Growing in Grace: Our green-themed goodbye to 2025

As I sit down to write my final blog of the year, I’m still surrounded by the beautiful afterglow of our “Graceful in Green” year-end function…

It was a sea of green, and on our special evening, ten days ago, it was simply impossible not to smile. Beautiful green dresses in every imaginable shade – emerald, olive, mint, sage forest, and lime. Green tablecloths, green glasses, green napkins. Even the gifts were green!

Green – the colour of growth, renewal, hope, and fresh beginnings. And as I look back on everything we’ve built, everything we’ve experienced, everything we’ve pushed through, and everything we’ve celebrated together in 2025, I realise green was the perfect colour to represent our journey.

This summer was one of the most transformative seasons our studio has ever had, and we grew not only in numbers, but also in heart, in discipline, and in community. Everyone showed up in ways that still humble me, and everyone reading this today, had a hand in that.

Today I want to pause, breathe, and say the words that often feel too small for the emotion behind them – thank you.

Thank you to our Heavenly Father for another year of Grace – for blessing us with health, and strength, and for the amazing privilege I am given to still live and breath my passion for fitness, full-blast.

Thank you to every studio member, whether you joined 10 years ago or 10 days ago, whether you come to the studio eight times a week or once a month, whether you step, bounce, lift, dance, or quietly slip into the back row – you bring life into our studio. You bring warmth, laughter, sweat, personality, and magic. You bring YOU – and that’s always enough.

Thank you for trusting me and the girls with your health, your fitness, your energy, your struggles, your time, and your stories. Thank you for showing up, even on days when motivation was missing. Thank you for every smile, every grunt, every joke, and every moment you push past your comfort zone.

To our Zoom members who log in from their lounges, kitchens, and bedrooms – thank you for moving with us across time zones, kilometres, and continents. Your dedication proves that community is not defined by four walls; it’s shaped by connection, shared passion, and commitment.

To our Patreon members from all over the world – thank you for believing in this new chapter with me. Thank you for supporting and cheering from afar, for pressing play on tough days, for sending messages of appreciation, and for proving that fitness and joy can travel far beyond our yellow building. You are part of our fitness family, in every way that matters.

Thank you to everyone who reads my words – whether you skim, share, or pause for a moment of reflection – thank you. Your small “this really helped me today” notes… they mean more than you know.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our studio in 2025. To the husbands who prepare meals, to the grandparents who babysit, to the social media followers who share our posts, and especially to our instructors who step onto our stage, week after week, with passion, smiles, creativity, and strength – you make this place what it is.

To our sponsors who gave generously this summer – thank you. Your contributions are deeply appreciated. We received vouchers and gifts from Substitch, Hannes Zwarts Eyecare, Susan from Flowerbox, Victoria from Vicky’s Healing Hands, Kai from Roopsai Massage, and Aarifah, who sponsored Reflexology vouchers. Thank you to Schalk from ProBag, Jacky for the Moringa gifts, Carol from Burlec, Susan Schutte from Zoe’s Laser Cutting, and also, thank you Denise, for the towel embroidery.

Thank you Adele for our beautiful photos this year – for never saying no, and for always turning photos into pure magic – we adore you! (Watch this space, all the photos of our event will soon be posted), Mari from Inkbox for all the designs and your effort, Amanda from Manna en Kwartels, and Nicci from Niche Printing.

This year’s Summer Challenge was by far the most inspiring we’ve ever had. The commitment, the mindset shifts, the buddy support, the meal prep, the “I did it anyway” moments – it all added up to something powerful.

Here are all the special awards of our evening:

Year Challenge winners:
Martie Badenhorst (1st), Susan Bothma (2nd), Leonie Prinsloo (3rd).

Summer Challenge winners:
Lady B Maseko (1st), Rethia Naudé (2nd), Yolanda Nieuwenhuys (3rd), and Hanné Swart (4th).

Biggest drop in fat percentage:
Rethia, Yolanda, Lady B, and Marlize Thomas.

Weight-loss awards:
Rethia, Zet Neethling, Mila, and Yolanda.

Improvement in muscle tone:
Berdine.

Best improvement between Challenges:
Lady B.

All possible points earned:
Abeda, Carien, Denise, Izelde, Lady B, Leonie, Martie, Mila, Rethia, Stacey, Yolanda.

Elite athletes 2025:
Hanné, Izelde, Leonie, Martie, Quinita, Jacqueline, and Michelle.

Most studio sessions done:
Martie and Susan Ndlamlenze.

Newcomer of the year:
Chevonne.
Challenge newcomer:
Marlize.

…I didn’t say this at our event; I saved it for my blog, so that even those who couldn’t be there would still hear it: in the end, it’s not about the prizes or the medals – it’s about your presence, your progress, and the courage it takes to keep showing up. It’s about the energy you bring, the consistency, and the small victories that quietly change everything.

As we close the chapter on this year at Mirna’s, I want you to remember this: We don’t grow because life is easy. We grow because we choose not to give up, choose to keep moving, keep learning, and to keep showing up – with grace.

And if this year has shown me anything, it’s that our studio is filled with people who carry that grace in everything they do. Thank you for being part of something bigger than fitness. Thank you for making our studio feel alive. Thank you for giving me purpose, laughter, and joy – every day.

Here’s to new beginnings, fresh energy, greener pastures, and the beautiful stories waiting for us in 2026.

With gratitude and a full heart,
Mirna (082 779 0507)

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