HoopYogini Teacher Training Certification Review
Master Trainer Lori Jacobsen
TT: Miki Sohn
HoopYogini Teacher Training Spinal Awakening Series (SAS) review
General Feedback: Miki is a very engaging facilitator. I enjoyed hearing her instruction in Japanese. I
enjoyed the class and would take it again! The background music was very nice and was good for a
flowing practice. I think she is ready for certification.
Strengths& Refinements: I think the strengths are in language and connection to the practice. You are
very grounded, steady and confident. Congratulations! This something that does not come easily and to
do it so gracefully in a second language, is very impressive. I would like to hear more info for safety
throughout your practice. Why are we doing this? And what does the novice need to know?
Delivery and Sequencing: “Let’s do this” was said at the beginning of the practice, but for the rest it was
all practitioner focused (Now, You). Nice delivery of Bija throughout, guided meditations, affirmations.
You have great mirrored opposition (up/down, forward/back) throughout the practice and it makes it
very easy to understand and follow you. Announcement of each posture and structure of HY SAS vinyasa
was in flowing order.
Return to Centered Pose: There was a return to center after every SAS posture, along with present
moment awareness.
Modifications and Add-ons: All modifications were demonstrated, and safety for knees, widen stance,
arms and neck. Missed Elbows in SAF and Halo in ATW, but all options in Inspired Lifts were
demonstrated beautifully.
Holistic linking: You seemed very attentive to your students and linked the practice to both the Earth
and the Heavens, gave inspiring demonstrations and gave enough space for mindfulness moments. How
can those in your class support this at home? Online classes, other yoga classes or hooping instruction.
It might be nice to include in your closing along with gratitude
Intro: Opening was a little rushed, I would like more benefits mentioned and safety should always be
one of the first things mentioned, instead of after centered pose.
Centered Pose: Once in your center, you relaxed and the class started with ease. Nicely done.
Reminder to you, to center before your students arrive or before your perform. You beautiful plant the
Bija “where you find yourself”. You give nice space and guidance to connect with the breath, then
moving to the nostrils at the bottom of the feet. I like how you “send the breath up from the earth to
the sky” and you regularly remind the class to “keep going” or “keep breathing”, it is very encouraging.
Breathing Lifts: 3 part breath, Victorious breath, relax shoulders I felt so relaxed watching you do
breathing lifts; the class was like butter in your hands! Great demonstration and guidance through 3 part
breath and victorious breath. Clear directives and it would smoothly along with the movements. I really
liked when you said “hiss at back of through, inhale imagine you are misting a mirror ….exhale, to reflect
yourself more clearly”
Side arch flow: A reminder of victorious breath through the posture was missing. The posture flowed
and directives linked appropriately. Safety prompts need to come earlier in posture. Softening elbows
was not mentioned, but good directives for neck given and reminder to “keep hip in line, under rib
cage”. Ease and Effort demonstrated in side arch hold. I liked the return to center between side arch
holds; it really demonstrated the ease and effort of the posture nicely.
Life is Awesome: Beautifully demonstrated and in the proper order and linked with breath.
Around the World: Nicely started from a widen stance moving into side arch. Then exhaling as going
forward, relax the head, then inhale, lift and arch back. Nice reminders to ground into the earth and
bend knees to deepen the posture. Beautiful share regarding ease and effort/structure and relaxation
and how it’s all found in Around the World. Halo add-on missed.
Centered Twist: Started from Center, with stacking and heart lifting, rooting into the earth. Safety
prompts and eye gaze need more emphasis. Nice demonstration of rapid rooted breath with a good
explanation of why this posture is good for you (spinal health, digestion) gradually and personal increase
in tempo; with guidance from a good teacher is necessary for this and you nailed it. Planting heels/feet
as you eased the class back to center, allowing the natural momentum of the hoop to return to it’s
natural still point and into a mindfulness moment.
Inspired Lifts: Beautiful mindfulness moment to start the Inspired Lifts. Bija again and “observe changes
in body and mind. “Drop into your heart and find gratitude.” Inhale lift gratitude to the sky, exhale send
it down to the earth, moving through a centered twist. Add-ons and modifications given. You gave lots
of wisdom and encouragement through both sides of Inspired Lifts, “Inspiring the Energy”, along with
Centered Twists to a still point and another mindful moment when switching.
“Connect to Earth, Connect to Heart” “Connect with your prayer, wish, dream…what are you creating,
intending, wish for your life.”
Closing: Share more authentic wisdom. You are a very inspiring and a great teacher! How can
practitioners support their hy practice at home? What are the benefits of this practice (why they will
want to do it repeatedly)?
Gratitude: Do not forget to thank everyone. I did not see it in the videos, but I believe it was given  I
like to thank the students for coming, the space for hosting, Jocelyn for creating, and for every
opportunity I get to share. Lovely job again!
HoopYogini Teacher Training From the Core (FTC) review
Master Trainer: Lori Jacobsen
TT: Miki Sohn
General feedback: Great class! You had everyone hooping and looking good in both directions. Nice
prompts, attention to each student and speaking directly to each student. More safety prompts are
needed when teaching the From the Core program.
