EP 94 Bringing Hula Hoop Joy at 68

Andy Lyons (0:00): Hello, proager. Get ready to smile because today's guest proves that it's never too late to shake things up or in her case, hook things up. At 68, Serena Beyer turned a serious health wake up call into a joyful high energy second act that's inspiring an entire community to move, laugh, and reconnect with their inner child. What started as one hula hoop became a thriving business, a vibrant community, and a whole lot of what she calls hoop love. If you've ever thought exercise had to be boring or that play has an expiration date, Serena is here to change your mind in the most delightful and delicious way.

Andy Lyons (0:46): Let's glow. Welcome to Don't Be Caged by Your Age, a podcast devoted to dissolving ageist beliefs and fears and providing pathways for you

Unknown Speaker (1:07): to

Andy Lyons (1:07): repurpose, reimagine, and reinvent your decades of lived experiences. I'm your host, Andy Lyons, and I know you'll find the resources, ideas, and inspiration you need to thrive after 65. Welcome to Don't Be Caged by Your Age, Serena. I'm so happy you're here to share your insights and wisdom to help folks thrive after 65. How you doing?

Serena Beyer (1:34): Thank you. I'm happy to be here. And, I will I will correct one thing. I actually started hooping when I was 58. I'm 68 now, so I've been hooping for ten years.

Serena Beyer (1:47): Still love it. Having fun.

Andy Lyons (1:48): I love that. And because we age out loud and proud here in the podcast, you've already let folks know your age. Let them know where you live.

Serena Beyer (1:56): I live in the greater Kansas City area. I'm actually in Mission Hills, Kansas, which is a stone's throw from, what Kansas City's ocean and mountains are. We call it the Country Club Plaza. And, it's the big attraction in in town. And I'm just minutes from from that area, but on the Kansas side, and I've been here for thirty years.

Andy Lyons (2:20): Oh, that's wonderful. Yeah. So, Serena, your journey started with a serious health wake up call and led you to something completely unexpected. So share with the listener what was happening emotionally and physically for you in that moment, and how did hula hooping become more than just an exercise but a lifeline?

Serena Beyer (2:42): You know, it's it's just crazy. It was just something that happened. But at the time, I was 58. I'd been selling real estate for thirty five years. I'm also a registered nurse.

Serena Beyer (2:55): I specialized in intensive care and emergency medicine. You know, it's a funny story. When I got into real estate, I thought to myself, well, at least I won't be dealing with life and death situations in real estate. But, you know, when people wanna buy a house, they feel like it's life and death. So for pretty much all of my life, I worked in a very, very intense stressful type jobs, but I loved it.

Serena Beyer (3:26): I loved serving people, taking care of people, making them happy, making them feel secure. But, over time, this stress and the lifestyle working all the time, you know, I gained weight. I wasn't huge or anything like that. And and I was happy with myself. I did not have a problem with my weight.

Serena Beyer (3:50): My husband loved me regardless, but, my blood pressure went up. And strokes run-in the family, that made me nervous. I had kind of stopped working out, so I jumped back in and started trying to work out again. It wasn't consistent enough. And ultimately, I said, I'm going to have to go to the doctor and get some blood pressure medicine or something to get my blood pressure down.

Serena Beyer (4:16): I went to the doctor. And funny thing, during that week or those two weeks, I'd seen this video of probably a 30 year old woman hoop dancing. And I was just mesmerized. I thought that was so cool. But it was just a moment in time, flitted in and out of my head, didn't think about it.

Serena Beyer (4:37): But I went to the doctor and I hadn't been to the doctor for twenty years. He says, I want to do lab work on you. So he comes back in the room and he says, Your cholesterol's off the chart. Your liver enzymes are up. He said, You really need to change your lifestyle.

Serena Beyer (4:54): He ultimately made an appointment for me to come back. It could have been three months or so. But I left the doctor's office. Again, that week or thereabouts, was in a big box store like Walmart, Costco, that type of thing, and I saw a rack of hula hoops. I don't know why.

