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YOUR #B3STRONG STORIES WERE SO GOOD, WE COULDN’T SHARE JUST ONE
As part of our month-long series on strength, we asked you, our B3 community, to share your #B3STRONG moments. Our original plan was to choose one submission to feature in the B3 Magazine, but then the inspiring, heartwarming stories poured in, and we knew we couldn’t keep these gems to ourselves. So instead, we’re rolling out the stories in two installments—the first today, the second next week.
Read on to get to know your B3 community and to learn their stories of strength. Have your own story to tell? Submit it here!
“I’m a classical violinist with a pretty severe shoulder injury. I was having a really hard time getting myself into a state where I could enjoy just being purely physical, as I was starting to associate movement with pain. Enter barre3! I am transformed. The breath guides my every movement, and it’s done wonders to strengthen not only my body but my mind. Barre3 isn’t just a welcome addition to my life; it’s a necessary one. It’s the thing that keeps me going and tells me that I can get through this, that I can breathe throughout this, and that I am strong and capable.” – Reina
“I began barre3 three months after giving birth to my son, Ben. Becoming a mother was hard in a way I had never expected. I knew I would be tired. I knew my body would look different. I knew I would be busy. But what I didn’t realize was that I would lose my sense of self. Suddenly every moment had become about Ben. Everything I ate, when I showered, if and when I slept, and when we could leave the house was all determined by this tiny person. I wanted to be able to do everything for him and gave him 100% of my time.
Elizabeth at the barre3 Play Lounge was the first stranger I ever left Ben with. I remember telling her way too many things about what he might need in the 60 minutes, even though I’d be just a few feet away in the studio. That first class challenged me to trust someone else with my baby and to focus on myself. As we took our closing breaths and lowered our hands to our hearts, the instructor said, “Take one last breath, just for you.” Right then I realized I had not consciously taken a breath for myself since the day Ben was born.
Now that I’m back at work I try to go to class at least 3 times a week. Because of Play Lounge, I am able to work out and not worry about Ben. He absolutely loves the ladies and I feel good leaving him with them because I can see they love him too. For me, barre3 has been about so much more than “fitting in my clothes again.” It has given me the balance and permission to take time for myself. I am so grateful for the staff at Kruse Village for their warmth and support on my journey into motherhood.” – Sarah
“I stumbled upon barre3 while doing research on exercise options online. I was in an “I hate exercise” rut, and knew that there had to be something out there that I would actually enjoy. I gave B3 a try and soon realized that it was the answer! I look forward to exercising, I feel more calm and centered, and I feel like my body is celebrated with each movement. Each barre3 class teaches me something about myself, and I never feel like I’ve failed. With Barre3, every workout is a success!”- Andrea
“I wanted to share with you what an impact you have had on me. 2017 was the most difficult year of my life so far. At the age of 43 it was confirmed that I was going into menopause 10-15 years earlier than typical. I was perfectly fine with that, but I had no idea the toll this would ultimately take. I had several severe symptoms, including depression due to hardly any serotonin being produced and weight gain—I gained 30 lbs in one year!
I worked with my doctors and was able to get on the right medications and supplements. By December I was doing significantly better and started taking barre3 classes as a way to get out of the house and do something positive. I wanted to feel and be strong again.
The most significant thing that I have gained by attending classes is the ability to look at myself in the mirror. During one class one day the instructor said everyone should be looking at themselves in the mirror. I never used the mirror in the studio to look at myself—funny but it never even occurred to me to do so. After she told us this, I looked at myself and quickly looked away. Who was that?! It was difficult to look at myself because of all the negative thoughts that came into my mind. Little by little I looked more and more at myself during class and I started to see my muscles and my sweat and to accept those things along with flab, muffin top, and a beet-red face. They all made up me.
Barre3 has certainly challenged me physically, but even better has been the mental and spiritual challenges I faced and overcame from going to class. I now use this time to connect with myself and make eye contact with the woman in the mirror I finally recognize as the new me.”– Jennifer
“My life changed forever on October 1st, 2017. I live in Las Vegas and attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival, where a gunman killed 59 people. For months after the shooting, I was depressed. I quit taking care of myself and lived in anger toward the world. Then one day I decided enough is enough. I knew I needed to move forward and live the best life I can because the 59 individuals who lost their lives can’t. I have to remind myself that I am the lucky one.
I started B3 All In, taking barre3 classes every day, and soon enough I was feeling positive, balanced, and happier than I had been in months. I am still afraid of crowds, my heart still pounds uncontrollably when something loud goes off, and I replay the night in my mind almost nightly. But barre3 has helped me with the positive and supportive community. I come to class to take a break from the world and to breathe. It allows me to take 60 mins for myself, feel safe, and to not think about the shooting. Barre3 is an incredible company and allows me to be well…me.” – Whitney
“As a former teacher and eternal lover of literature, I’ve always been moved by words. They have given me strength. I’ll never forget the first line of Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451. He eloquently wrote, “It was a pleasure to burn.” These words are perplexing, strong, and propelling. However, when I began my life-altering journey with barre3, these words took on a whole new meaning; they brought on a new kind of strength within me. Because, as all barre3 lovers know, you most certainly “burn” in each and every class. With this, I also realized that, though the workout is always challenging and always brings on the burn, I am stronger than I ever knew. And even though I will always find power in words, I now find that power and strength within myself. Barre3, it certainly is a pleasure to burn every day!”- Meghan
We’d love to hear your #B3STRONG story! Tell us all about it here.
