(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Dubai resident Teeba Alkhudairi believes there is magic in stepping out of your comfort zone;
I see myself as a Play Professional.
A motto I live by: Pursue the YES!
Fitness became a huge part of my life only when I got introduced to the hoop. Before that, it was not part of my life AT ALL.
A fitness mantra I follow: When it's fun, it doesn't feel like a workout. It's just your play time.
How did I come to Dubai? I just followed where my heart (husband) was/is.
I started off with the hoola hoop when I saw my first hooper in The Burning Man in the US and I was immediately inspired. I took my first class in Toronto and was immediately hooked. I moved to Dubai, and when I found that there was no hooping, I couldn't resist but sharing its magic with this region.
The strangest reaction I've got when I tell people I hoola hoop for a living: From Harvard to Hooping?? Maybe not so strange anymore as it has became the norm :-)
The best thing about hooping is the freedom of self expression and creative play it brings out.
How do I deal with people who are sceptical about using something they associate with kids having fun? I show them or have them try it. Most are sceptical not because it's childlike but because it is outside their comfort zone.
The longest time I've been with the hoop is... 6 hours? When I am out and the music is good, it's hard to let my hoop down.
My absolute favourite song to hoop to is Max Cooper's Symphonica.
Why should we try hoola hooping?
"I would say that it took me more than a full hour to keep it on my waist the first time (true story). With the right size hoop, and right instruction, anybody CAN hoop. And remember, what's the worst can happen? The hoop will fall and pick it up. Pursue the YES! Step out of your comfort zone, because outside the comfort zone is where the magic happens."
Hula hooping at my wedding
A wedding can be a stressful time - especially if you are the bride. However, when Teeba got married, she decided to celebrate in a way that would incorporate her passion into the happiest day of her life. So what did she do? She started hoola hooping!
"The crowd LOVED it. Most haven't seen me hoop yet live at the time so it was great to have them see it," said the Dubai resident who tied the knot on January 3, 2014, at Al Qasr.
And how did her husband, Basel Dahleh, react? "My husband is my number one fan. He did join me, but he forgot his poi!!! But he ended up DJing later on so I hooped to his music."
Check out 'Teeba Hooping Wedding' on Youtube.
Teeba Alkhudairi is the Chief Hoop Fairy of the FlowGround, the UAE's only flow arts centre specialising in hoop and poi flow.
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