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barre3 Instructor CJ Frogozo is America’s Most Inspiring Trainer! Here’s Why.
200K votes. 12 finalists. 1 winner. We couldn’t be prouder of our very own CJ Frogozo, an instructor at barre3 West Village, for being voted Well + Good x Reebok’s ‘Most Inspiring Trainer in America’! A well-deserved honor, indeed. Frogozo is a source of boundless energy, encouragement, and heart—not to mention a cancer survivor, marathoner, longtime yogini, founder of her own business, and all-around example of living every day to its fullest. True to form, she’s off to the Dominican Republic for a service trip this month, but before she leaves, we snuck in a quick congratulations and chat.
B3: You’re ‘America’s Most Inspiring Trainer’! How does it feel?
C.J.: I’m just so happy I get to share the barre3 love! Really though, I was in complete shock when I found out I was one of 12 finalists. Then when I won, the craziness kept compounding. I had a moment of “Are you sure you picked the right person?” because everyone nominated was so amazing. It totally took me by surprise, and the whole experience has been very surreal. That’s all to say that this is an incredible honor—it’s humbling to be put on the same level as the 11 other finalists.
B3: You’re an inspiration to so many, but tell us: What inspires and drives you?
C.J.: There’s nothing more inspiring to me than people, whether they’re clients or not. Every day, I bump into someone at barre3 or elsewhere who shows me mind-blowing strength, courage, and bravery. New York is a tough city, so to live here and see all these people refusing to live with mediocrity and striving for success—however they define it—that’s a constant source of inspiration.
B3: What’s your barre3 ‘why’?
C.J.: barre3 has been there for me in a number of ways over the years. When I first took class in 2011 in Portland, I fell in love with the workout and the energy. I also saw results that I hadn’t seen elsewhere. What really sealed the deal, though, was my diagnosis of thyroid cancer and subsequent thyroidectomy, which caused nerve and muscle damage in my neck and shoulder. I’d been practicing yoga since 1998, but the way I was practicing wasn’t serving the way my body was feeling. Barre3 was just more accessible for what my body had gone through, including the earliest iterations of online workouts for when I couldn’t leave home. When I moved to New York City, the West Village studio was just opening up, and I inquired about becoming an instructor. Barre3 was there for me yet again, which I think speaks a lot to the company. It’s so much more than just a workout—it’s a place where men and women can come together, lift each other up, and be supportive.
B3: What’s your all-time favorite barre3 posture?
C.J.: Sumo Squats, hands-down, for sure. But I also love barre3 Burpees, which I’m the proud inventor of!
B3: Before you go, what’s the best advice you’ve received so far?
C.J.: I have a few! One, which is all-encompassing of the way I lead my life, is “Never settle for the life you think you’re supposed to live.” And then years ago, when I was all of 23, my first boss said to me, “Don’t worry if you make a mistake—it means you’re doing it.” I loved it. I think about it any time I’m nervous to do something. Of course, the companion to that is trusting that every decision you make is the right one. It helps takes the fear out of making choices.
200K votes. 12 finalists. 1 winner. We couldn’t be prouder of our very own CJ Frogozo, an instructor at barre3 West Village, for being voted Well + Good x Reebok’s ‘Most Inspiring Trainer in America’! A well-deserved honor, indeed. Frogozo is a source of boundless energy, encouragement, and heart—not to mention a cancer survivor, marathoner, longtime yogini, founder of her own business, and all-around example of living every day to its fullest. True to form, she’s off to the Dominican Republic for a service trip this month, but before she leaves, we snuck in a quick congratulations and chat.
B3: You’re ‘America’s Most Inspiring Trainer’! How does it feel?
C.J.: I’m just so happy I get to share the barre3 love! Really though, I was in complete shock when I found out I was one of 12 finalists. Then when I won, the craziness kept compounding. I had a moment of “Are you sure you picked the right person?” because everyone nominated was so amazing. It totally took me by surprise, and the whole experience has been very surreal. That’s all to say that this is an incredible honor—it’s humbling to be put on the same level as the 11 other finalists.
B3: You’re an inspiration to so many, but tell us: What inspires and drives you?
C.J.: There’s nothing more inspiring to me than people, whether they’re clients or not. Every day, I bump into someone at barre3 or elsewhere who shows me mind-blowing strength, courage, and bravery. New York is a tough city, so to live here and see all these people refusing to live with mediocrity and striving for success—however they define it—that’s a constant source of inspiration.
B3: What’s your barre3 ‘why’?
C.J.: barre3 has been there for me in a number of ways over the years. When I first took class in 2011 in Portland, I fell in love with the workout and the energy. I also saw results that I hadn’t seen elsewhere. What really sealed the deal, though, was my diagnosis of thyroid cancer and subsequent thyroidectomy, which caused nerve and muscle damage in my neck and shoulder. I’d been practicing yoga since 1998, but the way I was practicing wasn’t serving the way my body was feeling. Barre3 was just more accessible for what my body had gone through, including the earliest iterations of online workouts for when I couldn’t leave home. When I moved to New York City, the West Village studio was just opening up, and I inquired about becoming an instructor. Barre3 was there for me yet again, which I think speaks a lot to the company. It’s so much more than just a workout—it’s a place where men and women can come together, lift each other up, and be supportive.
B3: What’s your all-time favorite barre3 posture?
C.J.: Sumo Squats, hands-down, for sure. But I also love barre3 Burpees, which I’m the proud inventor of!
B3: Before you go, what’s the best advice you’ve received so far?
C.J.: I have a few! One, which is all-encompassing of the way I lead my life, is “Never settle for the life you think you’re supposed to live.” And then years ago, when I was all of 23, my first boss said to me, “Don’t worry if you make a mistake—it means you’re doing it.” I loved it. I think about it any time I’m nervous to do something. Of course, the companion to that is trusting that every decision you make is the right one. It helps takes the fear out of making choices.
