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Hooping and life wisdom

Ambassadors, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Kate Ryan

Creating a Healthy Support System: For Hoopers and Entrepreneurs

Hey Hoopers and Hoop Performers!

Having a healthy support group in your life can make all the difference in your performance, brand and business.

However, allowing yourself to feel the love (all the love) from your community, friends and family can have it’s difficulties, especially if you’re out there trying to save the world entirely on your own!

As entrepreneurs we can get SO caught up in our own work and become so driven to “be something” rather then “do something”. Surrounding yourself with real people, who share the same values as you makes all the difference on your work ethic, overall happiness AND self confidence (which is HUGE if you’re anything like me, and sometimes lock yourself away behind the computer).

Feeling underappreciated in your most personal work can take its toll; it can cause anxiety, depression and focus all the wrong efforts on a lack of self confidence.

And not talking about it… will cause a nasty riffle effect. Sometimes, we feel lonely. That’s a thing. Having a proper support system can make a world of difference, so here’s some tips, tricks and “doings” for creating a healthy support system, getting out of the house and meeting all the right people to take your hoop goals and business to the next level!

1. Find Your Tribe

Reaching out the community around you will be a powerful tool for sharing new ideas, coaching one another and building each other to be stronger men and women. Surrounding yourself with other hoopers, entrepreneurs, flow artists and dreamers will build your self confidence and help you feel like more of a “WE” then “I”. Rather then thinking “what can I do?”, consider thinking “what can WE accomplish!” After all, we are an awesome group on unique hoopers who want ALL the hoop love for EVERYONE!

If you are unable to find your tribe, consider creating your own by hosting social gatherings, connecting with artists over the internet and chatting with the people you look up to!

2. Share Mutual Goals – Collaborate

Collaborating with like minded artists can bring new life to your work, create excitement in a boring routine and is a much healthier alternative then competition in your community. That being said, competition CAN be healthy (check out Community vs. Competition here!) We all have our individual ways to accomplish our goals and create new work, so why not share that with your friends and supporters. They say two heads is better than one, how about two hoops!

Invite hoopers over for training/ play dates, here you can share new trick ideas and choreography with each other.

If you’re the kind of hooper and entrepreneur who loves to pump our online content consider inviting a friend over for a productivity powwow (Thanks Safire – who’s seated beside me as I write this), it will motivate, encourage and bring a new set of eyes to the table.

3. Do VS. Non Doing

What a POWER move this is! Have you ever heard someone say “do the thing!”, it’s the best advice I can give you.

The act of doing can bring you outside your comfort zone and connect you with new and exciting people. You can spend all the time you want thinking up new ideas, and playing around behind the scenes, but unless you share and do the thing you really want to – no one will know it exists.

Simple acts like; LEAVING the house can introduce you to new opportunities.

Hoopers often ask me “how do you do it?”, and the answer is simple, it is the act of actually physically getting up and DOING the thing, whatever and however crazy it may seem! The only difference is the doing and the non-doing. Give yourself daily tasks to work towards a bigger goal.

Examples:

Today I will share my goals with someone I trust and collect feedback.

Today I will join a hoop jam and share ideas with other hoopers and entrepreneurs.

Today I will accomplish a mini goal that will be the foundations to a larger goal (Rome wasn’t built in a day!).

4. Check Yourself – and others too

You know what’s best for yourself and your profession, so do what you feel is the best thing to do. As much as I don’t want to say it and admit this, be careful WHO you partner with. Some partnerships might not be the best for you and your brand, consider what values you have and put yourself first. It’s okay to protect your art.

When approaching or being approached by supportive roles, meditate on the relationship. Is this someone you want your brand to be associate with? Does this FEEL right? Do I connect with this person and/or group?

