How a workout group became a pathway to faith.

Many people go to the gym with a goal in mind. To get stronger, to release stress, to train for sport. But what if your workout could strengthen more than your body? What if it could deepen your faith too? Fitness and faith might seem an unlikely pairing, but they actually have more similarities than we realise. Nick Danev, a Melbourne-based health and fitness coach and Owen Hone, a men’s coach and personal branding strategist, discuss Gym Church and share how God is not just reaching people in seats on Sunday, but in between sets too.

Gym Church is a movement that started as a small group of friends training together and reading the Bible that is now reaching thousands across Australia and beyond. Nick shared, “Gym Church has become a bridge for many people that would never, ever set foot in a normal church.”

How Did Gym Church Start?

Gym Church started from humble beginnings. “[We] just wanted to train with each other,” Nick shared. “We wanted to deepen our faith and connect with other brothers.” It began with just a few men with a willingness to train their bodies and their hearts for Jesus.

What started as a small group of friends quickly became hundreds of regular attenders. But Nick and Owen continue to give the glory back to God. “We just know that this has been breathed by God, because we can’t take credit for this really at all,” Nick shared.

As interest in the group grew, they opened it to women. Now Gym Church runs on a simple rhythm the pair call the “Trinity effect”: exhaust the body, tame the mind and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And as they train together, they are building a Christ-centred community united by faith and shared purpose.

A Bridge to Church, Not a Replacement for It

Gym Church is not meant to take the place of a church service. Instead, it serves as a vessel to bring people into church. “We have specifically avoided the Sunday, we do not want to compete with the church,” Nick said. “We’ve always said that we are the bridge for the church. We want to bring people to church.”

Through movements like Gym Church, conversations around Christianity can be brought into places where they might not otherwise happen. As Owen puts it, “It’s that lower barrier for entry where they can come and get to encounter God. And then once God gets a hold of them, well, He takes care of the rest.”

The Ache a Workout Can’t Fix

Nick’s own story is part of why Gym Church exists. He grew up without a father figure, and he found himself seeking that kind of love from other men. That search led him into drug and alcohol addiction and severe depression. A friend who had turned his own life around kept inviting him to church, and Nick kept saying no. Then one desperate day, he said yes. “I received and felt the love from other people that I never have ever felt in my life,” he said. “I felt the love of the Father for the very first time. And from that moment, I just was completely changed.”

Owen describes the same emptiness in different words. “It’s like a jigsaw puzzle piece. You can try and stuff drugs, alcohol, sport, business in there, but until you find God and you put Him there, nothing will replace it.” Nothing else but God can satisfy. Not even a gym program. That’s why both men are so eager to lead other people back to the love they have found in Jesus.

The Hunger for Community

Owen believes the appeal of Gym Church says something about where people are at right now. “There’s two things that people absolutely need, and that is God and that is community,” he said. “With social media and AI and everything going on, people went down that route, and now they’re realising they’re more disconnected than ever.” That craving for real, in-person connection, the kind where people can be honest about what they are struggling with and pray for one another, is exactly what keeps drawing people back week after week.

Jesus is the Ultimate Model of Strength

As many men grapple with messages that leave them feeling undervalued or directionless, some turn to toxic online communities in search of identity and belonging. Nick and Owen offer a different path, pointing men to Jesus as the truest model of authentic masculinity. “Jesus was the, we call it the hardest man to ever live,” Nick shared. “He was loving and caring. But He came to stand against the corruption and go against what was happening at the time.”

When our eyes are fixed on Jesus as the perfector of our faith, other pursuits begin to find their proper place. “Your body can be an expression to go and advance His kingdom and to serve people.” When we recognise that our bodies are temples of the living God, we can begin to work out physically what God is working in spiritually, as we “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Hope for Every Empty Space

Gym Church proves something simple: when we open our lives to others and bring Jesus into the middle of it, ordinary places become sacred ones. For Nick and Owen, that looked like creating Gym Church. But for many of us, it might be bringing Jesus into our morning walk, a grocery run or even a weekly catch-up. None of these things seem especially spiritual on the surface, but they are often the places that people need Jesus the most.

