An Overdue Update

Hello folks,

How are you? I hope that you all are finding yourself in good spirits now that the end of summer is official and we travel into fall.

I wanted to address the slow down, and all-out stop, of posts here lately - though, it may be more for myself. As an avid blog reader and tumblr addict, I feel confused when a fave goes AWOL so I wouldn't want to repeat those patterns.

In the past two months I have moved, made big changes in important relationships, turned 25 and suffered what many call a 'quarter life crisis.' From my observation, it is not uncommon - but OHMYMY does it feel like a ton of bricks hitting your chest: THE FUTURE. IT'S UP TO YOU. WHADDYA GUNNA DO OHMYGOD.

This year was a wonderful adventure of hoop events, farmer's markets, workshops, classes, new skills, discoveries and endless travel. Everything was so exciting. But, after it died down I was left to ask myself - well, what now?

I came to realize that as much as I absolutely love hooping and will never leave this passion, I am looking for something new. I got to explore it to it's fullest, had days where I hooped for 5 or 6 hours; Recorded. Watched. Learned. Now though, I want to learn something new. I want a job. A career?

It's a scary thought for me - and I would guess, many - in this ... sluggish...job market. But it is something of which I am sure.

So in the past few weeks I have been thinking about the future. Now I am exploring it.

...and struggling with insomnia.

I am not abandoning this blog - but I am not going to fill it with fluff. I plan on continuing in the hoop world and will update when events come up and videos or pictures inspire.

Thanks so much for listening. Keep hooping, guys!

-Kym

Photo Diary: Carry the Stars with You

Photos from today and a few yesterday's ago. 

This morning I knew I wanted to make something and when I saw the (second to last) picture with stacks of glowing lamps (via tumblr), I was inspired to dig out the strings of lights I had purchased for the birthday fort a bit ago. New spaces are hotbeds of inspiration. 

That being said, the 'new' apartment is clearly only new to me and I love that the old-style door knobs look like the talking door handle from Alice in Wonderland.  

As if I weren't in a whimsical enough mood.

I'll always contend that pretending should be a life long hobby and this morning, with the lights properly strung, I imagined bringing the stars inside with me - to sleep under or gaze upon even if it rained, thanks to some finagling with an antique umbrella.  

Never far from my hoop, I squeezed in a short session after the POP(!) POP(!) of lights blowing out signaled it was time to clean up. There are always more photos of me singing along than not. 

The colorful swingset is from a recent trip to Six Flags. 

Wonder if there is a way to recreate that one at home? 

Oh yes, I think I like it here. 

The Circular Constant

Do you ever feel like you are going crazy when you haven't hooped for awhile? Okay - full disclosure - I feel like I am going crazy most of the time, but it is much more pronounced when I am living sans hoop.  Yes, I think the exercise aspect of hooping impacts the sense of calm I have post spin session - but even when it is only 5-10 minutes I feel worlds better. My conclusion is that this sense of happiness is  from having the reminder that something that exists purely for joy does exist in life (or, in my life.)

So many 'happy' things come with side-effects that make them impermanent additions in life. Heck, even going to the gym (way back when) was something that was 'good' for me and made me happy, but eventually left me with swollen, sore knees and joints and, of course, that often felt gym boredom. I knew it wouldn't be forever. 

Particularly at this time in my life - at twenty five, when the future is confusing and ever pressing, and I feel undeniably grown up, yet not very good at it - it is a blessing to have one thing that I am assured will be a constant in my life. Yes, it's a hula-hoop - but it is something that assures me that I will move forever, be active and learning forever and be able to find a sense of peace within myself despite the rest of life. 

from a brief but oh-so therapeutic hoop session yesterday.

It seems clear that many, many new folks are stumbling into this hoop world of ours - and whether or 

not they will feel the way I do about it (or it will instead be a rather depressing 'thinspo' fad...grumble) remains to be seen, but I hope that it is. Finding constants in anything - people, places, interests, professions - is difficult. Being the control-happy young and confused gal I am, I am glad I found one. 

New. Home.

Here we are. The move is "over." "Over" in (air) quotation marks (and said with raised eyebrows) to indicate that the process is not really over until a routine is in place. Not until I can walk in, throw my keys on the side table and plop down somewhere comfortable after a long day will I really feel like I am home. Currently, my keys are... on the floor. The couch is made of camp chairs and the most comfortable place to hang out is on the kitchen counter with coffee in hand and feet dangling. It's just like being 10-years old again (though, back then, the coffee was 80% half & half, 15% sugar and 5% coffee.) 

