In the centre of my Hoop, I am the Tree

Well, it has been a while, once again!  
I have been taking some much needed time to reflect on how I want to share hula hooping with others.  I have also been taking time to LEARN, and as a result, I will have a pretty big announcement soon. 
After I had my baby, I just felt like there was no way I could keep up with all the super talented hoopers that were coming out of the wood work.  So my ego was saying, "you are never gunna be that good."  
But then I remembered that it wasn't tricks or being the best that mattered the most to me when it came to hooping.  Hula hoop dance is a very personal thing to me.  It is something I do for myself, and something that I do to connect with the Inner version of me.  So,  I decided there was no point in comparing myself to others.  After all, I am on my own journey with the hoop, and it is a journey that is unique to my hoop and I. 
My practice has really been inspired by yoga over the years.  Even the dance troupe that I had for a short while, Illuminadis, was based on the inspiration of integrating yoga and flow arts together.  So these days, when I get groovy with my hoop, it is in a very yoga-inspired way.  
I have become a HoopYogini™. 
It is pretty crazy that I don't focus on those tricks anymore.  Maybe one day I will get back into learning new fancy tricks, but when I pick up my hoop these days, it's to stretch and relax, connect with myself, and push myself in building core strength with intention. 
I still want to share the love of the Hoop with others.  And I have found a really cool symbolic synchronicity (if you will) within my academic studies, and the hula hoop.  Who would have thought?  If you want a really good read, you should check out "The Hoop and the Tree: a Compass For Finding a Deeper Meaning with all Life," By Chris Hoffman.  It is an ecological based model of merging modern psychology and traditional spiritual teachings from all over the world.  Finding balance in life is possible with the symbolic teachings of the Hoop and the Tree.  
Some of you may know that I recently finished my Diploma in Peace and Justice Studies, and I also completed my Advanced Certificate in Transformative Justice.  Funny enough, I have been able to find links between the spiritual teachings of the Hoop and the Tree, and Restorative Justice.  It isn't something I talk about often, but I feel like this eco-spiritual symbolism truly comes out in Restorative Justice due to the values of Peacemaking Circles, which are rooted in indigenous teachings and culture.  I was pretty amazed at how my studies ended up linking with my true passions in this fundamental, yet very symbolic way.  Funny how things tend to come full circle...