Lindsay Nova's Hoop/Dance Blog

Fire Eating Workshop Series

2012-02-20T13:01:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been curious about fire dancing? Then this will be a great workshop for you. Fire eating is both a sensual and daring art form. This 2 week long course with local fire performer Lindsay Nova will cover fire safety, fire eating, and tips and tricks. Perfect for those just curious about fire, or other performers looking to add a sizzling new act into their repertoire! A set of fire eating wands will be included. Please read on for more information and registration.

Where: Infinity Dance Center, 1039 Mediterranean Ave., Columbus, OH

Dates, Times, and Pricing are as follows:

Mar. 10 12-1:30pm Fire Safety + Fire Eating 101
Mar. 17 12-1:30pm Fire Eating Tips & Tricks

Pricing

Day 1 + wands $50
Both days + wands $75
Day (no wands) $30
Both days (no wands) $55

Must have own pair of wands or plan on buying the first day of the workshop!

*Must take Fire Safety class to move on to Day 2

**Fire eating wands will also be available on the day of the workshop.

Workshop Descriptions

Fire Safety

This portion of the workshop will teach participants the basics of fire dancing and safety without lighting up. Fuel types, props, breathing exercises, first aid, and standard procedures of fire safety will be covered. Each person will learn how to be a "safety" for those performing fire.

Fire Eating 101: Extinguishing the Flame

In this workshop, we will work in pairs to cover the basics of eating fire. How to eat fire will be covered, as well as practice being a fire safety, and ways to make your fire eating creative through movement. Wear comfortable, non-flammable clothing, such as cotton, hemp, or bamboo. Bring a towel and water.

Fire Eating Tips & Tricks

This workshop will advance our fire eating skills to include more daring maneuvers. Different ways of lighting the torches, including transfers, will be covered. Basic fire fleshing will also be covered. Wear comfortable, non-flammable clothing, such as cotton, hemp, or bamboo. Bring a towel and water.

Lindsay Nova is CPR and First Aid certified.

Please email Lindsay.Nova.Hoops@gmail.com with any questions.

www.LindsayNova.com

Hoop Dance Workshop at Infinity

2012-01-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

When: Saturday Feb. 11 2-3:30pm

Where: Infinity Dance and Wellness 1039 Mediterranean Ave

The hula hoop opens your mind, body, and spirit to endless possibilities of fun and creative fitness. It can burn 300-600 calories per hour and work the core, arms, and legs. Beginners will use heavier, larger hoops so they can “feel” the rotations, while more advanced hoopers will use smaller, lighter hoops for speedier tricks. There will be something for everyone in this workshop, whether you are completely new to hooping or an experienced hooper wanting to refine the basics and take it further. Basic core hooping and off-body moves will be covered. The workshop will include a stretching and movement-based warm up and cool down, trick exploration, personal improvisation, and choreographed routines to funky music.

Some hoops will be available for use on a first come, first served basis. Custom handmade hoops will also be for sale for $25-30.

Pricing: $20

Registration is available below.

Space is limited!

Email Lindsay.Nova.Hoops@gmail.com with any questions. See you there in the hoop!

**Please invite other Hoopers who may want to attend!**

Hoop Workshops with Lindsay Nova!

2012-01-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

Due to the overwhelming success of last month's workshops, I have decided to offer another series! They will once again be held at Feverhead in Grandview. Not only will you learn some new moves in each class, you will be exercising your creativity, interacting with other local hoopers, and stretch yourself in new ways! Hooping is the most exciting creative fitness form out there, so don't miss out and register today! Space is limited.

When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012

Time: 3-7pm

Where: Feverhead 1199 Goodale Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212 in the Grandview Area

3pm Beginner Hoop Dance 1 *Registration is now closed for this workshop*
This class is geared toward those completely new to hooping or the experienced hooper wanting to refine the basics. Basic core hooping and off-body moves will be covered.

4pm Beginner Hoop Dance 2 *Registration is now closed for this workshop*
This is a great class for those who have taken any Beginner workshops or series with me who want to move onto learning more tricks and putting them together into flow! This will be a continuation of Beginner Hoop Dance 1.

5pm Hoop Yoga
Hoop Yoga combines the flow of hoop dance with the grace of yoga in a stretching, playful practice. Meditation and visualization techniques combined with yoga asanas (postures) and hoop dance will open the subtle energy body to deepen your body awareness. This class will be great as a cool down from the Beginner Hoop Workshop, or as a warm up for the Mini Hoop Basics. Basic hoop skills required.

6pm Mini Hoop Basics
This workshop will use two smaller and lighter hoops for all off body moves. Work your arms and challenge your mind using two small hoops. Basic weaves, grip changes, and turns will be covered. Recommended for those comfortable with basic hand hooping. Mini hoops will be provided.

Pricing & Registration

**All Online Registrations have a $1 service fee. Reserve your spot today! Please list which workshops you are signing up for in the text field below:)

Some hoops will be available for use on a first come, first served basis. Custom handmade hoops will also be for sale for $25-30.

Please email Lindsay Nova at Lindsay.Nova.Hoops(at)gmail(dot)com with any questions. See you there in the hoop!

Where is the line

2011-12-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

Being a professional performer is not easy.

So lately, I ask myself, where do I draw the line between fun and performance?

There are things that I envy about other cities abilities to profit off of nightlife performance. Columbus (and Ohio in general) has not advanced itself to this point yet.

Girls, hoopers, dancers, and performers, are often encouraged to hoop onstage at a show or festival for free in Ohio. This is great for people who are just starting out (and it seems as if every other girl with a hoop is now a performer...) and this is how I started. I still do it. I just did it the other day at Circus during their weekly Electro night. Actually, I was kind of forced to do it after the owner said I was not allowed to spin my hoops in the middle of the dance floor. The dancing crowd had thinned out and I wanted to spin my doubles in that space. There was not near enough room on stage. I am an insured performer. Perhaps one of the only insured performance hoopers in Ohio. I am a conscious person. I am also an entertainer. But that bar owner doesn't care.

This year I have made over $4,000 performing. However, the majority of that money comes from gigs that I get through an entertainment company that I am fortunate enough to be in, High Jinks Productions, that hooks me up with gigs mostly outside of my nightlife counterculture- private parties, corporate events, holiday events, kids parties, etc. And because I make money performing elsewhere, I often go out and hoop for fun. Unfortunately, I think that there is a culture that believes all hoopers will perform for free. And this just isn't the case. And quite frankly, sometimes I feel silly for putting myself out there.

I am also fortunate that I work with a smaller promotion company in Columbus, Fresh Beet Productions, that hires me to perform at their monthly electronic events. However, there is a problem of venues in Columbus. There are really no good venues for dancers that play decent (i.e. not mainstream) music. Anyways, because of my issues with just hooping at shows in Columbus, I pretty much gave up trying to work out any kind of financial compensation with certain nightlife promoters. Because I can make money elsewhere.

Other times, I go to large-scale events such as Massive Festival in Washington, DC, that has a whole slew of hired entertainment to perform alongside acts such as Moby, and I am hooping in the crowd. Wishing I was on stage. Because I know what it feels like. I've done it. I love the thrill of performing to live beats in the moment. It's one of the best feelings in the world. I've also become accustomed to a life where I am backstage interacting with the artists. And sometimes I get frustrated in situations like that.

Going to events like that shows me what can be done. It gives me hope that maybe Columbus will keep growing bigger. Electronic music, and dubstep in particular, has exploded within the past year. I know these people are making money. Why not spread the love and put Columbus on the map as really throwing some good parties, such as what is going on in DC and Detroit? And while we're at it, I'd just like to say that I think there needs to be more female DJs. When was the last time you saw a female DJ in Columbus? Ana Sia in September? Yeah, that's what I thought. The rave community can be just as sexist as any other part of society, the only difference perhaps is PLUR, fur, and glitter.