Ah yes, the memories of this place and time are forming already.   

Premature nostalgia aside, I am really enjoying the 'newness' of it all. It's a blank slate, an exciting house-sized art project to personalize and perfect until it feels like home. I guess that's what they mean by laying down roots - finding objects that represent yourself, or an idea of yourself, and buying them so that you see who you are (or want to be) reflected in what you own. Choosing things based on preference and not necessity.  It definitely feels like another step towards adulthood. 

... though, traipsing in the building with dozens of hoops slung over my shoulder while I watch people scurry out in business suits keeps me feeling young.  

This place has passed the all important hoop test - with high ceilings and limited belongings making spinning with a teensy poly pro easy work. Another poly pro bonus is that  there are no colorful marks left on surfaces that are hit with the hoop - not even this pink hoop. With the memory of repainting the ceiling and walls in the old place so fresh, it was a big relief.

I'll miss the old place - we went out with a bang with drinks and ice cream waffles - but I am open to whatever this new experience has to offer. (and more ice cream waffles.)

Hoops sneak their way in to every picture...

I think I am finally accepting that change is life. I've heard it forever... but kept waiting for stable ground. Really, it's always moving - it's just about keeping pace and remembering to look around, smile, and be yourself.

Moving Day Ramblings

Somehow, I swear, the number of hoops I have has multiplied. 

I am packing up all my belongings today, schlepping them to the car, and preparing for the real start of the moving process later tonight. There is never a good place for hoops during times like these. Which, is why I will be having a MONDO-SUPER-MEGA-GIANT sale at the West End Farmer's Market this weekend with ridiculous prices on new and used hoops. Please, if you are local - stop by! It's in Alexandria, VA and all the directions and contact info can be found HERE. This Sunday from 10-1pm. I'll be hooping to calm my sore muscles from tonight and tomorrow's heavy lifting. I feel sort of crazy working the market during the weekend of the move - but I plan on riding the momentum all the way until Monday evening. Whew!

... and this is BEFORE my friend drops off the 10 hoops I lent out last week. 

Seriously though...how has everything changed so fast? 

It's strange, really. For over two years I had been teaching at the same place where I started my first hoop class.  We had our final meeting this past Tuesday. Though I do think it was time to end (most hoop teachers set up 6 week sessions... I had simply started teaching and not stopped for... two years...), I'll admit that I got a bit misty eyed when I was driving away. It was my first real hoop opportunity and things would never have gone the way they did without it. I met so many wonderful, wonderful students and watched them go from novice's to hoop masters. Watching passion grow in someone is a tremendous experience. 

So what is the next step? 

Well, I plan on looking  for more teaching/hoop jam locations and expanding things on that front. Possibly more markets and workshops as well. It's really all thinking aloud at this point. I will have to get used to a new hoop space - though, I must say, we will finally live somewhere with ceilings taller than myself which will be a dream during those long winter hoop months. (And, really... in general.)

I have moved so many times. So, so many times. Finally I feel like I am moving into a home instead of into a space. Somewhere that I can get cozy and make my own - it is something that I feel is often taken for granted by folks who have lived in the same place for years or grown up in a home since they were little. I can't imagine that level of stability and am extremely grateful for the massive amount of experience I was able to get by living with so many different people and places - but, a bit of stability would be nice for a change. 

Particularly since, As usual, I am unsure of the exact path life has in store. But, I am still following my passions and moving forward each day. With each new opportunity I ask myself, 'does this get you closer to where you want to be or not' because it can often be deceiving. A short term benefit (i.e., money) can often times mask a greater loss (being 'trapped' on an unhappy path.) 

There will certainly be a lot of changes up and coming. But that is what life is all about, right? You don't get a practice run so there is no use in worrying about what could have gone better or been different. Learn. Listen to yourself, and continue to move forward. 

This move is a step in the right direction and I absolutely can't wait. 

As always, thanks for listening guys. Alright - back to the heavy lifting!

West End Farmers Market
4800 Brenman Park Drive
Alexandria, Virginia
22304

Sunday 9/4 10am-1pm

Seven Steps to Starting a Hoop Group

There is a great article on hooping.org today about how to begin your own hoop group! Lara Eastburn lists some great tips on how to get started, and what's important to keep the group growing and running smoothly.

Santa Monica Hoop Group via Flickr

I added a few more tips from my experience with hoop jams below the article. Organizing can be lots of work - but if you are hoping to meet, and make a few hoopers, there is no better way than getting a hoop group started.

