I was a hula hoop champion and can still keep it going endlessly like this gif. Seriously, I have to stop on purpose because I can keep it going forever. I only met my match once during one of my children’s dance classes a few years ago. I was in my 50s and my student was 5. We were the only two left in the hula hoop completion when all the other children’s hoops had fallen to the ground. We both had to stop eventually and declare it a tie.
From my childhood days I loved dancing and skipping rope. I was always on the go and my mother said I never walked, she always saw me skipping home from school. I’d go up and down the curbs like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain and yet I had never seen the movie.
Keeping active is essential for optimum health. I teach dance for children and adults–line dance, ballroom and folk dance for fun and fitness.
I’m a certified fitness instructor and in my training I learned what I already knew–keep moving, find an activity you enjoy and you’ll stick with it.
- dancing
- walking
- biking
- swimming
- go to a gym
- volleyball
- badminton
- play with your children/grandchildren in the playground
I also lift weights, impressive, right? … well, not bicycles, but I do lift 5 lbs in each hand (don’t laugh) to keep my arms toned.
Hobbies are fun and there are many useful “mind games” like doing crossword puzzles, sudoku and other brain teasers, good workouts for the brain, keeping our minds active.
I enjoy writing and photography which is why I like blogging. We don’t need to BE the best, we just need to do OUR best. Most of the photos on my blog (which I am not in) are taken by me and sometimes I’ve used a tripod to take photos of myself. I’ve done photoshoots for friends and also videography for weddings.
This is all relevant… never stop working at your body, physically! Keep up the good work!
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Thanks ever so much! 🙂
❤️carmen
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So great:)
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Thanks so much!
❤️carmen
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I love the comment about not being the best, but doing our best! Love it!
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Thank you! We may not be the best at something, for there could always be someone better than us. However, we can always DO OUR BEST! 🙂
❤️carmen
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Keep moving. Something I need to keep telling myself. I love the idea of a hula hoop. Such simple fun.
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That’s the idea–keep moving and have fun!! We are made to move! 🙂
❤️carmen
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Hi Carmen, I never mastered the hula hoop! I tried my best but it was not for Me obviously. Congrats on being the joint champion. I am kept busy with work and 4 kids, but need to get out more to walk , bike etc. Have a great day, hugs, Terri xo.
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Four children will keep you hopping, that’s for sure! Hope you get out to play now that summer is here! 🙂
❤️carmen
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They sure keep Me active Carmen! Hugs, Terri xo.
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I have no doubt that you are an active woman and that you are in physical form. Your daily activity in dance classes, your vegan diet and that wonderful illusion to live make you an absolutely vital woman. Your permanent smile on your lips, your beautiful figure with more than 60 years, your skin so healthy and delicate, your hair always perfect … everything in you is harmony, balance and vitality. You are an active and vital woman and that is also evident in your outfits, always so simple and so elegant, reflecting your way of understanding life.
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What encouraging words you always write!! I’m so happy that you take time to read my blog and comment! My hope is to inspire women (and men) to live a healthy and compassionate lifestyle. Each of us only have one body and one lifetime. It’s sad to see some people take better care of their cars than their bodies. Let’s take care of ourselves: body, mind and spirit. 🙂
Thank God for every breath!
❤️carmen
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I just started keeping track of my steps in April. I’m very proud of myself!
I’m amazed by your fitness level!! And jealous too!!
❤
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Good for you Melinda! Keep counting, I’m proud of you too! Thank God for legs and let’s use them.
❤️carmen
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Thanks, Carmen. Oh yes! I do thank Him that mine still work!
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Well, dear Carmen, that GIF with you hula hooping is amazing *smile*
I enjoy swimming, walking and biking a lot, I am also a fan of table tennis 😁
Liebe Grüße zur Nacht vom Lu
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Oh, I love PING PONG and used to play it almost every day with my brother in our childhood days, we had a table tennis in our basement. 🙂
Liebe Grüße!
❤️carmen
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Das ist ja fabelhaft!
Heute Vormittag bin ich eine Stunde geschwommen im wundervollen Mineralwasserbad Leuze in Stuttgart, ein traumhafter Ort!
Herzliche Grüße vom Lu
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Mineralwasserbad ist das Beste! Ich war einmal in so einem Pool und es war wunderbar! I couldn’t swim, but being in it felt fanstastic! ❤️
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You’re right, it IS FANTASTIC!! 💟
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Wow – you tied with a five year old! Brava to you! I love your ideas about staying fit – to do something that comes naturally. Thanks for linking, xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
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This 5-year-old was AMAZING! I was tempted to let her win, but she was thrilled to tie with me. The other girls could only keep it up a few seconds.
❤️carmen
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Chasing after by 3 boys under 8 years old.
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WOW!!! That’ll keep you active for now! 🙂
❤️carmen
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Actually your list could be my list. Not all now though, I still dance as you know, Tap and Freestyle on Monday and just for fun on a Tuesday. I used to play Badminton and Volleyball, but they ended some years ago and I have not started again. I love swimming, but don’t do it regularly and I go out a lot by bicycle. I totally agree with all your keeping fit and active! Love that picture with the bicycle, well done! 🙂
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Oh! That’s not a list of what I do! Ha ha!! 😉 It’s a list of some suggested activities. Like you, I used to play Badminton and Volleyball.
I don’t like swimming; as a child I used to wade in the water and stayed in the shallow end because I never learned how to swim. Now I don’t even want to learn and prefer sitting by the beach under a shady umbrella, sipping cool lemonade. I’ll take a walk at sunset along the beach for exercise.
I go biking sometimes, not as often as I used to. I found out balancing on a bicycle is a lot easier than trying to balance a bicycle over my head – lol. Glad you like the bicycle photo, it was taken while I was with several of my dance students at a coffee shop in town.
As you know, dancing is the way I keep active and stay fit! I love it and that’s why I stress how important it is to find an activity you love to do. I enjoy walks in the woods too!
❤️carmen
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What a talent, Carmen!! I haven’t tried the hula hoop in ages. I’m hoping it’d be like a bike and be easy to do again!!
I haven’t been quite as active lately, but at least we are starting to go to a stretching class lately!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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I’m sure it’s like riding a bike, Jodie! Stretching is beneficial, as we tend to lose flexibility as we get older (everyone gets older): it prevents injuries, improves posture and helps with coordination.
❤️carmen
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