Anyways, so tonight I am faced with a decision. Even though I knew about this show for months, I kept my schedule open in case I got a paid gig on NYE. And I did, at the last minute. I am spinning fire at Spain Night Club. Do I go to a show I know there are going to be performers at and I'm not going to be? Do I just suck it up and put my party face on, because after all, I'm not getting paid to be there? Or do I pay my full price ticket because I didn't square anything away months ago for a band I've hooped for numerous times because I want to support them and bring my hoops just in case? I don't know. Where do I draw the line between party and performance?

Conscious Money Happiness = Fit Mind/Body

2011-11-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

Lately I have given a lot of thought to money. Not in the sense that I often have so little, am in incredible amounts of debt, and use personal finance software to track my money. Which are all true. I've been thinking more about the concept of money.

What if money didn't exist? This is a plausible future that a close of friend of mine believes will soon happen. I don't know if I'm quite on the same page as him, but as he said recently, "Money is the root of all evil." And that thought echoed through my head for a few days.

There have been some ideas about the future of our economy ranging from the Venus Project as presented in the Zeitgeist films and the positive outlook in Thrive. While I think the Venus Project may be ideal, I think it is a long way off. My personal view that I currently try to live by is that money can be a positive exchange of energy.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I quit my "day job" a couple months back before heading to Burning Man with the intention of focusing more on my hoop business and yoga teaching. Although difficult at first, now going into my 4th month, I am seeing results of my hard work. Certainly the job I had was by no means terrible- it was an interesting look into the retail side of dance clothing, and as a businesswoman myself I learned some things of value. And the people I worked with were great and I cherish the friendships I gained from that experience.

On a side note, I will say that working in such an environment, you become fairly close to your co-workers and myself and others would often come in with baggage and stories, etc. Since I now mostly work in an environment where I am a leader in a class setting, the social structures have changed. It has actually had a positive impact on my life, I believe, because I don't deal with others' excess baggage on a day-to-day basis, and what I do deal with are student's body issues that I genuinely want to help with, and not their emotional dilemmas. However, sometimes I feel a little lonely in this path and also not as emotionally connected as "friends" to my students... which is why I am wanting to start a class for my friends!

Sometimes it amazes me that in a time of economic recession that I can make money doing what I do. Sure, I don't have health insurance or a 401K but since I'm already doing what I love- why would I retire? October is always a great month for performers because of Halloween festivities, and luckily here in Columbus I'm starting to get booked for all kinds of events pretty regularly- everything from kids birthday parties, underground electronic music shows, to holiday parades. And also, since I have been here for a year now, I'm starting to get re-booked for recurring events, which is super nice and gives me incentive to stay here!

I've often wanted to move somewhere super heady out West, but the fields are super competitive in what I do- yoga, dance, flow arts- so why not refine my skills here- and when the times right- I will move! I'm not ready to struggle yet, because I am constantly amazed at the opportunity here in Columbus and the Midwest.

So what if we did not need money? What if we didn't need to earn a living? I wonder if I would be teaching as much yoga or making as many hula hoops. I highly doubt that I would, honestly. Right now I teach anywhere from 7-10 classes a week at various locations around town, which turns out to be a lot of driving time. I constantly sub classes and of course perform on the weekends. I overwork myself and am not good about giving myself days off, however I do have more free day time which is super nice and helpful for getting things done(like making hoops) and staying organized. Obviously, this is not ideal and I'm even looking to add more classes to my schedule which I sometimes question- am I motivated by money or my true desire to teach? I think a little of both.

Right now I primarily teach at Urban Active which is a regional gym corporation, and I actually really like it. My classes are always full and I get a free gym membership. In the past I have taught for smaller companies (and I still do) and for companies just getting started and it is often difficult if you have little to no one in class to maintain your confidence and drive. I would prefer to teach in a yoga studio setting, but my networking has not lead me there (yet). I think in some ways it has perhaps changed my teaching style, but probably one of the biggest benefits lately has been my drive to actually work out. I've gone to the gym on and off over the years but lately, just within the past year and even more so since I've had more free time (and more energy) I've been making sure to do a regular cardio workout. And using the sauna is a total added bonus! Now some people ask me- why don't you just dance or hoop for your cardio? Well, I think it's important to cross train- even if you only do yoga, because machines such as the bike or elliptical really help lubricate the joints, which is essential for someone like me who's had ACL reconstruction.

Another one of the issues I deal with is the lack of time for myself to actually take class or do continuing education. The upside, however, is that I make my own schedule and just have to find subs whenever I need to travel!

However, within the current paradigm that I am in, I am given the opportunity to touch so many lives through the gifts of yoga and dance. Allowing people to stretch, relax, open their hearts, feel themselves blossom, move, grow, and smile when they see the hoop I've made them! Priceless.

I think that a majority of people are lost on their path in this world. They don't know what they want to do except for survive, which means they are operating from the root chakra, which is a lower frequency. However, more and more, I am seeing people awaken and pursue things they REALLY want to do! Now, a part of this viewpoint may be biased from my involvement in the hooping and yoga world. However, it is very common in these fields to pursue these forms whole-heartedly.

This is certainly not where I saw my life taking me. I studied contemporary modern dance very seriously for 10 years and my dream was to be in a modern dance company full time, being paid to rehearse and perform. My life hasn't panned out that way, and sometimes I get disappointed about it and the fact that I haven't taken a dance technique class in almost a year. But you know what? My body does not hurt as much, I am injured less, and I am not working on someone else's choreography that is not my vision and forcing myself to embody something that possibly doesn't matter to me at all.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't drop all of this in a heartbeat to dance with David Dorfman or Kathleen Hermesdorf or Capicitor or Diavolo. Because I feel that my spirit truly dances (which is why I busted out an improv in my kitchen today) and I spent a long time refining my technique for this very reason.

Sometimes I wonder if the people I went to high school or college with think I'm wasting my talents, but who cares, really, if you're happy? Because I spent many of those years very unhappy.

So, I've got to wonder, though, if money did not exist- what would we occupy our time with? And what would happen to things such as concerts, music festivals, and even taking airplanes across the world?

Ponderings on Diet, our Bodies, and Happiness

2011-11-20T18:26:00.000-08:00

Over the years I have experimented with several different types of diets- vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, organic, and the cheap college student diet. I still struggle in finding consistency in my diet and I often envy those who can stick to their food beliefs righteously. However, I have learned a great deal from my food experiments and try to incorporate them when I can. My ideal diet is mostly vegetarian (fish only on occasion), gluten-free, dairy-free, preservative free(duh), organic, and mostly soy-free. That is a lot of restrictions and it is often overwhelming and the opposite of what I *like* to eat. Such as cheese. And Bacon.

Lately, I've been thinking more about what I eat, not only as I get older (26 now!) but also as a yoga teacher, fitness enthusiast, and loving peacekeeper of the world. I want to inspire my friends and those I teach to make healthy, mindful decisions about what they eat. However, because I still struggle with my own diet dilemmas, I wonder- is this even a valid thought?

So here are my opinions on why I believe my ideal diet can be an ideal diet for many other people.

Meat: Obviously, the killing of animals is cruel and the way animals are bred for consumption is flat out wrong, not only for the animals, but also for the workers in such conditions. The amount of meat consumed is unnecessary, especially considering that protein sources can be found from many other plant sources. And have even more vital nutrients! However, I understand that there are also some nutrients within meat- such as iron- that can be difficult to consume in an only plant based diet- so I think that a meat that is light on your system- such as fish- is okay to eat once a week. And if you do eat meat- try to buy free-range meat- because then at least you know the animals were treated more humanely and the meat is probably better for you.

