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How barre3 Improved My Basketball Game—And Made Me A Better Dad
Co-host of The Starters Leigh Ellis used to slog through gym sessions, but they left him feeling exhausted and sore. When he switched to barre3 workouts at barre3 South Buckhead, his energy surged and his strength skyrocketed (see him in action here to see what we mean!). Read on to learn how his barre3 practice has improved everything from his parenting to his basketball game. Here’s Leigh in his own words.
Every year since I’ve worked on The Starters, a TV show, podcast, and blog that analyzes the NBA, I’ve taken part in the NBA Three-Point Contest during All-Star weekend. I use exactly the same format the NBA players do. You get 60 seconds to shoot 25 balls from five different spots on the 3-point line. I’ve always been an OK shooter, but anyone who’s ever shot from legit NBA distance knows how hard it is. The first year I scored seven points. Eek. This year? Seventeen. What changed? My strength and balance. How? Barre3.
At first glance, I might seem like an unlikely barre3 client. I live and breathe the NBA. Shouldn’t I be joining the rest of the guys in the weight room for my workouts, proving my worth by how much I can bench press?
I used to think so. I’d hit the gym, just like my coworkers and the players we watch, and do the weight circuit or run on the treadmill. But I started to notice that while exercising this way might bulk up my biceps or strengthen my quads, it wasn’t doing anything for my energy. This became especially clear after my son, Sebastian, was born. I wanted to keep myself healthy for him, so I’d dutifully slog through my workouts, but I found that afterward I was so sore and exhausted that I’d have to take a few days off before going back. Instead of feeling energized and ready to play with Sebastian, I felt completely spent and just wanted to collapse on the sofa.
That’s when my wife, Roxana, suggested barre3. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. Wasn’t it all women? Shouldn’t I be doing something more than a yoga-type workout? But I had stopped going to the gym entirely by this point, so I really had no excuse to say no.
I remember feeling two things during that first class. The first was that the workout was intense. Yoga this was not. More than once I had to take a break during a pose while the more seasoned clients around me held them for the full count. The second thing I noticed was how quickly the hour flew by. Running for an hour on the treadmill is pure torture to me, but this was actually enjoyable. I didn’t check the clock once.
I’ve been doing barre3 regularly ever since that day—usually three, four times a week including when I’m on the road, from my hotel room—and the change in my body has been remarkable.* I’m stronger virtually everywhere. I really felt it during the 3PT contest, but I also see it every day when I play with Sebastian. I’m able to pick him up with my legs and core, not just my arms. I can play with him all day and enjoy it—and not have to lie down later. I’m 39 years old, but I feel better than I ever have before. I credit that to barre3. It lets me have it all: I can still play basketball and do other activities I enjoy and be a hands-on dad, and still have energy to spare. Whether you’re training for life or for a sport, barre3 will increase your stamina and give you better balance and control. It’s the whole package.
Ready to up your game? Experience the benefits of barre3 for yourself by taking a studio class or firing up an online workout.
*Results may vary
Co-host of The Starters Leigh Ellis used to slog through gym sessions, but they left him feeling exhausted and sore. When he switched to barre3 workouts at barre3 South Buckhead, his energy surged and his strength skyrocketed (see him in action here to see what we mean!). Read on to learn how his barre3 practice has improved everything from his parenting to his basketball game. Here’s Leigh in his own words.
Every year since I’ve worked on The Starters, a TV show, podcast, and blog that analyzes the NBA, I’ve taken part in the NBA Three-Point Contest during All-Star weekend. I use exactly the same format the NBA players do. You get 60 seconds to shoot 25 balls from five different spots on the 3-point line. I’ve always been an OK shooter, but anyone who’s ever shot from legit NBA distance knows how hard it is. The first year I scored seven points. Eek. This year? Seventeen. What changed? My strength and balance. How? Barre3.
At first glance, I might seem like an unlikely barre3 client. I live and breathe the NBA. Shouldn’t I be joining the rest of the guys in the weight room for my workouts, proving my worth by how much I can bench press?
I used to think so. I’d hit the gym, just like my coworkers and the players we watch, and do the weight circuit or run on the treadmill. But I started to notice that while exercising this way might bulk up my biceps or strengthen my quads, it wasn’t doing anything for my energy. This became especially clear after my son, Sebastian, was born. I wanted to keep myself healthy for him, so I’d dutifully slog through my workouts, but I found that afterward I was so sore and exhausted that I’d have to take a few days off before going back. Instead of feeling energized and ready to play with Sebastian, I felt completely spent and just wanted to collapse on the sofa.
That’s when my wife, Roxana, suggested barre3. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. Wasn’t it all women? Shouldn’t I be doing something more than a yoga-type workout? But I had stopped going to the gym entirely by this point, so I really had no excuse to say no.
I remember feeling two things during that first class. The first was that the workout was intense. Yoga this was not. More than once I had to take a break during a pose while the more seasoned clients around me held them for the full count. The second thing I noticed was how quickly the hour flew by. Running for an hour on the treadmill is pure torture to me, but this was actually enjoyable. I didn’t check the clock once.
I’ve been doing barre3 regularly ever since that day—usually three, four times a week including when I’m on the road, from my hotel room—and the change in my body has been remarkable.* I’m stronger virtually everywhere. I really felt it during the 3PT contest, but I also see it every day when I play with Sebastian. I’m able to pick him up with my legs and core, not just my arms. I can play with him all day and enjoy it—and not have to lie down later. I’m 39 years old, but I feel better than I ever have before. I credit that to barre3. It lets me have it all: I can still play basketball and do other activities I enjoy and be a hands-on dad, and still have energy to spare. Whether you’re training for life or for a sport, barre3 will increase your stamina and give you better balance and control. It’s the whole package.
Ready to up your game? Experience the benefits of barre3 for yourself by taking a studio class or firing up an online workout.
*Results may vary
