Coffee Talk Tuesday #63

Happy Tuesday! Grab your cup of something special and let’s chat.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that it’s been an unusual week for me. Several months ago, I was asked to prepare a curriculum for a pre-orientation program – special guided trips for our new first-year students. With my love of fitness and wellness, I knew it had to be something related to these areas. Surely, I would spark interest in the incoming students with things like SUP yoga and HIIT, right? I created the program, got the budget approved, and soon 12 first-year students were in my group! How exciting is that?

I wanted to create a program that would introduce them to healthy living tips and habits on campus and also in the greater Chestertown community. So, for four days, I set-up themes for each day: healthy living on campus, an adventure trip, healthy living in Chestertown, and a day of local exploration. We’ve had a blast so far (we still have 1.5 days left!).

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that part of the pre-orientation program I created (my group is called Shore Fit) was an adventure to Annapolis to take a Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga class. I’ve never done this myself, so it was an adventure for all! Our instructor was awesome, had lots of energy, and wanted to try fun things with our group, since everyone is so adventurous. I was SO proud of my group for trying everything and not whining or being afraid. Our guide started us slow and low on the board, with different side-to-side balances. Then, she let us play and try some single-leg downward-facing dogs, wheels, and headstands. I was so surprised that I could hold a tripod on the board!

If you’ve been a yogi for awhile and think you have a solid practice, I dare you to take it to the paddleboard to be immediately humbled. Tree pose was SO hard. So hard. This place was organized, friendly, experienced, and super fun. I’m already looking at paddleboard exploration classes for the husband & me to go back there!

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that I’m in non-teacher mode (except for pre-orientation, I’m definitely in teacher mode) for the next two weeks. I’ve already soaked up a flow class, a Buti class, and I’m taking an XY HIIT class tonight (after an incredibly long day with my group, send love vibes). These next two weeks are filled with pound (training!!!), Buti, yoga, and so much practice for the start of classes September 4. Zumba is making a comeback, so I’m adding lots of fun songs. I hate teaching the same class over and over again, so each class is planned with different songs. This is awesome and keeps everything fresh, but it’s definitely a lot of work. Please come jam with me! My Zumba classes are high energy and full of fun moves you can rock everywhere. I’m also teaching PiYo, Insanity, Turbo, and at the end of September, Pound Fitness. Gulp.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that my newest boss started last week and it’s been a little tough for me. I’m not opposed to new things (I feel like I’m always trying something new), but 4 bosses in a year has been an adjustment. Everyone has different expectations and a different style, and I feel like I’m constantly explaining what I do (which is extra fun because I made up my job back in December and my focus has changed slightly with each boss). If I didn’t have my classes or workouts, I’m pretty sure I’d fall apart or melt or be awful all the time.

That’s quite a bit for this week! I hope you are having an awesome start to your week, and I hope that you caught a safe glimpse of that eclipse yesterday!