Hula Hoop Meditation: The Weird Practice That Changed My…

Hula Hoop Meditation: The Weird Practice That Changed My Life

Photo of Author Kat Spencer

For the last three years, I’ve been practicing what I lovingly call hula hoop meditation—and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. I pick up my weighted hula hoop, put on calming music, and let my body lead the way. Movement. Breath. Rhythm. Presence. That’s it. If you’ve ever struggled to sit still and “clear your mind,” this might be the weird permission slip you’ve been waiting for. Because guess what? You don’t have to be still to meditate.

It’s weird. It’s wonderful. And it changed everything.

I Was Too Stressed to Sit Still

Traditional meditation used to frustrate me.

I knew it was “good for me,” but sitting still in silence felt like a showdown with every thought I didn’t want to think. My mind raced, my body tensed, and I’d often leave a meditation session feeling more agitated than when I started.

Until one day, I picked up a weighted hoop I’d had for years and just… moved.

I wasn’t trying to “work out.” I wasn’t trying to look cool. I just needed to breathe and do something simple. And for the first time, I felt like I had access to that elusive feeling: calm.

Why Hula Hoop Meditation Actually Works

Let me say this: you don’t have to be a dancer or an athlete to do this.

The beauty of hula hoop meditation is that it meets you where you are—physically and emotionally. Here’s why it works so well for stress relief and emotional healing:

It grounds you in your body. The circular motion creates an almost hypnotic rhythm that naturally quiets mental noise.
It activates your breath. You begin breathing in sync with your movement—effortlessly.
It pulls you into flow. You’re not thinking about your to-do list. You’re in the moment. That’s meditation.
It feels good. Especially with a weighted hoop, it massages your waist and helps release stored tension. For me, it’s been an unexpected support for back pain too.

What My Practice Looks Like (and Why It’s So Sustainable)

I don’t follow a strict schedule. I let my body and energy guide me.

Sometimes I hoop in the morning to wake up with intention. Other times, I turn to it midday when I feel mentally fried or emotionally frayed. I’ve even hooped at night while processing something heavy—it helps me move through stuck emotion without having to “figure it out.”

Here’s what a typical 10-minute session looks like:

I choose a playlist (this calming playlist is one of my go-to’s)
I grab my weighted hula hoop (this is the exact one I’ve used for years—and still love).

Get My Favorite Weighted Hula Hoop →

I let the first song be my reset button—no judgment, just movement
Sometimes I set an intention or ask a question. Other times, I just listen to what my body wants to say

That’s it. No timer. No rules. No comparison.

And the best part? Even 5 minutes can shift my whole day.

How You Can Try It (No Experience Needed)

If this is calling to you, please don’t overthink it.

Start with what you’ve got. Here are a few beginner tips if you’re curious:

Use a weighted hoop (not the cheap plastic ones from childhood). They’re easier to control and feel more grounding.
Use a weighted hoop (not the cheap plastic ones from childhood). Here’s the one I use from Amazon—it’s cushioned and beginner-friendly.
Put on music you love. Slow, instrumental, or anything that helps you connect with your body.
Breathe. Let your breath follow your movement. If you forget, that’s okay—just come back when you remember.
Don’t worry about doing it “right.” There is no wrong way to hoop for healing.

Some people sway their hips in a simple circle. Others explore dance. Some use it as a warm-up for breathwork. However you do it—it counts.

Movement Is Meditation

Here’s what I’ve learned: stillness is a spectrum.

For some of us—especially those who’ve lived through trauma, burnout, or chronic overthinking—sitting in silence can feel like an ambush. That doesn’t mean you’re “bad at meditating.” It means your body might need a bridge to safety first.

Hula hoop meditation gave me that bridge.

And over time, it brought me into a deeper connection with myself than any seated practice ever could. I still sit in stillness now—but only because I moved my way into it first.

The Unexpected Gift

What started as a weird little ritual has become a sacred part of my self-care.

It helps me manage back pain, calm anxiety, boost creative flow, and reconnect to my body when I’ve been living too much in my head. It’s become my reset button, my moving prayer, and—honestly—my joy.

I don’t care if it looks silly. I care that it works.

Want to Try It?

Here’s what I recommend:

🎧 Start with my calming hula hoop playlist:
It’s made specifically for movement + mindfulness. Listen here.
🧭 Not sure what kind of meditation or movement fits you best?
Take my Clarity Compass™ Quiz to find your stress pattern and get a personalized clarity toolkit.
🌿 Give it 5 minutes.
No pressure. Just presence.

You might discover, like I did, that meditation doesn’t have to be silent or still.

Sometimes it can be weird.
And wonderful.
And exactly what you needed all along.

Click Here to Take the Quiz

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links.’ This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products and services I personally use.