Gluten: I think that our foods are oversaturated with flour and whole wheat. I recently read that the Italian population has a high occurrence of Celiac Disease- which is an allergic reaction to gluten (the active protein in wheat)- and what is their main staple? Pasta. Which is also my favorite food. Besides pizza. I had never given much thought to the gluten issue until I dated someone for several years who was gluten intolerant. Ditching whole wheat opened up a new realm of possibilities of grains: quinoa, teff, amaranth, barley, rye, millet, etc. And guess what? These grains are chock-full of vital nutrients and complete proteins. These grains are often called "ancient grains" because they are often not in the modern diet. It's also supposed that millet contains vitamin B17 which is a cancer-preventing vitamin not found in any other source or supplement.

People who suffer from gluten intolerance usually have symptoms such as stomach upset, skin rashes, and joint swelling. Therefore, it's important for them to follow a strict diet. However, for those who do not suffer gluten intolerance- I still believe that you can find relief from digestive problems, skin issues, and joint problems by eating less gluten- or perhaps doing a gluten detox.

Luckily, the gluten-free food market is growing and pastas, pizzas, breads, and just about anything you can think of is available at your local supermarket. If you live in Ohio, Kroger has a great selection, and of course, I'm sure Whole Foods nationwide does as well.

Dairy: This is a huge one for me! I love cheese. And there's a reason for it, besides it tasting so good. Dairy activates the opiate receptors in your brain- which are the same feel-good receptors that give you a warm fuzzy feeling when you take a Vicodin. Your body literally becomes addicted to it. Besides the fact that most people are lactose-intolerant, dairy is also believed to "clog" your system and cause excess mucous build-up in your sinuses and joints. One Spring I decided to do a 3 month dairy and gluten free diet to clear my seasonal allergies which always gave me a cough at that time of year. With additional help of an air purifier and a neti pot, I cleared my allergies within 2 weeks and they did not come back at all that season. I also had great digestion and a super flat stomach!

I have had an aversion to milk ever since I was a child. I have found that rice, almond, or hemp milk are great substitutes and can be used in cooking and or as coffee creamer(that flavored and powdered stuff always freaks me out a little). I believe there is a vast amount of unnecessary hormones not only in milk, but also in many other dairy products. I believe these hormones (and the chemicals within plastic that children are exposed to that directly effect the endocrine system) are causing young girls to start puberty at much younger ages(and I was one of them).

Additionally, there is an animal rights side to this issue as well. It is difficult, in my opinion, to buy organic cheese because it is often so expensive. As for non-dairy cheese, I prefer rice cheese over soy and also one that does not have casein(the protein enzyme in milk that people can actually have allergic reactions to- why they put it in non-dairy cheese is beyond me!). Also, many foods still taste fine without cheese! I often eat cheese-less pizza or burritos or whatever.

Now, yogurt. This is a difficult one for me. When I did my dairy detox a few years ago, I ate a lot of soy yogurt and probably took a probiotic. Which I recommend anyway. But I am not a fan of fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kimchi. Kombucha, yes, is an option that I have not fully explored yet. I do not think that soy yogurt is an efficient replacement though.

As for eggs, I believe that you should always buy cage-free.

Organic vs Non-organic vs Local: There is a stipulation that organic food is always more expensive. I do not believe this. I mainly shop in the natural foods section at Kroger. I buy what is on sale. They had Amy's Organic Pizzas on sale for $3.99 for a couple weeks recently! That's cheaper than California Pizza Kitchen. By a long shot! Kroger is great because if you have a rewards card, they cater the coupons they send you by what you purchase. I am able to save and eat healthy.

In a time where I feel the people in our world have lost our voices(and yes, the OWS movement is taking a stand against that) and that voting has lost its power and that perhaps money really doesn't matter, I choose to vote with where I put my dollar, especially concerning my food. However, the problem with this is that many of the organic food brands, I believe, are owned by larger corporations- so maybe I'm just feeding the machine of destruction- I don't know. I will say, the one thing that saddens me at Kroger- their natural foods section of processed food is larger than their selection of fresh organic produce.

I do not have much money. I never have. My parents make lots more money than I do and they never buy organic. It's not about money. It's about beliefs. And more than anything I try to use money as a positive energy exchange- it's the same reason I prefer to buy stuff on Etsy and support the handmade- than buy from a mall. And the same can go for buying from your local farmer's market, which I think is highly valuable and offers so much more variety than the supermarket and a lot of the time is organic and cheap!

So what are my beliefs? Well, I believe that GMO agriculture is destroying the land and the planet through pollution, soil depletion, excess waste, nutrient deficiency, monopolization of farming, and excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides, to name a few. And the fucked up thing about all of this- is that our government of the United States is in bed with Monsanto. This in itself is one of the factors that I believe proves there is an elite group of people who have capitalized on the population growth (grow the population, sell more, more money in their pocket, now there's too many people, so screw up the food supply and most of the population dies and whoever is left is forced to be their slave). Okay, that is just a dystopic scenario that perhaps the NWO wants and that I believe movements such as OWS are fighting against and movies such as Zeitgeist, Esoteric Agenda, and Thrive are all interesting perspectives into all of that.

Soy: The last one I will talk about! I used to drink soy milk and eat Boca burgers when I was vegetarian. That did not work out so great. And I later discovered that excess soy can actually cause hormonal changes and breast cancer. I think the occasional soy is okay, but definitely not in excess. I prefer to eat the Quorn (fake chicken) patties now as they are made from a protein-containing fungus and quite good actually. However- these fake chicken patties contain gluten.

I am very anal about reading the ingredients on the food I buy. If you don't know what something is, I suggest you look it up and determine if it's actually safe for you to eat. I certainly would NOT trust what the FDA says is safe to consume.

My problem with the Quorn patties is my main dilemma in trying to accomplish all of my diet ideals. In order to be healthy, I think I have to break them sometimes. Unless I want to do a raw food diet, which I think would be difficult with the amount of activity I do as a yoga teacher and dancer. Earlier this year, I was very sick for several months. I decided to restrict my dairy and gluten to unclog my system. When I finally went in to the doctor, she told me that this diet may have been depleting my vitamin D and since it was Winter, my levels were very low. She put me on a high dose of vitamin D for several months. I did have immediate relief from the high dose of vitamin D such as an elevated mood and symptom relief.

So I really recommend talking to your doctor before embarking on any kind of diet change. And if you don't have a doctor, do as much research as you can, talk to your friends, and take a good multivitamin!

Supplements: Last part, I swear! I think supplements are a beneficial addition to any diet. Currently I take:

Jarro-Dophilus EPS (probiotic) w/ 5 billion organisms per capsule, non-refrigerated (the lady at the health food store said it was fine and I'm pretty sure she was the owner of this small business)

Alive! Women's Multi

Bromelain- pineapple enzyme that is good for digestion, joint inflammation(which is common in my line of work), and system stress

Calcium/Magnesium- Women especially should take this, even more especially small petite frames such as myself!

Vitamin D- 400 IU

Glucosamine/Chondroiton- again, to protect my joints

Rainbow Light Advanced Enzyme System- really great for any digestive discomfort or even recovering from stomach flu

Colloidal Silver- anti-microbial to boost the immune system

5HTP- has helped enormously with my insomnia and depression over the past 3 years. Also apparently can help with appetite suppression for those wanting to lose weight, but I cannot personally attest to that as I have always had a big appetite.

I try to keep all of my supplements by my bedside and take them as needed/when I remember/as much as I can. I don't think it's necessary to take all of them every day. I usually only do the Colloidal Silver if I think I'm getting sick or have been in contact with someone sick.

