Amy's Hoop Circle

HOOG

HOOG stands for HOop blOG!

Many who embark on a journey of wellness and health, find out all kinds of interesting bits and pieces of information. As I share information, keep in mind, I am not a professional nutritionist, fitness guru, trainer, chef or otherwise. I am an everyday person who was diagnosed with MS at age 49 and I am working to fight it's progression one day at a time. Here are the stories of my life. Maybe you'll like 'em and maybe you won't. But my hope is, someone, somewhere is googling, like I did when I was first diagnosed with MS and so desperately needed information - and here you might find a little hope. Perhaps some nugget of something, that makes the googling worth it and maybe helps to chase some fears away and get some sleep.
Welcome to my HOOG!

5/30/2023 0 Comments

World MS DAY, 2023

I am humbled today by the journey I have had as a person living with MS. My diagnosis was a wake-up call to get my act together. It has been 11 years now and I find that really hard to believe.

I am a happy healthy 60-year-old person. I am passionate about hula hooping. I teach fitness classes. I created and teach fun fitness and play event classes with children. I work a full-time job with my recruiter husband (And love it). I count myself lucky and blessed and I believe that the universe has introduced me to some really amazing people along the way.

It was that wake-up call 11 years ago that forced me to decide that...

Good healthy food matters
Fitness matters
Sleep matters
Calming the storm of life's stress matters

Mind, body and spirit matter when working to cultivate a healthy environment.

My desk has kept me busy and not focused on this website, but today for a few minutes I am sharing with you that I am still here. I am still eating great food, hula hooping whenever I can and joyfully moving forward.
Here's to your health! Amy

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4/7/2022

WORLD HEALTH DAY - Part 2

I love hanging out in my parking lot with people! It makes the day and my world a happier, healthier place! I am blessed!

During the Pandemic I stated a parking lot class in my community called, Drive-in Fitness. The class was designed so that people like me, who did not want to go into inside the gym, could still workout and have that feeling of community.

When I created the class I asked people to meet me in the parking lot by our fitness class and bring their fitness stuff from the garage with them. At that point in time, no touching or sharing was happening people brought small weights, exercise bands, and anything they had to work with, even water bottles would do as weights. People parked their cars in every in every other space, and since vaccines were not yet out, we kept being the cars as "our workout space." People would open up their trunk of the car and the workout would begin.

My class plan then and now includes stretching, cardio, weights for strong muscles, and balance work (we all need that) - all behind our cars! This class started in Fall of 2020 and is still going strong today - Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in my community. I feel like these people from this class along with those from my hoop class, have pulled me thru some dark times of worry and stress. THANK YOU FRIENDS!

Everyday that I am privileged enough to show-up and workout with people in my community - I have been given a gift. Never in my wildest dreams, did I think when I was diagnosed with MS in 2013, that my life and journey would have me working out and loving fitness like I do. I always end my Drive-in Fitness class with dancing to, the Cupid Shuffle! How lucky I am! Happy World Health Day.

4/7/2022

World Healthy Day 2022

As I wander into a new day. I am grateful for the gifts of my life today. Years ago I wondered where I would be physically, now today. I have so many blessings that have come from working on my health and gaining fitness. The day I decided that I could influence my health with food and fitness, I believe was my personal turning point. Food matters, moving (any way you can, matters) and what you think & do matters.

The world, over the last few years has been so challenging, filled with uncertainty. It is at the times that I am most stressed, concerned or worried that I realize I need to pull into my space, my food, my friends and focus on the thing I can manage and change.

Every day I know I can face what the world tosses my way, if I focus on my health first!

11/25/2021

Thanksgiving 2021

I am grateful for so many things this year. Mostly that my family has remained healthy during the past year plus. I look forward to the summer ahead with hopes of traveling a bit more this year and seeing my brother and sisters in Indiana.

I am grateful that I was able to see the kids this past summer. It was the silver lining after attending Rich's father's funeral. That truly was a trip that was a gift of time with all the kids together in IL. Cas, Calli and Sami had not seen each other in person, in two years. When we traveled in June of 2020, Cas stayed home with the dog, while Rich and I closed the physical TeamBradley office. At that point in time we moved the business fully a remote existence. Grateful, grateful, grateful for that decision early in the pandemic. TeamBradley (the family business) remains fully remote and is functioning very well. See Old dogs can learn new tricks. I am thrilled to be working side by side with Rich and that we see businesses recovering and thriving.