Healing Through Travel

3 Powerful and Surprising Ways Travel Rewires Your Brain

Ever notice how different you feel when you get away—even if it’s just for the weekend? It’s more than the scenery or sunshine. Something deeper shifts. That “vacation feeling” is actually your brain—and nervous system—getting a reset.

Travel isn’t just a break from life. It’s a chance to change the way you experience it. Whether you’re crossing oceans or just crossing town, getting out of your routine changes your chemistry in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

This isn’t luxury. It’s science. And it’s healing.

1. Travel Snaps You Out of Auto-Pilot

When you’re living inside the same four walls, running the same errands, having the same thoughts—it’s easy to numb out. Your brain goes into “energy-saving mode,” filtering out familiar sights, sounds, and even emotions to keep things efficient. That’s how we get stuck in cycles without realizing it.

Travel breaks that loop. A new place wakes up your senses—smells, textures, colors, language. Your brain has to start paying attention again. And when it does? That’s when creativity kicks in. That’s when solutions you’ve been trying to force suddenly appear. That’s when things start to *move* again—inside and out.

This kind of sensory disruption strengthens your ability to adapt, solve problems, and be fully present. You’re literally forming new neural connections by stepping into unfamiliar territory.

2. Travel Calms Your Nervous System

We underestimate how much stress we’re holding just by staying in our everyday environment. The emails, the traffic, the roles we perform without even noticing. When you leave that behind—even for a little while—your nervous system exhales.

Your cortisol levels drop. Your breathing slows. Your body no longer scans for threats, because it’s not surrounded by the same old stress signals. And when your parasympathetic system kicks in (the rest-and-digest part), clarity shows up.

This is why people cry on mountaintops, write entire books on trains, or suddenly realize what they want from life while sipping coffee in a quiet café. When the noise stops, the truth speaks.

3. Travel Expands Your Empathy and Perspective

Stepping into someone else’s world—even briefly—reshapes how you see your own. It challenges assumptions. It dissolves judgment. It invites you to hold more than one truth at a time.

Whether you’re in a new culture, hearing a different language, or just eating food that tastes nothing like what you’re used to, travel stretches your emotional capacity. It deepens compassion. And it reminds you that life is big. Bigger than your current stressor. Bigger than your fear.

Travel rewires your brain not just for new experiences—but for a new kind of *living.*

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a passport to feel this shift. You just need presence. A local hike. A short drive to somewhere new. Even rearranging a room or working from a different café can start to unlock the same mental and emotional benefits.

It’s not about escaping your life. It’s about reconnecting to it—fully, deeply, consciously.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, heavy, or disconnected, don’t wait for the perfect vacation to feel better. Start small. Create space. And let your system breathe again.

Want to give your mind and nervous system that same reset from home? The meditation method I personally use—and recommend to every overwhelmed soul I know—is Ziva Meditation.

It’s the only practice I’ve found that feels as calming as standing barefoot on a beach or watching a sunrise in silence. If you can’t travel right now, let Ziva help you journey inward instead. You’ll be amazed at what shifts.

Nirvana on Earth | Travel isn’t escape—it’s expansion. And presence is the passport.

Click Here to Take the Quiz

Balance & Personal Growth

How To Make A Self-Care Ritual That Actually Works

Self-Care Ritual That Actually Works (Even When You’re Overwhelmed)

You don’t need a longer to-do list. You need a ritual that replenishes you—something so grounded in who you are that you return to it like breath. Because real self-care doesn’t look like a checklist. It looks like coming home to yourself.

And yes, it can actually work… even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or completely out of sync. You just need a method that honors your energy—not one that demands more of it. The best rituals don’t require time you don’t have. They meet you right where you are.

If you’re not sure where to start, or you’ve tried before and couldn’t stick with it, don’t worry. You’re not broken. You just haven’t found the right entry point yet. That’s what we’ll explore together here.

Step 1: Keep It Sacred (And Simple)

A ritual isn’t about length—it’s about intention. Even five minutes can shift your entire day when it’s fully yours. Choose a time and space that feels calming, and commit to showing up like you would for someone you love. Because you are someone you love.

Examples of sacred, simple rituals:

Sipping tea in silence before checking your phone
Listening to a calming playlist while you stretch or breathe
Writing one sentence a day in your journal
Sitting with your hand over your heart for 60 seconds
Lighting a candle and saying a small intention out loud

Step 2: Engage All the Senses

Self-care isn’t just about what you do—it’s about what you feel. Research shows that engaging your senses can help regulate your nervous system and reduce stress, making your ritual more effective and easier to stick with.

Bonus tip: keep a tiny self-care altar. A corner of your desk. A shelf by your bed. It could hold a photo, a quote, a stone, or a small reminder that you matter. Let your environment whisper, “You’re safe. You’re seen.”

