Taking Stock- Two Revealing Hooping Exercises

II. Mapping Your "Hooping Mind"

This exercise comes to us from the world of journaling-
for-awareness. When you're done, you'll have before
you a clearer and visual representation of the beliefs
you hold about your own hooping.

Purpose: Awareness of mental and emotional
associations with your hooping

How-To: With paper and pen in front of you, take a
moment to close your eyes and imagine yourself
hooping. In the center of a blank page, draw a large
circle and write in it "My Hooping," "How I Feel About
My Hooping," or your own version of the subject. As
thoughts come to mind, write them in new circles
outward from the center, connecting them with lines (in
sun-dial fashion). Each new group of thoughts should
be represented by its own circle, with your free
associations for each written out to the side.

Notes: Try not to edit your thoughts. Resist the urge to
censor or second-guess yourself. Repetition is okay.
Everything that comes to mind will be important in
some way. Use colors, capital letters, and doodles to
enhance your mind map. Here's a great example.

Take Stock: Try not to divide your thoughts into good
and bad, or negative and positive. As best you can,
accept them for what they are. It may also be helpful to
sum up your map in a few words at the top. Simply
becoming aware of how you feel about your hooping
will begin change. Put away your map, make another in
a month or so and come back to it to see what has
changed.

Taking Stock - Two Revealing Hoop Exercises
Series: Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Hooping

I. Mapping Your "Hooping Body"

Think of this exercise as a kind of MRI for hoopers. A
head-to-knee scan of your hooping body in motion.

Purpose: Locate the parts of your body that hesitate
or resist your movements

How-To: With your hands together over your head,
begin hooping on the tips of your fingers. As slowly as
you absolutely can, work the hoop down the length of
your body -- inch by inch -- and then back up again.

Extra Challenge: Turn up your opposite-current
practice by attempting this exercise while hooping in
your non-dominant direction.

Notes: When hooping around elbows or other
trouble-spots, stay as loose as you possibly can. It
may also help to turn slowly in the direction of your
hoop. If you don't normally hoop below-the-knee, start
moving upward there. Otherwise, go as low as you
can.

What to Look For: Notice the parts of your body
where you must speed up or slow down to progress.
Be aware of any anxiety you feel approaching any
section of your body.

Take Stock: Jot down your observations and take
some time to free associate about them. You may also
like to sketch an image of your hooping body,
assigning different colors to areas according to your
comfort-level or resistance.