Besides, all of this, I remind myself that with regular exercise and hard work toward accomplishing my goals, it's okay to reward myself and not take life too seriously!

Hoop Workshops with Lindsay Nova!

2011-11-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be offering these workshops in the Columbus, OH area. I have received so many emails and messages inquiring about hoop classes that I have decided to run my own workshops with hopes of it leading to a longer class series. Please read below for more details!

When: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011

Time: 2-7pm

Where: Feverhead 1199 Goodale Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212 in the Grandview Area

2pm Beginner Hoop Dance
This class is geared toward those completely new to hooping or the experienced hooper wanting to refine the basics. Basic core hooping and off-body moves will be covered.

3:30pm Hoop Yoga
Hoop Yoga combines the flow of hoop dance with the grace of yoga in a stretching, playful practice. Meditation and visualization techniques combined with yoga asanas (postures) and hoop dance will open the subtle energy body to deepen your body awareness. This class will be great as a cool down from the Beginner Hoop Workshop, or as a warm up for the Intermediate Hoop Workshop. Basic hoop skills required.

5pm Intermediate Hoop Dance
This class will dive into finding a “flow state” in hoop dance and cover more complex moves using angles, jumps, isolations, and tosses. Contemporary dance and improvisation techniques will be used as tools for exploration to expand your hoop dance vocabulary. A lighter hoop that is 36” or smaller in diameter is recommended. Basic hoop skills required.

Pricing & Registration

**All Online Registrations have a $1 service fee. Reserve your spot today! Please list which workshops you are signing up for in the text field :)

Some hoops will be available for use on a first come, first served basis. Custom handmade hoops will also be for sale for $25-30.

Please email Lindsay Nova at Lindsay.Nova.Hoops(at)gmail(dot)com with any questions. See you there in the hoop!

Fall 2011 Class Schedule

2011-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Photo by Sonya Paclob

Current Classes (continuing through the Fall)
Monday

10:30am Yoga at Urban Active Graceland

7:30 pm Pilates at R Studio in Reynoldsburg, every other Monday

Tuesdays

11:30am Restorative Yoga at Aspen Fitness Reynoldsburg

7:20pm Yoga at Urban Active Hilliard

Wednesday

10:30am Power Yoga at Urban Active Graceland

6pm Flow Yoga at Urban Active Powell

Thursdays

7:30pm Pilates at Pai Yoga and Fitness in Dublin

Sunday

10:30am Yoga at Urban Active Powell

4:45pm Yoga at Urban Active New Albany (rotating instructors through the Fall)

**Coming soon**

Hoop Dance at R Studio in Reynoldsburg- 6 week session

A Personal Perspective

2011-10-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ah, Fall time in Ohio. It's October and it's so nice outside- I actually just put my bathing suit and sat in the sun- in October! Wow.

But like all good things- this will soon come to an end.

I've been living a transient lifestyle for sometime now, but it's been a tad more extreme lately. The weekend festivals turned into a 3 week escapade to Burning Man and back. My energy levels had been low and scattered. I had dealt with crazy health issues all summer, and was overworking myself to the point of exhaustion with little results (ie money). And then I moved before my trip- but not into a new place. I put all of my stuff in storage and in friend's basements and packed up everything I would need for the trip and afterward, not knowing where I would stay when I got back. And a part of me didn't want to come back. In my dreams, I continued my trip out West, to California or some other cool place like Portland.

But, I came back to Ohio, with my friends and a new Love, holding on to what I have. I quit my day job before my trip, so I have been solely teaching about 10 classes a week. And it has been really nice. Even though I have been broke and crashing on friend's couches... I needed that break. Before, I was teaching morning and night with work sandwiched in between and making hoops at night and traveling on the weekends... it was exhausting and felt un-fulfilling.

Hoop orders are starting to come back in now, which is nice. And I probably could have gone back to my day job. But I don't want the unnecessary stress of working a barely above minimum-wage job with no opportunity for growth and no benefits. Ideally, I would like to grow my business more, but I need my own space to accomplish that. Which, I will have my own room soon enough, thankfully.

I recently became an affiliate with Astral Hoops! They make super BOMB LED hoops, like in the video below. If you want to order one, click on my link below!

Astral Hoops: LED Hula-hoops!

Use code LINDSAYNOVA!

;)

A Mid-Summer Update

2011-07-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

Festival season is in full swing and I've been livin' it up to the fullest potential! What an incredible, magical summer it's been so far. Some highlights so far:

-(614) Magazine published an article on me! Read it here :)
-teaching "renegade" yoga at Wakarusa
-performing with Papadosio
-hooping to Mumford & Sons in the hot Arkansas sun
-Emancipator and Vibesquad sunrise sets
-seeing my best girlfriend Mandy in Memphis
-the hailstorm at the Blastoff Festival and huddling under a canopy with Mr. B. Hockensmith
-Phutureprimitive. 'Nuff said.
-the ways the stars aligned to make the Electric Forest Festival happen for me and turn into one of the best weekends of my life (HUGE thanks to Meghan the Kat!)
-Shakti Sunfire's yoga class
-oh yeah, and let's not forget that transcendent tree climbing experience during Pretty Lights and all the other bliss filled nights that waned into sleeping in open air under trees... Ah...

Connecting with nature and community are key, and finding your expression within these outlets is ever so gratifying in ways that go beyond our ego- I know that in this web we are all weaving light together.

A lot of people have been complaining lately about dubstep and bath salts and young rowdy kids infiltrating the scene and wreaking havoc, but honestly, my experiences this summer have been some of the most profound ever, and most everyone I've seen or been around has been on their best behavior! I'm not saying that I'm oblivious to these things- in some ways it does seem that the drugs and music are getting worse, but in other ways the brightest of the lights are shining through- there is more art and workshops at festivals every year, and I can only hope that those who may be lost will stumble upon something that will change their lives. It's a typical light versus dark battle. It happens within every community.

Maybe I just surround myself with the right kind of people, and in this way, perhaps I know that I am growing. I used to go to festivals when I was younger and sometimes I felt so lost, following a guy named Planet around and hanging out with some serious road dogs- if you want to see some lost causes, I for sure saw them at a young age and what's scary is that I could have gone down that path.

I believe hooping(and the right people at the right time) saved me. And I feel like I have found my place within the community. I am continuing to book gigs at festivals for the rest of the summer and up through the Fall. My life feels overwhelming at times. This summer has been work>travel to a festival to perform/teach/party>recover>work/teach/make hoops>repeat. It's pretty exhausting, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But at the same time exciting and exhilarating!

It's also pretty draining financially. Even though most of the time I get a free ticket or artist pass into the festival, there are still lots of other expenses. And hoops just don't sell like they used to at festivals- well, I guess if you don't have a booth. However, I don't go to festivals to make money but as I save to go to Burning Man this year these are things that I have to consider.

Words can't even begin to describe how infinitely grateful I am to the universe opening up and showing me Her ways this summer <3

Upcoming Events

2011-06-10T10:09:00.001-07:00

With Summer in full swing, I wanted to post an updated list of where you can catch me doing WHAT this summer!

June 17-19 The Blastoff Music & Arts Festival, Bellefontaine, OH *Special Hoop Yoga Workshops*

June 23 Roaming Performance at Easton Mall Farmer's Market 4-6pm

June 24 This is Your Party, a Plurr People Production, at Bernie's Bagels and Deli *LED Hoop Performance*

June 25 Tribez Vibez Festival, College Corner, OH, performing with Elemental Groove Theory

June 30-July 3 Electric Forest Festival, Rothbury, MI, performing in the Saturday Evening Parade w/ Meghan the Kat and crew!