Step 3: Make It Yours

Don’t copy someone else’s Pinterest-perfect morning. You’re not here to perform self-care—you’re here to embody it. Your ritual might be in bed. It might be in nature. It might be three deep breaths before you parent, create, or log in to Zoom. It’s valid. It counts. And it’s yours.

This also means giving yourself permission to change it. Some mornings you journal. Some mornings you nap. Some days the most powerful ritual is deciding to drink water instead of coffee. Flexibility isn’t failure—it’s flow.

Step 4: Anchor It With Intention

Before you begin, ask: What do I need right now? Stillness? Clarity? Encouragement? Let your ritual answer that need, gently. No judgment. No perfection. Just presence.

Need help calming your mind before starting? This explains why most meditation fails—and what actually works: What Is Ziva Meditation?

I highly recommend Ziva Meditation.

Not sure what kind of self-care you actually need right now?

👉 Take Your Clarity Compass™ Quiz

You don’t need to earn rest or prove your worthiness to feel good in your body. You just need a few honest moments each day to return to your center. That’s how a self-care ritual becomes real. That’s how it starts working.

Nirvana on Earth | Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s your return to wholeness.

Click Here to Take the Quiz

Balance & Personal Growth

Calm Is the New Currency: How Stress Blocks Your…

Calm Is the New Currency: How Stress Blocks Your Abundance

Stress…

What if the real reason you feel stuck isn’t because you’re not doing enough…

But because your mind never gets a moment to breathe?

We’ve been taught to hustle for everything.
Work harder. Push more. Keep going.

But here’s what no one tells you:

Stress doesn’t make you more productive.
It makes you less clear.

And without clarity…

You hesitate.
You second-guess.
You miss what’s right in front of you.

That’s how stress quietly blocks your abundance.

💸 Why Calm Is the New Currency

Abundance isn’t just money.

It’s clarity.
Energy.
The ability to know what to do next.

And that only comes when your system is calm.

When you’re calm:

You think clearly
You make better decisions
You stop forcing things that aren’t aligned

You don’t chase opportunities.

You recognize them.

That’s the difference.

😣 How Stress Blocks Your Abundance

When your nervous system is overwhelmed, your brain shifts into survival mode.

And in survival mode:

Clarity disappears
Creativity shuts down
Everything feels urgent—even when it’s not

You might notice:

Overthinking everything
Feeling stuck or indecisive
Constant mental noise

If that’s been happening, this will likely resonate:

Can’t Stop Thinking? Here’s How to Quiet Your Mind

Because the issue isn’t lack of effort.

It’s overload.

You can’t access abundance from a overwhelmed mind.

✨ Abundance Starts With Calm

Before strategy… before action… before anything else…

calm comes first.

Because calm gives you access to:

Clear thinking
Aligned decisions
Emotional stability

Without it, everything feels harder than it needs to be.

🌿 How to Reclaim Calm (and Unlock Clarity)

1. Pause before pushing

Instead of doing more, create space. Even a few minutes of stillness can reset your system.

2. Support your nervous system daily

Simple practices matter. Breath. Movement. Music. Stillness.

One of the most effective tools I’ve found is meditation—specifically Ziva Meditation, which is designed for busy, overthinking minds.

It doesn’t force your mind to be quiet—it allows it to settle.

3. Stop rewarding stress

Stress isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a signal. Start valuing calm the same way you’ve been valuing productivity.

4. Do less, but with intention

One clear, aligned action will always outperform ten scattered ones.

5. Get clarity on what you actually need

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, start here:

👉 Take Your Clarity Compass™ Quiz

It will show you exactly where your stress is coming from—and what to do next.

💬 Final Thought

You don’t need more pressure.

You don’t need to push harder.

You need space to think clearly again.

Your calm is not a luxury.

It’s the foundation for everything you want.

Calm is the new currency.
And clarity is how you access it.

🧭 Ready to Feel Clear Again?

Start with clarity. Everything else gets easier from there.

👉 Start Your Clarity Compass™

Click Here to Take the Quiz

Balance & Personal Growth

How To Gift Yourself More Time (Without Sacrificing Productivity)

In a world where busyness is often seen as a badge of honor, it’s no wonder we constantly feel like we need more time. Whether it’s work obligations, family responsibilities, or personal goals, the to-do list never seems to end. And somehow, despite all your hard work, you may still feel like you’re falling behind.

What if I told you that gifting yourself more time doesn’t mean working harder or sacrificing your productivity? In fact, the secret to having more time is often found in doing less—and doing it more intentionally.

If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed and constantly playing catch-up, keep reading. I’ll share simple, practical strategies to help you reclaim your time without sacrificing productivity.

