I am no BARRE-bie

I am a regular size woman who found her fitness groove at the ballet barre.

Before walking into my first class, I had the following thought process that perhaps you too can identify with:

I am too FAT to take this class.I am going to suck at this because I don’t have the right body shape: long, lean, ballerina body.When I was six years old, I quit ballet. Ooops I missed out on the trainingOf course I need to lose weight before I go to my first barre class

Thank goodness, I decided to ignore the noise and just go to a barre class because my fitness life has never been the same.

What the heck is Barre method?

It’s a mixed of ballet barre with yoga, pilates and bodyweight resistance training. The focus is on small isometric movements that challenge muscles you never thought they existed along with building your core stability and balance.

Typically, each class is broken down into 4 to 5 series that targets muscle groups such as: core, arms, thighs, and glutes/legs. Each series last about 5 to 10 minutes with a 1 to 2 minute in between stretching. Classes are about 60 minutes long. The price range varies from $20 -$40 per class (depending on your location and studio).

What attracted me to Barre Classes?

In all honesty, I wanted to try out that would provide me great results within a short period of time.

What kept me coming back was the warmth and attention from the instructors. Without failed, the instructors introduced themselves, asked questions and paid close attention to my form. They provided the necessary modifications and the positive reinforcement to keep going.

Yes in most classes, I am the biggest girl. However in this setting, we are all equal in the level of torture, I mean, work that we do.

Some series, I can be in level 3 while in others I still need to a take a break in between each exercises. Everyone at some point has experienced the leg shakes that reminds you the work is getting done.

Whether is your first or 100th class, it happens no matter your size. Again we are all equal.

At the barre, I shredded the years of body shaming.

The belief that I needed to wait to lose all of the weight in order to feel good about myself. I found strength, courage and confidence. I have tapped my inner child while walking with a better posture.

My arms, thighs and glutes shrank and muscle definition emerged within a few sessions. I discovered strength in my core that I didn’t think it would be possible.

For today, I challenge you to release the idea that you have to be a certain way to exercise.

That yes you can be a regular size women taking a barre class!