Total fitness is not just physical, it's emotional, nutritional and social too.  As a qualified fitness instructor, I suffered a trauma around 3 years ago and thought that my fitness career was over and would never be able to teach again.  This was totally devastating to me and shortly after depression set in.  Then one day with nothing better to do, I was searching for exercise stuff on the net and stumbled upon hula hooping in the U.S.  I ordered my first weighted adult hoop.  The rest is history.

I have since met with Hoop Dance Fusion expert Diana Lopez and Betty Hoops, master hoop dance therapist. Both ladies have helped to get me well and totally change my life.  Betty, who holds the Guiness Book of Records world record for hoop running, inspired me to do my first hoop run this year at the Race for Life in Rotherham, they couldn't believe it and I ran round to cheers of 'Come on Hula Hoop'  What a warm welcome that was and I managed to complete the course only dropping the hoop once as I navigated a corner.

 One of the disadvantages of being inactive through illness is, of course, weight gain.  After my first pathetic attempts at hooping, I was determined to succeed.  I slowly found that my strength came back, particularly in my core, balance, coordination and aerobic fitness.  Week on week, I felt more positive and more confident in all areas of my life.  After 30 minutes daily hooping, I felt energised and had a sense of enpowerment with each new move I mastered.

 I next had the idea to start offering courses to other people who were curious about what I was doing and completed my Level 1 training with Bodyhoops.  I now offer 10 classes a week and want everyone to know about the healing that hooping can bring.

 Betty Hoops, who is a hoop dance therapist, will also be offering workshops during the last week October.  These courses will be held on a non-profit basis for the first time in the U.K.  Those of you who already know about hooping, may have purchased the Gaiam Hoop Dance Kit.  Betty is the lovely lady who takes you through the workout in the DVD in the kit.  So if anyone is interested in attending one of her workshops, either contact me through the forum on register with www.myhoopingstore.co.uk / www.bettyhoops.com.

 More Hoop Dance Fusion courses will be offered in 2008 by Diana Lopez of Bodyhoops (www.bodyhoops.com)

Give it a try, you may surprise yourself.  Hooping is definitely not just for kids, although they do put me to shame in my classes!