More often than not, relationships, sponsorship’s and partnerships can look much “shinier” than they actually are. We grow excited over potential opportunities and maybe find ourselves distract by the reality of the situation. That’s OK, it happens, to almost everyone. If you’ re able to distinguish and, if needed, defuse the situation in a positive way (i.e – before you’ve committed, contracted and established the partnership) you’ll save yourself from potential fall outs, disagreements and disappointment.

You can do this by sharing an open conversation with the parties involved, ask yourselves; What do we hope to gain from this relationship? How can we support each other? Do we share the same values?

Don’t be afraid to leave the relationship either, over time our values may change and the partnership can take a hit. If you are no longer feeling secure in the relationship it might be time to talk with the parties involved about moving in a new direction – that be separating or reevaluating the partnership. This can be a difficult conversation to have, think logically about why you may be leaving the relationship and try your best to keep the split amicable.

It will make a world of difference when you feel supported by, and support the right kind of people. When the time comes you’ll know you’ve found your perfect fit!

Love and all the best,
Kate

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Do you have any great tips and tricks that have inspired you to support yourself with a healthy support system?? Share you stories below!

In the past twelve months I have made a conscious effort to surround myself with supportive and successful people. Mostly women! It has made the world of difference. I made a change in sponsors and became an ambassador for the most amazing family-run company. I reached out to many great mentors and friends who share the same values as I regarding social circus for social injustice. These actions have assisted in my overall happiness, drive and self confidence. I am inspired by the people I surround myself with!

That’s a choice anyone of us has the power to make and will change their lives for the best!

December 2, 2016 by Hoopologie

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

Creating a Character, for Hoopers and Hoop Performers

Hey Hoopers and Hoop Performers!

Recently I’ve been asked by hoopers for advice on creating and performing a successful hoop show. I think it’s great so many of us hoopers are this enthusiastic to share our hoop love with the world. So I’ve created a list of suggestions on the topic of becoming a hoop performer.

The most valued influence on my shows is to first create a relate-able character that an audience will enjoy.

Why create a character? For one, it’s fun to play dress up and play pretend! I’ve found that creating a character to experiment with inspires creativity when building the show, it also allows me to “think outside of the box” and step outside of my comfort zone. The characters we create breath new life into our hoop flow, and personally I’ve found new confidence in myself with these characters.

Below are some of my suggestions on the topic of “Creating a Hoop Character”.

1. Find your Character

From performing your act, to selling your shows, one thing that will set you apart is the character you play. This is your chance to embody an alter persona of your own. An important tool to creating confidence in your character, is committing to them (don’t worry, there is no limit to the number of characters you may play!), you may also name your character, play dress up, and experiment with angles of your characters personality. That being said, there is nothing more confusing than a show that doesn’t know its niche. If you’re silly, BE silly. If you’re full of emotion, BE that emotion. Whatever it is, commit.

This representation is often a version of ourselves we want to share, born from a story we’ve always wanted to tell. Over time you will get to know your character and who they are as the individual parts of yourself, what makes them tick, what makes them happy. These are important foundations to being comfortable on stage. Know yourself and all the different parts of you will follow.

For example take my inspirations: Lisa Lotti – Circus and Multi Hooper, Rachel Lust – Breaks Master and Ninja Warrior, and SaFire – Teacher and Role model. These hoopers found their niches and played upon them. Find yours, and run with it!

2. Know your Crowd

Performing the right character for the right crowd can make or break your show. Take into consideration the crowds you will be performing for and ask yourself “Where is my medium ground?”

A number of my own shows have been lost in translation because I performed an ill-judged character for an audience that didn’t understand her. It surprised me that some of the most difficult tricks I know, were not the best performed for certain crowds. For example, a children’s character requires color, comedy, and a shining personality (but not the world’s most difficult hoop tricks), while a corporate booking may require more artsy skill than bubbly personality.

Last but not least, really get to know your crowd. I have two exercises I perform with, the first I pick out two or three people and continue to acknowledge them throughout the show. The second, make eye contact!

