*Certification definitions:
Health fitness specialists are qualified to work with special populations with medically controlled diseases who have been cleared by their physician for independent exercise. HFS is like an advanced Personal Trainer: those certified to implement exercise programs for apparently healthy individuals or those who have medical clearance to exercise.

**The American College of Sports Medicine is considered to be the "Gold Standard" of the fitness industry.

Laura says,

"I will boast in my weakness that Christ's power may be evident in me."

I grew up in a church going family, believed in God, but had never heard about Jesus until I was a teen. A new pastor came to our church and I thought he had oily skin or something because his face seemed to shine. Now I know that was the light of Christ. He explained what he called "The Gospel in a Nutshell", that Jesus died for all my sins - past, present and future - in order to bring me to God. I accepted Jesus and have enjoyed a personal relationship with God ever since. My relationship with Jesus helped me to slowly but surely recover from asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Epstein - Barr virus infection, clinical depression, fear and debilitating anxiety.

At one point in my search to heal from chronic illness, I mistakenly sought out (and even taught) yoga and Tai Chi. When I pursued formal certification, I learned that the Yoga Alliance does not allow teachers to be registered unless they study yoga scriptures and actually practice traditional “mantras, chanting and kriyas in a dedicated yoga environment.” I felt this infringed on my freedom of religion. Finally, when we were given prayer cards and instructed to chant in Sanskrit to “give your soul completely to Shiva” during yoga teacher training, I rejected both yoga and Tai Chi for good. From then on, I dedicated my time and energy to developing new, therapeutic, mind-body corrective exercise systems so that other fitness professionals would not have to compromise their Christian faith.

Personal Information:
After being struck down in her 30's by chronic illness, Laura was able to return to teaching fitness classes after gradual healing through prayer and exercise. She began teaching fitness classes after her comeback at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA and now has founded WholyFit, a Christian Mind-Body Fitness certification organization.

Once having only a "hard-body" mentality, Laura's thinking about fitness was premanently changed after her experience with illness from a concentration on outward oriented goals to an inward focus on health. Her heart had changed, too. She learned compassion through her health struggles and has an emotional connection with her students that transforms Laura's journey through physical weaknesses into her greatest strength.

Along with being a multiply certified fitness professional with 25 years of experience, Laura is a born-again committed Christian. She has been a worship leader and church soloist for 30 years and as a homeschooler. Laura has been teaching the Bible, including scripture memorization, for 17 years to other women and also to her brood of children.

Laura has been developing Christian fitness programs in her churches for two decades. Mind-body exercise is Laura's specialty, but she also is an expert in many GROUP EXERCISE formats including but not limited to:

• Flexibility Training
• Step (Cardio on a platform)
• Strength Training in group exercise formats
• Cardio and strength training group exercise
• Strength Training with resistance equipment/machines
• Martial arts group exercise

Ms Monica now lives in Canada where she trains Christians to minister through devotional exercise by becoming trained to teach in church and health club environments. Laura has been employed by many health clubs including 24 Hour Fitness, where she was a Mentor Instructor, and by the YMCA.

WholyFit communicates Laura's passion for exercise and worship , as well as her desire to reach people with the Word of God at a practical level through daily activities.

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• HFI ACSM -Certified Health and Fitness Instructor (AmericanCollege of Sports Medicine), 2003-Current #596391
• Chun Kuk Do Karate, Black Belt
• Certified Group Exercise Instructor - AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America)1986-present
• Certified Personal Trainer- ACE (American Council on Exercise)1991-1995
• Certified Group Exercise Instructor - ACE (American Counsel on Exercise) 1993-1995
• Certified Group Exercise Instructor - IDEA (International Dance Exercise Association)1986-1990
• Gold Certified Personal Trainer - IDEA (International Dance Exercise Association) 1990-1994
• CPR Certified, American Heart Association, current since 1980
• AAU Competitive Springboard Diver 1977-1979

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• 15 Years' Experience Group Fitness & Worship Dance Instruction
• WholyFit Certified Trainer
• Personal Trainer - PFIT
• Certified Pilates Instructor - Physical Mind Institute
• International Worship Dance Missionary/ Choreographer
• Founder, Leader of T.R.E.D. Worship Dance Team
• Certified Personal Trainer
• Classical Ballet Instructor
• Professional Dancer, Classical Ballet, Modern, Jazz

LEAH NELSON is a WholyFit Certified Mentor Trainer with an extensive background in dance and is especially gifted in worship dance choreography. LEAH toured nationally and internationally with a Christian dance production company called "The Masterpiece" for five years. Masterpiece toured over thirty nations and saw thousands come to Christ. LEAH played several roles and also served as the Fitness Coordinator for the dancers.

It was here that LEAH met her husband Nate Nelson, who is also a personal trainer, worship band musician in "Radiant", Christian Drama and Dance performer and WholyFit certified instructor.

Leah specializes in flexibility coaching and core conditioning for athletes and dancers and trains instructors in WholyFit technique.

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• Certified WholyFit Mentor Trainers
• International Dance Worship Missionaries
• Classical Ballet Dance Instructors
• Worship Dance Choreographers, Producers
• Discipleship & Bible Study Curriculum Authors for WoodsEdge and YWAM

OLIVER & CONNIE HAEDNER are WholyFit Internation Master Instructors who serve the Lord as Worship Dance and Performing Arts Missionaries. They are both WholyFit Mentor Instructors and have taught WholyFit in China, Hawaii and Europe.

Connie and Oliver are both professional dance instructors (ballet, jazz, modern, etc...) who use dance to express the love of God and the Gospel of Peace through Jesus Christ. Oliver and Connie are additionally gifted at creating and executing large performing arts productions using all of the arts for the glory of God.

At YWAM in Hawaii, Connie and Oliver head up YWAM's Discipleship training course. As Missionaries with strong Bible teaching abilities and discipling life-skills, Connie and Oliver have trained many Pastors and Missionaries using the inductive method of Bible Study.

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By the power of the Holy Spirit, we join in God’s work of healing, renewal and restoration through offering highly effective & accessible fitness programs integrating  exercise with worship and the Word leading to wholeness, holiness and fitness, body, soul & spirit.

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…to inspire, enliven and heal through movement, worship and the Word of God, in order to build up the Body of Christ, protect the purity of the Bride of Christ and reveal God’s love to the world through Jesus, The Prince of Peace, to whom belongs all dominion, and power and authority on earth as it is in heaven.

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WholyFit Faculty and Church Instructors commit to the following statement of faith:

1. In the divine inspiration and final authority of the Bible as the Word of God;

2. In the eternal God revealed in Holy Scripture as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

3. In the unique Deity of Jesus Christ, God's only Son, whose death and resurrection provide by grace through faith the only means of my salvation;

4. In the transforming presence and power of the Holy Spirit

By publication of this statement, I affirm my faith in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and accept in full the Christian Medical and Dental Association’s (CMDA) Statement of faith and commit to conduct consistent with the high calling of a Christian according to the standards of Scripture.

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