Here is an excerpt from the list: 

Step 1: Get a Lay of the Land. Search through the regional forums here on hooping.org for hoopers in your area, just as new members do on Hooping.org every single day. There may or may not be a group that is close to you, but this is the place to start. If you come up empty-handed, then there is no better person to fill the need for a local hoop-group than you!

Step 2: Pick a Place and a Time, Bring Extra Hoops, and Be Consistent. Starting your own local hooping meetups can be as easy as showing up to your local park at the same time and day every week. Take a friend with you if you can, and let people know in your social networks where you’ll be. You may be alone the first time, and maybe even the second or third, but you WILL see the hooping magic happen. Don’t get discouraged. Many, if not most, established hoop jams started out in exactly this way. Your persistence will prevail.

Step 3: Embrace Your New Role as a Hooping Ambassador. Starting a hooping group will require a bit of bravery on your part. It can be hard to hoop alone in the middle of a public place. But tough it out, and you won’t be a solitary hooper for long. Remember that you’re doing what makes you happy and that your enthusiasm is infectious! Greet the curious with a smile, hand ‘em a hoop, and answer any questions they have as best you can. When you see that gleam in a newcomer’s eye that is the telltale sign they’ve caught the hoop-bug, ask for an email address or invite them to join you online for updates and reminders about your weekly hoop-gathering. Before you know it, that person tells their friends, who bring their friends, and you’ve got a full-fledged weekly hoop jam.

Step 4: Crank It Up. There’s no denying it – besides having extra hoops on-hand, MUSIC will be the second most important component of bringing the energy that will grow your hoop group and keep folks coming back for more. In the beginning, perhaps you huddle around a small battery-powered boombox. But as your group grows, you’ll feel the need for bigger sound and booty-shaking playlists. Luckily for you, Philo has some suggestions for HoopJam Sound Solutions right here.

Step 5: Don’t Drop the Ball. As your hoop group grows and evolves, so too will your responsibilities. You started this thing, and you will be the glue that holds it together. But don’t be afraid to ask for help in keeping it going. Make sure there is always someone there at the appointed time and place to get things started. Before weather becomes an issue, seek out alternative venues for rainy and cold days. Get creative. Churches, schools, community centers, music venues, dance and yoga studios are all places to look for indoor hooping space. Put out the call and see who answers. Read the rest of the list on hooping.org >>

All of these are excellent considerations to starting and running a hoop group, but there are a few more I would add. First, it's important to also consider what you want your role to be in the hoop group before you get started. 

If you are showing up as the head hooper each week and have some flight time under your belt, it's likely that folks seeing new moves will ask for some instruction. If one person tries, another is going to join in. Soon it will be just like a class! 

Teaching people new hoop moves is a blast, but, if you were hoping to get a place to jam with other hoopers, it can be tough to be in teacher mode the whole time - especially if the group is a free get together. Have a plan in place if you don't want to teach the whole time; as in, the first half hour is "free teach" for Q&A and instruction, but the last half hour is for free spin time. 

If it is in a park or school, it's also important to keep an eye on the kiddies. Some times they may not understand that the hoops are only to be borrowed, and I'v had hoops walk away from me more than once during larger jams. 

Anyone attending the group who is meaning rude, disrespectful or disruptive - don't hesitate to ask them to leave. In my experience, the only rude folks were the ones who were doing so out of embarrassment or anxiety - but that is no excuse to make the group feel uncomfortable.  It can be rough to ask someone to leave, especially when the event is so casual, but just asking them to please let the group operate in a friendly environment, as intended, can help. 

Asking for help keeping a look out for hoops from any regular hoopers and taking a minute at the start of the jam to go over basic ground rules can make jams run much more smoothly. If new folks walk up, introduce yourself and let them know what's up. 

Hoop jams can be a great time and a wonderful way to build a new community. With hard work, a great attitude, and dedication you never know how it will grow. If you start one up, remember have fun, be consistent, be you and happy hooping!

Gray Skies, Don't Ever Clear Up

My pink poly pro this morning.

It's raining outside and a hurricane is expected to follow. I absolutely love rainstorms. The grayer the better. The darker the better. The windier the better. There is a fine line between sounding deliciously destructive and being horrifically so - and I hope that nothing tragic comes of these hurricane warnings.

But for now. There is nothing better than listening to the rain, tying my hair back, covering my camera in a ziploc bag and aluminum foil and heading outside for a rain hoop dance.