Serena Beyer (5:14): I bought one. Took it home that day, put that hoop on, and that the rest is history. I I fell in love, and I don't really remember ever hula hooping as a kid. Well, that was gonna be my next

Unknown Speaker (5:29): yeah. That was gonna be my next question, Serena. I mean, was this just like, oh, I loved that as a kid, but you have no recall of that. You just took it.

Serena Beyer (5:36): You know, I might have hooped. I I I really don't. I might not have hooped. I don't remember. But I do know at at at 58 when I put the hoop on, I just instantly fell in love.

Serena Beyer (5:48): And I started hooping and still hoop most every day.

Andy Lyons (5:53): So I So what happens? You get a hula hoop. I mean, I remember hula hooping as a kid and feeling miserable at it. I was much better at jump roping. But who loves a pain?

Unknown Speaker (6:03): What's the trick and how did you did you watch some YouTube videos? Like, how did you just get started?

Serena Beyer (6:08): I, you know, I I was one of the people that when I threw the hoop on my waist, I was able to do it. It just made sense. But It's like

Unknown Speaker (6:17): yo yos. People can sometimes yo yo. No problem. I feel miserably at yo yoing.

Serena Beyer (6:21): Not everybody can do it, but I I will assure you that and it sounds like a spin, but I I make custom beginner hula hoops. And that came from a need. That came from desperation, really, to be able to share this with other people, particularly larger people, taller people, or people that just didn't have the dexterity. But it's again, it sounds like a spin, but 100% of the people that I put a hoop on, are able to hoop within five or ten minutes. And the ones my favorites are the never hoopers.

Serena Beyer (7:00): I've never been able to hoop. I'm telling you, the smile is so big. They they they want photos, when they put and but I'll tell you something else too. The first five minutes, the smile's huge. But after seven or eight minutes, the look on their face changes.

Serena Beyer (7:20): And the smile goes away. A look of concern comes over their face. And that is when I know, they know that hula hooping is a workout. But they they still love it, and they just love the fact that they're able to hula hoop. The reason people are not able to hula hoop most of the time is because they have the wrong hoop.

Serena Beyer (7:44): Too small they buy them from Walmart or wherever they they're for kids. Too small, too light, too fast. Just doesn't give them the room to pulse and move into that hoop.

Andy Lyons (7:55): Well, let's tell the listener right now in case they don't wanna wait another second. How do they buy one from you?

Serena Beyer (8:00): You can buy up to a 44 inch hoop, and that's a decent size diameter for most new hoopers that collapses, and therefore they can be mailed. And I'm happy to pass on information about that. Okay. The ones I make do not collapse, and it's highly expensive to ship them out. So I would say, come to Kansas City.

Serena Beyer (8:26): Come hoop with me. But if anybody wants to inquire, I'm happy to give them some insight on where they can get the collapsible ones. Maybe at some point, I'll start making those, but I've just been so busy.

Andy Lyons (8:39): Yeah. And and listener, you've gotta hop on to Serena's Instagram, Facebook, YouTube platforms. She's under k c hoop, h o o p girl. Okay? Oh my gosh.

Andy Lyons (8:53): It's so delicious and so inspirational to watch her performing with those hoops. So I wanna go back to when you first put the hoop on. Were you in your driveway? Were you in your garage?

Serena Beyer (9:05): Where were I was in the driveway. It was so funny. My mom came over that day. No. I I think it was a few days later, but I had gotten to the point where I could leg hoop.

Serena Beyer (9:14): I was so proud. I I'm in the driveway, and I'm waddling up to my mom. Look at me look at me hoop. Look oh, and just to go back to the doctor's visit, by the way, you know, I hoop, pretty much every day. And, I went back to the doctor again.

Serena Beyer (9:32): It was about three months later. He did lab work again. This time he came in the room. He said, You've got the cholesterol of an athlete. Your liver enzymes are perfect.

Serena Beyer (9:43): What have you been doing? I said, I've been hula hooping. I I continued to hoop another I started hooping, like, in the August. And I hooped through the winter and came spring. I went upstairs to get my spring clothes out to mow the lawn.

