My name is Kathryn Drinkwater and I live in Northland, New Zealand. I’m forty six years young and I do foster care as well as look after a lifestyle block where I take care of many farm animals. I enjoy providing a safe home for vulnerable children and for horses using the famous horseman Monty Roberts’ violence-free care and training. I’m also a writer. My children’s novel, Dog Tucker was published a number of years ago by Scholastic New Zealand. I’m in the process of finishing my second children’s novel and self-publishing more of my writing through my website.

I have no previous dance instructor experience but have been active over the years using aerobics DVDs for my personal fitness at home. I would often play my Christian music over the top of the aerobics DVD music and would usually send a quick-fire prayer to the Lord asking Him for a fitness DVD workout to Christian music.

You can imagine how ecstatic I was when I saw an advertisement for Shazzy Fitness on Facebook. I remember holding my breath and opening my eyes wide as I followed the link and discovered this amazing answer to my prayers! It wasn’t long and I had my hands on both DVDs and experienced the joy of using them at home. It was like being at a praise dance party where I could worship God with my entire being! It gave me such a happy buzz, especially when my children chose to join me in the living room and we were all doing it together!

I signed up for the Shazzy Fitness newsletter and appreciated the positive, encouraging messages. I read the advertisement saying I could become a Shazzy Fitness Instructor and I began to wonder if it might be possible for me to follow that path. For a time I let it go but in the back of my mind I was thinking perhaps if I see a special discount come up I’ll look into it some more.

It so happened earlier this year I had fallen into a slump. I was feeling down and knew I needed to get back into fitness. I remembered that a couple of years ago I had uncharacteristically trained for a half marathon. The reason which motivated me to do what was not my normal thing was because I was doing it for World Vision. I realised my key motivator was not just doing it for myself, but doing it to help others.

God had given that half marathon to me in answer to a prayer for a fitness goal and so now I prayed again for a new fitness goal. Lo and behold the Shazzy Fitness Online Instructor Training Course was advertised at a discounted, special offer and so I stepped out in faith and signed up for it. It was the best thing I could have done. Doing the course helped me to focus on something healthy and positive and it lifted me out of the slump. I found I had joined a real Christian family of people who genuinely care about me and wish to support me on my Shazzy Fitness journey. The course was easy and fun and I completed it in a record time, becoming New Zealand’s first Shazzy Fitness Online Certified Instructor!

Having the Shazzy Fitness Instructor Certification has encouraged me to believe in myself and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun sharing Shazzy Fitness with others. It’s helping me achieve my fitness goals and I love it that other people will also be encouraged, lifted up and challenged by this dance fitness. I’m so grateful that the music is Christian – I love to promote Christian music. I learned early in my life that the kind of music I choose to listen to makes a serious difference to my mental well-being.

Combining three favourite things; dance, fitness and Christian music, the way Shazzy Fitness does – that for me is the ultimate happy buzz.

Thanks Shazzy Fitness and thank you, Jesus!