Archive for the ‘HulaHoopla’ Category

• Crossroads of Energy

  Date: 2011.04.26 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Well, I actually got a part-time job doing what I used to do. Floor directing for a live show.  I love it!  Right now I can teach my morning and night classes and still work at the job.  The income will go down because of more driving, downtown parking, montyly fees associated with my job. I still have unemployment for a while longer and I will receive some benefits to sort of make up the difference between what I make at my new job and what I used to make.  whew!  Good thing I worked crazy hours all those years!

  Of course, with new things, come new challenges.  Balancing a mid-day job with morning and night classes, the commute, trying to drive less yet haul hoops and being away from home and keeping up with hoop biz related emails, web things, updating classes, etc.  And right now my VW Bus is having major issues and I am hemorrhaging money between fixing her, paying rent on studios, etc.

  I’m at this crossroad – where to I put my energy?  I had a complete meltdown as I was trying to leave to teach a class.  Couldn’t find the keys that I just had in my hands not two minutes before.  I was going to be late for class.  Totally lost it, yelled, kicked over my cute little black leather foot stool (no damage!), heaved a cookie sheet out the door (that felt good!) but I must’ve sounded like a crazed screech owl to my neighbors and I certainly scared my cats.  WTF?  That isn’t how I want to be as a person.  But I just lost it!  It seems like my energy is so closely tied to money – probably because I’m always on the verge of not quite being able to pay my bills.  I’m forgoing many of the hooping events that I attended last year because of the lack of funds and knowing I need to rebuild my engine.  But those are choices I had to make and it’s not like I can’t go next year.  Maybe not being among all the other hoopers is what’s making me so unnerved.

  OK, so I love teaching, I love my students and want to keep doing it.  Problem is that I don’t have enough students to cover the expense of running the classes.  I assume that is typical when you’re starting out.  I’m sort of paying money to teach.  I know spring is coming and I can see that it is bringing out more hoop students.  I feel I need to keep going until at least June.  Maybe take a break over the summer (last summer was very slow for students) then push again in the fall.  Not sure.  I feel my personal practice has suffered tremendously because, frankly, I don’t make time for it.  I’m teaching 5 classes a week and host a hoop jam.  That’s a lot of being responsible for someone else’s hooping.

  Now back to the money.  I barely make rent on the studios.  I do teach two classes that pay well per hour and I don’t have to rent the space but they are very unreliable.  I feel like I should step away from one because of poor communication within the community center (where I teach) and it reflects bad on my hoop biz.  And the two spaces I rent for evening classes are not attracting students like I had hoped.  But if I drop them, I will likely lose those spaces at those times indefinitely.  So the question is here, who am I renting them for?  Do I keep plugging along and hope that all my flyer passing, web postings, twittering, marketing (such as it is) will eventually get to my audience?   What key element am I missing?  If I give up my studio space only because of money, what would that say about me?  That I’m a smart business woman who knows when to cut her losses? or a quitter?  YIKES!

  So right now, I’m drowning in debt, am struggling with whether I should continue to teach, gaining weight through stress eating.  Yep, my life is not balanced.

  Gotta do some more soul searching and path exploration.

• HulaHoopla T-shirts & Tanks

  Date: 2011.04.01 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Got my first batch of HulaHoopla shirts.  Pretty awesome!

  Contact me for sizes and prices.

  

  Ringer T-Shirt

  

  Black T-Shirt

  

  Moss T-Shirt

  

  Black Tank

  

  Moss Tank

  
  
  

• Follow My Bliss & Pay the Bills?

  Date: 2011.03.05 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Well, the time has come for me to seek a bill paying job so I can follow my bliss as a hoop instructor and not lose my home.  Times are tough for everyone and my work skills are stacked up in an industry that has automated me out of work.  Hmmmm.  What is a Hoopanista to do?

  My dream situation is working for a company that promotes a healthy lifestyle and outdoor adventure.  I would promote hooping as part of the healthy lifestyle that company promotes.  I would lead groups on adventures involving hoops that I design and create!  Perhaps travel to warm, beachy places?  Central America? My job would be within walking/biking distance, allow me time off to attend hooping events and Burning Man.

