The hooping bug
I'm happy to report that I've been firmly back on the hooping horse for a few weeks, and not just cardio and last year's tricks. It really helped that I've stuck with my commitment to do at least a few minutes of flow every day, which always includes work on at least a few new tricks each week as well as polishing some old ones that needed work, and incorporating new combinations into my flow.
I remind myself that my work will be better if I take breaks away from my desk and that sitting is the new smoking, etc., which does help with my resolve, and flowing always does wonders for my mood and concentration.
Flowing in a larger space definitely helps. I just need to get outside before 10AM, since we're finally getting seasonably hot weather. We've also got a large roofed and screened deck. It's got a low ceiling, but more than enough lateral clearance, and the sliding glass door makes a great mirror. We've also got boring but huge front and back yards. No useful window in back, but the Garage window is enough of a mirror to practice the tricky bits.
I've also got Sutton Station just up the street with plenty of high covered areas and tons of large ground-level windows and open plazas and grassy areas to choose from and a nice fountain in the middle. I could snag a triumphant double cappucino and perhaps a patissérie from Dulcé on the way back. Ooo là là.
There's also an office building a few miles away on the edge of a great pond with nice paved walkway and a fountain and man-made waterfall with a wide walkway over the top of the falls, which cools the air and creates a great backdrop for videos. There are also some reasonably close dance spaces that offer hoop classes and Jams. If I build an Triangle calendar of classes, jams and hoop-friendly events, it might get some things started...
I bought a GorillaPod stand for my camera phone so I can record outside. I still have to work out how to lock the thing in place once I've positioned the camera. The instructions are just a few diagrams with nothing that explains the buttons around the pivot head. Too often the weight of the phone will make it start to droop when it's recording. Also, the phone won't record video and play music at the same time, which means I'd need to borrow Gary's phone if I want music and am too lazy to dub it in later.
Hot flashes have been wrecking my sleep, so I've been too lazy (yes, it's a theme here) to take advantage of outdoor spaces before the heat roars in. Outside of morning hours, I can only last a few minutes before it gets on my nerves. I last longer at festivals and hoop jams because there's more to see, which keeps my mind off the heat. If I can drag myself out there a few days in a row I might be able to make establish a routine of three mornings of off-site flow per week. A few more months and I'll be able to wear my furry Russian hat and fingerless gloves! I'm mightily stoked to contemplate the First Pumpkin Spice Latté of the Season after a practice of my first group original choreography piece. Halloween theme, of course.
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I remind myself that my work will be better if I take breaks away from my desk and that sitting is the new smoking, etc., which does help with my resolve, and flowing always does wonders for my mood and concentration.
Flowing in a larger space definitely helps. I just need to get outside before 10AM, since we're finally getting seasonably hot weather. We've also got a large roofed and screened deck. It's got a low ceiling, but more than enough lateral clearance, and the sliding glass door makes a great mirror. We've also got boring but huge front and back yards. No useful window in back, but the Garage window is enough of a mirror to practice the tricky bits.
I've also got Sutton Station just up the street with plenty of high covered areas and tons of large ground-level windows and open plazas and grassy areas to choose from and a nice fountain in the middle. I could snag a triumphant double cappucino and perhaps a patissérie from Dulcé on the way back. Ooo là là.
There's also an office building a few miles away on the edge of a great pond with nice paved walkway and a fountain and man-made waterfall with a wide walkway over the top of the falls, which cools the air and creates a great backdrop for videos. There are also some reasonably close dance spaces that offer hoop classes and Jams. If I build an Triangle calendar of classes, jams and hoop-friendly events, it might get some things started...
I bought a GorillaPod stand for my camera phone so I can record outside. I still have to work out how to lock the thing in place once I've positioned the camera. The instructions are just a few diagrams with nothing that explains the buttons around the pivot head. Too often the weight of the phone will make it start to droop when it's recording. Also, the phone won't record video and play music at the same time, which means I'd need to borrow Gary's phone if I want music and am too lazy to dub it in later.
Hot flashes have been wrecking my sleep, so I've been too lazy (yes, it's a theme here) to take advantage of outdoor spaces before the heat roars in. Outside of morning hours, I can only last a few minutes before it gets on my nerves. I last longer at festivals and hoop jams because there's more to see, which keeps my mind off the heat. If I can drag myself out there a few days in a row I might be able to make establish a routine of three mornings of off-site flow per week. A few more months and I'll be able to wear my furry Russian hat and fingerless gloves! I'm mightily stoked to contemplate the First Pumpkin Spice Latté of the Season after a practice of my first group original choreography piece. Halloween theme, of course.
.