Virtual Hoop Classes!

Hey Hoopers! GUESS WHAT!? Thanks to the fact I live in the middle of nowhere, I'm unemployed, and I have no clientele nor a location to hold hoop classes, I thought perhaps using Skype would be a great way to work with fellow hoopers! I have many followers who request a lot of tutorials, and I intend on getting those started in the very near future on my YouTube. I'm currently open to suggestions and willing to negotiate costs for virtual classes based on what each prospective student is interested in learning. 

Though it's not an actual hoop class, I will have my own classroom at home where I can interact live with students. I think this is an important aspect because other tutorials and instructional videos do not allow room for discussion and critique. With this method, I can instruct hoopers face to face and answer questions the moment they arise. 

I plan to teach beginner--intermediate hoop fitness and flow classes. Hoop fitness is extremely important to me and I would love to share the different ways I use my heavier hoops to stretch and stay in shape. As far as flow goes, I feel that the sky is the limit. For beginners, I can start with the basics of body hooping flow and then progress into transitions and tricks. For intermediate hoopers, I plan on focusing more on transitions and tricks and perfecting techniques. 

I would love to have students who already have things they want to learn; therefore, I am offering a pay as you go series of sessions as well as single sessions. My classes will range anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. I believe this is a perfect way to interact one-on-one in social media's hooping community, and I look forward to getting some feedback. I will feature hoopers I've worked with on my blog, and I also plan to use this site as an outlet for my own development and growth as an instructor. 

If anyone has honest suggestions for price ranges, please let me know! I need your help to make this happen! I'm super excited about this idea and I hope other people are, too! Please don't hesitate to contact me! For more info or ideas, please comment here, email me at twirlingcircus@gmail.com, or leave me something on my Instagram! If anyone is interested in setting up a session or being my guinea pig, come on down!! While getting everything started and running smooth, I would like to offer FREE FIRST SESSIONS for a limited time as a sign of my appreciation for anyone helping me build my clientele. Hope to hear from some hoopers soon!! Thanks for all your love and support! I wouldn't have come this far without all of you crazy hoopers!



Best ways to contact me: 

Email: twirlingcircus@gmail.com
Instagram: @twirlingcircus
Facebook: Twirling Circus

#STOPDROPANDSPIN!.... NOW!!

Hoopers had quite an exciting week in social media! On Tuesday afternoon I received notifications from several people ordering me to '#stopdropandspin'. It was pretty self-explanatory. I stopped and dropped whatever it was that I was doing, grabbed a hoop, made and uploaded a Bassnectar video to my Instagram, then tagged 3 more hoopers with the same instructions. 

This ingenious idea spread faster than chain emails, and as long as hoopers keep posting their videos I don't see it stopping anytime soon. People (myself included) are being tagged over and over again, and I don't think they have a problem participating more than once. I mean, if someone's way of intruding on my day involves telling me to stop whatever it is I'm doing and grab a hula hoop, be my guest--and favorite person ever. The second day of #stopdropandspin, I woke up to several demands. Being that I was still in bed, I turned my video camera on and started filming this little excursion. Starting with the view of my ceiling, I moved on to my alarm clock showing it was only 8:03 a.m., grabbed a hoop, got back in bed, and spun it around my foot. In my opinion, this was a hilarious and great start to my day. 

No matter what time it is, I think it's a great addition to anyone's day. Considering most Instagram hoopers don't know each other personally, it's amazing that we are comfortable passing this chain around to random people because we know they share our passion. 

One of the greatest things about #stopdropandspin is that it is bringing new faces into the realms of social media's hula hoopers. Hashtags are the primary requisite for networking and finding people who share your interests. Hoopers who dedicate a lot of time to social media and connecting with others usually have several preferred hashtags that they will check regularly and/or more often than others. When #stopdropandspin busted loose, I noticed many people I had never seen before, and there were a lot of hoopers I see regularly that had yet to catch the buzz. When they did, familiar faces came flowing into the circle as quickly as the new. Even if people stop following directions when they #stopdropandspin, they still pass on the vibes hoopers will continue looking for. Tagging someone in a hoop video isn't necessary when it comes to inspiration. People can watch hoop videos on any link, website, or hashtag and still feel the inspiration and urge to stop what they're doing and hula hoop. However, it is pretty fun when you're really in the middle of something and you receive a notification from a stranger summoning you to hula hoop. It's kind of an addiction--but that's another story for another kind of day. So, bottom line, if you're reading this and have a hoop, I suggest that you go grab it, because you have just been ordered to #stopdropandspin!

