Inspirational Katie

There's very little lycra in sight, no wall-to-ceiling mirrors - just ladies working up a sweat with wide smiles.
To one side an instructor checks her stop watch, it's time to switch up the circuit - "five, four, three, two, one" she counts as the women drop what they're doing and move stations.
The lady in charge, Katie Nathan, was once sweating it out in their place.
She was in her early 20s and had gained a few kilograms after the birth of her son when she first stepped foot through the doors of FlaXrock gym - little did she know that first step would change her life.
Tipping the scales at 98kg, she was shy and started out using a small exercise area upstairs tucked away from prying eyes.
But as the weight melted off Ms Nathan became more confident and ventured into group classes such as Wahine Explode, now she's the one teaching others to love themselves.
"I was very overweight, my confidence wasn't that high I had the thought in my head that I wanted to set a good example for my son - I was really looking for something when I came here," she said.
"I wanted to better myself, as I started getting fitter I was starting to think a lot more about health, fitness and studying."
Her personal transformation was a story in itself, Ms Nathan shed a whopping 30kg, something which allowed her to keep up during a health and fitness course at EIT.
There was still a special place in her heart for where it all began and she returned to FlaXrock to clock up some volunteer hours - instructing classes, writing programmes and putting her studies into practice.
Now she's taken a more permanent position as gym assistant and feels lucky to get paid for doing what she loves.
"I used to want to hide away, I see other people who feel the same way it's a challenge but it's nice to be able to say I have been on both sides, I can relate."
The best part was being able to acknowledge changes in others and motivate them to keep pushing forward.
While she could no longer spend six days a week at the gym due to work commitments Ms Nathan tried her best to slot in at least three workouts a week.
"Your body follows your mind - strong mind, strong body."
The Flaxmere Community Centre offers a range of classes which are free to FlaXrock Gym members, or $2 a class for non-members.For the month of May, new members don't have to pay the $30 joining fee. - Hawke's Bay Today

4 October 2017

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