The Problem: Being Busy Without Being Productive

One of the most common challenges people face is mistaking busyness for productivity. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that the more you do, the more accomplished you’ll feel. But when you’re constantly multitasking, jumping from task to task, or filling your day with endless obligations, you end up exhausted without much to show for it.

Instead of managing your time effectively, you’re spreading yourself thin. And here’s the real kicker: being busy all the time can actually make you less productive in the long run. When your brain is constantly switching between tasks or operating under stress, it’s not working efficiently.

So, how do you break this cycle and actually gift yourself more time? Let’s dive into the strategies that work.

1. Prioritize Your Priorities

Sounds simple, right? But you’d be surprised how many people spend time on tasks that don’t align with their actual goals. The key here is to identify what truly matters and focus your energy on those things first.

Try This:

Write down your top three priorities for the week.
Each day, tackle a task related to one of those priorities before moving on to anything else.
If something comes up that doesn’t align with these priorities, consider whether it really needs your attention.

By being intentional about your focus, you’ll accomplish more of what truly matters without feeling like you’re constantly spinning your wheels.

2. Practice the Art of Saying No

If you want to reclaim your time, you have to learn how to protect it. That means setting boundaries and not committing to every request that comes your way. Saying no doesn’t make you selfish or unkind—it makes you intentional.

How to Do It:

Practice polite but firm responses like, “I’d love to help, but I’m focusing on something else right now.”
Set boundaries around your work hours or personal time, and stick to them.
Remember that every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else—often your own peace and productivity.

3. Automate and Delegate

There’s no rule that says you have to do everything yourself. In fact, the most successful people know how to leverage their resources by delegating tasks that don’t need their personal touch.

Ideas for Automation:

Use apps that automate repetitive tasks (like scheduling social media posts or managing your calendar).
Set up automatic bill payments so you’re not stressing about deadlines.
Create templates for emails or documents you frequently use.

Ideas for Delegation:

Delegate household chores to other family members.
Outsource tasks that don’t require your expertise, like bookkeeping or grocery shopping.
At work, empower your team to take on more responsibility rather than micromanaging.

Freeing up mental and physical space gives you more time to focus on what truly needs your attention.

4. Practice Single-Tasking

We’ve been conditioned to believe that multitasking is a skill worth bragging about. In reality, multitasking often leads to mistakes, burnout, and fragmented thinking. Instead, practice single-tasking—focusing on one thing at a time until it’s complete.

How to Start:

Turn off notifications while working on a specific task.
Set a timer for focused work (like 25 minutes), and dedicate that time to one task only.
Take breaks in between sessions to recharge.

By committing to single-tasking, you’ll actually complete tasks faster and with better quality, leaving you more time to do other things.

5. Schedule Downtime

This one may sound counterproductive, but it’s crucial. Downtime is not just about rest; it’s about allowing your brain to process, reset, and get creative. Without it, you end up fatigued, uninspired, and unproductive.

How to Make It Happen:

Block out time on your calendar just for you—no obligations, no work, just relaxation or hobbies.
Practice something restorative like meditation or a walk in nature.
Make it a non-negotiable part of your routine, just like any other important meeting.

When you schedule downtime, you actually become more effective during your productive hours. You’ll think more clearly, make better decisions, and feel less overwhelmed.

6. Incorporate Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness doesn’t just reduce stress—it also helps you become more aware of how you’re spending your time. When you’re mindful, you’re less likely to waste time on trivial things and more likely to focus on what truly matters.

Try This:

Start your day with a quick meditation session to set your intentions.
Take a few deep breaths when transitioning between tasks to stay grounded.
Practice gratitude by acknowledging the progress you’ve made rather than focusing on what’s left to do.

Mindfulness not only calms your mind but also helps you stay present, allowing you to make intentional choices about how you spend your time.

Real-Life Example: How One Routine Changed My Life

I used to feel like I never had enough time. I was constantly busy, juggling tasks, and still felt behind. Once I started using Ziva Meditation as part of my routine, I noticed a huge shift. Instead of constantly rushing from one thing to the next, I felt more present, more focused, and less stressed.

By combining Ziva with single-tasking and setting boundaries, I suddenly had more time—and more energy. It was as if my day stretched to accommodate my new sense of calm and clarity.

A Simple Routine That Works

Morning: Start with a quick Ziva Meditation session (about 15 minutes).
Midday: Take a 10-minute walk after lunch to reset.
Afternoon: Use single-tasking to complete priority work without distractions.
Evening: Block out at least 30 minutes for personal time—no screens or work.

Your Time Matters

You deserve to reclaim your time without sacrificing your productivity. Stop chasing the illusion that doing more means achieving more. Instead, try these simple yet powerful strategies to make the most of your time—and your life.

Ready to make stress a thing of the past?

Start your journey with the Ziva Meditation Masterclass and learn how to gift yourself more time while staying calm and focused.

Click here to start now!