3. Play

Performers and artists alike, play is an essential learning tool in bringing new life to your work. Young children’s play allows children to explore, identify, take risks and create meaning. The very same applies to us as grown up’s, and thank goodness! Almost all of my bits and characters (bits being the fun comical banter you may hear during a show) have been discovered through “play dates” with my circus friends.

Playing creates a moment for our authentic characters to speak, on top of that it’s fun and at the end of the day your “job” as a hoop performer SHOULD be FUN!

I have a story I’d love to share. It is about a comedy character that I perform, her name is “Kate the Lifeguard”. My lifeguard character is only a year old, and she has MC’d two circus festivals, performed at numerous festivals as a roving character and inspired thousands of people to PLAY. She is the essence of “being yourself, not giving a damn, and having a good time”. I discovered her completely by accident. It was on the third day of rain at a music festival when I decided I was going to have a good time, I was done with the rain, raining on my parade, I was going to play. I threw on this costume pictured below, and picked up a floaty toy, and swam in a mud puddle for six hours.

Alas, “Kate the Lifeguard” was born. This character is so much more than a funny bit I do, she is the happiest parts of myself, she is the fun part of my job, she keeps me grounded in a world so focused on what our successes “look like”. She is muddy, dirty, and authentically me.

Be amazed by parts of yourself that you will discover through the simple act of being silly. If you aren’t sure where to start, tell silly jokes, dress up fabulously, do something entirely out of your comfort zone (grocery shopping in a princess dress?), make people laugh, and have fun with your art! Before you know it you’ll have a fun new character to share in your act!

It’s yours to create!

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Remember, none of these character you create have to be over the top! A character could simply be yourself, and that is more than enough to put on an awesome hoop show! These are only my suggestions from personal experience.

Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments section on my webpage (www.kateryan.ca). Do you have any exercises you love to use when writing a new character? Suggestions for other hoop performers?

Kate Ryan

September 2, 2016 by Hoopologie

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.

April 5, 2016 by Hoopologie

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!

December 14, 2015 by Hoopologie

Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Meditation, Meditative Hooping

New Year’s, Personal Growth, and the Beginner’s Mind

The New Year has been a pivotal and celebrated time to humankind for thousands of years. Our modern times have proven that we are no exception, and hoopers everywhere are joining the ranks of celebration and new beginnings. Often times getting lost amidst the hubbub of the “New Year, New You” mantra, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that personal growth and transformation should not only be reserved for the fast to fade excitement over transitioning from year to year. Not to say we should stifle a fun and tribal tradition in lieu of this sentiment, but it is important to remember that our personal growth path is a never-ending one.

Now, some of you might be asking- what does this have to do with hooping? The answer: everything. Every single hooper I’ve ever had an in depth conversation with has always circled back to the notion that hooping has helped them immensely with multiple facets of their life- AKA, personal growth. However, many of us, myself included, sometimes lose a bit of the excitement and love we first experienced with hooping after doing so for years. There may be periods in which we are hooping every day for hours, and some when we don’t hoop much, or at all. While there are innumerable reasons we experience this bell-curve, a huge one I’ve encountered (and almost every other hooper I observe) is getting swept up in the hooping world that lies outside of myself. When we begin focusing too much on hoop-making, viewing videos of others, taking videos for others to see, learning new techniques and tricks, etc, instead of being intimately alone dancing and flowing with our hoop just for ourselves, it becomes easy to upset the delicate balance of our relationship with our hoop.

By no means am I implying hoop-making, taking and viewing videos, and the like are negative in the slightest (in fact they are immensely beneficial!), but when we neglect our truly “alone” time with our hoop we create the potential to lose out on the profound benefits that hooping has to offer; hence the reason it is such a delicate balance. One of the greatest pieces of wisdom that I have attained with my circle thus far is that hooping is a way of practicing self-love and learning how to carry it with you into your daily life. This practice and absorption can begin to become mute if we dwell too much outside of our own intimate little world with our hoop by focusing too much on others’. In some scenarios it can even add to or create feelings of jealousy, self-judgment, lack of motivation, and the like.

