So the thirteenth of September marked my one year hoopiversary, one year from the day I made my very first hoop and gave it a spin. Since then, I've been power-teaching myself to learn as many new tricks as I can, to fill my bag with lots of toys to impress and wow people.

I think, a year in, I've done a pretty good job at trick collecting. I've also got a regular twice a week class I teach, and I'm performing for audiences at least once, if not more, a month. I've traveled to North Carolina to hoop with an amazing group of people, and at the end of the month, I'll be traveling to California to do it again. I've hooped with bright lights and I've hooped with fire. This is all pretty sweet, considering that on September 13th, 2008, I had no idea if I'd ever be able to get the hang of lifting the hoop off of my waist.

But it is a new hoop year, and I have a new hoop goal. My goal in the next year of hooping is precision. I want to hone what I know and make it as clean as possible. I want it to look effortless. I want every move I make to be precise and intentional. I look at performers like Ann & Spiral, and their movements are so clean and smooth.

I'm not saying I won't jam out every now and then. What's the point of hooping if you can't let yourself go and whirl madly? But during my practice time, the focus will be on precision. Hopefully by the end of my next year in the hoop, I'll have a whole new set of exciting experiences to share, and a cleaner, more precise practice!