July 10 Ohio Florist Association Conference Performance

July 14-17 The All Good Music Festival, Morgantown, WV *Hooping Playshops*

August 1-4 Rootwire Music & Arts Festival, Logan, OH *Morning Yoga and Evening Performances*

August 13 Roaming Performance at Easton Mall 12-2pm

August 29 - September 4 Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV w/ Camp Kick It

Please stay tuned as more events are bound to be announced!

Advice to a Fellow Hooper

2011-05-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I received a super sweet email from a random hooper with a dance background asking me for advice and "how I do it". This is what I wrote her back and I wanted to share it with my friends, hoopers, dancers, and nondancers :)

-------------------------------------------------------

Hi!

I really appreciate your email and I can relate to it on so many different levels. That is amazing that you have attended such prestigious schools for dance training. I really miss taking technique class at the moment myself! I think that taking breaks are okay- you are right, dance is a hard world and very easy to burn out in. I spent a lot of my years unhappy in it, and sometimes I think I continued doing it because I did it well and didn't know what else to do... even though I was very focused in it still somehow. What a conundrum life is! I have gone through phases of not dancing and I think those phases were what really allowed me to grow as a person and explore other more free-forms of movement in community type settings, such as music festivals. Being in a dance studio and improvising and creating movement is also very fulfilling and enriching but I think it sometimes ultimately stops at those walls of the studio and is not very useful in living your life, however it is quite useful in crafting your artistic sensibilities.

I've been dancing for 20 years. I've been hooping for 5. At first, it was just something fun to do at festivals and I swear I did the same 5 tricks for a year. My beginning with it was really slow and not terribly experimental, but back in those days hooping was still in its baby stages and there were almost no videos online and no community of hoopers that I knew of. It was probably about 2 years into hooping that I got into the studio with one of my best friends Mandy, who is a professional ballet dancer at New Ballet Ensemble in Memphis, that I started playing with adding more dance moves like turns, jumps, and extensions to moving with the hoop. For me I always found the spiraling sensation of the hoop to be very organic to my own movement sensibilities. It is often hard to play with that modern/contemporary dance fusion with hooping due to space or setting limitations... its hard to do it outside or at a club or in a crowd... and my studio time is limited these days unfortunately. Even so, in college my focus was not entirely set on the hoop but rather on site-specific dance so while I continued to hoop it was not at the forefront of my life for a long time. It wasn't until I was halfway through my senior year of college that I realized I wanted to be a hoop dancer, I wanted to wear fluffy leg warmers and cute outfits and hoop on platforms for DJs and get paid to do it. But I knew even at that time I still needed a lot of work! So I started practicing alot, perfecting my moves, but also always aware of my presence as a dancer- you know, keeping my alignment and pointing my toes and adding in extra twirls here and there- I really think it makes a world of difference!

I totally know what you mean about taking dance so seriously and finding the hoop to be silly! I always thought I would "grow up" to be some kind of serious modern dance artist making pieces about the world and my thoughts about it. I am constantly surprised at myself for living this small dream of mine! And also super grateful for it. I started teaching dance to kids after I graduated from college- definitely not my dream job. I had had absolutely no interest in children ever before, but I didn't know what to do with my life. Well it didn't take long for me to begin teaching the kids to hoop! And it was a blast. And I realized that hooping allowed me to experience this child-like happiness and freedom that I had perhaps repressed for so long by being brought up in a world that constantly judges your technique in mirrors(although I am grateful I switched from the competition/ballet world into modern at an early age because it is less harsh in that way, however it still exists).

I completely understand what you mean by being intimidated by other hoopers and a lot of people do copy styles off of YouTube... but really it is about finding your own! And I am still continuing to find mine. I love the tricks and I love expression, so combining them is natural but does take work. I highly recommend videotaping yourself so you can watch how you move. Do you have a YouTube channel? You know there are a lot of tricks that I cannot do, a lot of tricks I have been working on for years and have yet to perfect, and sometimes it is frustrating- but lately I have learned to let go of that frustration and accept that I am a HoopDancer and not a Hoop Trick Pioneer. I still practice those tricks all the time though!

I wouldn't say give up hooping! Trust me, even I have been there and I'm so glad I did not give it up! Especially as hooping gets more popular, it seems to have more of a competitive edge and necessary to define yourself, which I think is totally fine and natural for this stage in the evolution of the form. I say experiment experiment EXPERIMENT! Take your dance background and utilize it with the hoop, whether you try showy moves or more heady types of improv exploration. There are other hoopers, actually LOTS of other hoopers, who have dance backgrounds or experiment. Brecken has some wicked videos of her doing some crazy floorwork with the hoop(and her boyfriend is a modern dancer). Luna Breeze also has a background in modern dance and she is also an incredible multi hooper. I also highly recommend working on multiples as a challenge... I have found working with multiple hoops to be more difficult in finding that expressive quality, but when you do, it really shines through. There is also Beka Hoops, and she has a BFA in dance I believe and teaches great workshops that incorporate floorwork and fun foot stuff. Recently a friend of mine showed me this video of this girl and I absolutely loved it:

Probably some of my most life changing experiences have been attending hoop workshops, classes, and retreats. Being around hoopers is always amazing, but a lot of these workshops have pushed myself in ways I never thought possible. I have taken workshops where I have explored my chakras with the hoop, pretended I am a turtle with my hoop and moved like that animal and it opened a whole new doorway of possibilities I could have choreographed a dance from that idea alone. Also I have met lots of other hoopers who have dance backgrounds at these kinds of events! Recently I attended the Snow Flow Festival in Louisville and took a workshop from Bonnie Macdougall in which we mostly did core/on body hooping but she challenged us to find our expression through finding different foot patterns and level changes... it was amazing. And taking these workshops has allowed me to incorporate these techniques(and tricks!) into my hoop practice and performance. Sometimes I seriously just hoop on each core part of my body with my eyes closed in each direction for the duration of 1 song. I think its really important to feel a connection with your hoop. It's funny, I was never really into props as a dancer... and now I look at props in a whole new way!

Going to these workshops and festivals has always had a beneficial impact on my life as a hooper- almost always I have come back to my normal life and booked tons of performances and teaching gigs, and not to mention I have made lots of new friends and met my hoop idols! I think for what you are doing you just need to be patient with it! Right now I am toying with creating my first modern hoop dance fusion piece and have begun experimenting with this when I have the time... the unfortunate thing is that there is more money to be made doing the showy type of hooping so my ideas kind of sit on the backburner. I'm a full time yoga teacher now, work a retail job during the day, run an online hoop business, perform regularly at all kinds of events, and still manage to work with some modern dance companies when I have the time. And have a social life! Its crazy. At the end of the day there are definitely things I miss about the contemporary dance world- like a real idea behind a performance and not just entertainment, and sometimes I even miss that constant striving for perfection in class, but I think that ultimately I am happy where I am at and I am glad to still be dancing and that I can utilize my talents in a community(i.e. festivals and raves) that helped form who I am today and appreciates what I do on multiple levels.

So all in all, I think you are headed in the right direction... I think the dance world needs more hooping, and I think our festival community needs more creative dancers like yourself! Feel free to email me any time :)

~Lindsay*Nova

Plateau

2011-05-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

I often go through periods of "flatlining" with my hoop practice. For about the past month, I have not put much practice in. A part of that is due to 2 knee injuries I have recently suffered(a sprain & a deep bruise). However, I have still had several performances doing fire, spinning at raves, charity events, concerts, etc. And I feel so ON when I am performing.

