Name: Janou Lightning

Hooper Since: 2006

Favorite Hoop: Hoopnotica Signature Hoop that opens and closes with the FIT Tube inside.

How Has Hooping Changed Your Life: I never thought that when I started at Hoopnotica, that I would have such a passion for the hula hoop.   While I consider myself to be a Hoop Conditioning Hooper/ not a Dance Hooper, my real passion is the actual Hoop.   I am so passionate about building a better hoop and creating new products for hoopers, that while I started out as the Customer Support Leader (and am still in that position enjoyably) - I have been put in charge of Product Development.   So, when I'm not answering customer calls and talking on Facebook, my mind is consumed with what else I can do to develop new products for our hoopers.   That's one of the reasons I love to be on Facebook, especially with all of our Certified Teachers, because, believe me, I am listening to what they need.   Hula Hoops have reminded me that you can live your life everyday with true, full enjoyment.   At 52, I'm living the life........... Thank you Hula Hoop :).

Name: Michelle Plunkett

Hooper Since: 2011

Location: Atlanta, GA

Favorite Hoop: Hoopnotica Travel Hoop

Hooping Since: February 2011

How Has Hooping Changed My Life:

I tried hooping when my boyfriend saw a girl performing in a public park and said "well that looks like something you'd enjoy!" Being former military, I was used to being really active. When doing other exercises, I had to constantly count my steps or worry about my safety. I'm a personal trainer but other exercises proved more difficult because I am blind and I needed an activity in my own space. Everything changed after getting the love of my life - Noble - to help me. Hooping has brought me the most amazing peace. My favorite part is whenever I am hooping my cheeks seem to get more of a workout just from smiling!

Name: Lily Stagg 

Hooper Since: Summer 2010

Age: 18

Location: Lafayette, Louisiana

Occupation: waitress, street performer

Favorite Hoop: 35 in. 100psi

Favorite Song to Hoop to: My friends have drum circles and I love hooping to them.

I picked up a hoop last summer and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. I had recently been diagnosed with clinical depression which only exacerbated my life long anxiety issues. Also my parents were finally acting on their decade long threats of getting a divorce. In short my life was falling down around my ears. In July of 2010 I met my friends Hannah and Lindsey who happen to be 2 of the most talented hoop girls in our area. I had never seen anyone move with such confidence and grace and they looked so sexy while doing it. I asked them to teach me and to my surprise they were thrilled to have someone else to share the hoop love with and it's such a great way to learn your body! I've always been very into meditation as a means of coping with my anxiety, and to me hooping is the perfect physical extension of that mental control. Technically hooping is teaching your body to DO exactly what you want it to exactly when you want it to in order to defy gravity. Before I started hooping I was a shy, anxious, uncoordinated little girl. Now I am a confident performer and hoop maker.

Location: Port Richey, Florida

Occupation: High School Art Teacher, Artist, Mama

Favorite Hoop:

My favorite hoop is my “Pregnancy Hoop” that I had for my third trimester of pregnancy. I used the prettiest of my tapes so I could make myself feel better about the huge belly it was going around. I weighed 179 at the end and still hooping (really slow….)! I still find myself using this hoop and it brings back very special memories.

Favorite Song to Hoop to:

My significant other, Michael Ratza, is a saxophone musician. Having a jazz dance background, my favorite time to hoop is when he’s at a show playing and I can react and respond to his style. I love that!!! But otherwise when I practice at school with my students, I tend to put on “Joyful Sound” by String Cheese Incident. I find it fitting.

How I started Hooping:

I use to spend my time just sitting or crocheting for the 6 hours I would spend at my partner’s gigs. (4 hours of play and an hour each for setting up/breaking down.) I was usually alone. One of the bands that he was playing in had a lead singer that began dating the most beautiful little hooper, Shellie White. I now had a companion at shows, AND a new hobby to pursue. She inspired me by her flow and positive attitude. She gave me my very first hoop and taught me my first trick, the isolation. I was hooked! I began studying as much as I could on Hoop Dance and joined the hoop community.

I got pregnant in February of 2010 and gave birth to my beautiful little boy, Coltrane, on November 5^th, 2010. Being pregnant almost that whole year, my progression as a hooper stalled until January of this year. After the baby, I decided to go full force as a hooper, not only to hoop every day to help lose my baby weight, but to inspire my students to hoop every day as well!

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Occupation: Church Secretary

Favorite Hoop: For travel, my favorite hoop is my blue break-down Hoopnotica hoop, which has journeyed many miles with me.

Favorite Song to Hoop to: Traveling Light by Joel Hansen and Sara Groves

In Her Words When I first saw hoopdance on the internet, it swept me off my feet with the beauty of it, and the desire to become part of it. Even though I'm old, uncoordinated, and have health issues, I found that nothing can overcome focused desire. So I got a hoop and ordered the Hoopnotica DVDs. Over the past 2+ years, through a journey of faith and hooping, I have lost over 100 pounds, and continue to chip away at the poor habits and inactivity that led me to such poor health. Like everyone who takes up the hoop, I have become a kind of ambassador– a circuit rider of the hoop, reaching out in friendship to hoopers whenever I meet them, encouraging others to take up the hoop, and sharing the joy of the sport wherever I go. Every time I see someone's face light up with delight when she manages to get the hoop to rotate a few turns, it feeds my soul, and heightens my own joy. Becoming certified will help promote hooping as legitimate exercise. Thank you for this tremendous opportunity.

"I was a disaster. I could not even make it go around oncewithout falling down. A few days later my Hoopnotica beginner DVD arrived."

Name: Meredith McNeal

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Occupation: Artist, Educator, Curator, Arts Administrator

Favorite Hoop: That depends on the day.  I have 4 travel Hoops that come with me where ever

I go. I have a light up Hoop for late night street Hooping.  I Hoop for one hour every day.

Favorite Song to Hoop to: September by Earth Wind & Fire

How I started Hooping: In 2008 I was trying to learn Italian (actually I still am) and it was not going so well. I decided I needed something else to focus on. Something that I had not been able to do before that would be a challenge but something that would ultimately be a joyous challenge. Soon after I made that decision I attended the benefit for the Coney Island Museum. One of the performers for the evening was Miss Saturn (Jenny McGowan), I was mesmerized! Enthralled! And I realized that I had found my joyous challenge. I went on line and found Hoopnotica.com. I ordered my first Hoop. I called it my Solid Gold.

When it arrived I took it up to my studio, cleared a space and gave it a spin. I was a disaster. I could not even make it go around once with out falling down. A few days later my Hoopnotica beginner DVD arrived. The tips for struggling Hoopers was invaluable. In particular, the "wear natural fibers" suggestion, once I changed from my faux satin pajamas into some cotton clothing I was able to keep the Hoop going around...

Congratulations! Meredith also is responsible for the lovely "Ti Amo" photo featured in our banner. Amazing!