Tribe.net. Local Connections Brandi http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#0cbad0ea-c608-4ef2-8bf6-bf8a4294da5d 2009-07-14T13:12:39Z 2009-07-14T13:12:39Z

I've been working with a blind coworker on hooping and she overcame a fear of being outside and hooping in public. Her description was that the hoop provided a sense of safety and protection, so she didn't feel as exposed as she would normally if she were trying to run or do some other outdoor exercise. The hoop would stop her from running into things or people. Its been a real blessing hooping with her. She's helped me understand better how I hoop as I work to break things down for her. She's also expanded my verbal abilities as I try to describe things to her. Your suggestions will help me even more to help her enjoy her hoops. Thanks

Brandi 2009-07-14T13:12:39Z fall7stand8 http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#9b2f37a7-62fd-483a-9c83-1b0907dbd5ac 2009-07-05T02:34:44Z 2009-07-05T02:34:44Z

Caroleeena, great update! I think you're just the bees knees, girlfriend! Love your spunk and energy, sense of service and talent! Oh, yes....I also dig your pets (our family's parrotlet, as well as the four cats, 2 cockatiels, several aquarium tanks, and multitudinous gerbils, all send their love). Thanks so much! Lisa (hooping through middle-age)

fall7stand8 2009-07-05T02:34:44Z Caroleeena http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#d1dd0f2c-38b9-420b-938c-50d3d0a2abe7 2009-07-01T19:22:19Z 2009-07-01T19:22:19Z

I hope you'll share your experience. I'd love to hear how it goes and what you learn.

Caroleeena 2009-07-01T19:22:19Z Caroleeena http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#1ed168e7-6297-47e3-a08b-5740befa6f8c 2009-07-01T19:20:33Z 2009-07-01T19:20:33Z

Yes, I've had two blind uncles in my family too. It amazed me the things they accomplished. I'm glad that the members of your family got out and had adventures too. That's what I like to hear! It's all about cultivating independence and confidence as well as radiant good health. I can't imagine rafting blindfolded. Wow. How do you know which way to steer the raft to avoid eddys or in rapids? I guess you can hear a rapid but eddys are a whole other can of worms. Even sighted I get caught in those sometimes. I want to clarify that I'm not saying blind people can't do these things, just that many athletic undertakings require support from other people and that can be somewhat limiting. My niece, who has always been into team sports, just graduated from high school. I gave her a hoop and a hoop teaching dvd and explained to her that her opportunities to participate in team sports will likely decrease now that she's not in school anymore and that it might be in her best interest to find an individual athletic pursuit that she enjoys, like, say, hooping. But even with individual athletic pursuits, if you have to ask for a ride to a gym, for example, then you have to depend on someone else to do what you love. I know my uncles absolutely hated asking for anything and later in their lives this contributed to their becoming more sedentary. Hooping, on the other hand, is an individual athletic endeavor that builds self-confidence, fosters independence, costs nothing, is fun, burns calories and strengthens the heart -- and you don't have to go anywhere to do it. It's win/win for everyone.

Caroleeena 2009-07-01T19:20:33Z JeanagoGo http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#66e4d034-02ec-4e57-9bb7-9e31b97b337d 2009-07-01T16:31:11Z 2009-07-01T16:31:11Z

Very kewl, Caroleeena. My father was visually impaired and I have a few friends that are too, they run marathons, whitewater rafting, bike, hike and basically run circles around me in the adventure world.

JeanagoGo 2009-07-01T16:31:11Z B Hoops http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#db21cec9-17a7-4c57-ae54-2f8c16902b19 2009-07-01T08:43:57Z 2009-07-01T08:41:46Z

Thank you so much for this post! I am working with the AIDB in Birmingham, AL and plan on using hoop fitness this month for fitness and rehabilitation with the sight impaired. Your work is inspiring, thanks for keeping us mediocre hoopers in line. Brandy aurahoops: spreading the love one hoop at a time

B Hoops 2009-07-01T08:41:46Z stefanie http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#69d2786b-e5be-417c-a7cd-f3d321c3eb59 2009-06-29T02:40:06Z 2009-06-29T02:40:06Z

This is so beautiful. I was brainstorming about this very thing recently. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about all of this. It's truly inspiring.

stefanie 2009-06-29T02:40:06Z Tink http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#907fe0e8-50f2-40fa-8d43-72bdc6e6da0b 2009-06-26T23:34:41Z 2009-06-26T23:34:41Z

Such good ideas and techniques. Some of them will apply to sighted hoopers, too.

Tink 2009-06-26T23:34:41Z Kendra http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#3c9b7718-38b6-4dc2-862b-62b997fe934f 2009-06-26T21:26:44Z 2009-06-26T21:26:44Z

you are such an inspiration!

Kendra 2009-06-26T21:26:44Z Erin =) http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#5c845921-7750-4043-94b8-95e9a8b58964 2009-06-26T18:44:58Z 2009-06-26T18:44:58Z

WOW! I have respect for you for this! I am having trouble teaching what I know to my family.

