What a Difference It’s Made in My Life

by Lisa Hernandez

My family and I became members of the Family Life Center when its doors opened years ago, never dreaming that it would one day be an inspirational launching pad for my career as a fitness instructor.  In the beginning the FLC provided the ideal environment for our then homeschooling family to add physical education to our curriculum.  We had access to a wonderful family playground, complete with pool and ping pong tables and a basketball court.  This proved to be a great place to enjoy weekly or monthly “family nights.”  My two sons played on the Upwards basketball teams from an early age, which gave them the opportunity to be involved in organized sports in a Christian environment with godly coaches.  At the age of 20, my youngest son is still participating on the men’s basketball teams, and he recently played against one of his former Upwards coaches!   Attending these games through the years provided another source of fun and connection for our family, as well as opportunities to know more of our church family.

After full days of teaching and caring for my own four children, plus three others, sneaking off to an evening aerobics class became a much anticipated event.  The physical and emotional benefits I received helped to recharge my batteries for the demands of the next day.  Being part of a class kept me motivated and committed to attendance.  It also provided a social “shot in the arm,” a place where I could participate in adult conversation!   It has been uplifting to walk into a Christ-like atmosphere filled with Christian music, welcoming faces, and words of encouragement.  More than once Scripture posted on the FLC walls spoke to my heart and refreshed my spirit.  Whether I entered those doors with a headache, a tired body, or a troubled spirit, I always felt better when I left-physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

About eight years ago Lynn Moore introduced Pilates to the Family Life Center program.  I attended classes and discovered my niche.  The exercises were easy on the joints and began to strengthen me in ways that made a huge difference in my daily activities.  In my 30s there were times when my neck and shoulders would become knotted, resulting in limited range of motion for several days.  My lower back would become strained if I happened to move wrong, sending me to the couch with a heating pad.  In my 40s I began regularly attending Pilates classes, and now in my 50s, I no longer suffer with these maladies. This form of exercise has improved my posture and the strength of my core and upper body, helping to correct muscle imbalances and weaknesses which lead to pain.

One fellow Pilates’ student, Lou Brantley, always encouraged me by saying that I could teach these classes.  She was my cheerleader, planting seeds in my mind.  Although, I felt like Abraham’s Sarah, thinking I was too old in my late 40s to become a fitness instructor.  Lou continued to encourage me, and God presented an opportunity for me to be trained as a WholyFit devotional exercise instructor.  WholyFit was created by Laura Monica, a godly woman who lives in The Woodlands, as a Christian alternative to yoga.   Many people I knew were enrolling in yoga classes for the physical benefits, so I recognized the need for a Christian alternative to protect against the dangers of being exposed to false religious meditations.  As I learned and practiced WholyFit, my fitness level increased.  My back and lower body became stronger, and my flexibility and balance improved dramatically.  By meditating on Scripture while practicing the movements, my spirit and mind were renewed.  After certification, I contracted with two other churches to teach WholyFit.  Neither had fitness facilities, which caused me to further appreciate what I had at Champion Forest Baptist Church.  Eventually, my WholyFit certification opened the door to teach classes at the Family Life Center.

As an instructor, I have become increasingly aware of the role that the FLC plays in the lives of its members.  It is nothing short of a huge ministry.  Each class I have the privilege of teaching offers the opportunity to make a difference, both physically and spiritually.  What other fitness facility gives the instructor the liberty to read Scripture and pray in class?   The senior fitness classes are a warm and loving group committed to staying active.  The FLC offers a fun and safe environment for them to work in.  It’s also heartwarming to walk through the lobby on my way to or from class and witness a group of seniors gathered for coffee and fellowship.  Fitness involves more than just physical exercise!

It is also rewarding to hear individual reports from my Pilates and WholyFit students about how they are benefiting from the exercises.  Some are sleeping better.  Others are gaining more flexibility and range of motion.  They report improvements in balance and strength.  One gentleman told me that his golf swing had improved just after a few weeks of class participation.  A woman who has been attending Pilates and WholyFit classes since they began at the Family Life Center reported that her herniated spinal disc was causing no pain, possibly because the strength of her back was compensating for it.   Many of these members are in their 60s and 70s, and I am continually inspired by them.  It’s a blessing to help others learn how to improve their levels of fitness and injury prevention by overcoming muscle imbalances and strengthening weaknesses.

In conclusion, I am more thankful than ever for the blessing of our Family Life Center.  It has truly served as an outstanding ministry in the lives of my family and countless others, connecting us as a church family and opening doors of ongoing ministry to our community.  “May God Himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together spirit, soul and body, and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (MSG)