Why Positive Spin?

My dear friend Randy Cummins came up with the name for me & I believe it fits perfectly!  Positive Spin relates to hooping, poi or any of the flow arts, due to the massive amount of positivity that is generated by their practice & the obvious spinning that ensues.  I also believe we can train our minds to creatively look for the positive in any past or present situation, to choose which aspects we focus on, & to appreciate the new ideas & new connections that are born from these situations. 

I will try to help you with all of that!  

Make your own hoops!

 

How to make Large hoops!


*these hoops are slower & more stable
**perfect for beginners, but great for everyone

Materials: 
Tubing: 100' 1" 100psi black roll from Lowe's   ADS Plastic Coil Pipe.  I purchase this at Lowes  
1" insert couplings to connect the hoops, usually 7-8 are needed per roll (they come in discount packs of 10). They are gray with ridges. These are becoming increasingly difficult to find, unfortunately.

PVC cutter


All the large hoops I make are approximate sizes.  I initially used a tape measure to figure out where different heights line up on my body.  For an exact size, multiply the desired height x pi (3.1416) & this will give you how many inches of tubing to cut. The roll of black tubing will be tightly coiled. Unwrap the tubing & let it "breathe" by stretching it out a bit manually. You can even leave it for a few days or longer to make it easier to work with the tubing.  I rarely have to do this, but some rolls of tubing are coiled tighter than others. 

From one roll of tubing I can usually make 7-8 hoops---2 large hoops (approx 50" tall) & 6 medium-large hoops. 40”-48”. Hoops even larger than that can be fun, but for hoops smaller than 40" I would recommend switching to 3/4” tubing or smaller.  

Find the end of the roll that is more loosely open...make the 2 large hoops first, then the other 6.  Or all 8 can be made in the medium-large size, it's just best to make them in order from larger to smaller.  I usually make all 8 hoops at the same time, but you don't have to.  If you want to leave the rest of the tubing intact until you know what size you need, just tape the ends of the tubing to the roll so they don't straighten out too much.

Cut off the end part of the tubing if it has straightened out, often 1'-2'.
Cut the tubing to the desired length.
Place one end of the cut tubing into a pan of lightly boiling water for approx 20 -30 seconds.
Wipe dry with a paper towel & then insert the connector halfway.
Repeat on the other end & you'll have a hoop!

*Tape is still necessary to add weight & texture (so the tubing doesn't slide right off of you!)  Hoopologie.com is where I get most of my tape. The cheapest way to tape your hoop is to use a layer or two of gaffer (grip) tape in any size & then spiral wrap it, leaving some space in between. This allows the black of the tubing to show, it’s not necessary to fully cover the tubing for this style of taping. Grip tape is also easy to replace when it gets damaged or dirty. I use this method for outdoor practice hoops & also to have an inexpensive option when selling hoops.

*Directions for my nicer hoops. I tend to use fancy tape first (sequin, mirror, prismatic, glitter, color-shifting...so many options!), then I tape over the edges of that tape with gaffer tape (for grip & to protect the nicer tape). Most of the fancy tapes with paper backing have a sharp edge, so layering gaffer or vinyl tape over the edges keeps your hoop from feeling scratchy.

*If you use electrical tape or another thick tape, you shouldn't cover all the tubing or the hoop can become too heavy.  

*You can use duct tape for simple taping & it has a natural grip. 

Good luck!  Please contact me if you have any questions!

Henna aftercare

After the henna has been applied & bandaged it's best to leave the paste on for as long as possible, preferably 8-10 hours to get the darkest stain.  The longer the paste is left on, the darker the stain & the longer it will last.  Once the paste is dry, however, it's no longer active & should be removed. 

When you're ready, remove the bandage & this should pull off most of the paste with it.  Apply olive oil (or any edible oil) to a paper towel to assist in removing any leftover residue.  The oil will then help to protect the stain from water when you rinse it, which is the next step.  After rinsing, pat dry gently...the henna stain is most delicate at this time.  

Initially, the color will be bright orange & much lighter than the final stain.  Don't worry, it will darken up over the next 24 hours, generally turning a deep red or reddish-orange.  The final color of the stain depends on your individual skin type, where on your body the henna was applied, how long you leave it on, & how well you care for it afterward.  

Try to keep it as dry as possible the first 24 hours to allow for maximum darkening.  Any kind of oil or salve (not containing petroleum products) can be applied to the stain as often as desired & can help to repel water when you bathe or swim.  Olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, salves made with beeswax, lip balms, anything natural.  Chlorine is always damaging to the henna.  The more you protect your design, the longer it can last!