Hoop Journeys – Shine Your Light

Where

This retreat takes place at Lebensgarten, an eco-village surrounded by nature. You'll have plenty of time to explore the surroundings, enjoy the autumn leaves, relax in the sauna and embrace the days getting shorter to shine our light.

When

Thursday 5 – Sunday 8 November 2026

Arrival day is Thursday 5 November. You can arrive before lunch between 12:00 and 13:00, and afterwards we'll have our opening circle. Thursday to Saturday are the workshop days, which we'll close with the video performance night. Sunday is a relaxing day to digest all the experiences – after lunch we gather for the closing circle.

Language

This retreat is held mainly in English. Don't worry if English isn't your first language – the practice happens through movement, and there's always space to ask. Charlotte from CAIA Academy is also there for anything in German.

Shine Your Light – the program

You'll be guided by Michelle / FlowMies through 3 workshop days where we explore embodiment practices and integrate them into our Hoop Journey performance. How can we express our inner world and show ourselves?

In the workshops we build towards a group choreography that seamlessly connects to the LED programming in the Visual Hoops by Lighttoys. Our movements, the lights and the music become one. In between the choreo there is space to include our own authentic movement.

Our hoops play a big role in this retreat of our inner world – and so do our bodies. We hold one ecstatic UV body paint & flow night to color up the night and dance our hearts out.

A performance video will be made on the last night, so we can enjoy our creations of this colorful week for a lifetime. The LED programming for the Visual Hoops of the Shine Your Light performance will be shared as well – giving you a big insight into how to program LED shows. And on our LED photo shoot night, you'll get professional photos of yourself (or together) in the photo corner.

The retreat includes

• 3 workshop middays by FlowMies – embodiment dance & hoop practices, expressing your inner world, group choreography and creating together
• Light performance video & photo shoot – building up to a performance which we film at the end of the retreat, plus a photo shoot night
• Ecstatic Paint & Flow Night – neon bodypaint workshop, cacao & eclectic DJ set, photo corner to capture you as a beautiful UV art piece
• Soothing sessions – yoga and Fluent Body workshop (morning meditation practices and tea ceremonies are additional, not included)
• Wellness – sauna nights, healthy meals, nature surroundings
• Free playground – flow integration space, solo time, exploring the surroundings and relaxation

Facilitators

Michelle | FlowMies – Teacher & Performance Artist

Michelle Verhoeks, also known as FlowMies, is a Dutch flow artist based in Eindhoven who has gained international recognition for her powerful hoop dance and flow art performances. FlowMies combines dynamic live performances with elements of dance, visual art, and storytelling to create immersive show experiences. Her work has been presented in theaters and festivals, and on four televised performances during Holland’s Got Talent 2024, where she reached the Top 3 in the finals.

Since starting her Hoop Journey, Michelle’s life has been profoundly transformed. For her, hooping is both an intuitive dance form and a movement art. It’s a way for her to express emotions and melt into the moment.Through her hoop dance workshops, she guides people around the world at retreats, conventions, online classes and in her home town Eindhoven, the Netherlands. In her teaching, Michelle guides both beginners and advanced hoopers in discovering their own unique flow through dance, creativity and embodied movement.

Michelle is known for her vibrant performances that radiate joie de vivre, empowerment, and feminine energy. With shows such as Inflorescence and An Ode To Flow, FlowMies continues to evolve as an artist, inviting audiences and participants on a journey through themes of body positivity, transformation, and the awakening of the inner fire.

FlowMies.nl
Instagram  Facebook  YouTube

Charlotte | CAIA Academy – Organiser & Hoop Dancer

This retreat is for hoopers who want to…

• dive into a week full of connection & creation
• expand their flow with embodiment practices
• make a start or expand their (light) performance art
• find a creative retreat in nature and connect with the hoop in a magical way

Level: for hoopers who know the basics. You don't need to be a performance artist to join.

What you'll take home

• insights into how to create your own LED show & group choreography
• new steps in your Hoop Journey
• a video of our Shine Your Light performance
• professional LED photos per participant
• Michelle's personal guidance

Visual LED Hoops by Lighttoys

For the Shine Your Light performance we use the Visual Hoops by Lighttoys. Enter the magical galaxy of the programmed light show: the LED hoops seamlessly match FlowMies' choreography and the song we'll perform and capture on Saturday night.

You can bring your own Visual Hoop, rent one, or buy your own with discount code flowmies at https://www.lighttoys.cz/product/visual-hoop/. When you buy or bring your own, you'll take the programmed light show & extra visuals folder home with you.

Good to know about renting & using Visual Hoops

• If you'd like to rent, only a limited number of sizes are available. Please contact Michelle for more info if you have a question or a preference for a specific size.
• It's highly recommended to practice with your day hoops and save the Visual Hoops for the special jam nights, photo shoots and performances. LED hoops are technical tools, and avoiding drops helps you enjoy them for years to come.
• Lighttoys offers a 2-year guarantee and repairs fast if needed (Europe-based).
• There will be some spare Visual Hoops available at the retreat.

It would be such a pleasure to share this luminous experience with you. Will you enter FlowMies' light galaxy with us this fall? There are limited spots and early bird tickets (available till 13 September). For questions, contact hoopdance@flowmies.nl or via Instagram @flowmies.

Terminliste:

1. Shine your lights - Hula Hoop Retreat: Do.. 05.11.2026 13:00 – So.. 08.11.2026 14:00, Charlotte Gappa | FlowMies, Standard ab 18 Jahren 399 € (Frühbucher bis zum 31.08.2026: 299 €), ggf. zzgl. Übernachtung/Verpflegung, Booking Available

Buche hier dein Seminar