It’s Monday evening in Tullahoma, and the gym at Grace Baptist Church is full of life. The lights are low, the disco ball is spinning, and the room resounds with upbeat music as women of all ages gather for their weekly REFIT workout. Leading the group is Lea Hibdon — a coach’s wife, devoted mom, fitness instructor, and education assistant for Response to Intervention (RTI) at Farrar Elementary. Lea’s positive energy and zeal for fitness create an environment where movement and joy abound, and community connects well past the gym floor.
Lea has transformed REFIT Revolution, a community-centered dance fitness experience, into a safe space for women to connect, find strength, and share their stories in a faith-filled environment. Here in Tullahoma, REFIT combines faith, friendship, and physical health into one empowering experience.
A new chapter in Tullahoma
Lea and her family moved to Tullahoma in August 2022 for her husband’s coaching job, marking yet another relocation for the family. As an experienced traveler, Lea was no stranger to the challenges of starting over, but this move was particularly hard.
“We had lived in our last home for six years — the longest I’d ever been in one place. I left so many roots behind this time,” Lea shared.
However, an unexpected encounter at a high school basketball game in Sparta changed her perspective.
Lea recalled, “My husband introduced the kids and me to the man who drove the team bus, Mike Shirley. As the game started, Mr. Mike sat with us, and he began to share his testimony right there in the stands. I was in tears. And then I left that night knowing God has us exactly where we need to be.”
One Sunday in December, while visiting Grace Baptist Church, Lea’s path crossed with Mr. Mike again. This time, he introduced her to his wife, Mrs. Diane, and mentioned that Lea had taught fitness classes in the past.
Before Lea could even process the idea, Mrs. Diane had already planned how she would integrate Lea’s fitness past into their church’s ministry. She proposed a weekly fitness class for women, led by Lea herself.
“I was actually going to let my REFIT certification expire,” Lea said. “But the following week, Mrs. Diane had it in the church bulletin, and on Jan. 9, 2023, our first REFIT class started in Tullahoma.”
Faith, fitness, and fellowship
REFIT in Tullahoma is a ministry of movement. The music is uplifting, the atmosphere is welcoming, and every class ends with what Lea calls “heart work” — a devotional and prayer time designed to encourage women spiritually as much as physically.
“We aren’t made to do life alone,” Lea said. “I want every participant to know they belong, that they are loved, and that they are prayed for before walking into our doors. I want them to leave with a positive, uplifting experience for the mind, body, and soul.”
The workouts themselves are accessible to everyone, no matter their fitness level. Lea offers modifications for every move, encouraging participants to find what works best for them. Guests can always modify the moves — maybe do toe-taps instead of full kicks, or step-ups instead of lunges. And sometimes, you just have to let the music take over and dance your own way.
“As long as you’re moving, it’s a win,” Lea noted.
For Ruthie Gage, one of Lea’s participants turned instructors, REFIT’s inclusivity is what makes it so special.
“There’s definitely a support system in place,” she explained. “In today’s culture and environment, there’s a dire need for emotional connection. Working out with like-minded people brings a sense of empowerment.”
Transforming lives, step by step
That belief in connection and empowerment took on new meaning for Lea in 2005 after losing her father to cancer.
“We had a Relay For Life walk in 2005 that started at night, and someone from your team walked laps until the morning. The cheering and the encouragement, and really just the determination to keep moving, really changed me. I witnessed many cancer survivors showing up, under all their circumstances, and finding the strength to walk. It was truly motivating.”
Since then, Lea has used fitness to inspire others, particularly women, to persevere and lean on a community of supportive, like-minded individuals.
“We all deal with some kind of hurt, hang-up, or habit that tries to define us,” said Lea. “Sometimes people don’t even realize how much God is in the details until they tell their story out loud to someone. I love to encourage people, especially women, that this isn’t the end of their story.”
Encouragement for newcomers
Lea knows firsthand how intimidating it can be to walk into a fitness class for the first time, but she tries to encourage women that the hardest part is simply showing up.
Lea admitted that there are times, even after all these years, when a flutter of nerves settles in her stomach before class begins. She remembered one evening, feeling particularly anxious. She stepped outside to get some air before starting the music and noticed a woman sitting in her car, seemingly debating whether or not to walk in.
Lea walked over and simply said, “You’ve already made it past the hardest part — you’re here! Now, all that’s left is a few more steps through those doors.”
The lady then joined Lea for class.
Lea encouraged, “Ladies, just show up. I’ll save you a spot every time. You’re always welcome here.”
Dreams for the Future
Lea dreams of one day opening an even bigger space for classes, complete with a coffee bar, a bakery, and even a wellness center. But for now, she enjoys teaching in the church gym, knowing that it’s the people — not the location — that make REFIT special.
A Movement of Love
For the women of REFIT Tullahoma, fitness is a way to love and uplift each other by staying active. And in this town, that love is making all the difference.
“When I became a REFIT instructor, I was encouraged to make it my own,” said Lea. “But I never wanted it to be about me. I wanted to create a place for women to come together to hoot and holler, laugh, sweat, motivate each other, lift each other up, know that they are loved, and possibly meet someone from class to call a friend. The greatest command is to love God with all your heart, and the second is to love your neighbor. Through our REFIT community, I hope we embody both.”