  Dream is free.

• Video of the Day Honor!

  Date: 2011.01.19 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  OMG!  We are the Video of the Day on Hooping.org!

  

  Hooping.org Video of the Day

  Big thanks to Philo Hagen at Hooping.org and Jayson Ramos for video taping and helping Saluern (eS-Bot) editing the footage.

  View the video here.

• Hoopanista @ eS-Bot Do Seattle

  Date: 2011.01.17 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Celebrated New Years Day with Dim Sum and guerrilla hooping in the International District of Seattle.  It was cold but sunny and we couldn’t resist!

  eS-Bot and Hoopanista – New Years Day in Seattle

• HoopGirl Beginner I: CANCELED TONIGHT

  Date: 2011.01.11 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  HoopGirl Beginner I class is canceled tonight (Jan. 11th) due to wind, cold and potential ice.
  Stay home, be warm and safe.  We have a make up class on Thursday (Jan. 13th) same time (7pm), same location (The Village Ballroom).

• We’re Cuckoo for Coco Hoops!

  Date: 2011.01.11 | Category: Hooping Hub, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Hoopnotica is running a campaign to have a Hoop Off between Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. Who know? It could happen!   You can check out the HOOP OFF – Leno vs. Conan on Facebook.  Lots of fun posts from other hoopers.  I rallied of few of my hooper gal pals and came up with a slogan and campaign sign.

  Hmmm….I can’t upload the sign at the moment but you can find it on the HulaHoopla Facebook Fan Page.  Not a fan????  Well, what are you waiting for?

  We took some pictures and made a fun little video to assist in the campaign. Check it out!
  And please share it with your friends.  Thank you!  BTW, I am “Bad Kitty” in this video, the last hooper.  That is my hoop troupe performer name. Meow!

  We’re Cuckoo for Coco Hoops!

• Winter Hoop Classes

  Date: 2010.12.05 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Holy Crap! Lots of classes to choose from.  I got ambitious…I only have a few months left to see if I can make this fly as my main income.  Fingers crossed and COME ON STUDENTS!

  See the HulaHoopla website for full class descriptions, payment information and DISCOUNTS!!!!

  

  Happy Hoopanista

  MONDAYS

  Hula Hooping for Fitness
  Portland Community College (**you must register through PCC)
  SE Center TABOR 102, 2305 SE 82nd Avenue
  1:15pm – 2:15pm

  Two 4-week sessions:
  Jan. 3^rd – Jan 31^st (NOTE: NO CLASS JAN. 17^th)
  Feb 14^th – March 7^th

  *************************************************

  TUESDAYS

  The Bamboo Grove Salon
  134 SE Taylor (Entrance on SE 2^nd between the two potted bamboo plants)
  11:00am – 12:30pm

  Two 6-week Intensive Sessions!

  HoopGirl Workout 6-Week Intensive Beginner Series:
  Jan 4^th – Feb 8^th
  HoopGirl Workout 6-Week Intensive Intermediate Series:
  Feb 15^th – March 22^nd

  Fee: $60 for 6-week series (just $10 per class, $15 drop-in)

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The Village Ballroom

  HoopGirl Workout Beginner I & II (Take I & II in any order)
  700 NE Dekum Street
  7:00pm – 8:00pm

  Two 6-week sessions:
  Beginner I: Jan 4^th – Feb 8^th
  Beginner II:  Feb15^th – March 22^nd

  Fee: $90 for 6-week series (just $15 per class, $20 drop-in)

  ***********************************************************

  WEDNESDAYS

  Rigler SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community School
  5401 NE Prescott Street
  3:00pm – 4:00pm

  Hooping is Fun! Rigler Elementary School 4^th – 6^th Grade Students
  Jan. 12^th – March 2^nd

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  

  Hoopdance Fitness
  Gem Studio
  1110 NE Glisan, PDX
  6:00pm-7:00pm

  Classes start January  and run through February and first week of March.
  See the Gem Studio website for details.
  Fee: TBD