Erin =) 2009-06-26T18:44:58Z Blueberry http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#87824e9c-6f52-43f9-a7fa-6acfbb8815ab 2009-06-26T07:54:50Z 2009-06-26T07:54:50Z

These are all great tips, Actually they are very similar to the style of teaching i use when teaching Blind children to swim. It is quite interesting actually, after the initial learning curve they often ended up progressing faster and as stronger swimmers than the sighted children.

Blueberry 2009-06-26T07:54:50Z Caroleeena http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f136213b-08b6-4dc8-baa3-e882149d2df4#a652a8f0-9837-4b5c-b58f-0a46c4eb33ab 2009-06-26T03:52:05Z 2009-06-26T03:52:05Z

The Governor Morehead School for the Blind has started bringing kids on field trips to our hoop jams. It is such a delight!!! It has also been a learning experience. There are some challenges to teaching hooping to non-sighted people and I'd like to share what I've learned so far. I also want to encourage others to reach out to the blind to teach them hooping. Obesity is a huge problem among the blind. They can't just go for a jog or to the gym. Travel is not a simple thing and mobility can be an issue too. Hooping and poi spinning are both fun forms of exercise that cost nothing and are easily accessible to non-sighted people. So here are some of the things I've learned so far: 1. Go up and introduce yourself. Non-sighted people cannot find you to come introduce themselves. Be friendly and make them feel welcome even as you describe to them where the hoops are, which ones they might prefer, etc. And remember to utilize touch and other senses. You may not be able to lock eyes or let them see your smile but you can give someone's hand a squeeze and let them hear the smile in your voice. 2. They can't see the size of each hoop so it makes it hard for them to choose the size they want. It's even hard to pick one up and tell. You can't really tell how big or small some hoops are just by picking them up. I have two suggestions for this: - I sorted our hoops into piles: 1. very large Groove Hoops, 2. smaller Groove Hoops, 3. large Sport Hoops, 4. smaller Sport Hoops and 5. Hand Hoops. Then I placed them in ascending order so that people could know, "Okay, I've tried one from Pile 1. Next I'll try one from Pile 2." - You can also guide people into figuring out what size a hoop is by encouraging them to lift it over their head, place it on the small of their back and then try to slide one hand around the hoop's circumfrence while keeping the other side against the small of the back. 2. "Tell" instead of "Show". Verbalizing everything and clearly is essential. Utilize metaphors like, "Pretend someone is dropping ice down your back" or "like you're trying to bump bellys with a friend." Details are also important. Use your own eyes to notice the little things and translate them. These may include whether your palm is up or down, your fingers closed or open, your arm forward or to the side, the right foot slightly in front of the left, etc. Look for details and include them. Speak clearly (which does not necessarily mean loudly.) 3. Sometimes you have to "Show". Some moves are almost beyond description -- like the Infinity, where the wrist does a figure 8 (either in front, to the side or above and below). These moves can be taught by doing them with the hooper. Stand behind them and place your hand over theirs and do the move together -- with and without the hoop. - For teaching assisted hand hooping (where the hand closes on the hoop each time), hold their hand and describe the circle the hoop should be making around the hand (along the crease under the pads on the palm and then below the knuckles as it rolls over the back of the hand). Trace this trajectory first with your finger and then with the hoop (while you're standing face-to-face with them doing an isolation so the hoop is not yet spinning freely. This way you won't accidentally bop them in the head.) - For teaching basic hand hooping (without gripping the hoop each time), you will be teaching them to release the hoop and move their hand up and down as if they were shaking hands with someone. To do this, stand behind them, place your hand over the back of their hand and pretend the two of you are one hand shaking hands with somone in front of you. Get the hoop going and then slide your hand out so that they keep going. - Explain that you simply put your hands palm-to-palm in prayer position to move the hoop to the other hand. (I've found most people get this without explanation! Unlike sighted hoopers. Interesting.) 4. Sound. Hoops run away. Blind people can't find their hoop when they lose it because sometimes our hoops circle back and end up behind us. I plan to add some b.b.'s to hoops to help these kids "hear" where their hoop is running. 5. Make sure you give each hooper lots of room. They can't see each other and this keeps them from knocking each other's hoops down accidentally. (You can also teach them to joust with their hoops so they learn to recover from accidental bumps without losing the hoop and while backing away from each other to create more hoop space.) 6. Be On the Look-Out. When a hoop runs away from someone, they're likely to chase it right into the path of another hoop. This is something we can use our eyes to prevent. I know I'll learn lots more lessons but this is what I've synthesized so far. It's been a wonderful blessing for me to see these kids hoop. I wish you could see the smiles on their faces. If you have a school for the blind in your area, I encourage you to reach out to them. Hooping grows confidence and good health in everyone. This is a great way to share our passion with others.

Caroleeena 2009-06-26T03:52:05Z