BY KAREN BOSSICK
Hillary Anderson only intended the Joy Summit to be a one-time thing.
But on Wednesday, the Joy Summit will be back for its third year with five days’ worth of presentations and dance and movement workshops designed to put smiles on people’s faces.
“I started it three years ago after meeting an improv performer at a Feng Shui retreat in New York. I was so impressed I invited him to Sun Valley and then I decided that, if he was coming to Ketchum, I’d better have more things to do than just have him,” said Anderson, a longtime Feng Shui practitioner in Ketchum. “I didn’t really start the Joy Summit. The Joy Summit started all by itself.”
Anderson wasn’t going to organize a second conference, but she couldn’t help but jump in again when someone who’d been at the first summit approached her about a speaker that she thought would be a good headliner for a second summit.
“Given the enthusiasm and joy around the first summit, I said, ‘Okay.’ At the end of last year’s summit, I decided: I’m going to commit to this for 10 years.”
The Joy Summit, which Anderson describes as a five-day summer camp for mind, body and soul, runs Wednesday through Sunday, June 11-15 at Ketchum’s American Legion Hall, 220 Cottonwood St. It will feature 20 presenters, speakers and teachers.
“Joy Summit is designed to bring joy to people. That’s the bottom line,” said Anderson. “It’s not meant to fix anybody or fix anything. It’s just about fun and having the experience of arts and crafts and movement and knowledge and dance and delicious food. All the fun things--the things I like to fill my life with. Based on past experiences I can guarantee that people will have a wonderful time.”
Aimee Christensen will talk about joyful eating during a Vegan Dinner prepared by Rasberries and Chef Jorge Castro at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. There’ll even be vegan s’mores.
“We’ll have a wide variety of classes and presenters ranging from Gary Quinn, who will talk about how the energy changes when you say yes, when you show up in life, to Susan Aiken who will talk about generational joy and how by embracing all aspects of our heritage--both the joyful and the challenging--we uncover the richness of who we are. And Shay will show attendees how to turn clay pieces into jewelry from 3:30 to 5:30 p.. Saturday, June 14,” said Anderson
The lineup:
Dr. Cory Szbala will discuss :Health is Pure Joy” from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 11. He’ll be followed by Judy Gantz discussing the Joy of Fasci-Movement at 1 p.m. and Erica Linson ‘s presentation on Vibrational Joy from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The Vegan Dinner will follow.
On Thursday, June 12, Katie Rogers will discuss Five Feng Shui Elements at 9 a.m.; Shawn Phillips, “Your Very Next Breath,” at 1 p.m., and Suan Aiken, “Generational Joy,” at 3:30 p.m. Nessa from Costa Rica will present Joy Self, Dance from 6 to 8 p.m.
On Friday, June 13, Darby Crouss will discuss Daily Joy at 9 a.m.; Ryan and Paige Redman, Joyful Relationships at 1 p.m., and Gary Quinn, The Joy Frequency of Yes!” at 3:30 p.m. Dana Maxey will close the day out at 6 p.m. with “The Art of You.”
On Saturday, June 14, Cal Millar will start the day with “Evolve Qigong at 9 a.m.; Hillary Anderson, “The Joyful Home,” at 1 p.m., and Shay, Jewelry Design with Clay. Cathie Caccia will wrap things up with “Yoga & Sound” at 6 p.m.
Victoria Roper will start off the last day on Sunday, June 15, with “The Joy of Being Yoga,’ followed by Sarah Gevirtz and her “Discover Points of You at 1 p.m. Ambujam Rose will present a group power healing session called “Unlock True Joy” at 3:30 p.m. and Dana Maxy will lead the Closing Ceremony at 6 p.m.
All workshops will be held at the American Legion Hall in Ketchum at 220 Cottonwood St.
“They’ve done an amazing remodel, and there’s a beautiful outdoor space there, too,” said Anderson.
Participants can take one class, an entire day’s worth of classes or sign up for multiple days. Learn more at https://sunvalleyjoysummit.com/.