Take Another Shot

Our lives are a series of captured moments in our minds, photographs, home movies, etc. Sometimes they are dark or out of focus, but if you take the time to edit and try again, you have an opportunity to recapture and repair those moments. If the negatives are not worth saving, discard them and start a new roll of film. Look around, find the perfect picture, and don't miss the chance to take it. 

Let Your Dreams Grow.

Social norms have a very dangerous potential when it comes to our creativity and big dreams. All over the world, people are born into different societies with their own set of rules and/or expectations. Where these countless ideals of normalcy come from, I'm not sure, but they form a vision in our minds telling us who we are supposed to be. Many people grow up finding themselves displaced and at times rejected because they don’t behave or see things the same as the rest of their peers. When children dream of growing up to become famous performers, artists, writers, athletes, etc. more often than not, people will tell them that they can’t. Why not? These dreams exist and came true for others, so why can’t they be just as real for anyone else? The way I see it, normalcy is the ideal that doesn't exist. No two people are exactly the same. Therefore, no one should live a life believing that they are wrong for being themselves and expressing ideas that the majority finds strange or unacceptable.

As difficult as it may seem, the most important thing to remember is to ignore anyone who doesn't believe in, appreciate, or understand you and your dreams. It is impossible to avoid these people, but it is up to the dreamer to keep their negativity at bay. Only you can keep your dreams alive, and we are solely responsible for killing them as well. We can’t blame other people or circumstances for holding us back. Those are the tools that we must use to build upon. No matter how small wishes and dreams may seem, they are not pointless. They form in our minds for a reason, and it is up to us to create and project them. Taking on a career like a Lawyer or an Office Executive may seem like a more reasonable route, but that doesn't mean we have to take it. You’re not wrong for being different, but it’s wrong to ignore what makes us different. Our individuality is composed of tiny seeds helping us grow into someone beautiful and unique. Ignoring your imagination and dreams is ignoring who you truly are.  

2014 Photo Challenge!

Last night I discovered this list among many others for January Photo Challenges. What a great new way to start off a new year! Simply tag #JanuaryPhotoChallenge to your photos everyday and join the photo fun! It's only day 3, so it's not too late to catch up! There are quite a few options to choose from. Find your favorite and CHALLENGE YOURSELF! Start your year with a simple and self-gratifying accomplishment! 

She Can Dance a Cajun Rhythm

@Sunshine_Dayydream . . . hooping where the wind goes.

Lauren Grady (@sunshine_dayydream) is a 22 year old Hooper and Graduate Student at Sage Graduate School in Troy, NY. Currently working on her doctorate in physical therapy, she eventually plans to specialize in pediatrics. Not only does Lauren love children, she also loves cats, hula hoops, and music festivals. During her senior year as an undergrad, she was a team leader with a group who taught the younger generation how to hula hoop in order to relieve stress and become more physically active. Aside from hooping, she spends her time reading, learning, making hemp jewelry, helping others, dancing, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Lauren's Hoop Journey started in July 2012. In preparation for the All Good Music Festival, she really started dedicating herself. For Lauren, hooping is more than a circle that spins 'round and 'round. It has become a form a physical fitness she looks forward to, meditation, confidence, and an excellent way to bond with others. In an email Lauren stated, "It makes me so happy to hand a hoop over to a newcomer and watch them light up when they can do it. I have now gotten many friends into this lovely lifestyle, and they are so grateful. I held a World Hoop Day at my college with a bunch of my friends this year and they all have gotten so good. Now that just feels amazing."

This little ray of sunshine is all about sharing her love and gift, and I simply wanted to return the favor. Look up her instagram and YouTube. It's a haven of happy hooping!!!

Hoopers of Facebook - Unite and Take Over!

Jenni D (@dreamr89)

If you haven't noticed, Hula Hooping has become one of the largest influential factors in social media's creative spectrum. YouTube and Instagram are filled with millions of videos and photos expressing and teaching the art. Surprisingly, the only network somewhat lacking in this trend is Facebook. However, Instagram's @dreamr89 (a.k.a. Jenni D) noticed the absence of unity and took it upon herself to make the change. She recently started a new Community Page called Hula Hoopers in hopes to bring even more people together. Hoopers are connecting all over the world through social networks and thanks to Jenni there is another link!

Facebook Hula Hoopers!

Check it out! Like it! Submit vids and photos!!! Spread the hooplah! Keep it goin' and flowin'!!

PLURH - PeaceLoveUnityRespect. . . HOOP!