All of these feelings, including many unmentioned, are a part of those innumerable reasons we might find ourselves straying away from hooping as much as we’d ideally like to, adding to the bell-curve. This evidently happens to more of us than we might think, otherwise we would not be witnessing so many hoop challenges on social networking sites motivating us to hoop for a certain length of time every day for x number of days. I personally notice even more of these pop up around the New Year because of the previously mentioned “New Year, New You” mantra that becomes so infectious. While these are all amazing motivations and fun, social ways to get us hooping more, I like to pose and ponder the question, “how can we keep this motivation, personal growth, and self-love alive and kicking every single day throughout the year?” One of the greatest answers is quite simple, really. Go back to the way hooping used to make you feel when you first started- your beginner’s mind.

While it is easier said than done for most of us, even just making the slightest effort and acknowledging that you have the ability to be back in that beginner’s mind in every moment, it will make quite a noticeable difference in your daily practice (even if it’s only for five minutes!). Enjoy hooping for exactly what it is- hooping, dance, movement, art… Enjoy the feeling of your hoop caressing you at every point of contact around your body. Enjoy the moving meditative state that your mind automatically slips into while spinning in circles. Just be aware and allow your beginner’s mind joy to shine through. And always remember- hooping is first and foremost a sacred time for your Self.

As we continually learn and re-learn how to experience the happiness and self-love that exists within each and every one of us, there are ups and downs and turnarounds along the path. Just keep in mind that us hoopers have stumbled upon an amazingly beautiful tool that has the power to help in immeasurable ways when we continue to hone our relationship with it. Pull it out of your tool-belt on days you may be feeling lost and unmotivated, even if only for a few minutes. There is absolutely no need to wait for a new year or even a new hoop challenge to start or continue climbing up the next curve. Toss out that dated New Year’s mantra and replace it with “New Day, New You”, or create something of your very own. Because we are all constantly changing and transforming, we persistently have the opportunity to be exactly what we want to be and experience exactly what we want to experience. Every moment possesses the possibility to be something beautiful.

***Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping is a general lover-of-life and hoop enthusiast. After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and two herniated discs at the age of 17, she entered the world of healing and relief. She discovered the hoop and meditation in 2010 when she was 19 and instantly fell in love, not only because they boosted her self-confidence to new highs, but also because these modalities magically healed her chronic pain. Life since then has been a whirlwind of learning and sharing self-healing techniques and manifesting the life of her dreams. Through Lucid Hooping she hopes to help others in their journeys to health and true happiness through self-healing and transformation.

January 13, 2015 by Hoopologie Team

Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow

How to Deepen Your Hoop Practice

Mallory Maki dances with the sunset – Mission Beach, CA

As a person who has hooped for over four years now, I can definitely say that I’ve experienced my fair share of searching for new ways to flow and even quite a few hooping “plateaus”- when you feel like you’ve learned all you can or have become stagnated for other reasons. Rest assured, however, that we all have limitless potential for learning, and that includes our precious little plastic circles. Perhaps thinking outside the box is all you need! In this piece I will go over a few helpful tips and new things you can try to help deepen your hoop practice or get that momentum going again if you feel you are stuck with nowhere to turn.

Hoop blind folded

Hooping blind folded might sound a bit unnerving or odd to some at first, but doing so offers many lessons. When we take away our sense of sight our other senses naturally heighten and create a different experience within the hoop. We can feel the hoop caress our bodies at every point single of contact on a much deeper level, and it also helps take away the judgment about how we think we may look.

