Summer time...

Just an FYI, the current session of Burlesque for Body and Mind is now over, the next session to be announced soon!

What have you been up to this summer? I've done some traveling, some relaxing, and a lot of swimming and hooping. Gotta use the neighborhood pool while it's open, right?? A couple of weeks ago the husband and I went on a road trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, and let me tell you, that's a long drive. 29 hours each way. And of course, I brought my hoop!

I never travel without it!

Soon we'll be heading to the beach with family, so you know I'll be in the hoop there. Summer is a great time to reflect on the things that really matter in life, like family and having fun. There's lots of not so great stuff happening in the world right now, and it's a good thing to step back from it for a while and just play. I hope you're having a lovely summer, and I hope to see you at hoop class tonight, 6pm, at Yoga Studio of The Woodlands on Oak Ridge Drive!

Burlesque for Mind and Body

Always wanted to dabble in burlesque, but have been too afraid? Think you don't have the right body, the right mindset, the confidence? Throw all of that out of the window. Burlesque for Body and Mind is part dance/part comedy/part therapy. Learn what it REALLY means to be sexy, both through sensual movement, and sensual thought. You'll learn the "bump and grind", sexy strutting, chair dance, boa play, glove removal, and SO much more, including costume advice, how to put together an act, and different apparatuses to add to your dance. Whether your goal is to perform for your partner, on stage, or even just for yourself, you'll get the kick in your pants (ooh la la!) to become the sexy creature you were put on earth to be.

*Regular workout clothes are preferred. Please bring a boa and gloves (check out Arne's or Claire's)

*Classes are $15 per person.

Burlesque for Body and Mind was created and is taught by Heidi Von Hoop, owner of HoopCubed, and cofounder of Rocket Girl Burlesque. She is a Goddess Life certified burlesque instructor, and Hoopnotica and Punk Rock Hoops certified hoop dance instructor. She has performed both hoop dance and burlesque in around the Houston area. In addition to being a Health At Every Size advocate, she is also the Outreach Chairperson for the Benefit Betties, and a huge Jem and The Holograms fan.

For more information on Heidi Von Hoop, go to www.hoopcubed.com. 
To sign up, email hoopcubed@gmail.com

what makes a dancer?

People tell me all the time, "I want to hoop or burelsque", but I'm not a dancer. Guess what? Neither,  was I before I started on this journey nearly 4 years ago.  Am I the best? God no. But do I have fun? YES. Too many people believe that they have to be the best at something immediately, but that doesn't make sense. It takes practice, guts, mistakes, awful performances, blood, sweat, and tears. I'm still paying my dues, and that's awesome. The journey is amazing, and I hope it's never over. So if you want to hoop, but are afraid of looking like a fool, let me tell you, you will. We all do. It's the best part of learning; laughing and seeing improvement!

Hottie Hoop Camp 2014, we hardly knew ye...

I've been hooping since 2010, since I moved to Houston. Hoopers here were pretty much my first friends in this town. Since then, I've become a different, better person,  in a way that is completely not explainable in words.

But I'll try.

Last Thursday until today was the annual Hottie Hoop Camp, a hoop retreat in Surfside Beach, Texas. That makes it sound so simple. But it's more than that. Yes, there are hoop classes, great ones, but also burlesque, yoga, altered couture, beading, photography, performance training, fire training, smoothie making, and even more than that. There are real connections being made. There aren't cliques. There is so much laughter that I feel like I did an ab workout for 4 days straight. There's a vintage Spirograph that blows your mind. It's body positive to the CORE! It's about loving yourself so much that that love spills out and you can't contain it, you gotta give it to everyone. It's a spontaneous twerk/Kanye West rap session. It's so far from false "blowing smoke up your ass" nonsense. It's so much TRUTH. It's learning things from people, more than you realized you could, and more than you knew you needed and craved it. This was my third year at HHC, my second year teaching at it, and easily the best for me.

I've never been so sad to not have that specific energy around. Luckily I have my amazing husband, my ridiculous pets, my ever supportive family, friends, my local hoop sisters, and last but not least, my fantastic students (who double as my hoop sisters!) who inspire me more than I could ever inspire them. I can't wait to see your beautiful faces Tuesday evening at class!!

Last morning at Hottie Hoop Camp, view from our front deck at Surfside Beach

My new favorite toy!

So, LED hoops. They are truly amazing. But last week my awesome husband gifted me something I didn't dream I'd get, a FutureHoop from MoodHoops! Check out these pictures we took this weekend!

Can you see now why I'm so hooked on this thing? The only problem...with the time change, night comes so much later :)

Do YOU have an LED? Show some photos!

Annual Benefit Betties Ball!

As you may or may not know, when I'm not teaching and performing hoop dance and burlesque, I'm also the Outreach Chairperson for a local non profit, The Benefit Betties! We work to support our soldiers, our furry friends, and women and children. Next month is our annual ball, and Circus is the theme! There will be side shows, fire eating, hooping, and of course burlesque! Tickets go on sale very soon, so save the date, April 19th!

No class next week!!

Hey guys, I'll be out of town next week, so no hoop or burlesque classes. Classes resume February 25th. . See y'all then, and make sure to get outside in the sun this weekend and hoop it up!