Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Tink in Tokyo on May 21, 2012 at 4:34pm

Sounds like you need to allow yourself to have personal time for yourself. I don't mean sleeping and showering, but looking after your own desires instead of the needs of your business, boyfriend, and the child. That's not as easy to do as it is to advise, but I hope you can do it. Another way to ease your stress is to learn to say "no" when a request overloads you. 

And in general, make sure you get enough sleep and are eating well. Being solid in those basics can really help relieve the "running on empty" feeling. More specifically:

Take yourself on a hooping date. Go to the park with your hoops and and some music and rock out for an hour. Dance like nobody's watching. Focus on moving your body and let the hoop follow. Don't think, just dance. Moving meditation is a good way to destress.

If you like off-body hooping, you might enjoy Brecken's Waves class here on Hoop City. It's full of her flowy, bouncy off-body style and she explains things well.

When I am not motivated to hoop, I don't hoop. Forcing myself to hoop is usually not so good unless I am prescribing hooping as a cure for myself - which is then my motivation.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by copesetic chinacat ;) on May 21, 2012 at 9:05pm

thank you for the reply :) you've hit the nail on the head with suggesting brecken's class, i was staring at my bank account last night thinking "can i afford it right now?" i think at the festival i'm vending at this weekend i'm going to put a tip jar out while i'm spinning :P

i should focus a lot more on my dojo, i used to do yoga every night and i've been feeling run down since stopping that habit. & with being busy my eating patterns are terrible. thank you for making me aware of that, i wouldn't have even cared without a different point of view.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Christine on May 22, 2012 at 6:53am

I totally agree with Tink. You definitely need some personal time. I think its really great that you are trying to help your roomate out, but if its not good for your health, then maybe you should find a new place to live...are you in a rent agreement with her? can you move in with your boyfriend? Remember, that you need to put yourself first and make sure you're taken care of before you can even think about anyone else. :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Water Song on May 22, 2012 at 8:39am

In my experience, you can't give your all to your family and friends if you are not at your best. I found that if I schedule my pewrsonal time in my daily and weekly routine, it becomes as inportant as a business meeting or feeding the children at dinner time. Just a little food for thought.

I also agree with Tink about not forcing yourself to get motivated. If you try to force it, it becomes a chore, and is no longer enjoyable. Christine poses some good options as well. Maybe moving in with your boyfriend or finding another place would be more beneficial. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best. Happy Hooping!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by copesetic chinacat ;) on May 22, 2012 at 12:22pm

thank you both :) moving definitely is not an option, my room mate and her little girl are my best friends and i help them hold up this house. and this house is also my workplace, i pay "rent" by making patchwork with her, cleaning and babysitting when needed. we've just hit a rough spot with work and play. my lack of motivation is coming from a lack of confidence, i think. i watch these incredible hoopers out there and instead of thinking "i'm gonna learn all the cool shit i just watched!" i think "well, i might as well sit down n just watch them"... i don't know what's wrong wit me, i'm not one of those competitive hoopers out there, i just dance for me and the band playing. i just need a good festival, i think. and some money for brecken's class. hahah.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Water Song on May 22, 2012 at 12:53pm

Aww...Chinacat! I feel for you sweetie. I know what it is like to be the "odd one out".... But you can't let it get you down! I used to be the same way about different things in life I would see people pick-up faster easier and better at it than me. This time for me it is different. I am truly hooked on hooping! I mean, I only started Friday afternoon, and about the only thing I have mastered is keeping the hoop form falling off my waist, but it doesn't stop me from trying every trick I see! lol I know I must have looked frightfully silly to an experienced hooper, but it was fun and I had a great day! Now, I take it everywhere and just keep doing it. I just dance for me too, but seeing the more advanced tricks makes me think "Wow! imma do that!" Not for anyone else or for competition, but for me to better myself and feel better about myself......

Just keep dancing for you, and it will come as you naturally find and improve your flow.....

Above all, Have Fun!! 

Hope this helps, from a complete beginner......Happy Hooping! <3

.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by copesetic chinacat ;) on May 22, 2012 at 1:48pm

thank you water song <333 you have the attitude i once had about hooping. and that reminds me. i will have that attitude again. all i have to do is change my intentions and mindset. just last weekend, i had 3 different moments of people coming over to me specifically to tell me that out of all the hoopers there, they loved watching me the best. when i'm in my flow i feel incredible and i know it looks as good as it feels - countless people have told me this. but its just the learning new things thing! GRRRR. but i wouldn't progress without a struggle. i think i'll watch Safire's "Love the Process" video again. it always brings me to tears of joy, knowing how far passion can take you. not only in hooping, but in life itself.

thank you thank you thank you everyone! this hooper family we got is one i am SO PROUD to be apart of. i love you all so deeply!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by LiviJoyHoops on May 22, 2012 at 10:01pm

It's very true that not all of us can afford the classes (myself included).  I was just thinking of this today, that while I have learned so much just by watching YouTube tutorials, there is going to be a point where I need to pick up my hoop and figure out what kind of hooper I am.  I need to spend the time on the kind of things work for my body type and abilities, etc.  That isn't happening when I am sitting here staring at a computer screen, watching amazing hoopers and beating myself up for not being that good.  So as I am offering this advice, I am also coaching myself on this!  

I think that everyone should take an online class if they can..these instructors are extremely talented and they have worked hard on their journey to get to where they are!  You can see their progression over the years just by watching YouTube...I especially love SaFire's "LOVE The Process" video!!!  I highly recommend that you look it up!

...And festival season is right around the corner, so get out there and dance yourself happy!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by copesetic chinacat ;) on May 23, 2012 at 2:32pm

i LOVE the way you put this "So as I am offering this advice, I am also coaching myself on this!" ... i do the same almost constantly, best way to learn sometimes :)  & its also funny you mentioned the "love the process" video because i was talking about it in the post above yours ;) we are really on the same page! tomorrow i'm going to set up my vending booth at my second festival so far this season. and since my boyfriend's band is hosting it - i get to fire hoop as i please (we are literally in the middle of nowhere, so me not having insurance is not a big deal) i know this will get me back in my groove. 

my tip jar's going to say "send me to hoop school" hahaha. i'm gonna start saving for brecken's class. she's what molded me as the hooper i am today, i love her quirkyness and the way her hoop seems to be moving her. my goal is to look so effortlessly smooth like her. now i shall manifest that n go hoop. 

<3 thanks for your response!

• ▶ Reply