I hope it rains all day and night. 

Dearest Hoop,

Thank-you.

For always giving me something to look forward to -

For shutting my mind off and letting my body take over -

For helping me grow and achieve -

For allowing me to more readily accept myself and others -

For giving me community and common ground.

It doesn’t matter if I am happy, sad, broke, stressed, 

bored, exhilarated, confused or doubtful - 

I always find peace in you. 

Thank-you.

crosspost from: myresponses

Lady Moonseed "Growth"

Shayla Patton (Lady Moonseed) enjoys a chill hoop session as the cars pass. 

I am digging her really beautiful and fluid movements - as if she is completely at ease. I suppose the best description I have for this is unhurried; which, is a pretty impressive thing when everyone seems to be in a constant scurry. Why do we rush to make it appear that we are important - or even just normal. Did you ever notice how people who seem extremely relaxed can be off putting? Like, what's up with you that you aren't as worried as the rest of us? DONT YOU HAVE A PLAN!? 

Welp. I may be projecting a bit...

Quarter life crisis? Maybe.  But I just wouldn't be me if I didn't watch a hoop video and pontificate wildly. This may the oldest I have ever been (obviously) but I am still young enough to think I am right too much of the time. 

AND... young enough to hang in a fort with jelly bracelets and rainbow cake. The fort is constructed (and wonderful) and we are giving the cake a whirl today. Wish us luck... oh will we need it.

Twenty Five; It's Official

^^ Amazing Birthday Card. 

OH YES! Thanks to the lovely and talented twirlingflutterby.

Today Cyndi and I are gearing up for yoga in the yard, hula hoop lessons, fort logistics, and rainbow cake makery. I certainly feel 25....

Tales and pictures are assured, and I can't wait for today's adventure. I am sure the visions in my head won't match reality (especially with my notoriously bad cake frosting skills) but those bumps in the road usually turn out as the best parts of the story. 

let it begin!

xxx

Weekend Photo Diary: Spray Paint, Striped Hoops & Sunny Places

I am not sure if I really enjoyed this weekend - or if it was all the fumes I inhaled that made everything seem fun. 

The hoop closet was cleared out and the ceiling repainted. No more indoor hoop sessions until September...

During a stroll to scout out the local yard sales I found the above pink and black hoop - and, though I have been trying to purge everything, and another hoop is probably about the last thing I 'need,' it was too great to pass up. It's almost as light as my poly pro and the sun faded pink is beautiful with the curling black stripes. I took it home and emptied out the nasty brown water circa 1992 when the poor thing was probably made, sanded the inside, reclosed it and viola (!) a lovely new hoop for the grand total of $0. 

Since we were in home repair mode, a trip to Lowes was inevitable. It almost felt weird leaving the store without any tubing, but, we did grab some spray paint and came home to make tumblr inspired art (because anything involving shady people resonates with me too much to ignore.) Again, the fumes wafted wildly through the air, convincing me that brilliance was about to strike. Hence,we painted an old bike frame and any other little goodies lying around just to see how it would look. Brilliance? Well, no - but certainly fun. 

The only way to come up with a great idea is to build from the mediocre ones. Or at least, that's what the fumes tell me. 

Purple Haze [of Nostalgia]

Uhm... Hi, beautiful. 

Via: DA

Today, I was cleaning out my storage closet in preparation for the move and - after quite some struggle - managed to untangle the 30 hoops that live in there. Some of them are my old ones, with memories of when they were my favorites; others are ready to sell, but all are bright, shiny and covered in every color in the rainbow. Seeing these gems made me miss the taped-hoop days. 

I remember a long time ago reading something that Beth Lavinder said about taped vs. non taped hoops. The exact words escape me, but she said something about taped hoops being beautiful but unusable to her now. At the time I couldn't imagine not being able to use a taped hoop. Huh? But now, here we are. 

I think this wave of nostalgia is brought on by the new hoopers seemingly popping up everyday and going through all the things I went through in the beginning. ("I WILL get the vortex!!," "SooOoooOOooo many hoop bruises!", "I now bring my hoop with me everywhere...," etc.)

So great to witness the beginning journey for others. 

Community is a wonderful thing. 

Today, I Finally Felt Like Hooping Again

Things have been insane lately. IN. SANE.

With all of life's craziness spinning around me, hooping has been the farthest thing from my mind. No matter what video I watched, what pictures I posted, or moves I thought about trying - I just didn't enjoy my spin time. So, of course, after several days of short and painfully dull hoop sessions - I just stopped. My hoops hung on the wall, untouched, for days. (HeLLLOOOoooo Oveerrr there Hoops!  Echo. Echo.)