Sometimes I kind of freak out in the days before performing and say "I need to practice practice PRACTICE!" and it doesn't end up happening. I usually do a practice warm up before going on to work out any kinks, try new moves, etc. Lately when performing I usually go through a mental check list of moves I want to do (new and old), try to incorporate 1 new move, but also tell myself it's okay to experiment in the moment of flow while performing (as long as being safe and conscious about it). Seriously, I have spun fire hoop literally steps away from a beautiful bride and my LEDs feet away from a fancy dinner table at recent events. I believe part of being a good and professional hoop performer, flow artist, and fire dancer is making conscious, educated, and entertaining decisions within your own personal bliss state without endangering anyone and anything to brighten and enlighten whatever event you are at!

But I think I've come to realize, that much like life, my world of hooping has its own sense of ebb & flow.

I spent much of Winter perfecting new moves and incorporating them into flow that I now feel very comfortable performing. I know they are ingrained in my muscle memory. So in a way, all of that practice has allowed me to shine through my hoop dance in performance even though injured and with little practice this past month... it is truly amazing.

However, now I'm left wondering... what's next? There are infinite boundaries within the hoop and I want to push myself to the next level creatively, but I'm stuck at the moment. And I'm okay with that... because the flow still feels good and I know I have endless time to grow.

Letting it all go...

2011-04-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

Ah, Winter. So glad you have passed for the year but Springtime, you have been a bit chilly.

Lately I have felt confident in my independence but also lonely. On a recent date I was telling the guy everything I do- teach, perform, work in retail, drive all over town, make hoops, feather hair extensions, meditate, dance, hoop, party, dress crazy, travel, and then do it all over again week after week... and I realized, wow! I'm way too busy to even think about being in a relationship! But dating, I suppose, is nice.

This is the longest I have been single in over 6 years. It's crazy. (and it's only been about 4 months)

But I think it has been totally necessary for me to continue to grow on this path I'm on. In some ways, perhaps, it has been selfish, and in some ways it has been free-ing. It's difficult to de-tach the ego from this world of glitter, dubstep, and glowing hoops... it's an entrancing, alluring world. I love my friends and my community here in Ohio and seeing Bassnectar the other night with all my friends was like being in some kind of new age Millenia Church. And we celebrate Love and Peace by dancing the night away to the deep Earthy bass with huge smiles on our faces in hopes of a better tomorrow and a better future.

I am not the most responsible person. I make mistakes. I am one party animal of a yoga teacher. But I have been thinking about Love a lot lately. Love is not possessive or hurtful. I constantly see my friends being hurt by what is perceived as Love in our physical bodies. I want to love all beings equally and unconditionally. So from now on, in all of my life practices of hooping and teaching and crafting and selling, I will do so with Love and only LOVE!

And then maybe one day I will find the physical manifestation of my True Love within this realm.

But for now, as I have been feeling time accelerate toward what I believe is going to be a shift in consciousness within the next 2 years, I think it is most important to: live your life out of Love, follow your Dharma(or life calling), eat healthily, meditate, exercise, practice Honesty, and support your fellow human beings in doing so themselves.

Lucky Number 11

2011-01-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

Nova Hoops is now live! Please check it out~ I LOVE IT! It was designed by Jeff Rothbeind.

It's funny- I never imagined I would be where I am today. Living in Columbus, having a random roommate, performing burlesque and hoop dance regularly, working at a dancewear store, and still teaching lots of yoga and Pilates. People often say, "Wow, you must really enjoy your life", and I do, generally. But it has its tough moments, like anyone else's.

2011 has been off to an interesting start. I am newly single for the first time in almost 3 years, and I feel great about it- I feel free, minus the guilt I do feel about the break up. The year felt like it had a slow start, mostly in part because I sprained my ankles on New Years and then got food poisoning a few days later. My body has been needing lots of rest.

In a way, this has been a good thing because it has prevented me from spending money. I have been absolutely broke for these few weeks of 2011, and its kind of depressing. Especially considering that I am trying to go to Ultra, Burning Man, Hoop Camp, and move out of this state all within this year. Most likely moving may not happen.

But really, opportunity abounds here in Columbus, OH. The electronic dance music community is growing and lately I have performed a lot of fire spinning and glow hooping at shows. I also have two new yoga teaching potential job opportunities that may lead me to be able to be a full time teacher and quit my retail job. Which would be great! Except I would miss my discount on all those fabulous sparkly booty shorts I love to hoop in. :) Additionally, some dance artists are leaving Columbus, meaning there is room for something new... and I definitely have some ideas up my sleeve and am currently trying to figure out how to pursue them.

I am hesitant to move away so soon because of these opportunities I have built for myself, but also because of the massive amounts of debt I am in. Much like the American government, I am pretty fiscally reckless but I do it all in the pursuit of being amazing... haha.

I definitely am feeling a shift in my life, a shift I have created for myself. I have some important decisions to make about the pathway of my life and I can only hope that I make the right ones!

Thoughts From a Quarter Century

2010-12-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

I have made it through all my holiday hoop orders and down to Florida to spend time with my family for Christmas. The last couple weeks were very productive for me. Besides making tons of hoops, I did a few gigs with Anna(including my last one because she is moving to LA after Christmas *sad face*). I also started my own fire troupe, Hyperspace Fire Arts. Filmmaker Tim Jackson made this demo reel for us:

Hoopers from Tim Jackson Films Library on Vimeo.

We made our debut at the Fort Rapids Waterpark Electronic Music Party in Columbus. I hope to continue doing more fire work, and ultimately turn this into a full service entertainment company.

Coming down to FL is always kind of a reality check for me. I have been feeling unsettled lately, unhappy that I am not dancing. Yes, I am hooping, but I feel that I am losing my technique and artistry that I built through modern dance over the past 10 years. Columbus is not feeling like the place for me. Yes, I can create my own opportunity there, but I think I want to be somewhere with more vibrancy. I'm not sure where that place is, and... I'm not sure I'm ready yet to go somewhere new and do it all again after just establishing myself in Columbus.

Saving money is of course always difficult too. The one thing I really want to do this year is go to Burning Man. Over anything else, even moving. But on top of that, I want 5 million other things too: new LED hoops, new fire toys, aerial equipment, money to go to one hoop retreat and maybe one other festival. a trip to new york. a dance workshop. so maybe I should give myself another year in Columbus, to do all these things and maybe produce one thing on my own that is substantial. But will I ever stop wanting more? I am such a travel bug, a live music addict, and an experience junky. I want to do it ALL.

Some people think being a Libra is easy because we are the balance... well, I always see every option and then can't make up my mind! I give myself too many options.

It has been tough for me being out of the academic world and not creating substantial creative work; I am starting to wonder if I have it in me and where my drive is. I have become so caught up in the money game, and I think the lack of modern dance in my life is what has driven to become so passionate about hooping post college. Sometimes I seriously consider going back to grad school very soon, so then I can be a college professor with job security and be creating work. But the academic world is different from the professional world, and let's face it: the professional world is always better if you can make it.

I am 25 now and I feel that life is beginning to fly by and I wonder where I have been. So come January I am taking a chill pill and deciding what to do with my life: I am not taking any more online custom hoop orders or doing any more Annadroid gigs so I will have the free time to think, and relax, and hopefully save money to do something amazing.

Holiday Hoops

2010-11-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

Happy December! Holiday season is upon us. It's the first of the month and I already have Christmas songs in my head. It makes me a little nostalgic for my childhood at first, and then... it just gets annoying!

Please don't forget to check out my Etsy Store, Nova Hoop Designs, for great gift items including hula hoops(of course!), jewelry, artwork, and more! All hoop orders need to be placed & paid for by Dec. 15 for ample Christmas arrival time.

