A whirly gig

I saw it at Burning Man in 2004 and I was shy back then to try it in front of anyone, so I just watched the girls and guys doing it. They were so graceful and just appeared to not realize anyone else was there watching. That was what really attracted me to it -- they were just kind of in their own world.

I built myself a hoop and learned in my back yard. I couldn't hoop as a kid, but it was surprisingly easy when the hoop was bigger. I looked online and found videos of people hooping and doing some cool tricks. In order to not get bored just having the hoop go around my waist the whole time, I tried the tricks, and they're surprisingly easy.

Flowing those tricks together makes it like a dance. You're learning from a circle so you learn how to flow your body in a smooth motion. Music is what makes all the difference in the world because it becomes a dance and your partner is the hoop that spins around you.

I compare [hooping] to several hours of active dancing, and you improve flexibility and stretching and your core -- it' s like doing hundreds of situps except you don't have that sick feeling. I have a six-pack now, and I've never had a six-pack. You get a good chest and shoulder stretch, and you use balance and can learn rhythm.

I didn't do it for fitness, that was just a side benefit. It just made me feel really happy. It's this kind of rush and you just have this peaceful feeling. It's maybe like a hug constantly around your body or an affirmation of being grounded where you are. It's hard to explain all the feelings, but it's really pleasant. And you get to play. Somewhere along the lines, I think a lot of us forget to play.

Hooping is like a meditation. I teach yoga, as well, and it has a similar feeling of well-being and peacefulness.

SARAH MORAN