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Multi-level Hoop Clinic
  NW Dance Project Studio
  833 N. Shaver @ N. Mississippi
  8:00pm-9:00pm

  4-week sessions:
  Jan. 5^th – 26^th, Feb. 2^nd – 23^rd, Mar. 2^nd – 23rd

  Fee: $80 for each 4-week session (just $20 per class, $25 drop-in)

  ***************************************************************

  THURSDAYS

  Over-the-hump-day Hooping with the LooLoo’s!
  The Bamboo Grove Salon
  134 SE Taylor Street
  (Entrance is on SE 2nd Avenue between the two potted bamboo plants)

  Every Thursday TFN
  12:00pm – 2:00pm

  Fee: $3 suggested donation

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The Village Ballroom
  HoopGirl Intermediate I & II (Take I & II in any order)
  700 NE Dekum Street
  7:00pm – 8:00pm

  Two 6-week sessions:
  Intermediate I: Jan. 6^th – Feb. 10^th
  Intermediate II: Feb.17^th – Mar. 24^th

  Fee: $90 for 6-week series (just $15 per class, $20 drop-in)

  ********************************************************

  SUNDAYS

  Hoopdance Fitness
  Northeast Community Center (NECC)
  1630 NE 38th Avenue – PDX
  (If you use the NECC parking lot, please get a parking permit at the check-in desk)

  10:30am – 11:30am

  6-Week Sessions:  January 2nd – February 6th
  $40 Non-Members
  $60 Non-Members + teens (14 & up)
  $20 Members
  $30 Members + teens (14 & up)

  Please visit the NECC Website for payments, membership information and drop-in fees.

  **************************************************

  MONTHLY COASTAL WORKSHOPS

  Newport Recreation Center
  225 Southeast Avery Street
  Newport, OR

  January:
  Friday Jan. 21^st 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Saturday Jan. 22^nd 12:30pm-2:30pm

  February:
  Friday Feb. 18^th 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Saturday Feb. 19^th 11:00am-1:00pm

  March:
  Friday March. 18^th 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Saturday March 19^th 11:00am-1:00pm

  Please register with the Newport Recreation Center for each class.

• Winter Classes – TBA SOON!

  Date: 2010.11.27 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  I am in the midst of confirming days and dates for winter classes.  Stay tuned!

• Hoopy Holidaze!!!!

  Date: 2010.11.27 | Category: HulaHoopla, The Hoops - Of Course | Response: 0

  What’s a fun, interactive gift that DOESN’T require batteries?  A hoop, of course!

  My hoops will be at two holiday bazaars this weekend so check ‘em out.

  4th Annual Sunnyside Holiday Art and Craft Fair

  

  Sunnyside Environmental School

  Sunnyside Environmental School
  3421 SE Salmon Street
  Portland, Oregon

  December 4th
  11 am – 5 pm

  The holidays are here! Everything is handmade and I will be selling hoops. 10% of proceeds to go the Sunnyside Environmental School.

  Hoops will run from $25 to $45 depending on the materials used. I also make deals on multiples and I hope to have a tie-in with my classes that start in January. It should be fun!

  I will also be “weather & scuff resisting” hoops on site for an additional $5. I use a clear vinyl to cover any hoop and it will keep the rain at bay so you can play with them outside AND the clear layer will prevent color marks on your floors and walls when you hoop inside.

  Hope to see you there.

  ******************************************************************************

  Saturday Dec 4th

  

  Hip Happening Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular

  11am-5pm
  Hip Happening Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular
  Sellwood Masonic Lodge
  7126 SE Milwaukie Avenue

  Get a jump start on the holiday & gift-giving season.
  Hand-made hoops make great gifts and I’m selling them this weekend!

  Sign up for winter classes while you’re there!
  Book a holiday hoop party or a night of hoop making with your friends.

  Hoops will run from $25 to $45 depending on the materials used. There will be a HulaHoopla representative at this event happy to help your holidays be hoopy!

  I also make deals on multiple hoop sales and I hope to have a tie-in with my classes that start in January. It should be fun!