On a Tuesday morning inside a cozy fitness studio in Weldon Spring, Tiffany Dohrmann distributed small cards printed with a Bible verse: “What is impossible with people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

With God’s help, perhaps, the 10 women present had just completed an intense 5:30 a.m. FaithFully Fit workout.

FaithFully Fit, founded by Dohrmann, offers boot-camp-style group exercise classes and a community rooted in faith. The group traces its roots back five years to St. Joseph Cottleville CYC soccer practice.

“I had somebody reach out to me and say, you know, all these moms are at CYC soccer practice at the same place, multiple nights a week, and we’re just sitting there watching our kids practice, or in our cars, or on our phones. Why are we not doing something? You should do a boot camp at soccer practice!” Dorhmann said.

Dohrmann, who was already group exercise certified and teaching a class or two at a small studio in Cottleville, agreed. So, while her second-grader practiced soccer, she led other moms through a simple, no-equipment workout nearby. Over time, the workout grew and evolved into the community it is today, with Dorhmann teaching group classes six days a week from a studio space at Core PT clinic in Weldon Spring.

Dohrmann plays positive, non-explicit music during the workouts and often incorporates Christian songs into the cooldowns. At the end of each session, Dohrmann gives out a card with a Bible verse or saint’s quote. Members post prayer intentions on a studio wall.

About 90 percent of women who attend are Catholic, Dohrmann estimates — the majority of them fellow parishioners at St. Joseph in Cottleville — and the rest mostly come from other Christian denominations. “We know that we all have this faith piece that ties us together,” she said.

Most of the women who attend are mothers, so during mid-morning class times, there’s a small playroom available just off the main studio space for children who tag along while mom works out. Dorhmann wants to make it as easy as possible for moms to have the chance to exercise.

“It is so important for moms, whether it’s in my group or another group or just walking with a friend, to have that time where you’re moving your body and giving time to yourself,” she said. “I feel like we give so much time to so many other people, but you know, you can’t pour from an empty cup. I really do feel like the working out and the community fills your cup so that you can then give the rest of the day to everyone else.”

Mandy Shackelford is a mom of three and a third-grade teacher at St. Joseph School. She’s been regularly going to FaithFully Fit workouts since March. “I was looking for a community to keep me accountable,” she said. “They have been really supportive.”

One of her favorite parts of the community is the WhatsApp accountability group, where members encourage each other daily as they focus on faith, fuel, fitness and friends. Women are encouraged to incorporate faith into their day in some way for at least 10 minutes. Members often share what kinds of prayer they’re enjoying and recommend spiritual reading or podcasts to the group, Shackelford said.

“It’s great, especially if I’m stuck in a prayer rut,” she said.

Mary Goth and Jennifer McKinney, parishioners and school parents at St. Joseph, started attending FaithFully Fit classes in December 2020.

“It’s a good way to be able to work out in the morning while the kids are still asleep at home,” McKinney said. “And then being able to meet with an amazing group of women and tie the faith aspect in there makes it even more perfect.”

“A lot of our kids go to school together, so we’ll touch base about what our kids are doing, what’s going on in the parish,” Goth said.

Goth entered the Catholic Church about five years ago. She said FaithFully Fit has helped her create strong relationships with other Catholic women and has been helpful to her faith journey. Since St. Joseph is such a large parish, “it’s nice having familiar faces that you see all the time,” she said.

The connections formed at FaithFully Fit spill out into parish and school life, too. “We both just started (volunteering with) Children’s Liturgy this year, because of this — because of knowing other people and wanting to do something else for the Church,” McKinney said.

And the exercise itself — completing a challenging workout in a supportive environment — helps lead the women closer to God, Goth said.

“I leave here just so grateful that this is the body that God gave me,” Goth said. “It’s cool how much I can move it in ways that I never thought I could.”

“Being here makes us want to do better throughout the day, be better people,” McKinney said.

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Find FaithFully Fit on social media

Facebook: FaithFully Fit Community

Instagram: @faithfullyfit_tiffany