Serena Beyer (10:02): I put these shorts shorts on, and they were four inches too big. When when I saw that, that is when this light bulb went off in my head. And I said, my god. This is an incredibly fun and effective form of fitness. But the but the unexpected benefit to me was the joy, the the fun, the joy, the the the happiness that I felt.

Unknown Speaker (10:32): Go ahead.

Andy Lyons (10:33): And guess what I'm thinking so many people 65, you know, they do feel pressure to slow down or act their age. Right? And here you are building a business around play and movement. You're out there very visible at 68 online everywhere, swirling your hoop. What helped you give yourself permission to step into this joyful, visible, and, yes, playful version of yourself in your late fifties?

Andy Lyons (11:01): Because people are could, I would imagine, easily say, what's a woman of your age doing with that hula hoop?

Serena Beyer (11:08): They still might be saying that. You know, I'll tell you. I I didn't think about permission. I didn't think about anything except that this joy and these health benefits, I wanted to share it. I'm self taught.

Serena Beyer (11:26): It's very diff now when I say self taught, there are videos, free videos that you can learn to hoop from. And basic waist hooping is is not that difficult. I've taken it to a higher level where I do fairly impressive tricks, and I perform and entertain. But, it was I must have been so committed. I don't know.

Serena Beyer (11:49): But learning these difficult tricks on a video is so hard. But when I when I realized this light bulb went off about the benefits, I just knew I wanted to share it. I didn't know how. I didn't have a plan, but I I came up with just offering classes because I knew how hard it was to do it on videos. Sure.

Serena Beyer (12:10): Truly, everything has stemmed from that. I am an entrepreneur. I am an opportunist. But the hoop has given me reasons and and and request and needs to and that's all I've done. I've just met the needs.

Serena Beyer (12:31): I've gone with the flow. Flow is a word that we use in hooping. But it's it's so appropriate for my situation. So there wasn't a thought about permission. It's almost like I didn't well, I didn't even think about not caring.

Serena Beyer (12:47): I just loved it and wanted to share it, and, that's what I've been doing all ten years.

Andy Lyons (12:54): And I love this something, Ferris, because you call hooping exercise in disguise. So I wanna talk a little bit more about it's fun, it's true. You said after seven minutes, the look on people's faces like, oh my god, this is, you know, much harder than I thought it was gonna be.

Unknown Speaker (13:08): It's a workout.

Andy Lyons (13:09): How is it a workout? Like what happens? You start hooping and hooping. I'm feeling like my sciatica is gonna go out any second probably. That'd be my fear.

Andy Lyons (13:17): But but how is that a workout? Like, what happens?

Serena Beyer (13:21): Well, I think you make a good point. Full disclosure. You know, if you've got back issues, hip issues, you should check with your doctor before you start hooping. My hoop girls, my classes, my performance group, they range from eight to 81. There's arthritis all over the place.

Serena Beyer (13:40): I've got at least seven girls that have had hip replacements. And you can hoop with hip replacement. Know, of course, you need to know the limitation of your movement and your doctor and physical therapist tells you about that. But that's not a problem with hooping. Starting with just waist hooping, you utilize 30 core muscles when you're waist hooping.

Serena Beyer (14:04): It's great for balance. It's great for strengthening the core and the back. Hooping is affordable. You know, you can join a club or the YMCA or wherever to work out. You're gonna pay a minimum of 50 a month.

Serena Beyer (14:19): And if you're at a fancy social club, it could be a thousand or more. You can buy a good hoop for $50, $60, $40.

Unknown Speaker (14:30): And it's a one time purchase.

Serena Beyer (14:31): You'll get thousands of hours if you wanna make friends by two hoops. Because when people see you hooping, they want to hoop with you. It's portable. When it's cold outside and you you don't wanna go in the car and go to your workout place, All you need most of the time is four feet of space to hula hoop. But when the weather is beautiful, you can go out to the park and enjoy, you know, enjoy the weather and hula hoop.

Serena Beyer (15:03): There there's just so so many benefits to it.

Andy Lyons (15:07): Oh my gosh. Listen. I'm seeing myself right now getting my hula hoop and I'm going out into my driveway and I'll listen. I'll turn on the video so you can see.

Unknown Speaker (15:16): I'd love to see that.