Fitness - My passion for fitness remains alive and well. I am SO GRATEFUL to the Sarasota County Libraries for continuing some programming when possible, and for my Venetian River Club community for continuing outside classes for the members. I have been so fortunate that I have been able to hula hoop with people with the Hooping Classes, and meet new friends thru the Drive In Fitness class. The Drive In Fitness class was created so people could come work out in the parking lot, pre-vaccination, in their own parking space. We spaced our cars out every other parking space, and use our own weights and fitness bands. We, in this new format do stretching, cardio work, weight work, balance work and a little Cupid Shuffle toss in at the end. Today this class is doing great. I met up with 9 people this morning in our community parking lot for a little Thanksgiving Workout!

I hope this note finds you blessed - doing well and enjoying family this holiday season. --- Best - Amy

11/24/2020

Thanksgiving 2020

As we move into the future and close out 2020 - I am wishing you well. Stay safe, make good plans, zoom if you have too. I am working hard to find joy in the little things. And finding joy with my family. Being safe and staying healthy is on the top of my brain and holiday list.

7/19/2020

ZOOM Hooping

On Fridays I have been "hooping it up" with anywhere from 4 to 7 people and I have to say it is by far one of my favorite days of the week. And maybe that is because it is a day when I need it most. The weeks have been flying past as the world continues to be challenged. As my husband continues to work and find success. The time to create success is double time in work load. I am so happy that I can work with the business and with Rich. However, it seems on Fridays getting up and hooping first refreshes when I need it most. As I walk off of my lanai into the house, usually dripping in sweat, I am always happy I took time to hoop. Last week golfers going past complimented my music choices. I saw one lady out of the corner of my eye, dancing on the green after she teed off. That maybe me giggle.

I am so grateful for the people who hoop with me on Fridays because, the truth is, I need them. And I am so grateful that I can share, hoop and smile with people - and for one hour, I forget about the pandemic, work, the college issues my daughter will be faced with, and my worries about the world.

This past Friday I did not want to get up, I had a migraine on top of a bad night of sleep and I was feeling like burnt toast. With the Covid numbers in Florida rising, I am just concerned about, what's next for my college girl. My Wellness Class has taught me, worry won't help. Meditation and rest will. I strive for that everyday. I did get up and was thrilled that I did.

My hooping people challenge me to be my best, share great stuff and keep moving.

Thank you Friday Peeps - you make me smile! Here I am sharing pictures from various days................Amy

7/14/2020

Cas Bradley - eon Graphics

Cas Bradley the creator and owner of EON Graphics. The first hint of understanding Cas' creative side is in the name of her business EON stands for Edge of Normal. I love that creative twist in her business name. Truly, it seems fitting in today's society dealing with a Pandemic.

Cas is a college freshman at Stetson University. Her creativity is not limited to t-shirt designs, though, she is a talented playwright–selected two years in a row as one of Florida Studio Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival winners (2019 & 2020) – and she is super creative in photography and digital art. In addition to all of that, Cas is an athlete and is a member of Stetson University's Women's rowing team for fall 2020. I am super proud to share the designs of this creative you professional, my daughter Cas Bradley.
http://www.eon.graphics

5/26/2020

May 26th - may you be happy

My post it on my computer to remind me - It's okay to find joy and happiness in my day and in my life. And truly I wish that for all of you! Onward.

This is my favorite morning of the week, because I get to hoop with people and we all feel safe, happy and joyful that we get to have recess together. Fridays email me for details. :)

I read that title, "May you be happy" with a mediation or mindfulness article I was reading recently. And honestly I do not know what I was reading, but it prompted me to create the post note shown here that is on my computer. A reminder that being HAPPY is okay, even now! So I decided to commit to being happier when when I have no idea how great or bad today or tomorrow might be. That can be a tall order especially if you are feeling blue, angry or depressed. And you might not know you are feeling that way. Our post Covid world is causing people so many issues above and beyond the concern of having the Coronavirus. Personally I did not want this blog to be about Covid 19, but since I am struggling with many different aspects of the post Covid-19 world, I thought I would be real with you. You, if you are struggling right now, are not alone. I have a laundry list of concerns, starting with my kids that are on their own, are they gong to be okay, financially, mentally and physically. This "great pause" is challenging everything. Next I am worried about my family that I live with and our recruiting business. And finally my youngest and her summer ahead followed by her freshman year at college! Or will she be spending her freshman year at college online with us. She has already lost her senior year of high school and she has been a really awesome about it all. But this is something she does not want to talk about right now. The idea of being home in the fall is not something she is willing to face right now. Right now, she wants to go to college away from us! I want for her to be able to do that too. Only time will tell what that plan will be. And finally my hooping. Really planning for anything with hooping has all but taken a back seat to everything else. And hooping brings me so much joy. Being joyful in my hula hoop by myself, quite frankly does not pay the mortgage! Something had to change so I sent out this week to find happiness in a sea of worry and a little bucket of despair. I decided it was okay to be happy even now. More importantly I decided I need to be happy and change some habits! Here is how I am letting go of what I cannot change - And changing what I can!

