Were you able to do a 100 hoop spins without stopping as a kid? No, me neither, but how much fun was hooping? Now, I’m no gym bunny, so I welcome any fun and fabulous way to keep fit that doesn’t involve a tread mill, that’s why I am currently channeling my 10 year-old self and finding some serious love for the hoopin’ thanks to my awesome new Spinderella hoop from Hoopnotica – LOVE it.

Hoopnotica is the kick-ass go-to site for all things hoopdance – juicy hot pink hoops, instructional DVDs and cute hoopin’ ensembles – and is the creation of the AH-MAZING Miss Rayna McInturf - come meet her, she’s hoopnotic.

So Rayna, what’s with the name?
The name for our company came from my performance name. When I started performing, people would always say the same thing to me afterwards – “wow, you are so hypnotic!” I thought to myself, “hmmm…hypnotic…hoopnotic…Hoopnotica!”

When did you first discover a love for hoopin’ and how did you turn it into an actual job?
In the year 2000, I saw a woman hooping at an art festival and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I immediately gave it a try and became hooked. Before I knew it, I was performing in front of thousands of people. Performance led to teaching, because people wanted to learn how to do what they saw me doing! I developed the Hoopnotica Curriculum through teaching classes and privates, and sold hoops that I made and decorated by hand to my students.

In 2005, a businesswoman who was a student of mine approached me about turning this into a real business, and in January of 2006, we officially incorporated!

Why should Sassy Minxes get hoopin’?
Because hooping is HOT! What other form of “exercise” makes you feel HOT without feeling too dirty? LOL. Hooping rules because it doesn’t even feel like exercise, yet it is one of the most effective ways to tone your entire body, especially your abs! You can burn between 400 and 600 calories an hour. Hooping is also a ton of fun. When is the last time you laughed on a treadmill?

What should we wear while hoopin’?
You can wear the same time of clothing that you’d wear to yoga or pilates, but stick with natural fabrics like cotton lycra blends. Our Melodia line of hooping apparel is gorgeous and functional – perfect for hooping!

What and who rocks your world, Rayna?
Hooping of course! I also love music, which is essential to hooping. Are we sensing a pattern here? You know what else rocks my world? Great girlfriends! So you Sassy Minxes out there – be good to your girls!

What’s your motto for life?
Follow your heart. I did, and look where it got me!

What’s the secret to your success?
I believe it is a mixture of listening to my intuition, following my heart, and believing that I really can do anything I set my mind to. I believe completely in the power of positive thinking and I know that we create our lives from our thoughts and words, so I’ve worked at keeping both of those in line with how I want my life to be.

What would a Hoopnotica soundtrack sound like?
Ethnic world music mixed with funky beats! I’m engaged to a DJ, so I get exposed to a lot of different music, but I really love music with funky beats and world elements like tablas, djembes, tribal vocals, middle eastern elements, etc.

Do you think you’ll be hoopin’ forever?
Yes! I think I will be rockin’ it for my grandkids, blowing their minds!

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you because of your hoopin’?
Wow. So many good things. The best thing in general though is that it opened me up to my creative self.

Quick-fire round: What’s your favourite…
Film: Lord of the Rings (I know, I’m a geek!)
Book: Mists of Avalon (geek, again)
City: so far, Florence, Italy
Music: Esthero
Food: grilled cheese sandwiches!!

What’s next in the world of Hoopnotica? PLEASE say you’re comin’ to the UK!!
I can’t give away our secrets, but we’ve got a lot of great things planned for 2009 and 2010. New DVDs, new hoop products and new Teacher Training locations, including the UK! You know I will keep the Sassy Minxes posted on that!

Go find out more about Rayna and her awesome hoopin’ tricks at: www.hoopnotica.com