As I roll through the month of February, I can’t help but think about the general expectations of Valentine’s Day. We often associate Valentine’s Day with celebrating your love with your significant other over dinner, awaiting the “surprise” delivery of flowers to office or place of business, but I believe that we should change the meaning of Valentine’s Day, and celebrate the love that you have for yourself and everyone significant in your life. Find love within yourself and do something that makes you feel good; whether it is hooping to your favorite song, or spending time with friends, or giving to those in need who need a little love and support right now. Many of us fixate on having a love interest to make us feel complete, instead of remembering that we alone are important and valuable. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could grab our hoop, and center ourselves, and remember that life is supposed to be good, with or without a “love interest” on Valentines Day?

As I contemplate love this month, I have decided to focus on how spreading love and appreciation makes everyday better. Loving myself, my hoop, my friends, my family and doing good for those less fortunate is far  more important than focusing on one day.

As you go forward for the rest of this month, I invite you to reflect on your choices. I invite you to activate within you a commitment to give and receive love in every moment not just on Feb 14th.  Make it your intention to “be the change you want to see in the world.”  Activate this commitment in your heart and watch your world change in miraculous ways!

Hoop Yourself Happy,

Gabriella Redding
CEO & Hoopmamma

Certified Instructor Jen Moore, and her husband Keith lost 235 lbs through their Hoopnotica practice. They were featured on the Today Show's "Joy Fit Club". Click here to watch the story of their incredible transformation.

Jen and Keith Moore appear on WHEC news in Rochester.

Jen and Keith Moore appear on WHAM Rochester.

Lori Corbin of ABC7 News, Los Angeles, filmed Hoopnotica class and interviewed Gabriella Redding, aka Hoopmamma.

American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the University of Wisconsin release a study on theefficacy of Hooping for fitness. Finally! The medical community agrees with what we've known all along Hoopnotica offers an intense core conditioning cardio workout that lets you melt fat while having FUN!

Hoopnotica Certified Instructor Morgan Hembreefeatured on NBC News, Philadelphia.

Real Simple Magazine features Hoopnotica's Travel Hoop!

Nominate yourself or a friend to be Our Favorite Hooper! Send us a pic and your story  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If we choose your story, we'll send you out a beautiful Limited Edition Hoop!

"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!

Many people become fans of Hoopnotica because they want a fun new way to lose weight. What you may or may not know is that hooping is much
more then a weight loss tool. We loved this simple video because it illustrates how hooping can affect you life in many ways, plus it's funny. While we don't expect you to go to Burning Man or leave your
Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Wife/Husband, we do look forward to sharing in the positive effects it does have in your life (AND - your body will never look/feel better).

Contest for inspired Hoopers!

This month we are giving away a Hoopnotica Distance Learning package ($399 value). Our program is awesome for any committed hooper; regardless of your intention to teach. Perfect your practice by becoming certified. We wanna know your story! Send us a picture of yourself and what being a Hoopnotica Certified Instructor would do for you and your community (500 words or less) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Februaury 28, 2011. We will announce the winner in next months HoopScoop.