Andy Lyons (15:19): When I get started, I'm committed. I'm gonna see it. I'll talk my way through it. And maybe I'll go from that, oh, this is fun to, oh my gosh. This is a workout look as well.

Andy Lyons (15:29): But I just think it's fascinating. And listener, I wanna know, do you hula hoop or do you have good hula hoop memories? What are your thoughts? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments or wherever you're tuning into the podcast because I know Serene and I wanna know what your thoughts of hula hooping are and also what your memories are. And so I love that you said the beginners should start off with a 44 inch.

Serena Beyer (15:53): I think it's important to have a hoop that's appropriate for your body size and skill level.

Andy Lyons (15:59): Okay.

Serena Beyer (15:59): But generally speaking, what you need to know is the larger the diameter of the hoop, the slower it spins. Therefore, making it easier for a new hooper to make a mistake and recover before the hoop drops. That's one of the biggest misconceptions I've learned. People think opposite of that. But the fact is the larger the diameter, the slower the spin.

Serena Beyer (16:28): And for average spin is go ahead.

Andy Lyons (16:30): Just clarify, Serena. The slower the spin, the better it is for someone like me who's a super beginner and clumsy.

Serena Beyer (16:37): Well, it's just it gives you that chance. Great. It doesn't work you as hard. You still have to pulse and move, but it gives you a little more time. And, that's usually the issue that most most people have.

Serena Beyer (16:52): 44 inches is a decent size given the fact that you're ordering a hoop a lot of times online. You don't and if you've never hooped, you don't know what you need. That's just a safe and and and the thing is as you get better, like many of the girls in my classes, you'll buy another hoop with a smaller diameter as your speed form and timing improve. And because you've got that larger hoop, you can always, have a friend who's new to hooping start hooping. But my hoops actually go from 35 inches all the way up to 55 inches.

Serena Beyer (17:30): That's a big hoop, but it works. They they

Andy Lyons (17:34): they And so let's say someone gets started and they they're doing it in their driveway or at the park and they're trying to get what happens when they get discouraged? Do and and also I wanna know what are we wearing, and are we listening to music?

Serena Beyer (17:48): Well, I typically wear the same clothes you would working out. And music to me is critical. Hooping would not be the same without music. And the one thing you can do with the music, if you're just, oh, just not real energetic that day, maybe you don't even feel like working out, then for myself, I'll put on slower music. That way I I'm just melting into the situation.

Serena Beyer (18:17): Now I only put on one song. By the end of that one slow song, I'm ready to go. And I'll pump up the the beat to dictate the degree of difficulty, you might say, the pace of your workout. Choose slower beat music if you wanna go into slower pace or faster beat music if you want a harder workout. But I've got girls that stand in their living room watching the Chiefs game while hula hooping.

Serena Beyer (18:45): So that's the best part of it. It's subjective. It's yours. It's your workout. But music is everything to me.

Serena Beyer (18:53): Music drives the energy.

Andy Lyons (18:56): What's your favorite music when you listen?

Serena Beyer (18:58): Gosh. I I I love just about anything with a good beat regardless of the genre. Now I I hoop for, I've hooped for New Year's Eve events from time to time. And two years in a row, I had to hoop to, Zydeco music. Now the beat on Zydeco is a 130, 150, 160 beats a minute.

Serena Beyer (19:22): And, that that's I still had fun, but it it was more challenging

Unknown Speaker (19:26): than I cytochrome music is.

Serena Beyer (19:29): It's like New Orleans jazz or Oh. Something yeah. Something like that. It, but I like hip hop. I I like soul music.

Serena Beyer (19:38): I like, oh god. I love the fifties music. I and I'd love it all. Slow music. I love doing pretty and slow and nice Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (19:48): Moves I see slow music.

Andy Lyons (19:50): And listener, when you check out the video reels that Serena has, she's in these fabulous boots. They've got the fur on them, and she's got this short skirt and this tank top, and she is kicking it. And am I seeing America's Got America's Got Talent behind you in the

Unknown Speaker (20:10): That's right. I just Talk about that.

