Summer camp was AWESOME!  Let me repeat...awesome.  The Youth Dance Festival at Anne Arundel Community College is held every year around this time and it is directed by the incredible Lynda Fitzgerald.  We had many, many returning campers this year which really made for a special experience.  Their enthusiasm was absolutely infectious, and their open willingness to try anything new made quite an impression on all of the instructors.  The kids are divided into two groups by age, and spend the day alternating between classes.  It's definitely a marathon schedule, and they handled it like pros.  During the course of the two weeks they take Pilates, Modern, Ballet, African, and Hip Hop.  At the end of the day they have a special activity like Yoga, Partnering, Improv Games, T-shirt decorating, Nutrition, etc.  I had the privilege of working with the other instructors last year, and I was thrilled that we were able to work again together this year.  I think it makes it just that much more special when you have a group of people that you greatly respect and admire to surround yourself with.  I am happy to say that my modern classes went really well.  We covered a lot technique, and even got into creating their own choreography in duets and trios.  I was so proud of what they created and it was so inspiring that I cannot wait to get into the studio.  Like I had planned, I gave them some choreography from the solo I did for the MTC (Musical Theater Center) Faculty Concert that I plan on turning into a piece after the baby is born.  They did great with it, and it was really cool to see the movement on a big group of people. 

I have been fortunate this summer to have met Christa, the community leader from the new Lululemon in Annapolis.  She's not only been a really great person to hang out with, but she's being incredibly supportive of my work here in Annapolis.  For the month of July, I am teaching FREE public classes at the showroom downtown on Saturday mornings.  Today was the first, and it was great!  There were a lot of faces that I didn't know, which is always wonderful because I love meeting new students.  I'm constantly amazed at how broadly yoga can reach into the community.  I love teaching dance, but there is something very amazing about how yoga can really help people.  I've had students come into class with their shoulders tense and looking like their carrying the weight of the world.  When they leave, whether they realize it or not, I can physically see the stress melting away from them.  My friend Alice once told me that teaching yoga is a gift.  Truly it is!  Thanks Christa and Lululemon!