12 Schools - 24 Hoops

A. L. Burruss Elementary: Coach Amber Tyler and Alb the Beaver.
(I'm pretty sure this will be my only photo-op, ever, with an over-sized stuffed beaver.)

Alphabet Hoops is focused on introducing kids to the joys and benefits of hula hooping. I do as much as I can with the time I have, but I have a family, a full-time job AND a penchant for crafting---all of which occupy a portion of the limited hours in my day.

So, to increase the number of kids that I reach, I also need to introduce hula hooping to adults who work with kids. To that end, my goal for 2012 is to donate two adult-sized hula hoops to the P.E. department of each of the 12 Marietta City Schools. (And, if the teachers are interested, each hoop handover will include a mini-introductory lesson to hooping!)

Check my donation tracking page for updates on my 2012 hoop donations to the Marietta City School system!

I, too, am a casual hooper!

My goodness, have you visited Hooping.org lately? It's a wonderful information source on all things hooping. Yesterday, there was a write-up by Abby Schwartz  that was coincidentally published on the same day as my "regular people hoop, too" Facebook post!

I, too, am a casual hooper. I LOVE introducing hooping to kids and grown-ups because it's EXERCISE THAT'S DISGUISED AS FUN!!! I will hoop in public (mostly to spread awareness of hooping), but I have absolutely no desire to perform. I am a "regular gal" who's a "casual hooper"!

On a side-note, this Monday will be the first day of my hooping class at A.L. Burruss Elementary! I'm looking forward to all the happy hooping faces I will see there!

Autism: The Power of a Hula Hoop

I haven't had the privilege to work with kids with Autism, but because of its meditative and calming aspects, I've long suspected that they would connect with hooping. This article on hooping.org speaks about the "Power of a Hula Hoop." One of the comments also made a lot of sense to me:

"I think the repetitive sound is soothing for them and it provides sensory input without anyone being in their “bubble” as well."

Hooping most definitely puts you in a "bubble." This is why I, someone who is not keen on drawing attention to myself, am able to hoop in public...I am so focused on my hooping on that I lose most of my awareness of the external world.

Happy New Year!

I'm so crazy excited about 2012! Hooping, quilting, building my community family, getting back into photography, driving a new Jeep (maybe :-)!

Happy New Year, everyone! May you all be blessed with good health, peace, and love!!!