Parent Testimonials

Tom

Fit2SHiNE is so much more than a standard fitness class—it’s an amazing, welcoming community.
​Shari and her team have a brilliant way of connecting with kids, making exercise fun, and building up their self-esteem.
After Tom finished his cancer treatment, we wanted to help him start moving his body again and gently rebuild the strength and coordination that was lost during that tough time. 
Survivorship is a complex and difficult journey, but finding Shari and her wonderful team has given us so much reassurance. They have been incredibly patient and encouraging, striking the perfect balance between knowing when to push Tom and when to ease off, while helping him listen to his body and celebrating every single little win.
Seeing Tom slowly regain his energy and physical confidence in such a happy, pressure-free space has meant the absolute world to us. Shari and the coaches are fantastic role models who truly understand how to make fitness supportive and fun.

We are so incredibly grateful

Jacob

Fit2Shine has been such a special part of Jacob’s journey. For him, it’s not just about fitness or exercise — it’s about feeling included, supported and accepted for who he is.
Jacob can sometimes find new environments and activities challenging, so seeing the way the coaches have connected with him, encouraged him and helped him feel comfortable has meant so much to us as his parents. They meet him where he is, celebrate his strengths and encourage him to keep trying without ever making him feel pressured.
We have seen Jacob grow in confidence and independence, and most importantly, we see how happy he is when he’s there. He looks forward to his sessions, feels proud of what he achieves and loves being part of the group.
As a parent, there is nothing better than seeing your child find somewhere where they feel like they belong. That’s what Fit2Shine has given Jacob, and we are so grateful for it. 

Mum, Morgan

Jack

Jack started at f2S when he was just seven years old. He had tried a few different team and individual sports but never really found anything he enjoyed. I wanted him to understand the importance of being active and hoped that exercise would become a regular part of his life.
What started as one session a week soon became two, and over the next ten years, Shari and her team created an environment where Jack felt comfortable, supported and motivated to keep coming back. Shari has such a great way of connecting with kids, making exercise fun and introducing new challenges as they get older and improve. She taught Jack how to exercise safely, but just as importantly, she helped build his confidence along the way.
What I love most about f2S is Shari’s genuine passion for helping kids develop healthy habits and her enthusiasm for her students. She really celebrates their achievements and makes them feel proud of what they can do. For a child who was never particularly sporty, she somehow managed to make exercise something Jack actually looked forward to and genuinely enjoyed for ten years.
I wholeheartedly recommend Shari, her coaches and the f2S program to any family looking to get their kids active, build their confidence and develop healthy habits.
Thank you, Shari, for being such a big part of Jack’s life for the past ten years. And a special thank you to Max, who has been an amazing coach and such a positive role model for Jack. Your encouragement, support and positivity have made such a difference, and we’ll always be grateful. Wishing you, Max and the whole f2S team all the very best for the future.
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Melanie T

Keahi

We first decided to enrol our son, Keahi, at Fit2Shine because we wanted him to be fit and healthy, but he absolutely hated team sports. We were looking for something that would help him build strength, confidence and healthy habits in an environment where he felt comfortable, while also giving him the opportunity to make new friends. Fit2Shine felt like the perfect fit.

Now in his second year, he is absolutely thriving. He’s become stronger, built muscle, gained confidence and made a fantastic group of friends. Since joining Fit2Shine, we’ve seen a huge change in his attitude towards health and fitness. He’s achieved things he never thought he could, whether that’s training confidently in a group, becoming a great boxing partner or pushing himself to try new challenges. It’s even inspired us as parents to become more involved in our own health and exercise, which has been an unexpected bonus.

I used to say, “My son just isn’t sporty,” but Fit2Shine has shown us that it’s not about being sporty—it’s about being healthy, building confidence and enjoying movement. Keahi now genuinely prioritises his health, and that’s something I never imagined a few years ago. There have been so many moments where we’ve looked at each other and said, “Wow, he’s really changed.” Watching him box with confidence and seeing how much his strength, technique and form have improved has been incredible. If you’d met him three years ago, you would never have believed he’d become the young man he is today, and neither would he.

Shari and the entire Fit2Shine team have created something really special. They set goals, encourage every child, celebrate every achievement and make every participant feel supported and included, regardless of their ability. Keahi especially loves the social events, like the indoor climbing nights. There is absolutely no way he would have had the confidence to try something like indoor climbing if it weren’t for Fit2Shine.

We truly believe Fit2Shine has given Keahi skills that will stay with him for life. When he’s old enough to train independently in a gym, he’ll be more than ready—not just physically, but with the knowledge, confidence and habits to continue living a healthy lifestyle. We couldn’t recommend Fit2Shine more highly to any parent. The confidence, friendships, resilience and healthy mindset our son has gained have been worth every minute.

Elle & Troy

Oscar

Oscar (8yrs) has been training with us at Fit2Shine for nearly 2years

Why Fit2Shine in the first place?
……. “ We wanted to find something that Oscar would genuinely enjoy and look forward to, Fast-moving team sports haven’t really been Oscar’s strength — he can find them overwhelming and doesn’t always feel confident when there’s lots happening at once. Fit2Shine immediately stood out because it was fun, energetic and focused on encouraging kids to have a go and feel good about themselves, without the pressure of having to keep up with a team ”
…….. “ The biggest change we’ve noticed is his confidence. Oscar absolutely loves going to Fit2Shine and you can see how proud he is of himself when he learns something new or achieves something he’s been working on.
He’s become much more willing to challenge himself, try things that are difficult and keep going when something doesn’t come easily. It has given him a place where he can be successful at physical activity in his own way “

What would you say to another parent who is thinking about joining Fit2Shine?
……. “ Do it! Especially if you have a child who doesn’t necessarily thrive in traditional team sports.
Fit2Shine is such a positive environment where kids can build strength, coordination and confidence while having fun. The coaches encourage every child to work at their own level and celebrate their progress, rather than comparing them to everyone else. Oscar comes home happy and energised, already looking forward to the next week “
…….. " One of the biggest “wow” moments for us has been seeing how much Oscar has learned about doing exercises properly and safely, rather than just trying to get through them. He’s started to understand the importance of correct technique, body position and controlled movements, and will actually stop and correct himself if he knows he isn’t doing something right. For an 8-year-old, seeing him become so aware of how he moves and taking pride in getting the technique right has been fantastic. It’s given him a really positive foundation for being active and strong as he grows "

​Taleah