So I sit here, wondering why my perception of how I move through life has shifted after meeting Dean Potter. It is not because he is famous, hard core or perhaps just a bit more adorable than his puppy.

I used to spend a few weeks at Red Rocks in NV climbing every year. At night, I’d close my eyes and walk as slowly as I could, up a rocky hill, barefoot as usual. Later I heard that this was some Japanese moving meditation practice. Similar to the Buto Dancers, I would move in micro seconds, taking 1 minute, just to lift one foot and place it down again. This centered me and heightened all my senses. From the way my core engages to lift my leg, to all the nerve endings on my feet waking up and then to how the space I was in seemed palpable.

Jump forward to a section of SkyWalker, watching Dean meditatively slack line in between 2 rock spires and above a void. I notice his hands. They look like branches, taking the brunt of the wind’s force, to keep the trunk stable. I wonder if I will ever be able to put my life on the line. Not in the way that he does but in the way that I think we all strive to do. To walk our path and not necessarily the one of least resistance. But to find and stay on our path. To know ourselves, trust our skills and keep moving forward one step at a time, no matter how scary. This goes deeper than the typical human aspirations.

I don’t look at him as a daredevil, of course I don’t know him at all. What I experience from his work is that of a Zen Adventurer. Someone who, despite the loss of loved ones and perhaps his own life, continues to trust and test his mind-body connection and strength. Some people call themselves Yogi’s because they do yoga a lot and wear clothes that have been featured in Yoga Journal and some understand what it means to be fully alive only when running along side death.

I often eat chocolate cake (a whole one) when I am depressed. I also experience the worm hole theory while hooping. I can say that I like both sides of the fence when it comes to facing my fears. I pour myself into the hoop’s spin. I know that the vortex of the spin will literally pull particle matter into my space, allowing me to receive awareness and the centrifuge of the spin will allow me to let go of particle matter. Placing my intentions inside the whirling hoop develops deeper states of consciousness. Faces on the outside of the hoop melt into one smile and all thoughts, emotions and sensations on the inside of my hoop dissolve into stillness. The space between the exhalation and inhalation that is just peace.

Coaching Dean on the hoop, to find better body mechanics while in upper and lower body rotations was a mistake. I wish I had known of his slack lining skills. Rather than instructing him to open his ribcage and find fluidity in the spine, I would have taken him through a meditation which I do in some of my workshops and retreats. This would consist of branching the toes gently on Earth while filling the whole space of the hoop up with breath. Then to start moving in synch with the centrifugal force and to be released from gravity.

And although he towered over me like a Redwood, I felt connected. Not to him really but to the quest to go deep within and make peace with the unknown.  Read more articles like this at my hooping blog.

I start by thanking my great friend Beth, who left her husband and 3 awseome kids for a few days, to come help me coach my program and network during the trade show. She held people’s beer while teaching them to strengthen their core, answered business questions to hundreds and was patient with great humor during the 16 hr. work days. Hats off to her!

We had a booth at the Demo Day. We could watch Laird Hamilton and many others demo kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards. I was asked to hoop while standing up by our neighbor from Ocean Kayaks. Thanks to Jeff for taking cool shots. For buying products go to: www.johnsonoutdoors.com

Thanks to the folks from Gibbon Slacklines for using the Travel Hoop – while on the line. I had the pleasure of seeing a few great slackliners perform cool stunts. I love when people from this sport buy my hoops as they are portable and work well while walking the thin, moving line. For info on workshops and buying product go to: www.gibbon-slacklines.com

Here is the sports marketer for FRS Energy Drink hooping. For info on the benefits of their products go to : www.frs.com

I also want to thank my Hoop Warrior girls who helped me market and coach. Shelley, Jen and Nicole! They rocked the whole weekend! Jen took pictures of athletes challenging themselves through many cross training techniques. Shelley, an ice skating instructor, helped to market and coach people on the hoop. She will be organizing a 3 day teacher training this winter where I will come out and teach locals how to use the hoop for functional fitness and FUN.

Lastly, we spent the after hours party outside the Five Ten Booth hooping with many. I hooped with Dean Potter – who I will call – the Zen Adventurer. Although I have watched documentaries about him, I did not connect the dots for a while. My next blog  is about how I felt transformed after hooping with him & re-watching footage of his accomplishments.

To catch up on the lastest products, events and sponsors who rock – go to: www.fiveten.com

I AM PSYCHED TO HAVE A BOOTH INSIDE AT THE WINTER MARKET FOR MY ATHLETE FITNESS PROGRAM & FOR MY HOOP BOARDING -  many thanks to www.outdoorreatailer.com

But – you must come to the Outdoor Retailer Show, Salt Lake, Utah, Jordanelle Lake, Aug 2nd.

And if you miss this event, I will be giving another one away when I start my online hoop contest this fall.

The Flex & Flow Method™

Over the years I realized how people could get injured by hooping the wrong way. I saw limited range of motion in hoop performers, spinal compression among yoga teachers and mass tension in the endurance muscles of athletes.

I fused physio therapy, yoga alignment & breathing, endurance training from extreme sports, keeping the focus on flexibility and flow during the body’s organic movement.

I created a cross training program with the hoop to set and break my world record of speed and distance hoop running each year.