Unknown Speaker (20:11): Can you

Serena Beyer (20:12): believe it? They reached out to me. You know, actually, started let me just say thank you to Eggs Tyrone. I wanna say his name. He is an influencer.

Serena Beyer (20:23): He saw one of my videos. He messaged me and asked me if he could use it. I said, sure. He switched out the music. And, I mean, that video just took off.

Serena Beyer (20:35): It wasn't my best work. I'm hooping at a senior living center. There's I'm surrounded by older people, but some of those people are close to my age. That's what's so funny. Is that

Andy Lyons (20:47): the one where you you come walking into the senior living?

Serena Beyer (20:50): Yes. Yes. Yeah. But and I'm doing the song to the Beach Boys song, do it again, because that was kind of appropriate for that age group. Uh-huh.

Serena Beyer (21:02): But since eggs picked up that video, four, five other influences influencers also picked it up, and they put their music to it. Amy Sedaris, the actress picked it up, and she put it out there. Well, I've learned that America's Got Talent, they're always looking for new talent, and I guess they comb Instagram as a source of new talent. So I got a call from actually a couple of producers at America's Got Talent. This is back in February, asking if I would come out and audition, and I was just in a state of shock.

Serena Beyer (21:40): I said, I I'm happy to do it if you thought your audience would enjoy it, But, they and they assured me. They they really wanted me to come out. They love my they love my they they told me. They love my energy. They love the fact that I'm smiling.

Serena Beyer (21:58): I just seem like I'm having so much fun, and that's all true. And, so I I was scared. You know, I've performed on stage. I've messed up in front of hundreds of people, maybe even thousands, but I was scared of messing up in front of millions. But my husband, he he convinced he said, Serena, you deserve this.

Serena Beyer (22:22): You've worked so hard. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. You need to do it. So I I overcame you know, I I made a decision. Which was the worst case scenario?

Serena Beyer (22:36): Messing up in front of millions of people, but at least having the guts to do it. Or because I was giving myself excuses not to do it. And they were legitimate excuses, but I knew deep down inside it was because I was afraid of messing up in front of millions of people. And I couldn't live with myself for the rest of my life knowing that that that was the reason, and I didn't have the the courage to do it. So I did it.

Serena Beyer (23:04): I didn't mess up. Oh, I made a minor mistake. I don't think anybody my my start was powerful. My end was powerful, and, they seemed to enjoy it. So I I got I got got the best of both worlds.

Serena Beyer (23:18): I did okay, and I learned so much and met so many interesting people.

Unknown Speaker (23:24): So if next step? What happens next? Can we will we be able to watch you? Or

Serena Beyer (23:28): They're still they're still doing auditions. Uh-huh. After they do all these auditions, then they're gonna look at everybody, and they're gonna pick their favorites. Those people will go on to the next round. And then ultimately, I think the the show, the final show, with the final contestants, air sometime August or September.

Unknown Speaker (23:49): Yeah. That sounds about right. That's where the hoop

Serena Beyer (23:52): has taken me. I I mean, what a journey.

Andy Lyons (23:55): And also, you weren't caged by your age.

Unknown Speaker (24:00): I I didn't even know it. Didn't even know it.

Unknown Speaker (24:02): You showed up and they were probably like, oh my gosh. She's 68 and she's doing this.

Serena Beyer (24:07): They they like the story. You make a good point. That was a lot. They they they love back stories. And they yeah.

Serena Beyer (24:14): I'm that was that was another part.

Andy Lyons (24:17): And you've talked about how hooping changed not just your body, but your inside. Like, your state of mind, your happiness

Unknown Speaker (24:24): The joy.

Andy Lyons (24:25): That. The joy. Listening who feels stuck and visible or disconnected at this age and stage of life, what would you want them to know about rediscovering joy and vitality the way you have? Well, I I would

Serena Beyer (24:39): say it's never too late to find a passion. And I say a passion because passion is love and it that love of something inspires you to work at it, to share it. Because I've had some tough times entertaining and continuing classes, for example, during COVID. So you have to love something to stick with it maybe when it gets a little tough. But I would say it's never too late.

