Exercise and faith go hand in hand at the nonprofit organization Body & Soul Fitness
“Hands up!”
The woman at the front of the training room gave orders in a manner that was no less a drill sergeant and best friend at work.
Ruth Ann Dreyer worked out to the beat of a MercyMe song that filled the room on a recent weeknight, and the women in the Soul Fitness cardio and strength group followed her. . The passionate group could have been at any gym, but they were at a church, The Springs Church of Christ in Edmond.
It was easy to see why the international Christian volunteer organization continues to attract women in Oklahoma as each member of the group raised their hands to follow Dreyer’s instructions and ‘ contemporary Christian music.
“Hands up if you’re wondering
How can you explain
What an amazing grace you have done
Raise your hands and say Hallelujah!”
That passion and energy was on full display when Dreyer, Body & Soul’s area manager, recently led the effort to host the “Recharge 2024 Body & Soul International Fitness Convention” at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Midwest City Convention Center. of Reed. Body & Soul leaders and participants welcomed many ministry fitness instructors from around the world for four days of annual training, exercises and testimonies and classes.
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Dreyer, 72, said the global exercise movement was founded in 1981, and classes are now held in churches, community centers and other venues in 32 states across the country and 13 countries around the world. .
Amy Stafford, the association’s president, said the goal of the recent conference was to send educators home with tools that will help them continue to work for the physical and spiritual health of their communities.
Dreyer has been teaching the Body & Soul class since before retiring as assistant vice president for administration and board relations for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in 2004. He said his role as an instructor is has been a priority for a while after retiring, and is now in school. since then.
He teaches classes at The Springs, where he is a member, and at Quail Springs Baptist Church.
He said that fitness classes often play an important role in the lives of participants when it comes to health, fitness goals and mental health.
He says he realized that when he read Rick Warren’s best-selling book “The Purpose-Drive Life” as part of a church class.
“It’s just a blast from that team,” Dreyer said.
Dreyer said the physical and spiritual fitness programs attract participants because they are challenging fitness classes and because the contemporary Christian music used in the classes is uplifting.
“I think it meets a real need,” he said.
Meanwhile, several women who have participated in several of Dreyer’s classes said they have relied on prayer, exercise classes and Body & Soul’s family atmosphere over the years.
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Bea Sprouse said she likes prayer to start every Body & Soul class and participants share their prayer request. He also said that he has many friends who started this program.
“I’m a friend,” he said.
Gilda Bright said friendships are often formed when class participants come together to achieve their weekly fitness goals.
“To keep you healthy,” he said.
Sprouse agreed.
“We are forever young,” he said.
Marcia Pavley said she likes the prayer at the beginning of each class, describing it as “one of my favorite things of the week.”
“I like it because sometimes you wake up unhappy, but you can’t leave here unhappy,” he said.
To learn more
For more information about Body and Soul, go to https://www.bodyandsoul.org/.
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