As part of our month-long series on strength, we asked you, our B3 community, to share your #B3STRONG moments. Our original plan was to choose one submission to feature in the B3 Magazine, but then the inspiring, heartwarming stories poured in, and we knew we couldn’t keep these gems to ourselves. So instead, we’re rolling out the stories in two installments—the first today, the second next week.
Read on to get to know your B3 community and to learn their stories of strength. Have your own story to tell? Submit it here!
“I’m a classical violinist with a pretty severe shoulder injury. I was having a really hard time getting myself into a state where I could enjoy just being purely physical, as I was starting to associate movement with pain. Enter barre3! I am transformed. The breath guides my every movement, and it’s done wonders to strengthen not only my body but my mind. Barre3 isn’t just a welcome addition to my life; it’s a necessary one. It’s the thing that keeps me going and tells me that I can get through this, that I can breathe throughout this, and that I am strong and capable.” – Reina
“I began barre3 three months after giving birth to my son, Ben. Becoming a mother was hard in a way I had never expected. I knew I would be tired. I knew my body would look different. I knew I would be busy. But what I didn’t realize was that I would lose my sense of self. Suddenly every moment had become about Ben. Everything I ate, when I showered, if and when I slept, and when we could leave the house was all determined by this tiny person. I wanted to be able to do everything for him and gave him 100% of my time.
Elizabeth at the barre3 Play Lounge was the first stranger I ever left Ben with. I remember telling her way too many things about what he might need in the 60 minutes, even though I’d be just a few feet away in the studio. That first class challenged me to trust someone else with my baby and to focus on myself. As we took our closing breaths and lowered our hands to our hearts, the instructor said, “Take one last breath, just for you.” Right then I realized I had not consciously taken a breath for myself since the day Ben was born.
Now that I’m back at work I try to go to class at least 3 times a week. Because of Play Lounge, I am able to work out and not worry about Ben. He absolutely loves the ladies and I feel good leaving him with them because I can see they love him too. For me, barre3 has been about so much more than “fitting in my clothes again.” It has given me the balance and permission to take time for myself. I am so grateful for the staff at Kruse Village for their warmth and support on my journey into motherhood.” – Sarah
“I stumbled upon barre3 while doing research on exercise options online. I was in an “I hate exercise” rut, and knew that there had to be something out there that I would actually enjoy. I gave B3 a try and soon realized that it was the answer! I look forward to exercising, I feel more calm and centered, and I feel like my body is celebrated with each movement. Each barre3 class teaches me something about myself, and I never feel like I’ve failed. With Barre3, every workout is a success!”- Andrea
“I wanted to share with you what an impact you have had on me. 2017 was the most difficult year of my life so far. At the age of 43 it was confirmed that I was going into menopause 10-15 years earlier than typical. I was perfectly fine with that, but I had no idea the toll this would ultimately take. I had several severe symptoms, including depression due to hardly any serotonin being produced and weight gain—I gained 30 lbs in one year!
I worked with my doctors and was able to get on the right medications and supplements. By December I was doing significantly better and started taking barre3 classes as a way to get out of the house and do something positive. I wanted to feel and be strong again.
The most significant thing that I have gained by attending classes is the ability to look at myself in the mirror. During one class one day the instructor said everyone should be looking at themselves in the mirror. I never used the mirror in the studio to look at myself—funny but it never even occurred to me to do so. After she told us this, I looked at myself and quickly looked away. Who was that?! It was difficult to look at myself because of all the negative thoughts that came into my mind. Little by little I looked more and more at myself during class and I started to see my muscles and my sweat and to accept those things along with flab, muffin top, and a beet-red face. They all made up me.
Barre3 has certainly challenged me physically, but even better has been the mental and spiritual challenges I faced and overcame from going to class. I now use this time to connect with myself and make eye contact with the woman in the mirror I finally recognize as the new me.”– Jennifer
“My life changed forever on October 1st, 2017. I live in Las Vegas and attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival, where a gunman killed 59 people. For months after the shooting, I was depressed. I quit taking care of myself and lived in anger toward the world. Then one day I decided enough is enough. I knew I needed to move forward and live the best life I can because the 59 individuals who lost their lives can’t. I have to remind myself that I am the lucky one.
I started B3 All In, taking barre3 classes every day, and soon enough I was feeling positive, balanced, and happier than I had been in months. I am still afraid of crowds, my heart still pounds uncontrollably when something loud goes off, and I replay the night in my mind almost nightly. But barre3 has helped me with the positive and supportive community. I come to class to take a break from the world and to breathe. It allows me to take 60 mins for myself, feel safe, and to not think about the shooting. Barre3 is an incredible company and allows me to be well…me.” – Whitney
“As a former teacher and eternal lover of literature, I’ve always been moved by words. They have given me strength. I’ll never forget the first line of Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451. He eloquently wrote, “It was a pleasure to burn.” These words are perplexing, strong, and propelling. However, when I began my life-altering journey with barre3, these words took on a whole new meaning; they brought on a new kind of strength within me. Because, as all barre3 lovers know, you most certainly “burn” in each and every class. With this, I also realized that, though the workout is always challenging and always brings on the burn, I am stronger than I ever knew. And even though I will always find power in words, I now find that power and strength within myself. Barre3, it certainly is a pleasure to burn every day!”- Meghan
We’d love to hear your #B3STRONG story! Tell us all about it here.
