I am NOT a Fitness Junkie

I have been writing this post in my head for months because I feel like people have got me all wrong. My job means that I meet a lot of fitness fanatics… they think I am one of them but I am not. Maybe I should keep this a secret but honestly if exercise isn't fun and interesting I am NOT doing it. 

Before I discovered hooping I’d water skied, tried pole dancing, power plates and the odd dance class here and there. I generally exercised for three months of the year and did nothing for the other nine months. I do not run and I do not do sit ups. 

I remember going for induction sessions at gyms and telling them my aim was to ‘feel good’ which fell on deaf ears every time. Some how it always translated in their minds to ‘loose weight’ or ‘tone up’ but I really just wanted to feel good and have fun. And this to me is one of the major problems with the fitness industry, most people just want to feel amazing and fell alive! 

I know, so shedding a few kilos is great too but when did we decide that it had to be all work and no play. What do kids do to keep fit? They play right? We don't stick them on a tread mill or make them lift weights. Please stop making exercise so awful, lets just go outside and play… please. 

That is what I love about hula hooping. Whether you're working on keeping the hoop spinning for more than a minute at a time or splitting hoops you are always learning and playing. I’m not a fitness junkie, I am a fun junkie!

London Hoop Fest

I don't even want to write anything this week, I just want you to watch the video! Seriously I am so proud of these guys. This was pretty daunting task for me, having gone to my first London Hoop Fest in 2012 I'd have never have expected to be teaching at it so soon.

When I looked out at the sea of faces knowing over the next 90minutes I would have to turn them all into show girls, I was a little taken a back. Lucky for me they all had a little show girl inside them and that was the easy bit. The hard bit was that I felt like a bit of a drill sergeant, 'again, again, again' I even had a whistle. But everyone worked so hard at it and finally at the end it felt like we were little kids calling our parents (Anna Rowan and the other teachers) up to watch our show!

It was beautiful watching the routine and I even felt a little emotional at the end. Especially hearing comments like 'I hadn't smiled so much in ages, thanks Bree' and 'that was the most fun, EVER!'

London Hoop Fest 2014 Workshop from Bree Kirk-Burnnand on Vimeo.

Hello, World!

Hoop Yoga with Beka Hoops

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When I found out that Beka Hoops was coming to London to teach a Hoop Yoga workshop I was excited but also a little hesitant. I love hooping but yoga…I’ve always found a little dull and a lot intimidating. I thought to myself, ‘I’ve got the hooping bit so I’ll only have to look silly half of the time, plus its BEKA HOOPS. You can do this!!!’ I’ve been watching her videos for year, I simply couldn't pass up an opportunity to meet her. 

When I arrived at Indaba I immediately sought a spot at the back of the class. Then Beka arrived and asked us to arrange our matts into a circle and I had nowhere to hide.

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Over the next three hours we used the hoop as if it were an extension of our own body. There was a lot of giggling which I’d never seen in a yoga class. Beka was so passionate about both of her practices, she’d teach us something and then bounce off with excitement that she clearly couldn't contain. 

I can’t tell you how many times the word ‘Wow’ came out of my mouth. I’ve been saying for the longest time that I should do yoga as I am sure the flexibility would help my hooping but after seeing Beka do a headstand with the hoop spinning on her toes I think I am genuinely converted! There might me a yogi in me yet!

By the end of he class my legs were quivering but I was relaxed and ready to take on the world. Hoop yoga gets a massive thumbs up from me!

Beka runs Hoopurbia which is being held in Berlin this year! I am very tempted to book, who is coming with me??

Fun Fitness and Fundraising for Save the Children

Thank you to everyone that took part in our Mother's Day event.We had such a wonderful day hula hooping in the park and raising money for Save the Children! We raised £141!!!

Special mention to Tamsin, Sonia, Erin, Tony, Louise (both of them), Michael, Emilie, Richard, Steve Obie and Westminster!

New Tops Made By Local Business West 9 Print

Tamsin helped blow up a million balloons!

Chit chatting!

These girls, showing off!! Love!!!

Obie is one of The Majorettes

It's a wrap, the hoops head home

Why I Started Hula Hooping

People always ask me in class why I started hula hooping? And honestly it was a bit random, some people might even call it fate. Yes even me….it was totally fate, I was meant to find this circular piece of plastic and it was meant to change my life! To start with I went to a circus in London and while all the other performances entertained me, the hula hooper had me mesmerised. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, it really was a magical moment for me. I still don't know who the girl was but when I went home that night, I lay awake imagining ‘what it would be like to be able to move like that’. I was not a dancer, I had never hooped but for some reason that performance captivated me and I fantasised about it for hours.

I had never thought of hula hooping as exercise but a few weeks later I was bored with the gym (as usual) and decided to google ‘fun fitness classes in London’. Guess what I found… of course you already know, hula hooping!!

It took me a while but I finally found a class!! I emailed my friends, most of which said it was the most random email I had ever sent but one friend Gina said yes!

Gina was a natural, which is the worst thing that can happen in your first hoop class!!! You go with a friend thinking, ‘it doesn't matter if I am rubbish, because we will both be rubbish’. My bubble was burst, Gina’s hoop spun steadily around her waist whilst mine spent most of the time on the ground. Not to mention the loud bang my hoop made when it his the wood floor, cringe!!!

The teacher Anna Hulagan, eventually noticed me struggling and suggested I ‘face the wall’. Yes, it was like being the class dunce and I was a little distressed by the suggestion but, it turned out Anna had hit the nail on the head, with out being distracted by what everyone else was doing I was finally able to keep the hoop up.

Something really clicked for me in that class, the obsession was immediate. I wasn't very good but I kept trying because it was worth it for those moments when I finally got it right. I am not a natural but I work hard, really hard.

Bree Kirk-Burnnand