Hoop, hoop hooray! Melanie MacNeil demonstrates that it's okay to take the roundabout way to get in shape.Hooping is back and better than ever! Its rebirth is in a new form, as the popular childhood toy Hula Hoop Hula Hoop Noun trademark a plastic hoop swung round the body by wiggling the hips [R], famous for its craze back in 1958, is now recognized as the latest method for staying in shape. Its benefits include physical, mental and even spiritual improvements that can help keep a body, mind and soul healthy. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. some fitness experts, hooping is comparable to an aerobic workout, such as jogging, in its ability to raise heart rate, burn calories and cultivate energy in the body. In addition, it can help create strong and toned core muscles, improve flexibility in the hips and spine and promote weight loss. With each rotation of the hoop, internal organs receive a massage, too, as well as the benefit from increased circulation. Hooping can also improve coordination and stimulate healthy breathing. With hooping on the scene, staying in shape can become more enjoyable, and exercise and movement redefined as an outlet for letting go of negativity and unwinding menacing tension. The emotional benefits of hooping are high, too, and they become evident the minute you let that swirling spiral loose around your hips! Along with a spinning hoop comes an ear-to-ear grin that allows the mind to let go and the feel good hormones in the brain activate. Some "born again" hoopers travel down memory lane as they remember the fun of this childhood fascination. Hooping gives you the permission to play, have fun in the body and learn to not take life too seriously. The repetitive motion of hooping can even become a meditation in motion. The "centering" aspect of this movement can help one find balance, achieve a state of mental bliss, and teach one to be focused on trust in their body. There's a "Zen" to the art of hooping. It's easy to discover the state of "flow" in a hoop once a comfortable rhythm is established. In addition, the movements can create a dance tapping into a form of expression and creativity. The newest form of hooping has graduated from simple waist and hip hooping onto all areas of the body, making it a thorough physical workout. One can learn to hoop on the thighs, butt, knees, ankles, feet, arms, elbows, shoulders, neck, and beyond! [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] With the hoop's new reputation in the fitness world, it's now viewed more as an exercise tool as opposed to a toy. Give it a whirl Verb 1. give it a whirl - try; "let's give it a whirl!" give it a try colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech , and see for yourself how hooping can transform play into pure fitness! HOOPING GROUND RULES * Contrary to popular belief, the bigger the hoop, the easier it is to use. Find a hoop that when standing upright reaches at least to your bellybutton bel·ly·but·ton n. See navel. line. The average adult will need a hoop that is 38 to 44 inches in diameter. * Most hoops found in the toy section of department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. are not an adequate size or weight for adult usage. Many hoop instructors handcraft weighted fitness hoops using special tape that helps the hoop "grip" onto the body. These hoops are custom made especially for adults and come m variety of weights, sizes and colors. * Find a nice. comfortable, open space before you begin hooping, and be warned! Hooping can be destructive when done indoors. The best place to hoop is a wide-open, grassy area with lots of room to move around. If you're hooping with friends, give each other some space. GETTING STARTED 1. Stand with your feet hip width apart, one foot slightly in front of the other. Keep a slight bend in the knees and stand lightly on the feet. Relax. A stiff posture will only make hooping difficult and awkward. 2. Hold the hoop in your hands at the four and eight o'clock points on the circle. Pressing the hoop against your low back, begin spinal twisting left and right. Use your intuition to pick a direction for release; your body naturally knows which one will feel right for you at first. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 3. On the count of three, release the hoop using the momentum of your spinal twist and push the hoop with your hands and arms away in a horizontal orbit. Immediately press your body into the hoop in a linear rhythmic pattern Noun 1. rhythmic pattern - (prosody) a system of versification poetic rhythm, prosody metrics, prosody - the study of poetic meter and the art of versification poem, verse form - a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines . Often, the movement is forward and back, however, it can be side to side for some. In the beginning, the body's movement begins as linear yet can become circular in nature over time. Pressing the hips firmly with force against the hoop will help keep the momentum going. The science of isometrics isometrics n. Isometric exercise. will aid in the continuous motion of the hoop. You may find your movements to be somewhat jerky jerky see biltong. and exaggerated at first. In time and with practice, the hip movements can develop to be more subtle and