Fitness guru muscles in on top award
Christine’s joy at scooping community honour
A Cambuslang fitness fanatic has landed an award for her efforts in helping others stay healthy.
Christine Reid took the prize for Regional Community Fitness Instructor Scotland at the National Community Fitness Awards.
Christine, who has taught fitness classes across Rutherglen and Cambuslang for the past 11 years, was delighted to lift the prize, which was handed out at a ceremony in Newcastle recently.
The 48-year-old told the Reformer: “It was brilliant. I was runner-up last year, when it was all done online, and I’d been a runner-up the year before in another category.
“So it was great to go down, see other people and have a night out.
“I believe fitness is for everybody and no matter where clients are starting from, there is a place in my class for them.
“Over the past 11 years I have continually worked hard to establish and grow my client base and ensure new class members feel welcomed into our fitness family.
“I hope that our fitness community has gained increased confidence, improved their fitness and made lifelong friendships in the process.
“I do feel our weekly sessions are a lifeline for those seeking to escape the stress and worries of their everyday lives.
“Witnessing the physical and emotional benefits to class members fills my heart with happiness and pride, knowing I have made a positive contribution to their lives.”
Founded in 2015, the Community Fitness Awards is designed to acknowledge the hard work and inspiring stories of community fitness based activity which positively impacts the physical, mental and social health of participants.
The awards seek to recognise not only instructors teaching in communities, but also supporting businesses, and inspiring participants.
Over the past year Christine has delivered weekly online classes in response to the worldwide pandemic.
Now that a more normal routine is possible, she holds classes offering a variety of popular fitness programs including Zumba, POUND Rockout Workout, Broadway Boogie and Fat Burn Extreme.
Christine had originally intended to work in her family’s electrical engineering business. But the death of both of her parents within six months of each other back in 2009 and 2010 meant the closure of the business, and saw her start to explore a career in fitness instead.
Shortly after starting Zumba classes, Christine gained further fitness qualifications training in other various fitness programs to allow her to offer a wider choice of classes in the community.
And she has continued to work within the community since then.
The mum of two added: “I’d gone to a Zumba class with a pal, right when Zumba was starting here, and I went in thinking ‘what was this?’
“I never thought that it would be something that I would take on as a career.
“But it doesn’t feel like it has been 11 years I’ve been doing this – it’s just fun and something that I really enjoy doing.”
Christine, who still stays in Cambuslang, will start classes in a new location, Rutherglen Old Parish Church, come the New Year, as well as her current sessions.