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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!

5/26/2020

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.

4/13/2020

April 13th, Monday - the day after Easter.

I hope this note finds you, your family and friends are safe and doing well. In these times of Covid19, each day is a journey. Maybe you are like me, good days and bad days. Today is neither good or bad, it is a day that has equalized. I woke up angry and then took a breath got coffee and found my way back to my, "It's gonna be okay" place. I got a cup of coffee, took a shower and found my smile. I have joyfully worked with my husband and observed my high school girl being an amazing inspiration! For her, I can be not grumpy! For my hard working husband I will find my happy place.
So today is MONDAY and I am working on finding my new normal for Amy's Hoop Circle. I know my hooping business is in transition. I am working on being open to the flow of change in the wake of this new journey we are all on!
Happy Monday - I cannot wait to share with you what happens next. I will let you know when I find out!

4/2/2020

What day is it? and letting go of DESTRUCTIVE worry....

Hooping & TRX - I will get back to it! I am missing my classes and looking forward connecting with you! However I can!

The HOME TEAM keeping me focused and not stressed! My motivation to NOT worrying my days away.

The WHOLE gang. Christmas 2019 with the kids/grand children. family in Chicago. Sending safe, distancing and be well vibes.

Good Morning - Today is April 2nd, 2020 and it is Thursday. I actually had to look up, what day of the week we were on, because I have lost all sense of time being at home with the whole family. The Covid-19 Pandemic has turned life upside-down. Our schedules are limited and home based. This is causing all of us to look at the world in a new way and to work differently. My husband works from home and his business is changing with his client environments changing, even if he is not shifting his desk. He works as a recruiter in the IT field with a focus in the Chicago market. Our Illinois employees are now working from home. This changes some tasks and business needs, so we are finding solutions. No longer teaching fitnesses classes where I live in Florida, I have more desks time and that has been an adjustment for me. So far, I am about 5 pounds heavier (sadly) and I have likely spent hours of time worrying (sadder). Worrying is a whole lot of wasted time, I might add. And finally, my daughter, a high school senior, has just returned to her final quarter of high school... online. Likely no prom, awards banquets, art shows, senior "GradBash", or graduation, or even any graduation parties. I would say we are all managing our new NOT normal fairly well, but it comes with a fair amount of living day to day.

Yesterday was pretty much the first cry I have had over all of this. And I consider that good, since I was running on fear and anxiety for the last few weeks. Crying, I consider a good shift in how I am feeling today. The cry was prompted watching my daughter cry as she read the announcement of the complete closure of my her rowing team's site to everyone. For weeks, as a coxswain she has not attended practice, since only single boats were going out on the water, the club was following all safety guidelines and was the last of anything normal still happening. With the "Stay at Home," for Florida announced until the end of April (likely longer) the club had no choice but to close. It seemed to be my tipping point as I watched my daughter really cry for the first time in all of this.

My husband shared a column by Harvey Mackey this morning, which really hit me to the core - (https://harveymackay.com)
Harvey started his email today with; One of my favorite “Peanuts” cartoons describes Charlie Brown and Linus sitting on a bench. The caption reads, “Worrying won’t stop the bad stuff from happening; it just stops you from enjoying the good.” Harvey went on to talk about how harmful worry is, and the benefits of assessing where you are, and planning for difficult times. Accepting challenges, but letting go of worry. As a person with Multiple Sclerosis, I believe that worry is not good for me (or anyone). I also know that "worry" can consume me. I struggle with worry in fairly good times, think of how I have been operating in a Pandemic! UGH.

Today because of my husband's willingness to share, I am putting my plan into place to add a Zoom Class to my life on Fridays and get back to being with people. As I woke up today I was already moving to that mindset. Finding joyfulness in my day; I am actually grateful that I am not running around juggling fitness work with my recruiting work. I have been more on the font lines of office lately and I am enjoying that connect with Rich. Don't misread that comment my fitness friends - I MISS MY CLASSES! I am grateful I am seeing so much of Cas and that she is actually fairly calm as the end of her senior year is not at all what we had anticipated it would be. Up until now, Cas was a blur running in and out of the house to school and crew. She would leave with backpacks loaded for each, with a long day and many accomplishments in-between, before she walked back in the door for dinner.
And finally Coco Bean our dog deserves a shout out too. She is 2 years old and confused as to why we are all home, but super happy about it. She is really shaggy and is going to stay that way until we can venture out to the groomer again. I tried my hand at trimming her up and it is fair to say - Fitness is a better career choice for me.

Today I am saying a giant, THANK YOU to my husband for being Mr. Half Full, and to my daughter for inspiring me. Over the last few weeks they have remained calm and found joy in their new circumstances. And not having senior spring really stinks from the eyes of a college bound 17 year old. I am proud of you, Cas! And I am going to thank my shaggy, cute dog for making me smile.

I have to go because with less worry to do today, I have more time to be creative setting up tomorrow's class, work with the recruiting business and smile more because today I am lucky to be with my family and I have things to focus on!

3/17/2020

Today is BOOK RELEASE DAY!

Book Release Day for Dr. Terry Wahls!
This is a bright spot in my day!
Yippee Today Dr. Terry Wahls is releasing her book with new information! LOVE THIS!
This is a shorter version of Wellness Wednesday that was published on 3/4/20.
The new book talk starts - at 6:50.
Up until then - We chit chat about Dr. Terry's diagnosis and recovery story.
View the whole Wellness Wednesday 3/4/20 on my here!
https://youtu.be/neQvsrlVN3s
Thanks - Amy

3/4/2020

Wellness Wednesday with Dr. Terry Wahls! Episode#4 - March 4, 2020

Wellness Wednesday: Episode #4 with Dr. Terry Wahls - March 4, 2020. I am so honored to chat with my hero Dr. Terry Wahls, about her health journey, her new release of the Wahls Protocol and how she saved my life with her TedTalk, Book, and Seminar. I am so amazed that the world can be such a small place. Iowa calls me back home year after year for her seminar and to see high school friends. From TedTalk to friendship - crazy wonderful. Come on in and have a listen and meet my friend Dr. Terry Wahls.

* The book will be released on March 17 and it will be available wherever books are sold and on online retailers such as Amazon, B&N, etc. You can pre-order on Amazon and B&N.

1/21/2020

Count your blessings and the hoops in your garage!

Since my hoop journey began so many years ago, it seems every year something new happens and the journey continues in a different way. I am profoundly blessed that I have the pleasure of hula hooping with people nearly every day of my life and some how some way, much of what I do is connected to people who hula hoop! I decided that counting my blessings is a good thing to do! And I really enjoy counting the hoops in my garage. Why not count my hoops and blessings one by one!

My business is growing once again as I am getting more involved in making nicer hula hoops. Up until now I have been focused on beginner hoops and basic arm hoops. And nothing I did was fancy. Actually fancy scared me, it involved more expensive tape, rivets and doing things I did not know how to do. Encouraged by some hooper friends (who admittedly like shiny hoops) and one hoop curious friend Kathy, I am now officially in the game making more than just beginner hoops. Working with my friend Kathy makes hoop making fun! Honestly beginner hoops are my passion, because I JUST LOVE GETTING PEOPLE TO jump into a hoop and go! However I am finding great joy in working with different tubing and sizes when it comes to arm hoops. Much of what Kathy and I have been focused on is making pretty hoops, and varying the sizes so people can use what is PERFECT for them. Because all people are different and MY perfect set of arm hoops may not at all be YOUR perfect set of arm hoops.

Additionally I am also focusing on a new hoop project. - Keep you posted!

Current Hoops available:
Waist standard connected ready to hoop - for local pick up
Waist standard not connected ready to ship - DIY connecting at home. Can ship.

Weighted hoop connected and ready to hoop - for local pick-up.
Weighted semi DIY available - DIY connecting at home. Can Ship

Poly Pro Arm hoops are new and only available locally. Cost and size makes these base if we can coil them down. This means working up to a push button process. Give me a few months.

Poly pro waist hoops are on the horizon and then these hoops will also be available for shipment.

Our goal is to bring you want you want when it comes to hula hoops for fun, play and fitness!
Best, Amy

PS -Thanks for the push hoopers and Kathy - thanks for jumping in with me. It is more fun with two hoop makers.

1/19/2020

I never dreamed, I would work with ASSISTED living & memory care folks. And I love it!

I started working with a local wonderful community, Plymouth Harbor this past fall. I landed in their gym and brought in my speaker, music and hula hoops. I did two classes in that gym; one class for the staff folks earning health points for their fitness program and one class hanging out and hooping it up with their independent living community. Those folks were so much fun, and when I say that I mean both groups of people were so much fun. The staff people showed up ready to go, and the community members did too! The time just flew during both classes.

It turned out that one of the ladies that attended the staff hoop time was the director of the activities. She invited me into view their assisted living community and their memory care community. After visiting, we talked about bringing programming to both of those community groups.

I tweaked my programing to include games, a smilie faced parachute with nerf balls and planned music to bring them back in time to their younger years. I researched the needs each of these communities and planned for my first Saturday at their location in Jan. Honestly I was nervous and excited all at once.

* The joy of sharing and caring.
My whole goal when working with the people that I do, across the board is to have people be happy, feel successful and enjoy their play time. When working with the assisted living and memory care communities - my goals are the same, bring joy and share play time. With all ages in mind I build this list that guides me no matter where I go.

Share compliments often
Encourage constantly
Be watchful at all times
Cheer loudly for any success
Share my smile and energy
Walk out grateful for the opportunity
And walk out tired - If I am not tired - I did not work hard enough!

I love working with this new opportunity and it spurs me on to be better and more creative.
It is my hope that if my parents were still with me, they would be especially proud of the work I do here.
Thank you - HealthFit for Introducing me to Plymouth Harbor.
- Amy

1/2/2020

Wellness Wednesday - Episode #3: Mary Carr - Good VIBES!

When I began Wellness Wednesdays I needed a place to speak and film my events. My friendship with Mary Carr, whom I met through hooping, made me think of her art studio in Opsrey, FL! When I walked into Larimar Studio Gallery for the first time, I knew it was a perfect match for my needs because she created a space/place that was warm, cozy, welcoming and filled with beautiful artwork of the ocean!
To kick off the New Year I caught up with Mary on New Year's Day to talk about why she opened her studio, and about her many passions. Mary is an acupuncturist, a Groove Dance facilitator and an artist. Her studio is truly a place of Good Vibes! It is a great place to visit, have a private Groove Dance class or host and event for a small private gathering! Listen in.... and HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!