Body Hoops and the Beach Babe Cycling Classic...

 

I had a most excellent day hooping in the sunshine promoting Body Hoops at the Beach Babe Cycling Classic.  It was held at Marine Green Park in downtown Long Beach, California that overlooks 9.4 acres of Shoreline Aquatic Park.

The Beach Babe Cycling Classic supports it's charity partner, HealthCorps, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Oz and his wife, Lisa, to address American's obesity epidemic.  



It's a great way to support a wonderful organization, give back, exercise and grab a tan...all in one afternoon!

BodyHoops was supporting the cause and asked if I could man the table at the event.  Being a licensed BodyHoops instructor I said, "Of course!" I had a blast hooping it up with riders and their families.  How could you not resist all those beautiful, sparkly hoops?  Well, they couldn't!  And since this was an event promoting exercise and well-being, what better way to do that then by hooping?

A few pictures of the fun we had:

My "Roadie" helping me set up.  He's the best husband, EVER!

Look at all those beautiful BodyHoops!

Learning the 'weave'

Wanting to learn so much that she forgot to take her bike helmet off...awesome!

Decisions, decisions...  

Whenever someone started hooping, I couldn't help but smile along with them.  I love it when people start to laugh and just enjoy hooping again... or for the first time!

Check out that beautiful California backdrop

Hoop-off!

And not to forget my hooping sidekicks!  They were enjoying the day as much as anyone else, just look at that smile on Bailey while Cooper is keeping watch for any renegade squirrels.

Beautiful day, giving back, lots of hooping and spending time with my family...not bad for a Sunday afternoon.

P.S.  Should you want a hoop all your own (and why wouldn't you?) you can go to www.bodyhoops.com and purchase a beautiful new hoop.  Use coupon code: Jasmine to receive $5.00 off!

Now go exercise, you'll feel better!

Joy Ridin'...

My dogs love to ride in the car.  Doesn't matter where I go, they just want to ride along.  My car, the hoop mobile, is currently being worked on so I am driving my husbands Honda Civic.  Not enough room in the trunk so I need to haul my hoops around in the back seat.  Now you'd think that would deter my sweet doggies from a ride but...nope!  Cooper is my little dog so he weasels his way to the front seat but Bailey is perfectly content to ride between the hoops.  So cute!

Chillin' in the back seat-Bailey, my official Hoop guard dog!

Cooper riding 'shotgun'

Since they enjoy it so much, I'm on the look out for a pet 'seat belt'.  I'm a safety girl and want my sweet babies to be properly 'buckled in', so if you know of a comfortable and trustworthy pet belt, please let me know!

Does your pet enjoy rides with you?  Would love to hear about it!

Take a joy (but safe) ride with your pet, you'll feel better!

Whidbey Island, A Little Vacation...

I've been a bit remiss in getting some posts written.  Makes me realize that I pack way too much into my life.  But here is a little summery of my visit to Whidbey Island.  "Where the heck is Whidbey Island", you say?  Well it's a little island off the coast of Washington State, so beautiful and untouched.  I have family that lives there so it's a nice way to relax, see some gorgeous scenery and get caught up with the 'fam'.  At the last minute I tried to put together a hooping workshop but in the end my niece and I, who was helping put together the class, decided to forgo the workshop and relax instead.

Beautiful Whidbey Island:

BodyHoops Travel Hoop made it on the plane with me!  They don't call them Travel Hoops for nothing!

Teeny, tiny plane

 Whidbey Island is so green and full of blooming flowers.  Yes, it does rain a lot and even snows a bit in the winter but certainly not as much as the 'mainland' Washington State.  It's hard to beat the stunning ocean views at every turn.

I had to have coffee every day at  Useless Bay Coffee Co.  The best, and I mean the best, tasting, full bodied just perfect cappuccino I've tasted yet.  It was perfect because they had almond AND rice milk.  Since I'm dairy and soy intolerant, it was such a pleasure to find options readily available. And they know how to froth the 'milk' just right so that it is creamy and foamy and thick.  In fact, all of Washington 'gets' the whole idea of alternative milk other than soy.  I even found it available at the Settle airport.  Thank you Washington!