Ugh. You know those times when you have so much to do but no clue about how to start so you just end up sitting and doing nothing for way too long. 

... and usually checking tumblr and facebook far too often.  So. Horrid. 

(Side note: Will we still have our facebook accounts years from now? Are those the photo albums our children will go through as I did with my mom's old-fashioned book bound albums? These are the things I think about when I check the newsfeed for the 1,000th time, and realize that I have had a facebook for five years now and many of my memories are stored only there. Anyway...) 

Perhaps inspired by copious computer time, today I FINALLY felt like taking my hoop for a spin. BAMF! And yeaaah... it was a 15 minute hoop session, but at least I was actually having fun. It's no milestone by any means, but LORDY LORDY when every time I have been picking up my hoop has totally and completely SUCKED, it was heavenly to notice myself smiling  as I was boppin' about today. 

What changed? 

Well... I had finally stopped telling myself that I was "going to hoop" every morning, and just sort of took the day as it came. (Reminder # 45986000000 of not making lists for every minute.) I also found some truly wonderful new music, which is always a sure fire bet to get back in the groove. 

How do you guys stay motivated during those inevitable 'off' times? Just let it go? Try harder? 

In truth, I know I am over thinking it. Most likely on purpose to distract myself from everything up-and-coming. In 8 days, I will turn 25. In 3 weeks I move. With the move coming up I am going to have to let a few of my hoop classes go - meaning new methods of income are needed. (Which, I didn't mean to sound as creepy as it did.)

All in all, yes, life may be crazy - an inescapable truth forever and always - but hoop sessions like today's remind me that there are little pockets of calm all around and that will never change. 

Marko Kalc - Hoop Dance

Marko Kalc - Hoop Dance - Impro na Rabu from Marko Kalc on Vimeo.

This video features some not-so-complicated moves, but delivered with lots of feeling. I love the passing and the quick spins, and seeing those 'go-to' moves is making me feel a little more hoop friendly than my current mood has been. With Life getting in the way more often these days, I have been a bit tougher on myself both about, and within hoop practice. I feel like I have a time limit - okay, 20 minutes of hooping, then I'll pack, paint, do laundry, run those errands, yadda yadda... 

With that kind of attitude, trying to master new moves becomes even harder. And when hoop practice becomes this scheduled, frustrating part of my day - well, it's all too easy just to let practice slide. Maybe I will try going back to some of these more comfortable patterns to warm-up  and see how the session goes? Excuse me while I think aloud. 

Of course, there will always be times when I can't hoop - or when I need to take time off - and I will honor those feelings instead of allowing guilt to rear it's ugly and useless head. For now, it is time to attend to some of those Life duties, but perhaps... with this new dose of inspiration, I will have an old school hoop jam post errand madness. 

Forever Young

Sometimes you just want to feel like a little kid again. Never the kid you actually were, of course; but that idealized, free and happy child that you would be, should you retain knowledge of everything you know now.

There is no uniform more appropriate for the adult-child than that of the hippie. Colorful, dangly beads - like the costume jewelry borrowed from grandma years ago. That loose, slightly dirty feel of everything that gives the idea of play clothes - the kind specifically worn to get dirty and go on adventures.

My birthday is coming up this month.

Right now the plans are to make a rainbow cake, construct a fort in the back yard, and for all intents and purposes, just spend a night playing dress-up.

Never is the desire to feel young stronger than when you are getting older.

....rainbow cake. I can't wait.

Everything I Love

Boots gifted to me from a friend - I always feel the most myself when I am wearing clunky boots, heatwave or not. (I also think it's funny that the eye effect on the second one looks more edited than it is - I actually just blinked at the last second.)

The stuffed bear I have had since I was 3 years old. Now, I am sorry - but look at how well that old thing is holding up. My favorite thing about him is that he isn't smiling. In fact he looks sad, and serious - which I always appreciated as a kid. My teddy bear thinks deep thoughts.

Of course my lovely hoop - though this picture explains my relationship with it this week. Picking it up, throwing it down, getting frustrated, getting bored. 

Taking pictures, hooping, dressing up, deciding how to frame everything. 

There is a feeling that comes with creating something that is like no other. 

Clock Watching

Sometimes I think - well geez, if you don't want to hula hoop today then don't - but, I said I was going to and gall dernit I am going to do what I told myself I would. 