Serena Beyer (25:08): Probably two things you need to, you know, flip in your head. Number one, be open to discovering something. And three things. The second would be don't have a negative attitude. A lot of people, well, that'll never work.

Serena Beyer (25:23): That you know? There's just they

Unknown Speaker (25:24): get negative. I'll look silly or stupid or people will laugh at Whatever

Serena Beyer (25:30): it may be. And the third is don't be lazy. And then to add on to that, maybe a fourth thought is think about what interests you. Just take a few minutes and think about what you like, what interests you. Or, and I didn't do this, but I would say think about what you enjoy yeah.

Serena Beyer (25:50): What you enjoyed as a kid. I say that because I also roller skate roller skate. And

Unknown Speaker (25:55): Of course you do.

Serena Beyer (25:56): That came as a kid. So if you just put a little time into thinking about this and then just try it. If you don't like it, move on down the road. But, but having a passion, there there's just a lot of health benefits to having

Andy Lyons (26:13): a passion And and sharing what's great about where you have found your passion is that you have created a movement and a community around it. So often what happens to us as we age, our friend group gets really small

Unknown Speaker (26:31): and

Unknown Speaker (26:32): it's hard to meet people. It's hard to find community because also, you know, you only have so much time left. Who do you want to spend time with? Right?

Serena Beyer (26:40): Yeah.

Andy Lyons (26:40): And we have learned from the longevity experts that actually community happens to be the number one ingredient you need for a long lasting loving life. Right?

Unknown Speaker (26:52): Yeah.

Andy Lyons (26:53): What what has surprised you most about the fact that you took this idea, your own success and love and joy of hula hooping, you you decided to entertain people with it. I mean, in parades and in senior living and all the places. Yeah. And then you created classes, and now you have a community. Talk a little bit about how that has lit you up and how it served you while you are serving the world.

Serena Beyer (27:21): I I just I love it. Again, I had no plan. Everything has evolved on its own. I like to say the hoop is a big circle, and everybody is welcome to come inside and find what I found. And I have come to realize that other people love hooping as much as I do.

Serena Beyer (27:44): I people reach out. They join the classes. And and those that really love it have, and, again, it's evolved. As a performer myself and getting requests, I I started getting requests to do, like, one hour shows, for example, which I can't do all by myself. But I had classes with hoopers and girls that love doing it, and they evolved to become performers, and we have a performance group.

Serena Beyer (28:13): But the the the hoop seems to attract positive people. All the girls were they're just so intermingled and always helping each other. My mom used to tell me, Serena, this is before I hoop, you've you've gotta get a life. You you you work too much. You got too you you don't have any friends.

Serena Beyer (28:34): And my mom's passed away, but she would be so proud because this hoop has brought me forever friendships. And, the community of it, I just I'm just amazed, and it's still growing. And I'm just I'm blessed and appreciative that, that I I have this to offer. And shy people and people that are lonely and and and not people that are lonely. Just

Unknown Speaker (29:01): may have been and sizes. Right?

Unknown Speaker (29:04): For sure. Oh, for sure.

Andy Lyons (29:07): And and do some of your students talk about the health benefits that they're getting from Hoopla?

Serena Beyer (29:12): Oh, they love it when they see the weight loss or the change in their arms. We use two hoops in class. One for the waist and core and one to work the arms hand to eye speed and agility. And, after a period of time, you'll see those arms changing.

Unknown Speaker (29:30): Oh, yeah. And what you're doing confidence.

Unknown Speaker (29:32): Go ahead.

Unknown Speaker (29:33): Oh, absolutely. And the posture.

Serena Beyer (29:35): Right? Posture and it's just all you know, you're talking to the wrong person because I've got

Andy Lyons (29:42): nothing but good things to say. Listener, that type of brain activity where you're hula hooping and you're doing the arms and everything, level of concentration and focus is so good for stimulating all those little neurons in your brain and keeping it active. It also decreases anxiety because what it does is take it takes you out of thinking about the world out there and all your thoughts and it focuses you on, I've gotta keep this thing moving. Right?

Serena Beyer (30:12): You know, it does. I I am in my own world with the hoop and the music, but I did Google. This goes back several years because and this came from my classes. I I I was bored with traditional exercise, and I wanted to make my classes different. So we include fun games and props and sometimes small costumes.