I stayed with my sweet and adorable niece, Kiley, who owns a fantastic hair studio called "Bliss" in Langley.  And bliss it is!  She surprised me with a meticulous cut and color, put some feathers (yes, feathers) in my hair for a little accent and had her wonderful esthetician erase any stress I might of had with the best facial ever!  Thank you sweetie!

OK, Sweet Mona's had the most amazing chocolates you've ever seen or enjoyed!  The truffles were incredible.  Yes, I indulged in the dark sea salted caramel.  Oh, baby, they were heavenly!

Brother and Sister goofing around.  My brother is the funniest guy!

An actual good photo with no goofy faces

My brother, Jeff, gave me a tour of the island with a stop in Coupeville.  We had a great lunch overlooking the harbor and then he actually indulged me with a little shopping.  He bought some trinkets too!

Whale Wheel

Everyone needs to stop and take in the spectacular view from Deception Pass.  Approximately 20,000 cars pass over this bridge daily.  The view is nothing less than stunning.

Jeff making his typical "I'm kinda done with pictures now" face

A must see from below. 

Beautiful vegetation surrounds the area.

So there you have it.  My quick trip to Whibey Island in May...wow, is it July already?  Yes, I'm been a bit behind but it's so nice when you finally get 'caught up'.  Now don't hold me to it but I'll try and get focused.  But there are so many things to see and do and enjoy...it's hard to keep me in one place!

Take a trip to Whidbey Island, you'll feel better!

Learning, Introspection, Laughter and More: A Weekend Hooping Workshop...

People always raise an eyebrow when I tell them I'm going to or just getting back from a "Hooping Workshop".  "A hooping workshop? As in hula hooping?"

Yes, I know,  for many people hula hooping was something they did as a child, not as an adult.  I started hooping because it was something new (I couldn't hoop as a child) and thought it would be a fun addition to my personal training business.  I'm always looking for creative ways to encourage people to stay active.  I like many things (just take a look at my garage full of 'gear') but hooping has carved out a special place inside myself, a place that is fun, creative, meditative, alive, focused and always fresh and new.  I love hooping because it's different for everyone.  There's no right or wrong. It's just what you and your hoop make of it.

Here are a few pictures of my trip to Carrboro, North Carolina to attend Hoop Path 6: Bloom!  Four days of learning, experimenting, meditation, laughter, deep introspection and of course, hooping with some of the best hoopers in the world.

LAX to Chicago then teeny, tiny plane to Greensboro, NC

Some actual yummy food I found in the airport.  (minus the soft drink)

Brookstone rocks!   Sleeping on the plane is just a funny-looking eye mask away.

University of North Carolina recreation center, great venue for hooping!

Special viewing of the "Hooping Life" movie

Hoops, food and stuff

"Spiral", an amazing performer, a beautiful teacher

My roomies

UNC Ram's Head Recreational Center

...and so it begins

Khan Wong: an elegant teacher

Hooping 'mingle'

Baxter and his thoughts on hooping, life, people and love

Flying back home with a plane change in Chicago

Had no idea Chicago had such a beautiful airport

LAX-busiest I've ever seen it.  On a Monday at 10 p.m. no less!

Exhausted but renewed and full of anticipation of how all of the weekend's instruction will be integrated into my hoop practice.  Looking forward to "Blooming" inside the hoop.

xoxo,
Sharon

Baxter hoops to "Spilt Milk" by Paris.

This is why I hoop...no right or wrong, just enjoying the moment.

Hoop, you'll feel better!

Simple but Super...Hemp Seed

Really, it doesn't take much to power up your meals or snacks.

Take the simple Hemp Seed:

• Mild nutty flavor so it won't overpower whatever you've making.  
• Ten full grams of protein per 3 tablespoons. 
• Fiber
• Essential Fatty Acids
• And it's amino acid profile is close to "complete" when compared to meat, eggs, milk and soy.

Sprinkle it on your salad, yogurt or ice cream or blend it into your smoothie or soup.  Or my favorite 'go-to' breakfast: Gluten-free toast with organic peanut butter topped with bananas and hemp seed.  A pot of herbal tea and I'm ready to go!

Sprinkle on some hemp seed, you'll feel better!