After more than four decades of leading fitness classes, Theresa Rowe is reaching a national audience with a message that goes beyond exercise — one rooted in faith, healing, and whole-body wellness.
Rowe was recently featured as a fitness expert in Woman’s World Magazine, where she shared insights on strengthening the deep core to support the spine, improve posture, and promote safer everyday movement.
“I’ve been teaching fitness classes for more than 40 years,” Rowe said.
Her journey, however, extends far beyond the studio. At age 26, Rowe said a life-altering moment reshaped both her personal faith and the way she approached fitness instruction.
“It was just like a moment in time where God just changed everything about the way that I taught,” she said.
Not long after undergoing open-heart surgery to repair a congenital defect, Rowe returned to Kentucky and resumed teaching. It was there that a seemingly ordinary interaction with a student became extraordinary.
“She asked if she could pray for me, which I found quite odd,” Rowe said. “No one had ever done that before.”
Later that same day, the woman arrived at Rowe’s home, saying she felt called to pray for her. Rowe agreed.
“During the prayer, I did feel something physically … kind of like electricity was running through my body,” she said.
At the time, Rowe had been suffering from severe endometriosis and was scheduled for a hysterectomy. She said something changed after that moment.
“The symptoms I had dealt with for three years suddenly stopped, and that got my attention,” Rowe said.
The experience marked the beginning of a transformation that would shape her career. The next day, she approached her class differently.
“Does anybody have anything that you want to pray about?” Rowe recalled asking. “They looked at me like I was crazy.”
Still, some women raised their hands — and Rowe began integrating faith into her fitness classes.
“I started reading the Word of God, and I started to apply it to my fitness,” she said. “There was a total change in the room, and the people responded. It was very positive.”
That approach eventually led to new opportunities, including the creation of her first DVD, Pilates for the Soul, and later a book deal after a publisher discovered her work online.
Her recent feature in Woman’s World came through a professional connection who remembered her work years later.
“She reached out and asked if I’d be willing to write about the importance of strengthening the core,” Rowe said. “I was just thrilled for the opportunity.”
The publication quickly accepted her submission.
Now in her 60s, Rowe continues to teach and remains motivated by both her personal health journey and her faith.
“I’ve been through two open-heart surgeries,” she said. “I know the importance of taking care of your body … your core is like the gatekeeper.”
More than physical results, Rowe said her greatest reward comes from witnessing transformation in others.
“It’s very rewarding when people transform, not just losing weight, but spiritually,” she said. “I get a front row seat to that.”
Looking ahead, she hopes her message reaches beyond the individuals in her classes.
“I hope they pass it on to the next generation,” Rowe said. “But more than that, I hope they pass on their faith. When faith is put into action, it becomes alive — it moves, and it heals.”
For Rowe, fitness is not about vanity, but stewardship.
“Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish,” she said. “It’s an act of stewardship — and it honors God.”
