Testimonials

Posted by Jodi Jainchill PT, CFMT

Casandra Tanenbaum, Hoop Dance Instructor in West Palm Beach www.hoopsofly.com wrote:

Jodi: “THE GURU”
Class level: Intermediate
Tuesdays 6pm at Balanced Body

Warm-up: I only caught one warm up, was late the first time (DOH! Couldn’t find it!) Jodi puts her considerable background in physical therapy and pilates to great work in the warm-up, targeting and stretching all the little spots below and above the waist that we use so often, including the psoas. YAY! I now know how to stretch my psoas! To get our heartrate up, she distributes blindfolds and encourages us to focus on different parts of the body while we hoop on the core, blind. I am not at all surprised at this incorporation of Hoop Path technique: Jodi is legally blind herself, and this accounts for a large part of her own physical awareness. She REALLY feels movement, in a way we can only barely begin to while blindfolded. And her awareness shows in her hooping.

Instruction: Jodi provides impeccable attention to the detail of movement. She describes and demonstrates before inviting her students to begin. She provides expert one on one attention, and honors the input of other students. In her class, I finally learned how to pull my leg out, and replace it… with BOTH LEGS, and IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. In 15 minutes. WOW.

Class structure: tight! Hooray! Maybe I should be honest here- I am a STICKLER for STRUCTURE. I walked out of a ‘fusion dance class’ that had absolutely no structure to it, pissed as all get out. My background is dance (ballet, tap, jazz, modern, African), and all dance classes have STRUCTURE. After you take your first class in a new style you know EXACTLY what to expect in terms of the movement of the class. THANK YOU for your structure JODI! All classes progress like so: warm-up, instruction, practice, integration with other moves (combination building), hoop jam, cool down, closing meditation. Her structure is SO reminiscent of the Hoop Girl workout it is uncanny. I love it.

Class environment: Big, carpeted, space in a pilates studio (they move the pilates equiptment, which looks like it must be fun, too). Big mirror. I didn’t expect to like the carpet, but I did like it: it cushioned my jumps, and a hoop falling on carpet sounds very different than a hoop falling on wood or tile.

Class critique: Only one, and this is a kind of universal critique for all three classes. In each of the classes, you pick your spot in the room at the beginning of class, and you rarely MOVE from that general spot. So I’m not getting a different spatial recognition, I’m not trying out the moves in unfamiliar territory, until the Hoop Jam. Other than that, the class was JUST RIGHT!

A few closing comments: Jodi has a ton more teaching experience than Michal and Claudia put together, that’s just the way it is. Her lifestyle lends itself to specific, detailed verbal description, and since I am an auditory learner I found myself most comfortable with her style of instruction. All three are good teachers, and all three have students who like their classes very much. And ALL THREE play EXCELLENT MUSIC. This made me VERY HAPPY. I am so grateful for the opportunity to come and learn from each of them

-Casandra Tanenbaum, Hoop Dance Instructor

“Jodi’s hoop class was exactly the structured introduction I needed to make hooping a part of my daily life. Jodi is a gifted Teacher who has truly helped me find my place within the Circle. The beginner’s class focused on hoop basics, essentially laying the groundwork for the development of an uplifting personal fitness program and a meditative spiritual practice. In hooping, I have discovered a creative outlet for expressing my joy.”
– Katie Brunner, CHES, class participant

“I was the only one in my class who had absolutely no hooping experience. With Jodi’s deep commitment to individualized attention and her fabulous sense of humor, I was comfortable and confident moments later.
As a seasoned educator of multiple disciplines myself, I saw Jodi’s skills and ability to instruct shine through, with the playful intelligence only a deeply caring instructor would show. She is fully present for all of us, and her music ROCKS!!!”
–Keo Opton, M Ed., LMT, Watsu® Practitioner, class participant

“I’ve been interested in learning to hoop for a while now but by being an active participant in Jodi’s class I’ve been able to better understand the basics and have met likeminded individuals who share my hoop goals. After two weeks in class, I already noticed a difference and once you hoop it’s hard to stop! Thanks Jodi!”
–Melissa Price -’Beginning Future Super-Hooper’, class participant

“I am REALLY enjoying this class…such a refreshing new way to workout…and super fun… You are doing a great thing!”
–Robin Lichtenwalter, class participant

“I have the best time hooping. It helps me truly let go of myself. It is hard sometimes because my body has always been closed and rigid. Doing this is completely out of the ordinary for me. All my life I kept waiting to magically transform into the person I wanted to be. When I first saw girls hooping, my initial reaction was jealousy. I wanted to be the type of person who could do that. And then it hit me…in order to be the person I wanted to be, I just had to just let go and do it. I tried. And I became.”
–Jeanine Allen, class participant

“I hoop almost every day. I can exercise at home in front of my television and not leave the house. It is a great cardio workout when I do it long enough and it is more fun than my treadmill. I was afraid it was going to hurt my back, but my back does not hurt at all. I feel it is good for my back!” –Karen Dodge, former low back pain patient

“My core was sore next day and I did not even feel like I was working out. I was just having fun.”
–Anthony Cortez, first time hooper

“Jodi makes this class so much fun, you don’t even realize the incredible workout you are getting. There is so much more to hooping than just going in circles, what a fun way to work your core.”
–T.Rex, L.M.T., takes classes with his teen-age daughter

“Hooping is fun and a wonderful way to add that little excitement to the naughty words exercise and fitness! Thanks Jodi…you’ve been wonderful!!” Danita Gainer, class participant

“The trick you taught me for upper body seriously changed my whole perspective on things. It’s so much easier when someone shows you in person! Thanks so much for your help ”
–Chelsey ‘Cat’ Devine-Blake, attended workshop at Big and Hearty