This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 19 January 2016. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
GAYNOR van der Burton is only too aware of the importance of health and fitness in relation to food, exercise and spirituality.
It was her own experience of balancing diet and activity that led her to set up Fitfish.
Gaynor van der Burton of Fitfish.
;Gaynor, a personal trainer, runs weekend retreats across the UK as well as sunnier holidays in France and even a week of skiing, along with a team of doctors, counsellors, life coaches, nutritionists, massage therapists and worship leaders.
Based in Reading, Gaynor (pictured right) was brought up in a Christian home and her faith has developed throughout her adult life.
It was when her Dad died when she was 12 that she says she started thinking more deeply about things, although she admits she drifted away from Christianity during school and university.
"It wasn't really until I moved to Reading that I decided it was make or break time in terms of whether I got stuck into a church.
I found an amazing church which follows the 'belong, believe, behave' model.
I felt part of the community and started to get to know God a lot better. "So where did Gaynor's interest in health and fitness begin? "I'd always struggled with my weight when I was growing up.
I was a chubby teenager but I had a bubbly personality and it didn't bother me that much. " But, after university and travelling, she says she gained more weight, and was shocked to see her reflection in the mirror.
She was moving into a bigger clothes size as a family wedding approached.
"I wanted to be a size 10 bridesmaid.
I followed various diets but mainly Weightwatchers.
I got to my ideal weight but hadn't learnt anything along the way about changing patterns and behaviours.
Unsurprisingly the weight went back on," says Gaynor. She believes the ongoing issue of staying healthy was taken out of her hands when she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome.
This is a condition that affects the ovaries and while there is no cure, losing weight and maintaining regular exercise can help keep the symptoms under control.
"The next time around, I approached the weight loss much more with God at the centre.
I discovered loving life and having freedom eating and exercising.
I'd been in a place of emotional eating and binging and I discovered freedom and balance in it all," says Gaynor. That was in 2010 and while Gaynor was enjoying her life and her health, she had just changed jobs and wasn't particularly enjoying her work.
It was a holiday that first inspired her to start Fitfish.
"I was running in the morning and reading the Bible and I just felt energised and alive.
I thought this is the sort of holiday that Christians need," says Gaynor, who was aware of the Boot Camp (Army style fitness classes) that were taking off across the UK.
"I was looking up Christian fitness holidays and personal training and there seemed to be nothing in the UK at all," she says. Gaynor still has the journal entries she made back in 2010 about stepping out in faith and it was one weekend when she got access to the funds to turn her idea into a reality.
She lost her job and that meant Fitfish could go ahead.
The first weekend retreat took place in April 2011 with six participants.
"There was exercise, life coaching, counselling, prayer ministry, massage, good food and the chance for people to get away," says Gaynor.
"It has led to a retreat that encourages people to put God at the centre of a healthy lifestyle, rather than an obsessive food diet or excessive exercise. "'Your Plate of Plenty' is the Fitfish healthy eating programme which is backed up by supportive groups on Facebook and online recipes.
"We are seeing really amazing results with people being less stressed and eating more natural food.
The most visible and encouraging so far has been a bigger lady who has recently lost five stone."Gaynor is aware that the success of Fitfish has been down to the variety of health professionals involved.
"We have a whole group of amazing people.
A lot of them were friends before it started and one of the strong points is the team.
We all have a story to tell related to our health. " Gaynor herself is a project and events manager who has worked with charities, councils, sports organisations and the NHS to encourage people to get involved in exercise, to stay healthy and to raise money for charity.
She speaks at various events on the link between spiritual, emotional and physical health and fitness and is a regular contributor to Liberty magazine. She is a personal trainer and nutritionist who runs regular aerobic classes to worship music with a few 80s tunes thrown in.
"Personally I go for easy and effective exercises so I mainly jog and do weights and try and build that into my life," she adds. Gaynor is married to Lennox and the couple worship at Greyfriars Church in Reading.