In Strength and Fitness

We are more than simply a fitness organization. We are intentional about our faith, living life well, and being our best in whatever role(s) we find ourselves in life. We aim to honor God with everything we are. And we want to help you do the same.

When you become a Body & Soul® Fitness student, you’ll be given a free copy of our most current devotional booklet. In this, you’ll find our current playlist of songs/artists, and spiritual content that we hope will encourage and inspire you. Download a copy of our previous devotional booklet.
March 26, 2023
his marvelous light
Impact

I really am fortunate to live in a part of the country where we have 4 seasons. I like all 4 seasons, but this winter has been a tough one for me. Dealing with a huge loss of a daily relationship and the changes that come when friends move has really been hard. There was so little sunshine that, for the first time, I really suffered from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  There seemed to be weeks where we didn’t see the sun and that just added to my already down mood. When the sun would be out and the sky was blue instead of gray, I would feel lighter and happier. But then the next day...

March 19, 2023
new life
Impact

There are many signs of new life this time of year. We live on three acres, which includes a peninsula and a pond that attract waterfowl like geese and ducks. We often see geese on the peninsula, but when one of the geese just sits there for a while we know what that means - new life - baby goslings coming soon! Last year on Mother’s Day...

March 12, 2023
small beginnings

When you think about the wellness goals you made for 2023, do you feel overwhelmed? Maybe you had a lot of weight to lose, or a long way to go to get fit and strong, to recover from an illness or injury, or to get back into a healthy routine.

In Zechariah 4:10, God urged His people not to “despise the day of small beginnings.” They had returned to their homeland after years in exile, only to find the temple in ruins, destroyed by their enemies. The task of rebuilding felt utterly and completely overwhelming. They were starting off defeated, still grieving the loss of what used to be...

March 5, 2023
Lent
Impact

Each year I “give up” something for Lent. Sometimes it’s something I like to eat, sometimes it’s a pastime that draws me in and sucks away my time. This year I’m giving up tea. That may not seem like a big deprivation, but morning tea has really become a habit for me, so NOT having it will get my attention right away. I want my refraining from tea to be a reminder as I start each day that it is Jesus who warms my whole being, not a cup of hot tea...

February 26, 2023
Habits
Impact

My #1 love language is “Quality Time.” If you make a date with me to go out for coffee or go for a walk together and share stories I feel loved and cared about. My love bucket is filled up a little further. My second love language is “Words of Affirmation.”  If we can’t get together in person, if you call me to ask me how I’m doing and share some encouragement, ...

February 14, 2023
Love of God
Impact

One of my best friends is always saying that she is God’s favorite. It always makes me giggle and of course I can’t help but respond, “Um, actually I think I’m His favorite.” It’s a silly exercise because the truth is that we are all His favorites and that includes YOU too! The love of God is so much bigger than we can imagine. In fact, there is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from the love of God. Isn’t that encouraging?!?! 

God’s love surrounds us for the entirety of our life and when we die...

February 12, 2023
loving the unlovely

With all honesty, I admit that I’m not a sappy person and I’m definitely not a romantic, but with Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, my mind keeps circling back to the topic of love. Not necessarily the love of a spouse or a parent or a friend, but the love of God.

If you’ve read even a little from the Bible, you know one of the main themes is God‘s love for us. The rebellious, the wayward, the faithful…

February 5, 2023
Friends
Impact

If you fail to plan, to plan to fail. Have you ever heard that before? The New Year is the perfect time to lay out all sorts of plans we desire in our life, with top priority for most being our health. Everyone has head-knowledge of what are the most popular components of a healthy lifestyle-nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know what to do and THIS is the year that I will do it!” But there is an important component of our overall well-being which became crystal clear to me during the pandemic...

January 25, 2023
Fat or Phat?

As a “faith and fitness” organization, Body & Soul® has over four decades of experience helping individuals address their health holistically from the physical and spiritual perspective. We have six exercise programs with modification levels in each. There is truly something that every body can safely do and enjoy. Our instructors are nationally certified group fitness instructors, and we deliver training that is current and relevant. Trainings during and since the pandemic have, for instance, focused on mental health tools, posture assessment/impact/correction. Programming and choreography for our programs likewise incorporate cutting edge fitness research and development. Most of all...

January 22, 2023
spiritual growth

I have two grandsons 10 weeks apart in age. These cousins constantly measure themselves against each other. They both want to be the tallest, but of course they have no control over their height. 

Thankfully, spiritual growth is not like physical growth. We do have some control over our maturity. Although only the Holy Spirit can bring spiritual transformation, He won’t do it without our obedient cooperation. 

This time of year is perfect for evaluation and goal setting. Think this sounds too analytical to be “spiritual?”...