For the last three months, I've been leading 15 - 45 minute virtual Movement + Music sessions for my clients, friends, and social media audience. Movement + Music was born out of my two passions and career tracks. I graduated from Juilliard in violin performance and since then, my 10 yr journey to become an in-demand master instructor (and new mother) has been incredibly humbling and awesome. If it weren't for music, I would not be the fitness instructor I am today.

As a yoga and spin instructor, I am usually in a place where I am able to facilitate stress relief, and good moods, as well as give hugs and HI-Fives, All of which have been needed during these times. Quarantine has meant that as a wellness professional I have had to quickly figure out a way to continue to facilitate good moods and "hugs" for people virtually during these last few months.

Michelle applied on behalf of Washington Shotokan Association, a non-profit karate organization that was shut down amidst COVID-19 concerns. I, along with another instructor, have been working incredibly hard trying to bring karate into the lives of our students via virtual classes. We have expanded this program and now have several classes every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and on the weekends open to anyone who would like to join (not restricted to members) in order to help promote an active lifestyle in these trying times. We have reached people from all around the world.

Nichelle is a fitness trainer focusing on her client base of women who are 50+ years of age. They are at greater risk in this pandemic and are likely not to return to a gym setting. This grant would assist me tremendously in supporting this demographic group and their fitness needs in a challenging time.

As a stunt performer and rock climber, my vision is to build a community that includes yoga, barre, acro/gymnastics, and boxing fitness classes that I can teach with workshops taught by professional climbers, stunt performers, muy thai fighters, jiu jitsu and judo players, and other martial artists. I want to guarantee that the community that I will create will never be too intimidating or scary for beginners to try things that they have always wanted to try. I want to give people the confidence to bring out their inner badass!

Certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist, Shyreon Johnson, created Fit and Pretty Fitness to create a movement that inspires women to embrace their flaws and live fearlessly in confidence by accomplishing their tailored fitness goals. She believes that pretty only connotes the surface, but her work helps to uncover the bold, courageous, and humble parts of all of us.

My name is Valarie James and I recently started my own virtual training business called VSJ Fitness. I created my platform as a way to bring more awareness to the healthy benefits of exercising by reducing the signs and symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Addressing issues such as low self esteem, body image, lack of in home support, financial stressors has been a passion for me and drives me to continue with allowing women to feel confidently fit.

Jelyse is looking to grow her Workout at Work program to benefit the 80% of US employees who get little to no physical activity at work and the 75% of them are stressed out (Kaiser Workplace Wellness). Workout at Work. No gyms. No equipment. No changing clothes. There’s never been a better time for employees to focus on their health, and with your help I can bring mindfulness, movement, and motivation into the workplace.

Bianca is a yoga teacher turned personal coach who is building her yoga-inspired business, Glow From Within. Here, she infuses the spirituality and self-love practices of yoga with personal coaching to help enhance the personal and dating lives of others.

Colorado-based yoga instructor Kelly is moving her in-person yoga and movement classes to a digital platform where she can continue to provide veterans a unique, trauma-informed yoga class, and seniors an accessible yoga flow.

Missoula-based Lizzie is developing her own unique exercise format, SoundStrength, where she takes inspiration from a variety of fitness concepts including dance, strength training, and HIIT and created an exclusive combination of movements for a full body workout set to fresh beats.

Sometimes you hear a song, and you just want to drop everything and dance. At least that's what California-based Grace of @stopdropanddanceofficial believes, so she created a new cardio dance format that's so fun and easy-to-follow that first-timers can pick it up quickly, but that regulars can take to their fullest, dream-to-be-a-backup-dancer, desire.It is an environment that celebrates everyone, emphasizes community, feels safe, encourages freedom, and allows expression.

Kentucky based yoga-instructor Jennifer Ernst brings her careful practice of mindfulness to healthy eating by teaching a twice weekly plant based meal prep class that promotes immunity and wellness. She presents fresh ideas for picky eaters, assists athletes in refueling, and provides a functional approach to build the foundation for your strongest, healthiest and best life.

Hoboken group fitness trainer, Brianne moved quickly to a digital format to keep her students active, motivated, and moving at home. Now she's taking her HIIT and strength-building classes one step further by infusing nutrition into her whole health program, creating cohesive, personally-designed food, nutrition, and workout plans.

Yoga instructor Dana is combining her yoga business with her practiced and knowledgeable skills as a Physical Therapist. Her weekly classes focus on physical alignment, asana anatomy and breathing with movement. Inspired by the needs and requests of her students, she aims to create a space free of physical discomfort or emotional judgment.

Named Rookie of the Year for Bucknell University, Alexandra went on to have a successful softball career before founding 7 Deadly Spins Softball where she empowers girls through softball. Her camps, now in virtual format, include hitting, pitching, catching, and teaching the mental fortitude of high school and collegiate sports.

Noticing the lack of access to health and fitness in her extremely rural community of North Carolina, exacerbated by Covid-19, Kelly is undertaking an ambitious project to develop a downloadable digital library of workouts, plans, and guides that inspires a wide spectrum of participants who have little resources to gyms, equipment, or fitness knowledge.