the better-late-than-never new year's post

[prosewitch]

January has been a bit of a trial thus far: lots of worries and troubles, and also lots to look forward to, but it's been hard to get my mouth around the stress-sandwich that my life has been lately.

I've been reflecting a bit on 2010, though, and I think I met most of the scattered goals I'd set last year. I trained for and kicked ass in a half-

Comments

[anaisdjuna]

I saw a Dr. Oz show the other day about hooping and how good it can be for losing weight and for the bod. It looked pretty neat. I'm considering getting into it. Do you have any recommendations on videos or books or websites to learn what's up and how to do it? Where to get a good hoop. I'd be into things about its effects on the body too. Thanks in advance if you can hook me up.

[prosewitch]

Hooping is, in fact, good for all of these things. I've heard it can burn up to 600 calories an hour, and it helps tone the core, glutes, arms, etc. Hooping.org is a good resource, and the DVDs by Hoopnotica are a good starting point. Mostly, make sure you get an adult hoop (not the crappy ones meant for kids; if you stand the hoop on the ground, it should come up to somewhere between your navel and rib cage in order to be the right size for you). After that, it's a lot of personal preference as to how heavy the hoop is, whether you just learn to waist hoop or also learn to do tricks with it, and so on.

[anaisdjuna]

Yay! Thanks for the infoz! I'll check out both hooping.org anda dvd by hoopnotica. Where do you think I can get an adult hoop? Is it a silly idea to order one off line or are they sold in chain sporting stores or other store-esque places? What's up with heavy or not heavy? Meaning... what difference does it make? Does heavy make it harder or easier to do things

[prosewitch]

You can buy adult hoops online - they'll custom make them for you, at different sizes, using different colors of tape, etc. I'd recommend not getting a really pretty shiny hoop for your first one, since you'll be dropping it a lot and the snazzier tapes will get dulled that way. Heavier hoops are a little easier to first learn with, in my opinion... but harder to learn fancy tricks with as you advance (since the real fear of hitting yourself in the ear or nose makes it harder to take risks, for me at least). But a heavier hoop will generally give you a better work out, especially if you spin the hoop overhead with your hands and such.

I can try to remember to measure my beginner hoop's diameter when I have a spare moment in case you want to try ordering one on the internet (that's also where you can find the Hoopnotica DVDs)... but in the meantime, you can look for local hoopers in your area (they're, like, everywhere now) and see if any stores like boutiques or fitness specialists carry hoops, since they're becoming really popular.

[briarspell]

I love this post, I know exactly how you feel and agree completely :).

Especially this -- >

"I realized recently that my creative life is inextricable from my life as a scholar; academics shouldn't have to apologize for having hobbies outside academia--if anything, they make us better scholars. Flexing your mind outside of your primary research and teaching areas is always going to be valuable and useful, making you more inventive, more inspired, more inspiring."

Yes, Yes, Yes!

[prosewitch]

I'm glad that resonates with you! :)

[strangevictory]

Interestingly, I've ALWAYS thought of you in terms of both your academia and creativity--to me, they've always been equal parts of you, and connected to each other. Indeed, I think you couldn't have one without the other--they seem to feed off of each other, at least insofar as they both add to the image of you as one of the most eclectic, fascinating people I know!