I awoke this morning knowing how busy my day is going to be and before I let myself feel any stress about it, I picked up a hoop and went outside to my deck to move with it. I began with my normal stretching~ using the hoop as a tool for a deeper warm-up than I’d feel without it. Generally, I start by placing my hands on the 3 & 9:00 positions of the ring, raise my hoop overhead and do widening circular movements to open up my shoulders, chest and back. Then I begin to engage my legs in the process, with the hoop either overhead, on my lower back vertically, or on the ground in front of me, while leaning forward and alternately bending each of my knees in a wide stance. I also like to do gentle twists of my spine to counter and complement the basic hoop movement of forward-backward or side-to-side.

After stretching with the hoop in hands, I begin to spin it around my core. Using a process recently and eloquently shared by the lovely Caroleeena of North Caroliiina (thank you kindly, Caroleeena!)…I spin my hoop in one direction while pulling in towards me and in to me everything I’m going to need for the day and my “conscious evolution.” As soon as I feel full and safe and trusting, I spin my hoop in the other direction and send outward all of that rooted and solid positive energy into the world~ towards and into everyone else who needs it.

Starting off one’s day with a grounding, meditational time with the hoop is such a simple, wholistic, free, and joy-inducing experience. It is also wonderful when you are having a hard time, when your body feels paralyzed with anxiety, tension, or confusion. The bilaterally brain stimulating positive effects of core hooping on one’s mind, physical body and soul are quite obvious and completely evident as soon as one begins the spin. Try it and see for yourself! In Peace & Hoop~Love, noelle