Eliminate worry - It changes nothing. It is something I need to work at. Doing some mindfulness activities and meditation work is helping.
Eliminate listening to CNN all day long. Hearing more about what is not going well in the world does not help me emotionally. I do check in briefly - and check right out.
Turn on good music and depending on the project I am working on I pick what HELPS me focus.
TRX or Hooping daily - Have to do it. Need to do it. And deep down I WANT TO DO it. My friend Tony says, You gotta show up! I stopped showing up and starting eating comfort food. I know better and it is just not good.
Gratitude Journaling - This is a class assignment and my family is doing it with me. I am grateful for them doing this with me. And it is making me look deeper at THE GOOD STUFF in life, even NOW.
I am taking a free class on line to refocus my Happiness and Healthfulness Level and GET something done. I was to the point where I was feeling like WHY? Why do anything? I was being HUGELY unproductive and well, you can see where this is going. The class I am enrolled in is from Coursera.org. The class I am taking is: The Science of Well-Being. I am calling it the Happiness Class. It is from Yale University and taugh by Professor Laurie Santos.
Before bedtime I am taking steps to ensure I sleep better. I am listening to the CALM app on my phone. And NOT listening to what is happening in the world. I am also working to turn off anything that would keep me up. I have a great little mindless app that is basically color by number - but slightly addictive and while it is mindless, it is not good to stay up late doing mindless things. I will hold out that this is good at times when the brain will just NOT STOP. It is still better then the NEWS.
Amy's Hoop Circle - I am giving it some love each day! I am working to move that business forward even though I cannot be with the people at the various locations around Sarasota right now I am writing a virtual class to replace my in-person class with my library system. Challenge accepted! Additionally I am back to making some hoops and thinking about building the business again. Creativity is one of my strongest talents. Hummm where can I go with this!?

So that's it for my HOOG post this week and I plan to check in next week as well.
Be well, be distancing, be safe.
Onward,
Amy
5/26/2020

4/17/2020

April 17th - hatter Friday

While we are all working to do our part distancing and staying home, we are also looking forward to next year for our daughter Cas. She is finishing her senior year here with us and hopefully she is off to Stetson University starting her freshman in the fall. I only say hopefully, based on the world at large. I cannot predict where the public health needs will be regarding kids on a college campus. Fingers crossed she'll have a normal freshman year. Make that a NEW normal freshman year on campus. So what is Hatter Friday? Hatter Friday is something that happens on Stetson University's campus, everyone on campus (staff and students) wear a little green in their clothing choice for the day. As a family we started doing Hatter Friday at home and wear a little green. Or a lot of green. Rich likes breaking out his new

Heading to Stetson University fall 2020

Little did we know on signing day in Nov. 2019, that this would be one of the few event we would celebrate during Senior Year. I am so grateful for his day at her school and crew.

Stetson shirt (He's so cute!) So we celebrate my daughter heading off to Stetson in the fall every Friday. She is a merit scholar and a rowing scholar and we are so excited for her. And really no matter what happens in the fall, we are so proud of her drive, talent and goals. We are incredible thankful to spend more time with her right now and how well she is managing the loss of her senior year events and fun. As we think about the fall ahead of us we are nervous about Cassi leaving us. Admittedly we will worry maybe a little bit more because of what we are living through now! However - as each day passes, we are more hopeful that the world is a better place for everyone.

4/15/2020

It's Wednesday, April 15th 2020

Today I social distanced hooped with 2 groups of two people in two different driveways. I was feeling good just to be outside. As I was hooping I was talking with my friends and I mentioned that for fitness classes maybe hooping will come back sooner than some classes. My rational is that we can hoop outside, be far apart and find shade. I felt good thinking about that. But then I realized something I had not thought of before. My class hoops are made with black irrigation tubing and gaffer tape. The gaffer tape is what gives the hoop some sticking factor or I should say "grip" to your body as you hoop. And as I was thinking about, the fact that while I wipe down my equipment now I feel it needs to be soaked. And that means different tape, different options, a new normal in hoops.

For now I am back to some desk work... already hoping tomorrow is a better day. As I continue to wrap my head around the world at large. I continue to be inspired by my husband, and my high school girl who make every day at home kind of wonderful. Today admittedly I am not feeling well because I did not sleep well.

I hope you are sleeping, resting and finding good in the transitional normal you are living.

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