Play.

 

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2. Inspiration & Limitations

Aligned with Community & Competition, we find Inspiration & Limitations….

When given the choice, choose to inspire….. 

 

There is a fine line between inspiring your peers and…. limiting them. Our ego plays a major role in differentiating these two polar opposites.

When we speak in the direction of our peers, is what we are saying a direct reflect of how we are truly feeling?

Is there an ulterior motive? 

Is “less for you, really more for me?”

 The moment you perceive yourself as “can do’s” and “can’t do’s”, the moment you compare yourself to another….is the moment you remove yourself from inspiring the world around you (and yourself).

Each and everyone of us has a gift in which we chose to share with the world. In some practices we will flourish, in others we will fall. Every one of us has our forte.

Remember this when a peer of yours surprises you in their quickly learned talents, remember that you do have a gift, the thing in which you where meant to do. Do not let another’s riches blind site you from your own. As well, do not allow your ego to rob them of their moment.

Success is Support.

I recently had a client whom asked me to not work in the ways I was working. The client was hurt that I had made the choice to move forward without their approval and support. After many heated discussion and child like arguments we both came to the simple conclusion that this… sucked.

I was left with the feeling of being stuck. And, I started with the feeling of being stuck. I had made a full circle going nowhere. Stuck in an absolute rut. I wanted to grow and move forward, I felt inspired by my own potential and future until this “more for you, is less for me” conversation was brought to light. I had experienced disappointment from one of my close peers and business partners, and they had experienced the same from me.

Here’s the thing, more for me is NOT less for you. Less for me is NOT more for you.

I believe this fall out could have been easily avoided. Had we both been a bit more, supportive…..

The reality of this, not everyone will like your work and how you manage yourself. Not everyone will agree with you. Not everyone will inspire you. Some will make you feel trapped and territorial. Having felt both sides of the spectrum here, I can openly admit that both sides…. suck.

 

I have limited my fellow performers in the ways that they work. Asking them to disregard bookings because of my own personal beliefs (i.e mainly free bookings that irk something deep within me). And yet, when I first started most of my gigs were free.

How else was I suppose to gain experience?

This is a very contradicting story I know. I have asked of them to sacrifice opportunity because I was feeling selfish and territorial. And I have been asked to sacrifice opportunity because of entitlement.

Understand that as we all breathe the same air and oxygen into our lungs, we will not use our breath in the same ways.

When you find yourself in these moments, inspire. Not matter the cost on your entitlement our ego. Inspire your community.

Ask yourself is what I am saying/ acting upon inspirational? Is this a worthy lesson I am practicing?

When we breathe and live in Inspiration we are gifted an abundance of possibilities. When we breathe and live in Limitations, there is no gift, no honor, there is nothing.

Remember the time when you were limited by yourself. Do not wish this on others.
Remember the time this practice felt impossible?

Stay humble in your journey, and you will see many similarities in your communities, you will receive the direct support you need to grow as one, and as a whole.

Remember the very first steps….

 

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Thanks for reading the HoopStars Code of Conduct for the month of December!

For easy reading I have saved the remaining bits and pieces for next month’s newsletter!

Here’s a hint to what the Code will cover!

3. Perception & Perfection
4. Force & Flow

Enjoy!

May all you dreams come true!