refined. It will take many hours of dedication to develop confident and fluid moves. Hang in there! Your persistence will pay of-ft. 4. Once you get comfortable in one direction, try going the other way. Learning to hoop in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions will help keep muscle tone and strength balanced on all sides of the body. 5. Remember: "Messing up" means you're learning! Every time your flow is interrupted, celebrate. Laugh as you explore the joys of a new skill, and remember to be patient with yourself in this adventurous process. If your hoop drops, pick it back up and begin hooping in the opposite direction. Install this discipline early in your hoop practice; in the long run it will help you to develop a more balanced flow In Atmospheric Science, Balanced Flow is an idealization of atmospheric motion when forces acting on a parcel are balanced. Idealized, steady state Balanced flow is often an accurate approximation, and is useful in improving qualitative understanding of atmospheric motion. . 6. Most of all, have fun! You can be serious about hooping without hooping seriously. Smile. Laugh. Play. Enjoy being in your body. Follow your bliss and find your center. And, hoop often; it's good for you! RELATED ARTICLE: Fitness disguised as fun and other unique movements you might be curious about. Whether you're a certified yogi yo·gi n. pl. yo·gis One who practices yoga. [Hindi yog and fitness buff or a when-you-have-the-time-which-is-never exerciser, exploring off-the-beaten path movements is the perfect way to spice up your fitness routine. After rekindling your youth with the hoop, give these a try: BELLY DANCING What: Possibly the oldest form of dance, with origins from India to the Middle East, the expressive movement has become a fitness trend. As a form of dance, belly dance can help improve your balance and gracefulness, while providing core strengthening. Where: There are many opportunities to head to a class in the Asheville and Atlanta areas. In Asheville, check out Baraka Mundi, a belly "dance company that performs and offers classes (www.barakamundi.com). Mizilca offers transformational belly dance classes (www.transformationalbelly "dance.com), and Asheville area recreation centers also offer classes; call the Waynesville Rec Center, 828-734-0173, or the West Asheville Rec Center, 828-251-4031, for more information. In Georgia, try classes at the Nazeem Allayl Belly Dance Studio in Atlanta (www.atlantabellydance.com) or Atlanta Belly Dancing in Canton, GA (www.atlanta-bellydancing.com). PUNK ROCK AEROBIC What: A chance for you to add method to the madness that is you dancing around your house while playing air guitar to The Clash. Recognizing how many calories they burned in the mosh pit mosh pit n. An area in front of a concert stage in which audience members mosh. , creators Hilken Mancini and Matwa Jasper mixed their love of music and having a good time with tried-and-true exercise, and "the workout that rocks out[TM]" was born. Where: The trend got its start with classes in rock clubs in Boston, Massachusetts “Boston” redirects here. For other uses, see Boston (disambiguation). Boston is the capital and most populous city of Massachusetts.[3] The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the unofficial economic and cultural center of the entire New , and spread into New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. soon "after. While that's a bit far from us in the Southeast, don't resign yourself to traditional Jazzercise just yet. Punk Rock Aerobics: 75 Killer Moves, 50 Punk Classics, and 25 Reasons to Get Off Your Ass and Exercise is available through Amazon.com. FLYING DANCE TRAPEZE What: The seemingly crazy acts of pure strength and agility achieved by the likes of Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun") is an entertainment empire based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier. performers that will no doubt be an experience to remember. Please note: New Life Journal is in no way suggesting you replace your front porch swing with a sheet and give it a go. Where: Canopy Studio in Atlanta offers flying dance trapeze classes for a variety of skill levels. They're also a venue that puts on live aerial performances for any inspiration you might need to give it a try yourself (www.canopystudio.com). CAPOEIRA cap·o·ei·ra n. An Afro-Brazilian dance form that incorporates self-defense maneuvers. [Portuguese, from earlier *capon, capon, from Vulgar Latin What: Capoeira refers to the Afro-Brazilian martial art martial art Any of several arts of combat and self-defense that are widely practiced as sport. There are armed and unarmed varieties, most based on traditional fighting methods used in East Asia. game and culture created when the slave trade slave trade Capturing, selling, and buying of slaves. Slavery has existed throughout the world from ancient times, and trading in slaves has been equally universal. Slaves were taken from the Slavs and Iranians from antiquity to the 19th century, from the sub-Saharan brought Africans and their traditions to a new continent. The game involves musical instruments and mixes fun yet challenging fluid acrobatic moves like kicks and other sparring manuevuers. Not only will the movement help you stay ha