Dance without a hoop

I personally reached a point this past year where I was ready to begin incorporating more dance like movements into my practice. While a lot of that came from messing around and trying weird dance moves with the hoop, a lot of the progress I made came from dancing freely with no prop and learning how to release my inhibitions. Even if you already dance with your hoop, try doing so without it for at least a few minutes every day. It feels amazing and invites a new twist!

Hoop with different sizes

Every time I felt stagnant with hooping I noticed that I had been using the same hoop size for a very long time. Changing your hoop size (whether going smaller or larger) may sound simple, but it transforms the dynamics of the way you move, respond, and play with your hoop, even if it’s just a tiny bit with certain moves. Doing so will open you up to a whole new world and many more years of practice.

Stretch/do yoga

Stretching or going even further by doing a physical yoga practice can open your body up to a whole new plethora of movements that can also be done with a hoop. It takes perseverance and willpower, but I’ve also found how much more easily I can move with my hoop in general after I’ve done some stretching or yoga, even if I’m not trying new moves per se. Limbering up the body works wonders.

Hoop in both directions

The first time I felt I hit a plateau a huge realization smacked me in the face- almost everything I had learned I only learned in one direction. Going back and correcting this proved to be much harder than it would have been if I had learned each move in both directions right away. Not only that, but the muscles on the left side of my body were noticeably lacking compared to the right, my right side was more lean, and my hips were not moving evenly. So while I had the chance to learn almost every move all over again and jump off my plateau in that regard, I also learned the hard way that uneven hooping could actually create disharmony in the body. Big surprise, huh? If you take one thing away from this piece- hoop in both directions for an even amount of time!

Go back to the basics

When many of us first start hooping, including me, we become so obsessed that we try to learn new moves as quickly as possible and often fall away from the basics that are waist and core hooping. Going back and working on perfecting your waist hooping allows you to work on your footwork and other small intricacies that can add a whole other level to your hoop dancing, especially from an audience’s perspective. This tip can actually be applied to any hoop move as well by going back to every trick and smoothing them out and working out technicalities.

Try new props

Trying new props such as staff, fans, poi, wand, etc… provides something completely new for you to figure out and play with. What’s even better, however, is that using new toys can help you figure out new ways of moving and new tricks that can be translated over to the hoop. Poi is an especially wonderful learning tool to utilize if you are ready to start using double hoops.

Discovering new realms of movement, new items to introduce, and going back to what we already know is often all we need to facilitate a whole new chapter of growth with our hoops. If you have any other tips that have helped you deepen your own personal practice or overcome a hoop plateau I would love to hear them in the comments below. Please don’t hesitate to share! Now go forth and explore, hoopers!

September 22, 2014 by Hoopologie Team

Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Spin Summit

5 Things The Spin Summit Helped Me Understand On An Even Deeper Level

Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping at the Spin Summit 2014 – Photo Credit: Rachel Coughlin

Ideas and concepts are constantly introduced to us and expanded upon by our surroundings and experiences throughout our lives. Whether it comes easily or not, these understandings are continually changing, evolving, and being understood on more profound levels, and sometimes even being debunked and replaced with new ones. During my time at The Spin Summit earlier this May, quite a few of these deeper understandings and changes within myself took place, of which I would like to share a few.

1. Flow is universal

While I’ve been thinking about this subject frequently since I started hooping, I was absolutely blown away by some of the flow I witnessed at The Spin Summit. It was the first time I saw upwards of five poi spun by one person. It was the first time I saw clubs being used in such unique ways through balance and other manipulation techniques aside from juggling (although the juggling was amazing itself). This wasn’t, however, the first time I witnessed seemingly impossible things happen with a prop. So why was I taken to such a new high within this personal understanding of mine? It was because I realized that flow (in other words, energy) already runs through literally everything (well, duh… wait for it), it’s just that it’s up to us to tap into it.

