Costco Laundry Jug

Meet the Mompreneur: Yogi Avi!

By Michelle Lloyd

MomsCharlotte.com

Cara Putzrath (aka Cara Zara), 44, is a South Charlotte mom of 2 who also is a professional hula-hoop dancer! She performs at festivals, events, and birthday parties. She also teaches the art and fitness of hula-hooping with after-school programs and summer camps.

Q. How well is your business is doing?

For over a year I have had steady business and I am booked for parties about 4-6 weeks out. I am now scheduling for the 2011-2012 school year for my after-school enrichment program. I teach kids to appreciate physical activity for the pure pleasure of movement in a manner that's not based on repetition or competition. I foster team building skills and enhance children's self-esteem in a playful and exciting way! I hoop at area festivals and have been seen spinning my hoops at Festival in the Park, First Night Charlotte, Charlotte Shakespeare Company, Strawberry Festival and many others. I was also featured on the Charlotte Today Show. Q. How long have you been hula-hooping?

I started when I was a little kid and then put the hoop down for a few decades before picking it back up again. I’m now into my fifth year as a Hoop Dancer and it has been a transforming journey. It all began when my best friend insisted that I participate in a hooping workshop in her back yard. I enjoyed the free-wheeling swoosh of the Hoop around my waist and the awe inspiring tricks of well-accomplished hoopers. All I could do at the time was keep the hoop around my waist. Every attempted trick hit the ground with a thud. I have come a long way since that day in the back yard!

Q. What made you decide to make a business out of it?

On December 31, 2009, I hooped at a party under a full moon with the beat of a drum circle and made my New Year’s declaration that I would share my love of hooping by teaching and performing, which is funny because I never make New Year’s resolutions! My girlfriend who was hosting the party commented that New Year's Eve wishes under the spell of a full moon and a drum circle are pretty powerful. She was right!

Q. What is your favorite part of having your own business?

I get paid to hula-hoop! It really doesn’t get any better than that. My favorite part is seeing the joy in the children’s faces and watching them express themselves through play. Children are enthusiastic and willing to try anything. When adults drop a hoop they automatically look around to see who’s watching their mistakes and compare themselves to others. When children drop the hoop they pick it right back up and try again.

fresh unders: Cucina di Costco

I tend to avoid Costco, and only shop there for things that I really need like paper towels, napkins and bulk string cheese. Cause everyone needs 52 sticks of Polly-O. That's some bulk if you know what I mean. We buy our other "Children Under 10" staples there, such as 5 lbs of Cheeze-Its, 3 bottle packs of Children's Tylenol, and 6.5 lbs of animal crackers. But the real reason I avoid Costco, other than the proliferation of processed foods that my kids want to buy ( see also: 5 lbs of Cheeze-Its) is because I don't like the sample ladies at the end of every aisle. To clarify, I like the ladies (hee hee) but I don't like free samples. WHO doesn't like free samples, you ask?! Me. I have this weird rule that I don't eat free samples. I avoid the Chinese food guy in the food court with the plate full o' toothpicks. The open plastic container on the bakery counter with yesterday's cookie crumbles? No thanks. I don't even take the free American cheese slice. I just make it a rule not to eat when I'm shopping. (This goes hand-in-hand with my rule that I only eat ice cream when I'm sitting down. I can't appreciate it enough if I have to eat it while I'm walking. Neurotic, party of one? Your table is now available.) And by transitive property of neurosis, I don't usually let the kids eat the free samples. Well...up until now. Turns out, you can feed two hungry kids pretty well at Costco ALL while getting your shopping done. If you knew this already, you could've told me. You probably did. But I probably judged you (silently, of course) for giving your children processed food items that have no nutritional value. But since I'm getting less neurotic as the kids grow older (due to a powerful combination of therapy and increased alcohol consumption) I decided to give Cucina di Costco a try. While cruising the frozen foods, I'm drawn in by the Mickey Nuggets. I don't want to eat Mickey's nuggets. Aidan and Norah distract me with another sample: Panko-encrusted chicken patties, served with a toothpick. You can get my kids to eat anything if you give them a toothpick. We're sold on our main course. We lap this particular lady three times. The third time, I buy the huge bag of panko encrusted chicken product. Free sample sales really do work, Costco! Just when we had completed our three courses, we were finishing up our shopping in the cleaning products aisle.

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