I teach this in my 4 Rhythms Hoop Dance classes. Many think it is just a fun dance but I make sure that students can isolate and integrate the muscles from the bones to maximize their weight loss and total body conditioning.

The low impact moves increase range of motion, flexibility and sports performance. It also teaches mind body awareness while in motion to prevent injury in extreme sports.

Join me at this expo, Salt Lake: Demo Day Aug. 2nd! I will target and correct structural misalignments while in motion. Then try your shot at these fun cross training stations:

Core Dynos, Endurance, Belly Pump and Relays.

AND – my good friend and hooper Beth will be flying out from Connecticut to hoop and help.

*all hoop ambassadors will receive free merchandise and sessions prior to the show. I hope to get back with everyone who’s applied. Please contact me if you haven’t heard – been busy & might have skipped through some emails.

*Betty coined the term Hoop Dance & Hoop Warrior in 2001.

*In 1998 she designed one of the most effective systems to tone and heal the mind and body through way of the hoop.

*Betty’s classes and dvd’s burn 600 calories/hr. and are low impact. People lose 10 pounds and 4 inches off their waist in less than one month with her dvd because it isolates muscles and detoxes the organs.

*Hoops over 3 pounds and with knobs on the inside have created internal and externally bruising.

*There are hundreds of people using hula hoops to teach their fitness classes with. Most are not certified. Some take certifications which mainly teach performance tricks. This does not educate students to use their bodies efficiently. Always check what qualifications your teacher has. Make sure they teach modifications, contraindications, spinal alignment, safe core conditioning and some form of physical therapy.

*Bad posture is compression and misalignment of the spine and the muscles around it. This causes joint pain, sciatica, low back pain, knee injury and weak cardio-respiratory function.

*For all Hoopers! Body mechanics is the study of your body in motion. Lack of education in gravitational and rotational movement will pinch nerves and create long term pain and limit your dance performances.

*Poor stabilization and mobilization between the core and the upper and lower body will overly rotate your hips and ribcage.

*If you perform using others hoop tricks that you learned, the best way to look unique is to make the tricks and dance your own.

Hoop Dance Retreat

Sayulita Mexico
Santosa Retreat Center
Oct 15-21

Yoga, surf lessons, massage and spa, organic meals and more! Bus pick up at airport.
Early Bird: $1,870

$1,920  deadline ends Sept. 1st

Must sign waiver before payment. Email yogabetty@hotmail.com for waiver.

For more info:  http://www.santosa-retreat.com/Santosa/Hoop_Retreat.html

Register Now!

Hoop Dance Retreat & Certification

Sayulita Mexico
Santosa Retreat Center
Oct 21-27

Become a certified Betty Hoops Dance Therapy® Instructor. Learn to teach the Flex & Flow™ method for fitness training and learn to teach the 4 Rhythm Program through schools and fitness & yoga centers.  This is a popular workshop for those who might not want to teach. $399 of this price is for the certification. Yoga, surf lessons, massage and spa, organic meals and more! Bus pick up at airport.

Early Bird: $1,870
$1,920 deadline ends Sept. 1st

Must sign waiver before payment. Email yogabetty@hotmail.com for waiver.

For more info: http://www.santosa-retreat.com/Santosa/Hoop_Retreat.html

Register Now!

I will start adding these in each hoop package and am sorry for any inconveniences.

I will also post a video on how to connect as viewing will totally make more sense.

HOW TO CONNECT:

1.) there is a male & a female end on each segment.

2.) the male end has the button that needs to be pushed as you slide it into the female end.(make sure you line the ridges on one end, up with the track on the other.)

3.) When you hear a snap, that means the button has engaged inside & is connected.

HOW TO DETACH

1.) press firmly on the OM symbol. (this pushes on the button which is inside to release it from the hole it is resting in) you want to feel the button be pressed all the way down so that it is flush with the pipe. Once you feel this, just slide both ends apart.

2.) The majority of people make the same mistake. They twist the ends. This does nothing. Just push really hard on the button & keep firm pressure as you slide both ends apart.

You can lose some weight and feel your core working from other classes and dvds. I get calls each month on chronic pain that develops from taking others trainings, classes and dvds. In 2000, I started studying the effects of unilateral rotation and how to use the hoop the right way, to get maximum benefits.

I worked with chirporactors, physical therapists and sport trainers. I studied the body mechanics of belly dancers, hoop dancers, skiers, cyclists, golfers and how people stand. From this, I developed a method that targets and corrects bad posture. This proved to be an easy and effective way to prevent injury, increase range of motion, flexibility and strength between the musculoskelatal system.

I teach to many hoop performers and hoop ‘teachers’ who complain about twisted ribs & hips. This would not occur if they were really using their core. I then retrain their movements inside and outside of the hoop by isolating the muscles from the bones. We practice pushing the belly into the hoop without moving the hips. Then rocking the hips side to side or back and forth without using the belly. I target the top 5 mistakes due to bad posture.  Some will hyper extend in the knees which lock out the hips, some will have an S curve in the lower back which stresses the low back more and prevents them from engaging their core and some will propel the hoop’s motion by using the their whole torso rather than their core. This stressed the lower back and hips too.

I am shooting 3 new 30 minute DVDs this June which will educate the body on how to move safely and effectively.  Pro skiers, kayakers, yoga instructors and chiropractors will join me in teaching how to retrain the body to maximum health and fitness – from the inside out.