How did she first discover hooping? Kamala explains, "My first hoop experience that I saw and felt my jaw drop to the floor was Christabel Zamor. Hannah and I were teaching at this studio out in Santa Monica and she came in to do a workshop. We took it and Christabel started the class with a little expo. It was so beautiful. I was so excited when I picked up my hoop knowing it would glide around my body with the ease and flow that hers did. Ha!! I felt like the middle of a bell, the clanky thing, so not the sexy goddess I envisioned!"

So how long has she been hooping? She told Hooping.org, "I have been hooping for about 4 years now. I hoop at least 5 times a week. I am really blessed to have a studio attached to the house I live in so we dance and spin nearly everyday." I asked her how hooping has changed her life. Her response: "Hooping has brought me into my body and made me feel more beautiful and sensual, than I ever have felt. The hoop constantly challenges me and I am so inspired by all of the beautiful hoopers I keep meeting."

Her hooping is just one piece of her investment in herself. Kamala explains, "I am constantly working on myself. Ha! Always looking deep inside for strength and growth. Encouraging change and movement in positive directions. Staying sober and strong. Hooping and spinning are a huge part of my rehab and will continue to be." So what is her idea of earthly happiness? She says, "Gee whiz, I'm gonna hippie out here. Earthly Happiness is cleanliness of our earth, In all forms, clean up the planet, recycle, re- use, organic food, pick up your moop, conserve electricity, etc. Love our Earth Mama, you dig!" We dig Kamala, we dig.

We asked her about a couple of her favorite hooping memories. "Well one of my favorite memories was my first fire hoop experience ever! Raven McBride handed me a hoop on fire right in the middle of his hoop act and I didn’t know if he wanted me to hoop or stand there. I chose hoop and I rocked that hoop around my waist like a champ! So exhilarating and spontaneous! I loved fire hooping from day one. Another very profound memory was when I finally got the hoop hooping around my torso. I was convinced that women with breasts could not hoop around the torso. Wrong! One day I went out to my studio, stripped down to a bikini top and started hooping, determined to get it. I did. It really took me saying I can do this, and then putting it to action. You can do it, I know it’s hard, but if I can you can too."

Kamala's favorite hoop is the one that looks the best with whatever she is wearing. "I change hoops everyday. I love all of them. If I pick a hoop up and it doesn’t seem to be spinning like it should, I just calmly put it down and pick up one that can do the job. I really like other peoples hoops. Watch out!" Her favorite music to hoop to? "I love hooping to tribal music, drum and base, my boyfriend Shawn Barry’s music, anything live. Freq Nasty is my favorite DJ along with Jonny Cota, The Glitch Mob, David Starfire, Anasia. I love music and when I hoop I feel like that is my instrument. I use my tools, poi, staff, fans, hoop to play along with the music."

What quality does she most admire in a hooper? She responds, "I enjoy kindness and the willingness to share everything you know with others. That, right there is the only way to build your knowledge of hooping. You can never hold on to a trick… someone somewhere already knows it and if they don’t, they will soon. We have to share the knowledge of hooping with everyone… Share, share, share and build our fabulous community!" What does Kamala see as being her most marked hooping characteristic? "Mine is definitely my friendliness. I will teach anyone anything I know and I enjoy sharing with others. I am also so humbled by all of this and in awe of all of my teachers and students. I do have a flirty, sexy little dance style as well."

What else does Kamala want Hooping.org's readers to know? She laughs. "Well, we sell some super sexy hoops at FireGroove.com and they are wrapped with love by my beautiful sister Hannah who is my hooping partner in crime and myself. Hannah and I also teach in sunny Santa Monica, California. If you're looking for a hoop class, come on out and check out our Hoop Groove Basics class. We’d love to hoop it up with ya! Also check out the Hoopcamp Retreat coming up in September 2008. Hannah and I will be running the Fire Hoop workshops there! Three days of hooping with teachers like Christabel, Spiral, Baxter and more!"

What advice does Kamala have for someone picking up the hoop for the first time? She explains, "Be patient. Really try to take some time out for you. Show as much skin as possible, the hoop sticks to skin. Put on your favorite beats and really get into the hoop. Close your eyes and see it traveling around your body. I know it is frustrating at first, but give yourself a couple weeks, you’ll get it, I know you will! And if you see me hooping it up, ya better come say Hi!"

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Find out more about Kamala: FireGroove.com