EXERCISE
‘Jen’ergy: Nashville's
Fitness Chick Powers Music with Faith
Faith and Fitness Magazine
CBN.com –
Jeni Varnadeau is always moving. After a hefty morning
workout with free weights at the Uptown Y in Downtown Nashville,
when most of us might be tempted to wind it down just a little,
Varnadeau is picking up speed.
Although the steps she takes on this treadmill are getting her
nowhere, her resolve in completing the workout is symbolic of
the determination she demonstrates on a tremendously more significant
journey.
What you notice first about Varnadeau, at home in Nashville,
taking a rare break from a concert tour to promote her fourth
studio album Mélange, is the shockingly red hair,
the bright eyes, and flashing smile. But when you spend some time
with this gifted singer/ songwriter, you get the sense of the
emotion, compassion and desire that drive her.
As demonstrated on Mélange, songwriting continues
to be this artist’s strength and the backbone of her appeal.
Track 3 on her album communicates the passionate celebration Jeni
brings to life.
My life is like the night that needs a little light.
I see you shining like a lighthouse burning.
I’m getting closer to the more of you I never knew.
You speak into my sails and keep me turning,
Back to where I first found your love.
And it’s just like you to calm my fears.
It’s just like you to dry my tears.
You’ve forgiven mistakes I made over the years.
Could I ever learn to love just like you.
Varnadeau invites listeners to join her in the journey of her
life. “I want to connect with them in a way that says ‘we
need each other’. Life is hard, but exciting. Let’s
be there for each other and go through this together.”
She isn’t shy in revealing her inner self through her music.
And - that is exactly what you want from a workout partner.
It’s apparent to me, and I’m sure you can see
I’m a woman in need.
I need more time, I need more money.
I need more advice, and I need more love.
I need another chance and an open hand.
I need more grace and a pretty face.
I need happiness, I need an escape.
I need more peace and I need to feel safe.
What this all comes down to is …
I need you.
Faith & Fitness Magazine: So, fitness is
a big part of your life.
Jeni Varnadeau: Yes, it is. I think it started
because while growing up my mom struggled with her weight. I realized
that I love to eat. Eating is fun. However, I also love to exercise.
Usually when people describe me they us the word “energy”.
I have to get that out somehow. So, I love to be active, kick
box, jog, and dance. I was a cheerleader. So, I love to perform
and just always be moving. I realized that if I didn’t change
my eating habits and stay active that I too would be struggling
with my weight – the rest of my life.
It will always be a struggle I think. I don’t do that just
to look good but rather because my health is so important to me.
F&F: Musicians will often share how music
is their creative outlet. How is exercise a different kind of
outlet for you beyond your music?
JV: Exercise is physical. It is a good way to
clear your mind so that I can do music. A certain amount of creating
music requires me to be still. It is so hard for me to be still.
Music requires a mental energy. It is a mental and emotional outpouring.
Exercise is the physical side of releasing that energy and creativity.
F&F: Do you get any spiritual experience
from your exercise?
JV: I’ve been trying to incorporate some
routine into my life. As a musician you don’t always have
a “regular” schedule ever. I try to get up every morning
and get on my treadmill and read my Bible. That assures that I
do both at the same time. I’m not really working out hard.
The focus is to simply start the day with some scripture and move.
Certainly exercise also helps to relieve stress. For me that
is a gift from God. He made us to be active.
F&F: Do you do yoga?
JV: I enjoy Power Yoga. It incorporates my latest favorite exercise,
which is the yoga pushup. You do a series of exercises and stretching
in between normal yoga poses. What it does is keep your body warm
and helps you to build more strength and flexibility. For me it
is more strenuous than aerobics – more like weightlifting.
F&F: You teach several classes at a YMCA
in Nashville. Tell us about that.
JV: Well I’m now teaching a Pilates class
regularly. I’m a certified group fitness instructor. So,
I pretty much teach anything that is on land including indoor
cycling, Pil-yoga or Yogalates, and power-lift sculpting. Because,
I travel so much with my music I’m more of a sub at the
gym.
F&F: You do something else though that you
created. Tell us about ChikChat®.
JV: Because I’m on the road so much I
found I was not able to disciple [or mentor] teenage girls like
I wanted. I really wanted an outlet for that so we created something
where I could disciple them while I’m on the road. When
I go to speak we talk about how to study your Bible, how to pray,
nutrition and exercise. We also talk about boys, dating, sexual
purity, and self-esteem. We just really try to encourage girls
to make wise decisions with their lives. It is a great outlet
for me because I get to incorporate health and fitness, which
I feel is so very important.
We have had a great response to it. Youth pastors love it. Mothers
love it. Girls love it. We’ve discovered that 98% of the
girls say that kickboxing is their favorite part of the whole
event. That is comforting to me because there are so many studies
coming out talking about childhood obesity. There are lots of
teenagers worried about their weight and struggling with eating
disorders. So this is encouraging. AND- kickboxing is so versatile.
It is something they can take home with them and incorporate into
their daily life.
F&F: Is that something new for most of them?
JV: Most girls are either very sedentary or
they are involved in sports. Sports are great for girls. I did
cheerleading. You learn so many skills in something like that
and practice teamwork.
F&F: How do churches get their youth and
even their entire membership more active?
JV: I think that first the pastor has to get
on board. It needs to be important to the pastor. It should be
– this is the person having to make all the hospital visits!
You would think that the pastor would want to encourage fitness.
I think it comes from the leadership and members seeing that the
leadership takes matters of health seriously.
F&F: How do you think fitness facilities
could better reach out to churches?
JV: They need to provide specific events for
the faith community. For example they could provide a speaker
who incorporates fitness and health experts into the church and
have a conference. It could be a workshop on healthy living. I’ve
seen a few women’s ministries that have for example programs
on eating and weight management.
This is why I’m excited about what your magazine is doing.
We don’t need to neglect our physical bodies for us to build
our spiritual lives. We need to be healthy in all areas. If you
don’t have your physical health it is really hard to function
in life.
For more information, to book Jeni for a concert, and get her
music, including her new album Something Changed, go
to jenivarnadeau.com.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2005 Faith & Fitness
Magazine and Lifestyle Media Group. Faith & Fitness
Magazine is on-line at faithandfitness.net.
It is published six times per year as a resource for building
physical and spiritual strength. They provide live support and
program development for individuals, churches, and communities.
For more information or to obtain permission to reprint this
article, email brad@faithandfitness.net.
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