A new dance fitness Chapel, called FIT, is now offered Thursdays at 11 a.m. in studio A of the Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
The choreography is easy to learn and no prior dance or Zumba experience is necessary, so it’s great for anyone who wants to come give it a try, said Ruthie Swedlund, GroupX instructor and personal trainer at the Money Center.
“The main point of this Chapel is to allow participants to worship, relax and connect spiritually through music, movement, relaxation and prayer,” Swedlund said. “I have several different themes for the Chapels. For example, students who attend one week might find the playlist very praise and worship filled and a bit serious, while the following week the theme might be joy or happiness, and the playlist is joyful, silly and happy. Other themes include relaxation, de-stressing and thankfulness. ”
Swedlund originally came up with the idea for a dance fitness Chapel after incorporating Christian music into her classes. The music helped lead her to experience a spiritual connection while exercising, she said.
“I began praying earnestly two years ago for the opportunity to offer a low impact Christian dance fitness for Chapel credit,” Swedlund said. “With the changes in Chapel this year and the addition of spiritual formation credits, I decided to visit with several people in the Chapel Office about the possibility of this offering, and the first FIT (Faith, Inspiration, Transformation) dance fitness chapel was held Sept. 3.”
Maria Totter, freshman nursing major from Trophy Club, said that she attends Swedlund’s night classes and was excited to try out the new Chapel.
“What I love most about the Chapel is that it’s a place to go and worship God in a different kind of way than we are used to,” Totter said. “We get to dance and be ourselves in the presence of God and just get school and stress and all that off of our minds.”
In order to get a spiritual formation credit for attending, students must sign in on the Chapel sheets provided.
“I would just like to encourage everyone to come and give FIT Chapel a try,” Swedlund said. “There is something special that happens within the walls of studio A during this time, I always leave feeling better, more grounded, more relaxed and more loved by my Lord, and it’s my prayer that you will too.”
