Growing up in the hill country of Texas, I cannot remember a time when I played with a hula hoop. Dogs, cats, bugs, guinney hens even, but definitely no hula hoops.

In fact, I didn't even touch a hoop until 2003 and I remember that evening quite clearly. There was a local dive bar in my neighborhood that had hula hoops (although no real space to even hoop!) and one night a woman was "hooping". I was in awe and thought 'how cool and fun is that!'. When I drew up the courage I went over and requested instruction knowing full well that I probably was not going to be able to keep that hoop up. And I was right. My hoop refused to stay on me... at all. It dropped over and over and over- but I kept trying and eventually after many returned nights I could finally keep that little kiddie store hoop up!

Simple waist hooping was all that I could do for a long time, but that was good enough for me. I would go on the weekends because the DJ would spin wonderful records and I realized quite quickly that if I hooped while "dancing" no smarmy boys could get very close to me. Side note: moms of teenage & college girls- go and get them a hoop right now! Well, after many, many weekends of hooping I added a few tricks here and there- nothing fancy, but it was sure a lot of fun!

A bit later I went to a show and saw a hula hoop performer! I did not even know there was such a thing! A HULA HOOP performer! She was beautiful and quite facinating to watch. At the end of her performance, I turned to my now-husband and said, with all seriousness and determination, "I want to do that!" I seriously have no idea why, I mean, I had never performed in front of anyone before- in fact- at times I have some serious stage fright!

But the next thing I knew I was researching hoops and hoopers and flying out to meet people to learn tricks for performing. My trick-learning jaunt ended up exposing me to the world of teaching hula hoop classes- which was nothing that I ever expected to be a part of. But shortly after I returned home I started a little class for friends. The next thing I knew I was holding part-time classes and then the next thing I knew I was putting in my notice to quit my full-time, uninspiring, non-passionate 8 year (!) desk job... yes, all for a hula hoop!

I found so much joy and passion in the hoop and then found even more joy and passion sharing the hoop. For me, teaching trumps performing. I love my classes. But even more, I love the women I meet in my classes. And I love the men who are daring and fun enough to take my classes!

For me, hula hoop class is not about "learning to hoop"- that is just the by-product. My classes are about finding that little something special in you that you might have forgotten about, your own personal Boom Boom... your smile & spirit... and maybe even that little voice inside your head that says "Yes, you can!"
Sunny is wife to Inspector Dave and mom to Fiona (16), Madeline (9) and Henrietta-Jones (18mos). She is an artist at heart designing ruby ruso and hula hoops; a teacher by trade and a performer on the side. And in her spare time she pursues Hooping for Hope.
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