I have observed so many spinners disappointedly claim they don’t have any flow (a thought which should be chucked out the door as soon as possible, by the way) in a manner that indicates it is nonexistent. All energy is borrowed, which consequently means that flow isn’t something that can be created out of nothing. We simply need to tap into the abundance of flow that already exists everywhere around us. Every single person has the ability to do so in some shape or form whether it’s through prop manipulation, writing, the use of one’s mind, etc… and that is Absolutely. Freaking. Beautiful.

2. Listen to your body

A little over five years ago I was unwillingly immersed in the art of listening deeply to my body because of severe disc herniations in my lumbar spine. Although I am now pain-free a majority of the time, it is only because I continually listen to my body telling me what feels good and what doesn’t. The Spin Summit brought with it at points a little physical pain. However, I was able to deepen my ability to stop, listen, and focus on freeing myself from its grasp. It was a good reminder for me, and ALL of us, not to overwork the body and set some healthy boundaries, especially when we are immersed in a weekend-long, physically intensive series of workshops.

3. It’s okay to mess up

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but every time I see amazing performances like the ones at The Spin Summit, one of the factors that make them amazing is the ability to gracefully mess up in front of hundreds of people. This means that making mistakes in our personal practice is perfectly okay, too, and in fact, they are necessary. They help us grow, learn, and develop our techniques. We should be thanking them, really.

4. Don’t be afraid to try new things

New tricks, new dance moves, new props. Try it all! Trying new things allows us to become more well-rounded in our overall practice, and experimenting with new props can especially help us develop deeper understandings of our first love. I was finally able to get a staff at The Spin Summit, and I must say, the highs of nailing moves with it are as wonderful as they were when I first started hooping. It is also helping me understand balance on such a greater level, which is spilling over into my hooping practice.

5. Bigger is better…. for some

Hoopers have begun using smaller and smaller and smaller and, you guessed it, smaller hoops in their everyday practice. I started to follow this trend for a bit because I like trying new sizes and different widths of tubing (and I still do!), but Baxter’s workshop at The Spin Summit made me realize I feel more in-tune with my flow when I use a larger hoop and move at a slightly slower pace. I went straight back home and made myself some new 35” hoops, and I couldn’t feel better about where my practice is going. Use what size feels right for YOU, whether it is 28” or 48”, only you know what is best for the majority of your practice.

I’m so grateful for the experiences I had at The Spin Summit this year. They will undoubtedly influence me and my practice for the rest of my life, and as flow festival season kicks into high gear, I encourage each and every one of you to stay open-minded and flexible. Allow your inner child to shine through, and stay interested in subtleties. Our lives could always use a little more play and exploration.

***Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping is a general lover-of-life and hoop enthusiast. After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and two herniated discs at the age of 17, she entered the world of medicine. She discovered the hoop and meditation in 2010 when she was 19 and instantly fell in love, not only because they boosted her self-confidence to new highs, but also because these modalities magically healed her chronic pain. Life since then has been a whirlwind of learning and sharing self-healing techniques and manifesting the life of her dreams. Through Lucid Hooping she hopes to help others in their journeys to health and true happiness through self-healing and transformation.

June 3, 2014 by Hoopologie Team

fresh and new, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Meditative Hooping

Flow. What does it mean to you?

Bex Burton finds her flow in the beautiful foothills of Boulder, CO.

Flow. What does it mean to you? In the movement community it is one of the foremost concepts we contemplate and try to experience in our various practices whether it be in a physical, mental, or more ethereal sense. At the same time, however, flow can be experienced in every facet of life, not just through movement arts. As many of us have discovered through our hoop practice, unearthing flow through movement can prove to help us find it in our every day lives. And living in a constant state of flow is a blissful feeling that we all deserve and have the ability to cultivate.

