My name is Alice Hogan; I’m a former banker and a certified Yoga Instructor. For 6 months, I had the pleasure of having Stefanie Hijazi as my fitness trainer. I originally signed up for training sessions to make sure I was getting a good workout once a week while healing a shoulder injury. My intention had been to do just a few training sessions. However, my sessions with Stefanie were so helpful and so enjoyable I ended up scheduling regular weekly sessions with her for as long as I could.

I say this as someone who also teaches a physical practice, yoga, and as someone who has worked out with other trainers…. Stefanie is a very gifted fitness trainer and Instructor.

This is what makes her a great trainer and what would make her a great camp counselor:

- Stefanie has terrific energy that boosts the energy of whoever she is working with. The “energy” of an instructor is 90% of what makes you choose one Instructor over another.

- Stefanie keeps it fun by enthusiastically “changing it up” - introducing new ways of working out so sessions are never boring. As a Teacher of a physical practice myself, I was really impressed by the depth of her own physical practices and her endless creativity in designing workouts that were original and made me want to work out.

- She listens to you and your body and adjusts workouts to give you the ideal level of challenge for what’s going on with you that day. I.e. if your energy level is low or if you have an injury in one area, she’s skillful at adjusting the session to meet your needs.

- She gently invites you to challenge yourself which is very motivating. It takes sensitivity and good judgment to offer the right amount of challenge to a client - or a group of kids at summer camp. Stefanie has great instincts in this area.

Stefanie is an athlete herself and also fashionable! My sense is that she would be a great role model for kids at summer camp. They will see, in Stefanie, the benefits of discipline - being in great shape! They will benefit from her great energy and the way she makes any physical practices/games lots of fun. And perhaps most importantly, they will experience her deep sensitivity which she brings to everything she does and everyone she meets.

I highly recommend Stefanie Hijazi as a counselor at your camp where I’m sure she would be an inspiring Counselor, Instructor and Coach/Mentor to both children and teens. Someone like Stefanie could make a real impact on their lives as a role model and by being an excellent Teacher who gives them perhaps their first experience of the joy of fitness.

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions. I have only GREAT things to say about Stefanie. I think she has a very bright future in whatever she chooses to do. You would be lucky to count her among your counselors.

Sincerely and All Best,
Alice Hogan