Serena Beyer (30:35): I like to call it showtime. But I googled laughter, the benefits of laughter. It bolsters your immune system. It decreases your risk to cancer. Of course, there are the endorphins that change your mood.

Serena Beyer (30:50): Laughing alone for ten to fifteen minutes burns 40 calories. It lowers your your oh, what is it? The cortisol strain. Hormones. The stress hormones.

Unknown Speaker (31:03): Mhmm.

Serena Beyer (31:04): That's certainly more. It diffuses conflict. It builds relationships. Laughter is just a good thing. So if it's not hooping, find something fun.

Unknown Speaker (31:16): You can't you can't

Unknown Speaker (31:17): put a

Unknown Speaker (31:17): price on it.

Unknown Speaker (31:18): I just love this something fierce. Listener, are you ready to go get a hula hoop? I know I am. And I want you to stay tuned to my TikTok feed because under Don't Be Caged by Your Age because I think in the next thirty days, I'll be adding that to my my videos.

Serena Beyer (31:32): It's it's not for everybody, but for those that it's a match for typically, it's not alike. They love it. And especially if they come to my classes, because we it's all about fun. I'm here to have fun, and, I want you to have fun too.

Andy Lyons (31:50): And so I I said earlier, the best place for folks to find you is Casey Hoop Girl on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Unknown Speaker (31:58): That's right.

Andy Lyons (31:59): Any other any other places that they can find you?

Serena Beyer (32:01): LinkedIn. And, of course, I have website, caseyhoopgirl.com. I will add, I have a Casey Hoop Girl Facebook page, but I also have a Casey Hoop Girls group Facebook group. So you can just, you know, put that in the search KC Hoop girls group. Join the group.

Serena Beyer (32:25): You don't have to live in Kansas City to have fun with us. But if you do live in Kansas City, that's where I announce free events to, the public and have tutorials and have videos of some of the events or the performances. It's all about hooping. So those are some options.

Andy Lyons (32:44): And I have to do a shout out to Heather who was the one who sent me your video and said, Andy, Serena needs to be on your podcast. I said, who is this Casey Hoop girl? And I went and looked at all your reels.

Serena Beyer (32:56): I just watched you found me. Thank you for saying that.

Andy Lyons (32:59): Just watching your reels cheered me up, brought a smile to my face. Listener, what a beautiful reminder from Serena that it's never too late to choose joy, to move your body in ways that make you smile, and to create connection in the most unexpected places. Her story shows us that thriving after 65 isn't about slowing down. It's about lighting up from the inside out. So maybe the question isn't am I too old?

Andy Lyons (33:31): It's what brings me joy and am I willing to try it? Right? Serena So

Unknown Speaker (33:37): well said.

Andy Lyons (33:38): So much for joining me. I can't wait to see if you're gonna make it onto America's Got Talent. No pressure. You've already done the hard work. But if you do, I'll be glued with my clappers, and I'll be cheering wildly for you.

Andy Lyons (33:51): And thank you for your time and the gift of your presence on the podcast. I'm so grateful to know you and I'm so grateful to know your story. And I know you're making an impact everywhere you glow. We're having fun. Alright.

Andy Lyons (34:07): And listeners, until next time, I'm wishing you a delicious day everywhere you glow. Cheers from Boston, everyone. Listeners, I'm so grateful you carved out time to tune in and grab the gems from this delicious conversation. Be sure to hop on over to don't be caged by your age on LinkedIn or Instagram to share your thoughts about ageism and unretirement. Because in this space, your age doesn't define you, it refines you.

Andy Lyons (34:35): If you are inspired by a story you hear, it would mean the world to me if you would subscribe, share, rate, and review the podcast. To receive an alert whenever a new show is posted, please join the Don't Be Caged by Your Age newsletter. Every month you'll receive links to the podcast and helpful resources for creating possibilities for your un retirement days. Thank you for tuning in. I am so excited to hear how you found ways to thrive after 65.

Andy Lyons (35:06): Waving from Boston. Cheers.