shape physically, but you'll have a chance to learn focus and self defense, music and song, and the languge and traditions of another culture. Where: In Asheville, the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola Capoeira Angola is the traditional style of Bahian Capoeira. It is usually, although not always, characterized by playful, ritualized games, which combine elements of dancing, combat, and music, while stressing interaction between the two players and the musicians and observers. Asheville, or CECAA, offers classes (where they provide instruments and teach about the history and philosphy of the art movement) and performs at various events (www.capoeiraasheville.org). In Atlanta, International Capoeira Angola Foundation ICAF or FICA is the name of a capoeira angola group. FICA is the group's name in Brazil, which is an acronym for Fundacao International de Capoeira de Angola, while it is ICAF in English, which stands for the International Capoeira Angola Foundation. Atlanta offers classes and hosts events (www.capoeiraatlanta.org), as well as Abba Capoeira (www.abbacapoeh-a.com) and Studio Dionne (www.studiodionne.com). WHAT EXACTLY IS ... FELDENKRAIS The Feldenkrais Method Feldenkrais Method Definition The Feldenkrais method is an educational system that allows the body to move and function more efficiently and comfortably. Its goal is to re-educate the nervous system and improve motor ability. [R], developed by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, uses subtle, sophisticated movements to improve your range of motion and reduce pain; in essence, the movements teach you how to "reorganize" yourself or relearn Verb 1. relearn - learn something again, as after having forgotten or neglected it; "After the accident, he could not walk for months and had to relearn how to walk down stairs" a comfortable way for you body to move. There are group classes, called Awareness Through Movement Awareness Through Movement, n.pr the Feldenkrais method, especially when taught to a group of students, as opposed to a one-on-one session. Students learn to focus on forgotten or poorly used body parts to recover full functionality. [R] lessons, and one-on-one classes, called Functional Integration[R] lessons. During group classes, a teacher guides you to movement awareness through vocal instruction, whereas in a private class, the teacher will use touch. In the Asheville area, Feldenkrais teacher and author Lavinia Plonka offers both group and private classes through the Asheville Movement Center, where she is director. Visit www.ashevillemovenaentcenter.com for more information. In Atlanta, Louise Runyon also offers both classes (www.feldenkraisatlanta.com). BIKRAM YOGA Bikram Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury and a Los Angeles, California based company[1]. Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%. Bikram Yoga is named after its creator and yoga guru Bikram Choudhury Bikram Choudhury (born 1946) is an Indian yoga guru and the founder of Bikram Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, a copyrighted series of 26 hatha yoga postures that are performed in a hot (105 degrees Fahrenheit or greater) environment. (www.biknunyoga.com). You may have heard this type of yoga reffered to as "hot yoga," since in Bikram classes a series of yoga poses are performed in a heated room, usually somwhere between 95 and 105 degrees with around 30 to 60 percent humidity. The heat isn't there as a "feel-the-bum," "exercise should hurt" component, rather, the heat helps rid the body of toxins and warm the entire body, making it more flexible and better able to move and strech In the beneficial yoga positions. In the Atlanta area, there are four "official" Bikram Yoga Studios. Visit www.bikramyoga.org for a list, including website links and addresses. In North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. , the Asheville Yoga Center offers hot yoga classes (www.youryoga.com), and West Ashevillle Yoga (www.westashevilleyoga.com) and the Dillsboro Inn (www.dillsboroinn.com/info.htm) offer a method of hot yoga called the Barkan Method, which is similar to, but not exactly the same as, Bikram. BUTEYKO BREATHING The Buteyko Breathing Method, developed over 50 years ago, is a form of breathing that establishes healthy carbon dioxide carbon dioxide, chemical compound, CO2, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure. levels in the body. Reduced volume breathing (RVB RvB Red Vs Blue RVB US Revenue Boating (Scott Catalogue prefix; philately) RVB Rock Village Band (South Middleborough, MA) ) is the hallmark of the Buteyko Method, and 25 minutes of RVB can have all of the positive effects of a good workout, without any of the risks. In Asheville, Dorisse Neale (www.breathdance.org) offers classes. --Maggie Cramer Melanie MacNeil, aka "Mel Mac Pink", loves to hoop! She currently makes and sells custom professional grade hoops, as well as delivers hypnotic hoop dance performances at local festivals, parties and events. Melanie teaches Beginner and Intermediate level Hoopdance classes in downtown Asheville. For more information about classes or performances, contact her directly at www.ashevillehoops.com or melmacpink@hotmail.com. |
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