You may not be called to start a movement like Gym Church, but you can create space for meaningful conversations wherever God has placed you. Sometimes all it takes is a willingness to look beyond sets and reps and talk about the deeper things of life. More often than not, that’s where hope begins.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

Feature image: Canva

If you’ve ever wondered “what is Pilates?” and whether it’s right for you, you’re not alone. For many people, getting fit can feel intimidating.

Read more: Pilates: What It Really Is and Why It Might Be What You Need

Movement isn’t always about chasing personal bests or pushing through intense workouts. Instead, it’s about feeling comfortable and confident in your body again – especially after injury, chronic pain, busy seasons, or long breaks from exercise.

That’s why Pilates for beginners, injury recovery, and gentle strength training so often come up in conversation. However, despite its popularity, Pilates is still widely misunderstood.

Physiotherapist Melanie Cauliffe explains what Pilates really is, where it came from, and how it can support people returning to movement – not just elite athletes or dancers. “Pilates was originally designed for people recovering from injury” says Mel.

It Didn’t Start as a Fitness Trend

Although Pilates is often associated with boutique studios and reformer classes, it didn’t begin as a trendy workout.

Joseph Pilates developed the method in the early 20th century. Originally, he used controlled, repetitive movements to help people rehabilitate from injury. He even designed spring-based resistance systems so bed-bound patients could strengthen their bodies safely.

That early equipment later evolved into what we now know as the Pilates reformer.

From there, Pilates moved into the dance community and eventually into mainstream fitness. Yet at its core, it has always focused on:

• Controlled movement
• Core strength
• Alignment and posture
• Functional, everyday movement

In other words, Pilates builds strength without encouraging you to push through pain or burn out.

Classical, Contemporary and Clinical: What’s the Difference?

One reason Pilates can feel confusing is that not all classes are the same.

Classical Pilates

This follows the original sequence of exercises created by Joseph Pilates. Instructors stick closely to the traditional order and structure.

Contemporary Pilates

This version allows instructors more flexibility. They design classes with flow, variation and modern movement science in mind.

Clinical Pilates

Clinical Pilates, however, integrates physiotherapy principles. This approach often suits people recovering from injury or managing pain.

Mel highlighted an important difference in how instructors treat the spine. Instead of flattening the lower back into the floor – a cue many of us grew up hearing – clinical Pilates encourages a neutral spine.

Why does that matter?

Because strengthening your body in its natural alignment helps translate that strength into daily life. Standing, lifting, walking and sitting all rely on neutral positioning. Therefore, training this way supports real-world movement, not just mat exercises.

Mat vs Reformer: Which Is Better?

Another common question is whether mat Pilates or reformer Pilates is better.

The honest answer? They serve different purposes.

Mat Pilates

Mat Pilates uses your body weight and gravity for resistance. As a result, your core, posture and control remain constantly engaged.

Although it looks simple, mat work can be surprisingly challenging. You can’t rely on equipment for support, which makes it highly effective for building stability and strength.

Reformer Pilates

Reformer Pilates uses a spring-loaded carriage that guides movement. The adjustable resistance supports the body while still providing challenge.

Because of this support, reformer classes often suit people:

• Returning after injury
• Managing joint limitations
• Experiencing back or hip pain
• Rebuilding strength gradually

Ultimately, it’s not about which option is “better.” Instead, you need to ask yourself: What does my body need right now?

It Isn’t About Competition

One of the most reassuring takeaways from the conversation was this simple truth:

Pilates is you against you.

You don’t need to keep up with the person next to you. You don’t need to prove anything. And you definitely shouldn’t ignore pain.

In fact, Mel offered this important reminder: if something feels wrong, don’t do it. Even self-imposed pressure can lead to injury if you override your body’s signals.

That’s why proper guidance matters, especially when returning to exercise after injury. Learning safe posture, recognising what “good effort” feels like, and progressing gradually can protect your body long-term.

Movement Doesn’t Have to Be Extreme to Be Effective

Whether you choose Pilates, walking, swimming or another low-impact exercise, remember this: fitness is not one-size-fits-all.

Strength, endurance and cardiovascular health are different aspects of overall wellbeing. However, you can build all three through consistent, sustainable movement. In fact, consistency matters more than intensity.

As Mel says “Turning up is the hardest thing – and it’s already a big win.”

If 2026 is the year you want to move again, Pilates may not be about doing more. Instead, it might be about learning how to move better – with control, confidence and kindness toward your body.

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva