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Finding an activity to love

Karen Krishnan
Posted October 14, 2014

After her own journey to fitness, Karen Krishnan became a Zumba instructor to share God’s love and acceptance with others of all shapes and sizes.

Kia ora, or maybe I should say Bula, because I am from the beautiful Fiji Islands. We currently live in New Plymouth, New Zealand. I am a stay-at-home mum of two precious girls, a wife, and a Sunday school teacher, a medical laboratory scientist (by qualification), an almost qualified personal trainer,

a Zumba instructor and a soldier in The Salvation Army. But more than these, I am a Christian and my desire is to honour God in all I do.

My journey to become a Zumba instructor started two years ago, when I realised that something was amiss with my health. Medical test results didn’t indicate anything wrong, but I just knew I had to make some changes in my life—for both myself, and my family. I also didn’t love what I saw in the mirror.

It started with small changes to my lifestyle, I ate better and exercised daily. In 12 months, I lost 15 kilos and felt so good about myself. Being healthy changed my life—I am more confident knowing that I have the potential to achieve whatever I want to.

During my journey to get healthy, I noticed that there were so many women like me. Women who despise themselves because the world tells them they are not beautiful or worthy of attention and love. Women who have medical problems because of their weight. Women who have marriage problems because they don’t love what they see in the mirror. Women with the potential to make a difference in their communities, but who hide away because they feel shame about themselves. I started my studies to become a personal trainer so I could make a difference in the lives of such women.

Philippians 4:13 says, ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ We can change our lives and live abundantly through him who gives us strength.

To get healthy, it’s important to find an activity that you love—something that you look forward to. For me, it was the dance fitness programme Zumba. After a year and a half of attending Zumba classes, I decided to go through the training to become an instructor, so I could share my love for dance and health with others.

As an instructor, I am required to play 70 per cent Zumba music, but the other 30 per cent I play is contemporary Christian music. My goal is that my Zumba classes are a place where the whole family can come and have fun, dance and exercise. I want my participants to come and dance with joy, and leave feeling invigorated and free. I want those that come with burdens to leave refreshed, knowing that there is hope and that they are not alone. I want women to feel beautiful, regardless of body size. I want to use music and dance fitness to share the love of Christ.

In October, I will be training to teach Zumba dance fitness to kids. I want children—especially those that are living in poverty or have been abandoned or abused—to have at least that one hour where they can dance and be free from their hurts.

I am excited to return to Fiji in November to share the love of Christ through music and dance fitness.


by Karen Krishnan (c) 'War Cry' magazine, 4 October 2014, pp9.
You can read 'War Cry' at your nearest Salvation Army church or centre, or subscribe through Salvationist Resources.