Stephanie Bennion is our Relief Society's new Health and Fitness Group leader! She looks forward to bringing more opportunities to improve physical and mental health to our ward sisters.
There is a close relationship between physical health and spiritual development...When one’s physical health is impaired by disobedience to God’s eternal laws, spiritual development will also suffer. We have the challenge; we ought now to concentrate on developing and improving our present physical house, which tabernacles a spirit child of God, and prepare it for eternal glory” (Elder Delbert R. Stapely, Improvement Era, Dec. 1967, p. 77.)
When I was 14 and starting high school I felt like I needed to get involved in a sport. Even though it was only 9th grade I wanted to get involved in extra-curricular activities because I knew it was important for college applications. Ha, can you say over-achiever? Being small and scrawny and not having many positive experiences in team sports, I felt lost. Some peers I looked up to as well as respected adult leaders in my life encouraged me to try cross-country. I wanted to try but I was nervous. I didn’t even like running – why would I want to do a lot of it, every day? As an anxiety-prone, awkward adolescent, my parents felt this would be good for me and my dad told me to pray about it. I did pray and didn’t feel any warning to not continue forward. “Treat it like Alma’s teachings on faith," (Alma 32) my dad said. “Try this as an experiment. Exercise a particle of faith and see what happens.” He told me to try it out and keep a prayer in my heart. Three weeks later my running shoes swept over freshly-cut grass at a park in Aloha, Oregon – my first race. During that 3.1 mile Junior-Varsity competition, as I pushed through discomfort and running’s mental struggle I rehearsed how I was going to tell my coaches I was quitting. I’ll never have to do this ever again, I reassured myself. As I entered the finish chute, wobbily-legged and red-faced, I was quickly congratulated by my coaches and teammates. For my first race ever, my time was decent and I had taken 12th place! I was later recognized in front of the crowd and given a shiny ribbon. After that moment I realized I didn’t want to disappoint my coaches – they seemed so proud of me. I’ll do one more race, I thought, but no promises after that. By the end of the season I had become my team’s number one JV runner and improved my time by a couple minutes on one of the hardest courses of the season. I also qualified as an alternate for our varsity team and went to state with them to cheer on the sidelines (and pray no one got injured so I didn’t have to step in). That was the beginning. There was no going back after I made it through that first season. Later I went on to become a top varsity runner on a leading team in the state in cross-country and a top regional and state competitor in track. Those early decisions led to my transformation into a more confident, physically and mentally strong young woman. Especially as I transitioned through my junior year of high school I realized I was now a very different person from that nervous freshman girl. My motivation to run was now more intrinsic - much more deep than wanting to look good on college apps. That seed of faith I planted early on had come to sweet fruition and the Lord had blessed me. The decision to run changed my life.If you’re wanting to get healthier and start moving again (and I’m not just talking about running) but feel nervous, awkward, or scared to start, treat it as an experiment. Exercise a particle of faith. Pray to Heavenly Father for guidance and strength and then if you feel it is right, start moving into the unknown. You never know how that first decision can change your life. To make it easier, our Relief Society’s health and fitness group can provide support and information to guide your journey to become stronger inside and out. And of course running isn't the only path to changing your physical and mental life. There are many options out there to explore.
Motivate
- Physical activity when you’re all alone is difficult. Exercising with others can be motivating and more fun. Come join one of our ward's fitness groups. More info on those coming soon.
- Sometimes signing up for a race or other event will be the thing to get you out the door and exercising regularly (I know it does for me). Check out these race calendars for fun events coming up. Sign up with a friend!
- The physical part is only one side of becoming a stronger person – the eating part and the spiritual/mental side affects our outcomes as well. Focusing on those areas are crucial as we work on becoming healthier.
As the new health and fitness group leader I’m excited to work with you and to help you reach your goals! I hope that as we increase our strength, agility and body image we also improve our faith and love for each other which will help us serve one another and grow in unity here in the Bellair Ward.