When I first began hooping, I was searching for my flow in a more physical and somewhat mental capacity. As we all experience at the beginning of our newly discovered practice, making moves look and feel graceful and smooth, and learning how to transition from one move to the next in the same manner can feel rather bumpy and somewhat awkward. I for one was not used to using many of the muscles hooping requires. The more hours we spend inside the hoop, however, the more our muscles continually gain memory and allow us to begin entering a state of physical and mental flow. When I first began experiencing this state it was pure magic. I had no idea a few months prior that my body was capable of cultivating such power through movement, and it felt beyond amazing to be able to transition from one move to the next with little to no thought about how it was going to happen.

I’ve noticed a trend that as we first learn to enter the physical flow state with our props, this stage often comes with contemplation and even concern that from an outside perspective it doesn’t “look” like we are flowing. Although the ability to record ourselves virtually and watch our own hooping can provide various lessons and benefits, it can also cultivate (in my opinion) unnecessary concerns. I’ve seen numerous comments from many different hoopers on their own videos questioning whether they were actually flowing. They claim they felt it at the time, but upon watching their movement, they begin wondering if they truly were flowing. I feel it is always important to note and keep in mind that physical flow is something that comes with practice, and while viewing our videos can help us tweak certain aspects of our movements to make them look better, there is no need to get sad, disconcerted, or down about how you think you look. Respect the process of practice and know that if you felt the flow, it most definitely happened. The feeling is what matters most, not the aesthetics.

As we delve further into our practice we have the ability to experience a more ethereal flow state on top of doing so physically and mentally. We all have different ideas and definitions of what this state entails, but for me personally, it allows me to connect the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the Self to experience an incredible state of complete awareness connected to Spirit. I like to think of it as a meditative state in which I can live in the present moment on a beautiful and powerful level.

Going even further, immersing ourselves in flow through movement can help us enter the same flow state in our everyday lives from eating, working, and playing to having relationships, communicating, and practicing other art forms. When we completely surrender to the way things are the energy we give and receive in return allow us to experience and recognize the multitude of beautiful synchronicities that are present in every day.

Because we all have different definitions of the term flow in general, I was curious to know how others define their experiences with it. I asked openly for responses to my question, “What is flow to you?”, and received so much heart and openness in return. Here are just a few responses:

“For me personally, immersing myself in the heady study of Flow has had a startling ripple effect. I realized that I was not practicing what I was attempting to preach. So this past January, I quit my day job to pursue my artistic passion in fiber arts, wearable arts, and costume design full time. In addition to practicing my flow with my hoop and fans, I can now say that I am trying to Live in Flow.” – Ann-Marie Phalen-Hartman

“Flow is clarity. The understanding of our universe, finally finding how everything is connected, and how you move with the rest of the energy in the world.” – Destiny McPherson

“Flow is when the outer world falls away and all I know is myself connected to my soul.” – Shannon Loucks

And there you have it. I’m consistently amazed and inspired by the beauty and depth that is ever present in our community. I am always seeking more stories and thoughts about flow, how it has changed you, how it has added to your life, how it has healed you, etc… Please feel free to share in the comments below if you feel called to do so. I would love to hear from you!

***Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping is a general lover-of-life and hoop enthusiast. After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and two herniated discs at the age of 17, she entered the world of medicine. She discovered the hoop and meditation in 2010 when she was 19 and instantly fell in love, not only because they boosted her self-confidence to new highs, but also because these modalities magically healed her chronic pain. Life since then has been a whirlwind of learning and sharing self-healing techniques and manifesting the life of her dreams. Through Lucid Hooping she hopes to help others in their journeys to health and true happiness through self-healing and transformation.

April 14, 2014 by Hoopologie

fresh and new, Hooping and life wisdom, Hoopologie Team

Grace Inside and Outside the Hoop

As the 2014 Winter Olympics come to a conclusion we all have the unique opportunity to witness athletes at the top of their game who have spent years honing their craft. These athletes inspire us with their amazing skill, elegance, grace, mental toughness, and ability to be fierce competitors. However, the most impressive are always those who are amazing in their daily life as well as their chosen sport.

