than two pounds; they even come in collaps- ible travel models. This year,
hooping hit the big screen with direc- tor Amy Goldstein’s self-proclaimed popumentary, The Hooping Life. She first discovered hooping in
Venice, California, where it’s
hugely popular. “I’ve noticed that hooping brings
people from every walk of life togeth- er,” Goldstein says. “It has a spiritual side, a business side and a healthy side, and I’ve seen how many young people who used to feel isolated and without direction are now hooping and living life to its fullest.” Highlights of her feelgood film in-
clude appearances by Michelle Obama and Shaquille O’Neal, plus intimate portraits of eight hoopers from around the world. “The essence of the film,” says Goldstein, “is about finding something you love and taking the risk to give it all you’ve got.”
After discovering hooping, Anah
Reichenbach, aka “Hoopalicious,” a California-based dancer and hooper in the film, started making and selling inno- vative hoops on her own. She now offers a hoop mentor certification program through hooping workshops nationwide. “Beyond being an incredible core
workout,” Reichenbach says, “hooping can become an all-body, cardiovascular workout.” Other benefits she’s observed first-hand extend to increased calm and peacefulness, happiness and even more personal compassion. As a movement, the hoop has be- come a widespread symbol for individu- als’ willingness to be free and playful as adults as well as show that they care about community; people unite around the rhythm and creativity. “You really can transcend yourself if you let yourself go with the hoop,” remarks Goldstein. “Even if you have no rhythm, you get it with a hoop.”
Ellen Mahoney teaches writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Email
evm@infionline.net.
If you can imagine how it feels to dance as if no
one was watching, you have already experienced the exhilarating and blissful, yet oddly centering, sensation that occurs while keeping a hula hoop awhirl around your body. “Hooping creates happiness by pulling you out of your head with a playful, silly movement. It guides you back to your inner child, encouraging the release of daily stress and negativity,” explain Jessica McGimsey and Sorrel Weiss of Peace Love and Yoga, in Carlsbad. The movements used during hooping cultivate energy. “More of a
‘work-in’ than a workout, hooping’s major focus is core strength, which requires the use of all your local stabilizers (smaller internal muscles) to keep the hoop circling,” says McGimsey, the studio’s founder/owner. While activating the body’s core, hooping stimulates the function of internal organs, aiding digestion. Hoopers also control the intensity of this low-impact exercise, and its many variations allow them to strengthen the upper body, loosen the hips and tone the lower half, while having a blast.
“When you first begin your
hoop adventure, you might have rough edges and sharp movements,” advise the women. “However, as you feel the unending, circular motion, you’ll find a continuous fluidity that can be applied not only to your hoop, but also to life in gen- eral. Eventually, you’ll smooth your edges, connect to the grace within, find your flow and spread peace and happiness.”
Peace Love and Yoga, 2588 El Camino Real, Ste. O (in the Vons Shopping Center), Carlsbad 92008. Call 877-311-7744, email peaceloveandyogastu-
dio@gmail.com or visit
PeaceLoveAndYogaStudio.com. See ad on page 44.
Hooping for Happiness
by Kristine Castillo
natural awakenings
August 2010
41
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