Things I am a fan of about exercise: the feel good hit of endorphins, the changes in my body (hello strength!), the disease prevention and newfound confidence. Over the years my biggest challenge has been finding something that I actually like doing I look forward to it. They say the hardest part about working out is making that drive to the gym (a’int that the truth right!?)
Enjoying exercise is the key for me and millions of others. Its why the gym is crowded in January and then empty by February. Fitness has to be something you stick with and (gasp) can actually be fun!
I fell in love with barre classes when I tried them in Nashville almost 6 years ago and have kept it up through a move out of state, two pregnancies and endless excuses to quit. I love them! Once I moved back to Detroit I found BarreCode and haven’t looked back.
I interviewed a fellow mom, barre instructor and friend Aubrey to get more details on why me and thousands of others are bellying up to the barre:
What exactly is barre and what makes it different from other workouts?
Barre is a style of exercise that focuses on low weight training and heavy repetition with the goal of “burning out” your muscles to fatigue. Many of are exercises are functional-training based meaning that we’re training our bodies to move more efficiently and effectively in the real world.
How did you get into it?
When I was living in Chicago my friend brought me to a rooftop class in the middle of summer that The Barre Code (formerly Barre Bee Fit) was offering. I was immediately hooked! After moving back to Detroit in 2012, my girlfriends were looking to leave the corporate world and wanted to open their own fitness studio; once I introduced them to it, they decided to franchise and we’ve been “Living By The Barre Code” together ever since!
What made you decide to start teaching it?
After I gave birth to my first son and saw the positive impact that the style had on me both prenatally and with the postpartum bounce-back, I wanted to help other women going thru similar experiences. I love The Barre Code’s empowering atmosphere and sense of community, and the workouts were something I always looked forward to (and still do!) rather than dreading them like I had experienced in the past. Becoming a mom also piqued my interest in prenatal fitness and since then I’ve become a Pre/Post Natal Corrective Exercise Specialist.
Has anything funny or embarrassing ever happened to you in class (and, if so, how did you get past it)?
I often get lost in the moment, which can make for a truly authentic experience and other times it can make for an embarrassing moment. One of the embarrassing (for me) moments was when I was describing the imagery for a Narrow V position (on your highest heels, with your heels touching and your toes 2-4” apart, your shoulders are over your hips and your hips are over your heels; between your knees should be a diamond-like shape)… I got really into the moment and talked about diamonds and wanted everyone’s diamond to be bigger and went on about everyone getting a bigger diamond like Oprah would give… “you get a diamond, you get a diamond…” Some clients looked at me like I was a crazy person and others just died laughing. It was definitely a memorable moment.
How has your body image changed after having two kids?
To be honest, I think it’s a combination of the empowering/self-loving atmosphere and working out regularly, but I am more physically and mentally fit after having two kids. As a young woman I often looked at the “bad” parts of my body and seemed to harp on the negatives (I’ve had a JLo booty since before Kim Kardashian made it cool) but I’ve learned to embrace my differences and choose to focus on my strength. I’ve never been stronger than I am now, even has a high school three-sport athlete!
While most moms agree that having children is worth the physical repercussions, our bodies are simply not the same after pregnancy and delivery. What advice can you offer moms who feel sort of broken after having babies?
The best thing women can do is be gentle and kind to themselves. We live in a society that (unfortunately) focuses so much on the exterior and it pushes moms to exhaustion to get their pre-baby body “back” so soon after birth. I try to remind clients that it takes nine months for a baby to fully-develop so they should expect to give themselves 9+ months to learn about the new body they have. Another thing I would offer them is to make time for themselves once/day; whether it’s working out, reading a book, taking a bath, etc., it’s super important for new moms to have a moment to breathe. Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s vital.
A lot of women feel intimidated by the thought of taking a fitness class. What do you want them to know?
I totally agree, it can be intimidating. I always try to take a new class with a friend— everything is better with someone by your side that can empathize with you! BUT at the end of the day, even the experts were once beginners; the same goes with fitness. The Barre Code was built on the importance of community; from the moment you step in the door, our team is trained to welcome you, show you around, get you acclimated in the studio with the correct equipment, introduce you to the instructor and provide you with an experience that’ll hopefully leave you feeling empowered and strong. Our studios are Inclusive for women of all ages, sizes, shapes, experience levels, etc. We recognize that every BODY is unique and beautiful.
Many women feel guilty spending extra time and money on themselves. What would you say to them about investing in themselves?
Our bodies are the only thing we have for our entire life, we have to treat it well. A group fitness class typically takes up about 4 percent of your day; it’s easy to say you don’t have the time to workout but it’s all about choices. By making your health & wellness a priority, you’ll start to see results faster. When I sign up for class I do so a week in advance and schedule those classes as non-negotiable appointments. This approach forces me to work efficiently at work and with my family-life. Thankfully my husband has found his favorite type of workout and has started approaching it in a similar way; we both understand the importance and can see a difference in ourselves and within our family.
What are the biggest mistakes women make when trying to get back into shape post-partum?
The biggest mistake I tend to see is rushing back to working out before clients’ bodies are truly ready. While your body tends to feel better/good 2-3 weeks postpartum, it’s important to keep in mind that the body went thru a traumatic experience and the internal organs/musculature are not yet “back to normal.” Specifically with pregnancy, the core (including the pelvic floor) is compromised so basic belly breathing exercises are truly enough to help retrain the muscles how to properly work in those first few months back to exercise.
What are some things women can incorporate into their at-home workouts, if they can’t afford to go to the gym?
At home you can incorporate functional training into everything to help gain strength thru basic exercises like squats, lunges, deadlifts and pushups, to name a few. There are also so many free/cost-effective streaming services that are available for you to work out in the comfort of your own home, including The Barre Code On Demand, which can bring the studio experience to the comfort of your own home.
Aubrey is a twenty-something wife and mother with a passion for fitness, cooking and all things pop culture. Keep up with Aubrey by following her on Instagram @aubzim. You can find her at teaching at The Barre Code Metro Detroit so say hi if you happen see me or her in a class soon!
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