Burning Basket Fire Hooping

Every Autumn Equinox, Mavis Muller and friends build a huge basket on Bishop's beach... and then burn it. This year, the theme of the basket was "Surpass". My prayer to the basket was to surpass previous expectations of what is possible through love.

I brought my fire hoop along in case I felt moved to hoop with it. I haven't been hooping for a while, and certainly not with my fire hoop because of the new little addition to our family, Marina Penelope Pearl. But, as soon as the fire poi spinners started weaving their magic around the burned down basket, I had to get my hoop lit.

I felt such a rush of energy - excitement & adrenaline - that I was shaking as Ivan lit my hoop. But as soon as I got in the spin, I felt like I'd been hooping forever. People kept calling out my name, and I wished they wouldn't because it wasn't about me, I wanted to be an extenstion of the life and power of the basket and part of the ritual of it all. I felt blessed to be able to add to the light of that special night.

Voluputous Hoopin' Mama

A friend in Holland just sent me this picture, and I love it!  (Thanks Bart and Alies!) 

It's great to see this image right now because I just saw a video of me teaching a workshop at the UAA Dance Together festival last weekend in all my 7-month pregnant glory, and I realized I look rather *voluptuous* right now.  Well, this photo helps me embrace those curves as something beautiful and sexy!

North Carolina rocks!

WOW - We just spend an amazing two weeks in North Carolina at the Hoop Convergence, and beyond.  Our first night there, we were blessed to stay at Pickard's Mountain Eco-Institute, a beautiful 350 acre organic farm/ green living sanctuary run by Tim and Megan Toben.  Their little girl, Kaya, is about Spencer's age and the two kids had a great time playing together, too. 

From there, we went to the Hoop Convergence which was five days of hooping bliss!  Amazing hoopers from all over the country gathered together at the Convergence to teach classes, share information, learn from each other, and of course rock their hoops.  I was in awe of the amazing talent, and the sweet community of people that are creating and leading the hoop revival.  I feel really blessed to be a part of a movement that is more than just an exercise trend (which some people think hooping is).  For me now, it's really a lifestyle choice!   And, it's great to meet a whole culture of people to whom hooping is just as important.

Much love goes out to Jewels, Spiral, Ali Cat, and Caroleena for organizing the event, to Anah from San Fran for pioneering a whole new way for hoopers, to Revolva for her incredible hooping journaling workshop, to AlleyOop for rockin' the multiple hoops and being so brave and real, to Stephan for being so fun and for editing the footage Kevin too, to Erica from Hooperville for superfun collobarations, to Jessie for being our little transportation angel, to Bonnie for being at rockin' hoop mama and making us laugh, to Michelle for all her bounciness, to Marria and Ammon for incredible partnering ideas, to Laura and Ariana for their awesome LED hoop, and to everyone else who I can't name right now for inspiring me by rockin' the hoop with love.

Hoop Convergence

Cosmic Hoops is at the Hoop Convergence in North Carolina!!!
We're having an amazing time!

More pictures and stories soon.

Ted Stevens HOOPS!

Our longest serving Republican US Senator, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, hoops!

Well, sort of.

While getting ready for a fierce craft competition at the Anchorage Craft Mafia Smackdown last weekend, Sen. Stevens warmed up by giving the hoops a few spins.

Cosmic Hoops was there to provide him with the hoop, and some hooping instruction.

At first he was wary of trying it because of "three lower back surgeries." But when I handed Sen. Stevens the hoop his eyes lit up and he said, "Let me see that thing! I used to hoop for hours when my daughters were young!"

He grabbed the hoop, and wound up for take off like a pro, and then let the hoop fly. A little more practice and we might see him rockin' it on the senate floor, who knows!

Hoops for Peace!

This weekend was Winter Carnival, and we created a float for the parade with the theme, "Hoops for Peace." Seven or eight women from my HoopGroup showed up in bright 60's attire, and donned some extra wigs for the occasion. We quickly rehearsed our dance to "Dancing in the Streets" (the 60s mo-town version), and then headed out in the the cold, snowy day to hop aboard the float with our hoops.

The flat-bed trailer was 8x20, and a little slippery to stand on because it was covered with a thin layer of snow and ice, so we all had to find our footing before the truck pulled away and into the parade. After we got moving and were on Pioneer Ave., we found our groove, with each person strategically positioned on the trailer hooping and flashing peace signs to the entertained crowds. It was pretty cold - maybe 10 degrees F - so we really had to keep hooping to stay warm!

By the time we got to the judges stand, my hands felt almost frozen stiff! But, not too stiff to "Dance in the Streets." So we did our dance in front of the judges and then kept on moving down the street in the parade. The whole thing went by pretty quickly - much quicker than when I walked and hooped in the parade for the 4th of July. And besides being a little cold by the end, I think we all had a blast. I was proud of the ladies who showed up, some of them just brand new to hooping, to strut their stuff in the parade.

And it turns out that we won first place in the parade, too!

Congratulations, Cosmic HoopGroup - you rock!

Hoopies

A few weeks ago Hooping.org hosted the 2008 Hoopies Awards!

If you haven't had a chance to check out all the nominees and the winners, now is the time. The list is really a who's who in the hooping community.

I was honored to be nominated (if only for a few hours) as Outstanding Newbie Hooper. Sadly, I was disqualified because I had actually picked up a hoop prior to 2007. Nonetheless, I was honored to be consided among so many talented hoopers.

Have you just picked up the hoop this year? Who knows maybe next year, you could be nominated for being an Outstanding Newbie Hooper!!! Keep on Hoopin'