Just as every sport/hobby does eventually, hooping has evolved by leaps and bounds, especially in the last decade. As more and more people excitedly pick up the hoop for the first time we witness the learning curve dramatically alter; so much so that the nature and style of hooping is even transforming. Hoopers are now gravitating towards certain types of hoops, tricks, styles, and/or groups. While some can more easily progress in amazingly short periods of time, for others the learning curve is much steeper- which is perfectly okay! Everyone experiences movement through different physical bodies and perceptive lenses, which inherently means we will all learn at different rates and in different manners. There will be those of us who don’t “get it” right away because we are not used to the type of movement hooping requires, or perhaps we are not used to feeling so free inside our bodies just yet. We could be wondering why everyone else is finding his or her flow, still waiting for that glorious day to finally feel it. Weeks go by, sometimes months, sometimes longer!

For those of us who find hooping comes easily, we may get excited at how quickly we progress, but eventually find ourselves feeling stuck in a rut or hitting a plateau. In the midst of mastering so much we may still crave to be more graceful, incorporate more dance, make tricks look smoother, or just be “better” in general. Sometimes we get discouraged and frustrated, and slowly but surely, hooping becomes less exciting than it once was; it becomes a chore. Contemplation of quitting or taking a break may even come into play, which is why the comparison game can absolutely take all the fun out of hooping.

Our experience can turn from a state of bliss into a battle of association. Instead of knowing what our real gifts and talents are, we might end up spending more time figuring out everyone else’s. Our world can become so high pressure and full of comparison that we barely have room to breathe outside of the hoop, so why would we want to bring that into one of our most sacred spaces? When we begin comparing ourselves to others it’s as if we are floating on a cloud, disconnected from our true selves. If we slip into this zone we have no idea who we are, what we want, what our dreams are, or what is even real to our true selves. But without some element of healthy competition, where would we find the motivation to improve? Would we really practice an extra half hour every day, stretch more, or try a trick just one more time? The truth is, we can channel this seemingly competitive vibe into one that serves us and helps us grow.

Living in a constant state of comparison can be incredibly exhausting. Instead, try practicing feeling your own heart inside the hoop. Hoop at home alone with YOUR music in YOUR style. Take it back to the basics. Hoop slower, hoop faster, hoop with different hoopers, hoop with a heavy hoop, hoop with your first hoop, hoop outside, and hoop on a mountaintop! Recognize when your mind begins playing those comparison thoughts like a broken record player in your head. Don’t listen to them! Take heart in your present experience. Look at your environment around you and find something beautiful to look at while noticing the details of this present moment. Intentionally find some commonality between you and that other person you seem to be comparing yourself to, for they are simply a soul who has found joy inside the hoop just like you. By learning to appreciate the experiences and teachings you’ve gained from other hoopers in a more objective manner, it becomes easier release comparisons and go your own way, which can ultimately help you with similar situations in every day life.

If you have honed the art of hooping, how do you go about sharing and spreading the love while staying true to yourself? People will naturally gravitate towards you when you are passionate about something and have simultaneously found a wonderful way to compliment living life in the moment. They will remember you more for who you are “outside the hoop” rather than “inside the hoop”. So share with us! How have you learned, or how are you in the process of learning to stay true to yourself within and without the hoop?

YOU are awesome! Thanks for reading!

Co-collaboration for this piece by Melinda Rider of Hoopologie and Amber Lane of Lucid hooping. ***Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping is a general lover-of-life and hoop enthusiast. After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and two herniated discs at the age of 17, she entered the world of medicine. She discovered the hoop and meditation in 2010 when she was 19 and instantly fell in love, not only because they boosted her self-confidence to new highs, but also because these modalities magically healed her chronic pain. Life since then has been a whirlwind of learning and sharing self-healing techniques and manifesting the life of her dreams. Through Lucid Hooping she hopes to help others in their journeys to health and true happiness through self-healing and transformation.

March 5, 2014 by Hoopologie

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