SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 16, 2021
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Local mom writes to build kids’ self-confidence BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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cottsdale mom and marketing professional Erin Stremcha has recently released her first book, “Power Up,” an affirmation book written for children. Launched April 29, “Power Up” features 29 pep talks that aim to boost children’s confidence and self-esteem, helping them to embrace self-love and push away self-doubt. And to celebrate the release of the book, which takes place just in time for Foster Care Awareness Month, Stremcha also launched her “Buy a Book, Donate a Book” program. As part of the program, whenever someone purchases a copy of “Power Up,” Stremcha donates a copy to charities that support foster and abused children.
Scottsdale mom and marketing professional Erin Stremcha has recently released her first book, “Power Up,” an affirmation book written for children. (Dillon Driscoll)
Released just in time for Foster Care Awareness Month, sales of “Power Up” will benefit foster children. (Erin Stremcha)
“By purchasing this book, you are helping equip children who otherwise may not have the family support they need to
feel loved, supported and valued,” Stremcha said. Readers of “Power Up” will be greeted by eye-catching, minimalist visuals by illustrator Nicco Fritsch with nearly 30 short but powerful affirmations such as: “You are loved,” “You are valuable,” “You are strong,” “You are deserving,” “You can celebrate you,” “You can make a difference,” and “You can stay true to who you are.” To further discussion, each affirmation is paired with notations for parents, children and tweens to expand upon. “Designed for children and parents to use as a tool together, you can reference any of the 29 affirmations when they need it most, push away self-doubt, and gain a healthy dose of self-esteem,” the book description states.
see STREMCHA page 20
Fitness expert’s book teaches water exercises BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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or 30 years, Jodi Books-Stokes has made a name for herself as one of Scottsdale’s more well-known fitness experts. Not only was Books-Stokes the fitness manager and aquatics director at Hyatt Gainey Ranch and Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, but she also owned Goddess Fit women’s gym facility from 2014 to 2018. She also conducted private, one-on-one workouts over Zoom as part of her personal concierge fitness business called Jodi Stokes Fitness. But what many of her clients might not know about the Scottsdale resident and longtime fitness expert is that she has been working for the last 18 years on a book that she finally published this month. “Water Exercise” guides readers through
Jodi Books-Stokes has spent the past 30 years helping her clients get healthy, including teaching them how to exercise in the water. (Jodi Books-Stokes)
easy, step-by-step instructions on how to tone up, lose weight, and increase your strength, flexibility and cardio endurance in the water. “I want people to ‘take the plunge’ with me into a healthier life this spring and summer when their backyard pools are ready to be used,” Books-Stokes said. “My dad taught me so much about looking beyond physical limitations. Our body is truly a miraculous thing. Take care of it and it will take care of you.” The idea for the book began when Books-Stokes developed a water exercise program to help her father manage his post-polio syndrome symptoms, which included frequent falls. “Although he was in incredible shape from riding his bike and swimming, the falls were painful and debilitating,” she explained. After flying from California to Arizona to
guide him through her water exercise program, Books-Stokes was able to help him build up his strength and mobility. “I wrote out a program for my father that consisted of stick figures and water mark waves with definitions of exercise protocol. With what seemed remedial had become ingenious to my father as he laminated the pages and placed them in a water-proof binder,” she said. She had the book copyrighted in 2002 but publishing it didn’t come easy – let alone quickly. Tragedy struck Books-Stokes’ family, forcing her to put her book on hold. “My father and my sister both passed away tragically within a four-year period. My father-in-law and mother also both fought lung cancer soon after that,” she said. “My book was forced to take a back
see JODI page 20