Introduction: Your Introduction was short and sweet; It could definitely be longer, but I understand if
it’s challenging in English. I did like how you offered it as an “exploration” of the body, from the waist,
that gives a massage, is a meditation, and a full core/body workout that builds heat in the body and
burns 400-600 cal/hr and will allow you to “live the life of your dreams”.
“Let’s Do this”. Instead say, NOW! or a directive.
Waist Hooping/Foundation Pose: Great demo “it looks like this!” and getting everyone started.
Posture established in Foundation Pose. More emphasis on VIGOROUS pushes at start will help
maintain that energy throughout. Breathing reminders were present but not specific. There was no
mention of 3 part or victorious breath, but breath was connected to movements. In and up, down and
out.
Good mindful moment once everyone was hooping. Great encouragement and space for them to be in
the NOW. I also liked the posture and attention directives regarding leaning or looking into the past or
leading looking into the future. Good modifications with right left pushes ie: no zigzag or circles, you
want them to create a straight line.
Wing Span Hug: Inhale, arms wide, lean back, open chest, lift heart…. looked so beautiful! Nice
demonstration and support given to practitioners through the movement, matching inhale to opening,
and exhale to pulling in navel, hugging self. Nice support to keep breathing and to go at own tempo.
Missed opportunity to build more heat in with Victorious breath and a nice warm hug. Nice HY seedling:
smarter is sexier!
Centered Pose: Return to centered pose as you moved to Reverse Direction. Great time to offer safety
reminder. Centered Pose is always safe. I think you gave really nice encouragement (Keep Trying! You’re
learning something new!) and reminders to move vigorously side to side, to keep breathing and proper
body alignment. I noticed many butts begin to come untucked and hoops heading to the floor. More
posture prompts and demonstrations of what doesn’t work can be helpful. Nice job looking around
room and offering corrections as needed.
Goddess Pose Plie (instead of Dream Pull?) Moved seamlessly into goddess arms from the hug. Nice
directions for arm position and moving into the squat given. A Safety prompt for knees and a widened
stance is needed. Inhale up, exhale down, lowering tailbone as you plie. Tucking bum under is also
important for maintaining the hoop in this posture.
Twist and Reversals: explanation that the posture is from centered twists and safety to return or access
centered twists, if this is not comfortable. Nice demonstration of the movement and you eased
everyone into the posture at their own pace, lifting back heal, extending outside arm. Victorious breath
needs more emphasis in this posture. When it comes to safety, you can never say enough in this
posture, especially for beginners. Good encouragement to take out the middle rotation and Speed it up!
Eye gaze and breath both need more emphasis. Take your time with this posture and build it up.
Pele Goddess Flow: Moved nicely into Eagle Arms, linking posture to “inner vision”, linking breath to
movement. Inhale, lifting up but still pushing left and right, exhale, elbows to belly. Victorious Breath
needs more emphasis. Nice arm placement and wrapping. Add-on of goddess squats revisited, but
nothing held or mentioned beyond this challenge. I was impressed that ¾ of the class was able to do
this. Great job to all!
Return to Center/Mindfulness: Bringing hands to heart after “releasing and relaxing” back into
foundation waist hooping. Bring feet in closer to Center. “Check in, come back to center of personal
universe” “Feel that energy” Feel that heat you created”.
Centered Pose Posture and connection re-established. Nice Mindful moment and review of the From
the Core full body work out, and flow into cool down.
Integrated Cool down: Return to Centered Pose, additional release, Bija, cool body down
Back Arch/Forward Fold and Sway: lift hoop up, back arch and bring hoop to bum. Shoulder and low
back safety needed. Inhale up and exhale fold forward. Inhale lift head and “sway back”- lift head and
tailbone to sky, might be more descriptive or “cow”. exhale, relax head and sway wide from left to right.
nice guidance. don’t forget to observe posture of students-you may have to look up.
Triangle- rolled hoop to one side, nice flow into next posture. Good preparation for triangle pose, not
pressing into hoop. Lift arm, keep breathing. Leaving triangle to go to the other side needs some work,
or you can do triangle/pyramid to one side, then do the same thing to the other, instead of flip-flopping.
More explanation of benefits and why we are doing this posture along with alignment are good with
Triangle pose. I suggest watch a few other instructors teach this posture, to understand it further. It’s
one of my favorite and unique for everyone.
Pyramid- Nice set up for Pyramid, linking breath with movement and giving knee a kiss.
Prayer Halo: Nice entry to halo, connection to breath, prayer centered pose, strength in the posture and
planting the bija. Gracefully dropping back into the heart, observing PMA with nice space given.
Closing: Recap of the HY practice. Inner Wisdom, bring your practice with you day to day (how can they
do that?) Go forward from your center. May this practice bring you peace…namaste.
Gratitude is always the best closing but this was so nice. congratulations, Miki!