Here is a video I made in Golden Gate Park after Hoop Camp:

Busy Days, Busy Nights

2010-11-26T08:45:00.001-08:00

That was my theme for the month of November. October ended with a bang! I got back from California and started living in Columbus full time, although I was driving back to Athens quite often. I turned 25, which is kind of a milestone!

I performed with Papadosio at the Newport Music Hall, and with RoeVy at Skully's Music Diner.

I did a fashion show with Anna and the Annadroids.

I performed at the annual Columbus Halloween fetish party Trauma at the Bar of Modern Art as Hoop Droid with the Annadroids, and Anna did an amazing aerial silks routine.

The next two nights after that I spent in Athens performing with the band Elemental Groove Theory. I got to perform on stage with them at the infamous block party in front of thousands of people! I spun single and double LED hoops, as well as my smurf staff and finger scarves. It was such an incredible, fun time!

November did not prove itself to be much more relaxing. Relaxation is actually very difficult for me... the weekend after Halloween I went down to Athens with nothing to do and I was bored! I prefer my days to be filled with teaching, work, rehearsals, performance, and making hoops! And that's how I spent November.

Are the seasons passing you by?

2010-10-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, I feel so behind on this blog! I have recently returned from the Hoop Camp Retreat out in Santa Cruz, CA, feeling re-invigorated and renewed for my love of life, hooping, and movement arts. But I before I move onto those tales, I wanted to share some amazing pictures from some of the events I did over the summer. It was really quite a journey.

Leading my HoopTronic Workshop in a Dancer stretch before hooping at the All Good Music Festival

In Hoop Bliss at the Rootwire Festival, courtesy of Brian Hockensmith

Teaching yoga in the morning at Rootwire. What a great turn out of beautiful people! Photo by Brian Hockensmith

A double LED photoshoot I did with Calder Wilson in front of a huge bonfire

Performing for a DJ in the Late Nite Tent (He was spinning some Aphex Twin!), Photo by Calder Wilson

I just love this shot by Calder Wilson

I also did a photo shoot with Todd Eko

Photo by Craig Bortmas.
And I also spun more fire than ever! I spun fire staff, poi, fans, and double hoop for the first time.

I truly had an amazing summer full of growth in my teaching, performing, and being who I am. And now as I settle into Fall, knowing it will soon slip by into Winter, I look forward perhaps to a slower pace and an integration of all the positive lessons I have learned as of late!

Here is a video of one of the last events I performed at over the summer, the Wisteria Cornstalk Festival for the funk band Elemental Groove Theory:

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Just Breathe, Part 2

2010-08-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

I've noticed whenever I start to teach a new class, I always plan the first few. But I have begun to do that less as I get more comfortable with teaching. Don't get me wrong- it is always a great idea to jot down your ideas, sequences, quotes, etc. However, it's a good feeling to not have to rely on a piece of paper all the time!

A good example of this is a recent course I taught. I was invited to teach Pilates Mat once again for Ohio University this summer. Teaching Pilates is easy as pie for me now! And I love it! I didn't make a single class plan on paper- and I felt like I was teaching from my heart.

Yoga is more difficult to teach for me than Pilates, mostly because I teach Vinyasa (flow), so I have to be conscious of how I sequence. The first 6 months I taught yoga, I seriously planned every class. Lately, however, I have been trying to be more intuitive in my yoga teaching flow and I really enjoy it much more. There really are more moments during yoga teaching where my little voice is like "Oh no! What are we going to do next?" as we are holding a pose and then it starts to wander into "have we held this long enough" etc. etc. and I have to bring myself back to my breath, and back to my students, and out of my head. (Pilates is a more regimented set of exercises so I always know whats coming next). I bring them out of the pose, and voila, I come up with the next thing for us to do! And pray its not terribly awkward. But a part of yoga is nonjudgment. Its a huge thing I struggle to work on with myself, and I try to encourage my students to do the same.

Sometimes I wonder, okay, why did I leave Athens, where I was supporting myself teaching and running my own business, to live somewhere else, where I work in retail most of the time and hardly teach? Well, a part of it is the performance opportunities (I really am a performer at heart) and also the opportunity to make more money teaching. Its been a struggle, but I think that I can definitely do it.

I recently started teaching at a new yoga studio in Dublin, OH (North Columbus) called Pai Yoga and Fitness. I am teaching a beginner class on Thursdays at 7:15pm. I am hoping to be adding some more classes there soon as I get settled into the city.

Ultimately I really see myself getting my full Pilates instructor certification on the equipment here in a few years down the road. Right now I am happy with the present I have manifested in conjuction with the universe and live in gratitude for all it has given me.

Here is a video of some advanced Vinyasa yoga sequences I enjoy practicing:

Hope to see you in class!

Just Breathe

2010-08-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

Yoga has been an amazing source of calm inspiration for me for close to ten years now. I received my 200 hour teaching certification about 3 years ago and just recently started teaching yoga this past December. Teaching has really been an incredible journey for me in the short time I have been doing it. I truly love it.

I am lucky to have received such great training and opportunities during college. My first real teaching gig was after my sophomore year of college, I had just finished my first Pilates mat teaching cert. and taught a college level Pilates class at Ohio University, where I also hold my degree in dance from. I remember being so nervous every day about it! I would plan all my classes to a T and practice saying every word. But that never prepares you for what students are going to ask, or what problems may arise!

However, that experience really gave me the courage to become a yoga teacher. Growing up, I was always a very quiet person. I was always the person in the corner reading a book, being shy. But once you got me to open up, you would find someone bursting with energy, ideas, and a dash of craziness (good, I hope!). It has been a process for me to find this inner being during my classes.

Teacher training in general requires a certain vulnerability, but I found that yoga teacher training in particular required much more. I was very shy during my training. I did not want to share my spiritual experiences with others, and I think a part of it was being thrown into a situation where I did not know anyone from the beginning. That has always kind of freaked me out.

I have always been drawn to the mystical and the occult side of things, and yoga really explained a lot to me about how the universe works and my place in it. However, because of my long background in dance training, I am a very physical person, and I thoroughly enjoy the creative exploration of asana (postures) in yoga practice as well.

After receiving my yoga cert., I taught my first modern dance class series to non-majors at my university as a part of my college courses. I did not feel confident in this, and was also going through an emotionally rough time that I think hindered me from doing my best. I did, however, present site-specific dance to my class and I think that part was quite successful.

This experience really made me question whether I really wanted to be a teacher. I had also taken a course on teaching children's dance, and at that point in my life, I had no interest whatsoever in teaching children. In fact, I spent most of my life not interested in children and felt somewhat terrified of them. Silly, right?

During my senior year of college, I took another Pilates mat training course and was then offered a position to teach dance at a local dance studio in the town my university was in. I of course accepted because I did not know what else to do with my life, and was of course mortified about teaching children but knew ultimately that I could do it!

Teaching children has turned out to be a joyous and wondrous thing, and I wonder why I was ever so fearful of it in the first place. I think what truly made me feel comfortable teaching children was the hula hoop. The kids LOVED the hoop, and we would have special hoop days. It certainly helps break up the monotony and rigidity of a disciplined ballet class! The hoop truly helped me even find my own personal joy in dancing again too. I have since taught kids ballet, modern, jazz, choreography, yoga, and hooping. What a blessing! But still, I would rather continue to teach kids than have any of my own. :)

It was an interesting process, as I was also teaching adults yoga and Pilates as well. Probably one of the most interesting things about teaching is voice modulation. Not only is your voicing different when teaching kids vs. adults, it's also very different in yoga vs. Pilates. Learning this has been a tremendous help to my social life and networking as an artist and teacher. Since I graduated and began teaching, I am now a much more confident, outgoing, and open person. I am also a much happier person.