Getting out of practice has made me forget just how good it feels to be in the regular routine - learning faster and getting stronger. I can't always have incredibly inspiring weeks, but I can do something every day. 

Doing something fun just feels fun. Doing something that I don't want to do feels like an accomplishment  - and that's the feeling that keeps me coming back. 

Back from the Beach

Home again. 

It always feels strange to say that I am "going home," meaning back to VA, when I am down in Ft. Lauderdale at my mom's house. Is Florida still supposed to be my home? It's easy to think so after driving by places that bring up memories from 10 and 15 years back, and realizing that I still know how to get everywhere, while I still need a GPS no matter the endpoint here in VA. Of course, back then, memorizing how to get somewhere was the only way to get there. 

Ft. Lauderdale by Andy Royston

Florida proved to be a nostalgic wonderland this time around - a decidedly rare feeling as I couldn't wait to escape that hot swamp for the larger part of my life.  I used to dream of snow, and seasons, and scarf weather as a child. But, finally feeling like I have a life here in Virginia brings out the sweetness of my former home.

When I first moved away, everything was shaky, everything was hard, nothing made sense, I didn't know where I was going  - only that I had to keep moving forward - and going back home felt like taking a step back. I didn't want to disrupt my 'new' life. It was like being interrupted for dinner in the middle of a big project. Yes, it's fine and good, but I was just about to make a breakthrough. I think. 

At this point, though, going to Florida was a welcomed break. A true vacation. I finally felt like a tourist instead of a resident. William and I played like little kids (what else is new) on the same rafts and floaties that I had as a kid, sloshing and swimming in the uncharacteristically rough waters. Florida in summer is a ghost town, so the beach was all our own, day or night. 

A memory that is surely to cause those wistful pangs of nostalgia in the years to come was when, on Saturday night, we decided to head back to the beach around 8pm. It wasn't all the way dark yet, but the sun was going down and the resort lights on the shore, paired with the ship's lights on the horizon made for a night of almost cinematic perfection. The water was as warm as a bath, there were stars overhead, and no company except for gulls, and the salty air was just as cozy as the ocean. It's always when surrounded by nature, by the things most real, that I feel most like I am in a dream.  

Ft. Lauderdale - Andy Royston

Florida was the last hurrah of the summer's travels. Now it is time to get back in the swing of things. Back to teaching, getting packed up to move, continuing with my daily hooping, and figuring out the next step.

I am excited about the future, but it was beautiful to drop in at 'home' and remember the past with a softer lens than my 16, 19, or 21 year-old self ever did. It is a calming to remember all the past confusion that I got through, and that we all get through, just fine. It lets me know that I can do it again. 

photo credits: Andy Royston, The Ft. Lauderdale Sun Project. Via Flickr.

Confetti Blonde

Yes it was that time again. As the teal faded away I was antsy for a change, and adding a bit 'o pink fit the bill. It is reminiscent of the best cake there is - funfetti. 

Now it's time to get my hoop on for Day 2 in the daily hoop challenge. I feel SO MUCH BETTER just after getting back into it yesterday. Can't wait to see where I am by the week's end. 

Time to Get Serious

That's it. It's time.

I have got to get back in the hoop. Many moons ago, thanks to the 30 Day Hoop Challenge, hooping became a daily habit. Sometimes it would be 20-30 minutes of boppin' around while others would turn into hours of inspiration and getting lost in the spin. It stayed that way for several months, with the daily practice being responsible for my most transformative hoop year. 

Then there was a break from routine - deadly for most parts of said routine. (Which is why, I love routine.)

After all the travel my body simply got used to missing some hoop days. With record high heat indexes here for the past week, I decided that skipping a few more days was probably in my best interest. 

Welp, I didn't die of heatstroke but - I. feel. awful. 

Okay, maybe 'awful' is strong - more correctly, I don't feel like me. Hooping daily is something that is wonderful for my body, yes, but much more importantly, the meditative, mind quieting movement keeps my head screwed on straight. 

... and now I feel like it's a little wobbly. 

Excuses not to practice are very often true and relevant. (Aren't those just 'reasons' then, Kym?) 

I was travelling. I will be again this week. I am about to move, and have several new projects in the works - but, really - being busy is exactly why hooping daily is so important. Feeling good makes every task feel so much easier to accomplish. 

This week I am starting a new goal of daily hoop practice (and reflection?) so that I may get back to the place where I thrive, both mentally and physically. 

I've missed ya, hoop. Glad to be back.