Debbie's Story

November 29, 2024

Debbie's story

I'm a long-time student of Body & Soul® Fitness and I've been attending Shawn Maassel's class at First Lutheran Church, Saint Leonard, MD, for five years. I really love Body & Soul® and Shawn is an amazing instructor. I have met a lot of new friends, my sisters in Christ. I feel so blessed to be part of this family and appreciate all of the prayers. I know God is with me and has been watching over me.

My Journey
My journey started in September of 2023 when I was diagnosed with Stage III Ovarian Cancer. Later, I had a biopsy done and was also told that I have fluid in my lungs which changed the diagnosis from Stage III to Stage IV. I had a bad cough and was told I would have to get the fluid drained from my lungs. This was done twice.

On October 9th, I had a port surgically placed in my chest and by the 11th, I started chemotherapy. I had three sessions of chemo, then surgery, and four more sessions of chemo. During that time, I experienced a lot of fatigue and felt like my energy was depleted. I couldn't be around people which was difficult at times. I also had multiple scans and lab work done.

I recently returned to Body & Soul® and have been feeling pretty good. I have been placed on an oral chemo pill and I am being monitored by my doctor on a regular basis.

I'm so glad to be back and doing the things I love. God has been with me, and I could never have walked this journey alone. Hebews 12:1 says, "Let us run with endurance the race that he has set before us." My faith is what has gotten me this far. God is so good!

by Debbie Hanna
Student | Huntingtown, MD

Body and Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.

Key words: Christian fitness, women's exercise classes, group fitness, dance aerobics classes, Christian group fitness, Christian fitness app, FitTV, Body & Soul, Body and Soul, fitness instuctor training, low impact exercise