My life has been in transition for quite some time now. I spent the past year living in my college town teaching these numerous classes a week and struggling to find a day job. I started my hoop business as a way to cope, but even doing that was difficult because it costs a lot to run a business. In addition to all this, I was traveled to Columbus(the nearest city- 1 1/2 hours away) to dance professionally twice a week. As I have said before, I got a job in Columbus last May and joined another dance troupe. Since then, I have been going to a fire jam every Tuesday and met a whole wonderful hooping and fire community in the area. I love all my new friends. I am also extremely grateful to my good friend Christina who has let me sleep in her living room for the past 4 months as I try to sort my life out.

I found an apartment today that I really love with a new friend of mine, a sweet hooper girl named Chelsea. I am excited about this transition in my life. I am really crossing my fingers that we get it because I am sick of living out of my car!

Robot Love

2010-08-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

This summer, I have been working more with Anna Sullivan in her project Anna & the Annadroids. She also started a new all female fire troupe called She-fire. It has been really fun to incorporate my hooping into this performance art!

She-fire

When I was in high school, I studied performance art in a choreography class. There were only 4 people in the class, including my best friend Justin Middlebrooks, and we collaborated on an evening length performance art concert called "Cotinuum" that was about the passage of time. It was truly a memorable experience. I have always been fascinated with performance art. I remember going to see Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle gallery at the Guggenheim with my mother around that time too. I am grateful for this experiences when I was young, and because of this, it is fulfilling and validating to be participating in performance art as an adult.

Here are some pictures of what I've been up to with the Annadroids!

Action Droids

Hoop Droid

We had a Pizza Party Fundraiser- we played surrealistic fake instruments!

I need new running shoes!

Another version of Hoop Droid

Our next show is on Sept. 19 at the Wall Street Night Club in Columbus, OH. It is called the "Annadroid Puppet Masters" and we are dancing to Metallica and doing a feather fan dance!

All photos by James Pryor.

A Quick Summer Update

2010-07-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

The above video is from last month's DexFest: Cosmic Convergence, held in Dandridge, TN. I fire hooped to Conspirator Live, a Disco Biscuits side project. I also hooped on stage with Papadosio live:

It was a joy and a blast to perform there. I can't wait to share my hoop love again for them at their Rootwire Festival. I will also be teaching yoga there.

Please check out my new domain on the web, Nova Hoops, for links to my videos and store. It's under construction, but I am very excited about it!

Being Plugged In

2010-06-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel like much of my life revolves around sitting on my computer, on the internet. I always have *SO* much to do on here, it's ridiculous! Update my facebook status, respond to emails, respond to eBay messages and questions, update my store listings, update my pictures on everywhere from Model Mayhem to Hoop City, contact people about various job opportunities, order hoop supplies and festival essentials(purple tape and stainless steel water bottles, respectively), and then of course the various googling of any question that comes into my head(my friend told me about "yogic flying" today and I just had to look it up!).

It somewhat bothers me that I spend so much time on the internet and sometimes I wonder if it gives me a false sense of security. But regardless, I think it has been good for me to some extent. Running my hoop business is proving to be both costly to my time and wallet and I may have to make a decision about that soon, or figure out how to better manage. I have always been comfortable with technology and computers, as my dad works for IBM. I was an internet junkie by the time I was 10! Just kidding.

Really, though, I would not have half the opportunities that I have right now if it were not for the internet. I feel so blessed lately as I have been featured as Photo of the Day on Hooping.org and Video of the Day on HoopCity both within the past week! Also I am getting ready for my festival season to start with DexFest: Cosmic Convergence next weekend, June 17-20 in Dandridge, TN. I am very excited for this. My friends and I attended this last year after the Solstice Project was canceled(it was supposed to be this Alex Grey/Shpongle festival but it got shut down before it even started... talk about disappointment). We were all packed up and ready to go, and we were like... let's go to DexFest! The only person I knew on the line up was Elliott Lipp. So we drove through the mountains, got there, and had an amazing time! There was tons of dubstep, and some jammy stuff too. It was small and laid back- it was actually a birthday celebration for this guy named Dex we found out.

So when I found out they were doing it again this year, with headliners such as Eoto, Conspirator, and my boys Papadosio, I immediately contacted Dex about the prospect of teaching yoga and hooping there. He was all for it!

After 6 years of attending festivals as a participant, I am excited to be attending as an active member creating positive change within a community environment. Groovin' Megzz had a good blog post recently about how she has been sober at festivals lately, and I really respect that and hope to find inspiration and courage from her post to maintain a strong, healthy mindset while having some good old fashioned fun!

I will also be teaching at the All Good Festival and Papadosio's Rootwire Festival this summer. I may also be vending at Athens own Boogie on the Bricks and I hope to get more involved in Columbus art fairs and street markets as I plan my move there in the Fall. More details to come about these events!

One last fun tidbit: I just recently purchased a ticket to Hoop Camp in California! I am seriously brimming with excitement to learn and interact with some of the best hoopers I have admired for so long in the beautiful California sun!!

I will leave you with my newest hooping video:

Moving Non-Stop

2010-05-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Still riding high on life lately, and it's great! The performances at Junctionview were absolutely amazing! Every day I wake up and am so thankful for my life- albeit crazy at times- I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Participating in the Agora show as both an Annadroid and fire dancer really spoke to who I am as an artist. I love science fiction and tribalism, and this performance blended them perfectly. Being an Annadroid has been a growing experience for me. I have always been very comfortable with my body, but being an Annadroid takes it furthur into the sexual realm than I have personally explored through dance since I quit the jazz/competition circuit 10 years ago. Taking African dance allowed me once again to become comfortable moving my hips in a sensual manner, and then hoop dance has really brought joy back into the essence of movement. For years I have been a serious stickler about modern dance- I know, I am young- but from an early age I wanted to create dance art and not dance entertainment. From all of my years of dance training and performances I have learned that you can do both, and it is perfectly fine. I have found thrills from both entertaining and intellectualizing dance.

The audience was fantastic! At the end of the Annadroids segment, Kristina Isabelle came over on stilts, in a mask, and lured us away with her fire fingers. Some of us droids quickly changed our clothes to become tribal fire dancers, and the others became audience members for the fire show. The fire show started with fire breathing, and then went into an awesome unison staff section. Being immersed with these people spinning staff and poi has made itch to fire spin staff again- and try fire poi for the first time!

I made my debut as a solo performer after the staff section. The crowd cheered and whooped as I kicked out one leg and ducked out my head and swung the hoop in vortexes around my body. I have spun fire hoop probably about a dozen times now, and I have to admit I am not one hundred percent comfortable with it. When I was younger I was always dazzled by fire performers but thought I was too afraid to ever do it. Of course then I start hooping and what do I spin first? The fire hoop! I was talking with James about this, and he thinks that spinning fire hoop is one of the more dangerous fire toys- there are more wicks and you often cannot see where your hands are going.

Right now I have been using Justin's fire hoop, which is from Hoop Drum. It has unfortunately grown to be too heavy as I now enjoy lighter hoops, and I would like a pair of Shakti's double ninja's. Hopefully soon.

At the end of the show, four dancers came out on stilts and spun unison poi. It looked amazing! Then I came out in the middle of them and hooped. It was so surreal to be hooping in the middle of stilters. And then everyone came out and it was just a big ole fire show! Incredible.

Last night I went out to this event in Columbus called the Grandview Hop because I heard hoopers were going to be there. So I went and met some new hooper friends and ended up fire hooping and getting paid! I was ecstatic.

I currently don't have any more gigs lined up where I am performing, but I am going to be vending and teaching at several events in the Columbus/Athens areas this summer so I will be getting prepared for that! I will leave you with the videos I edited of the Agora fire show! Enjoy!