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HOW BARRE3 HELPED THIS INSTRUCTOR FIND CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY, AND CALM
It’s easy to get attached to a specific idea of ourselves—especially if we’ve worked hard to achieve it. But what happens when that identity suddenly disappears? That’s what happened to Sadie Hardy, who found her way to barre3 after a topsy-turvy year. Read on to find out how she overcame the anxiety about trying that first class, why the barre3 approach felt totally foreign to her at first, and why she feels like she found so much more than a fitness class.
In 2015, my life bore very little resemblance to what it had looked like just a year before. In the span of just a few months, I quit my very successful and rewarding career to be a stay-at-home mom to my infant son, I moved to a new city where I didn’t know anyone, I found out I was pregnant with my second child, and my mom was diagnosed with some very serious health issues. Everything I had previously measured my success on was suddenly gone, and in many ways I didn’t really know my identity anymore.
I had made a new friend in my new city, and she mentioned barre3, explaining that it was a group fitness class, and that it was safe for pregnant women. I admit, I was not excited. I deal with social anxiety, so the words “group fitness” can be mildly terrifying. I pictured being in a class, trying to keep up with a bunch of people who were in amazing shape and knew all the moves. But I was quickly learning that in this next chapter of my life, I had to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to try new things. I also really wanted to be friends with this woman, so I agreed to go to a class with her.
So I went—and it was mind-blowing. I was very nervous when I walked into the studio, but the woman at the front desk was so warm and welcoming—she knew my name, she introduced me to the instructor, she made sure I was set up with the right props. I felt immediately at ease. And any fear I felt about being the newbie in the class fell away the minute we started moving. I remember looking around and noticing the diversity within the class. There were women who were younger than me, women who were twice my age, a woman wearing a pretty-big knee brace. I remember thinking, this class really is for everybody.
I let go of any preconceived expectations and just moved. I was sweating, shaking, laughing, and my muscles were burning. Then as soon as class was over I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. I signed up for a membership right away. After three or four classes, I began to understand that the benefits went way beyond the physical. This was an entirely new kind of space for me—one where I felt comfortable and safe, where I could focus on how I was feeling and what I needed that specific day and that specific moment. It sounds crazy, but I had never in my life taken time to really get to know myself. I’ve always been very much an achiever. Whether it was in sports growing up, succeeding in school, or working my way up the ladder in my corporate career, I always had a clear goal, and a clear way to measure my success. It took time, but at barre3, I learned that I was a strong individual with purpose—even without those goals. I discovered that I was ok with just being me, and that I have inherent confidence and strength. That was a revelation.
Soon after I had my second son, I started to feel this physical and emotional void. I knew I needed barre3 back in my life. I went back as soon as my doctor cleared me to exercise, and had some of that same nervousness (new baby, new body). But the minute I walked into the studio I felt that same sense of tranquility I’d experienced on my first day.
About four months later, I decided I wanted to have a bigger part in this amazing community. I wanted to be able to give people the same experience I’d had when I started. I reached out to an instructor I took class with often, and she encouraged me to try out to be an instructor. I dove right in, and by February 2017 I was teaching classes.
I absolutely love being able to get to know the clients, to support them as they go through pregnancies, job changes, life evolutions. I feel grateful that I can play a role in empowering them to try something different—and something they’re not used to in group-fitness classes. Maybe that’s taking a modification, or moving more slowly, or trusting that they can listen to their bodies and their hearts. It’s been so rewarding to lead people, and such an incredible privilege to earn their trust.
I think back to when I first moved to Austin, newly pregnant, my career behind me, and unsure of my identity. I wish I had known then that I would find this incredible community—but even more than that, that I would find myself.
At barre3, we’re exercising to feel present and at home in our bodies, and that’s what The January Challenge is all about. Sign up today for unlimited barre3 classes, a workbook packed with intention-setting exercises, and more.
It’s easy to get attached to a specific idea of ourselves—especially if we’ve worked hard to achieve it. But what happens when that identity suddenly disappears? That’s what happened to Sadie Hardy, who found her way to barre3 after a topsy-turvy year. Read on to find out how she overcame the anxiety about trying that first class, why the barre3 approach felt totally foreign to her at first, and why she feels like she found so much more than a fitness class.
In 2015, my life bore very little resemblance to what it had looked like just a year before. In the span of just a few months, I quit my very successful and rewarding career to be a stay-at-home mom to my infant son, I moved to a new city where I didn’t know anyone, I found out I was pregnant with my second child, and my mom was diagnosed with some very serious health issues. Everything I had previously measured my success on was suddenly gone, and in many ways I didn’t really know my identity anymore.
I had made a new friend in my new city, and she mentioned barre3, explaining that it was a group fitness class, and that it was safe for pregnant women. I admit, I was not excited. I deal with social anxiety, so the words “group fitness” can be mildly terrifying. I pictured being in a class, trying to keep up with a bunch of people who were in amazing shape and knew all the moves. But I was quickly learning that in this next chapter of my life, I had to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to try new things. I also really wanted to be friends with this woman, so I agreed to go to a class with her.
So I went—and it was mind-blowing. I was very nervous when I walked into the studio, but the woman at the front desk was so warm and welcoming—she knew my name, she introduced me to the instructor, she made sure I was set up with the right props. I felt immediately at ease. And any fear I felt about being the newbie in the class fell away the minute we started moving. I remember looking around and noticing the diversity within the class. There were women who were younger than me, women who were twice my age, a woman wearing a pretty-big knee brace. I remember thinking, this class really is for everybody.
I let go of any preconceived expectations and just moved. I was sweating, shaking, laughing, and my muscles were burning. Then as soon as class was over I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. I signed up for a membership right away. After three or four classes, I began to understand that the benefits went way beyond the physical. This was an entirely new kind of space for me—one where I felt comfortable and safe, where I could focus on how I was feeling and what I needed that specific day and that specific moment. It sounds crazy, but I had never in my life taken time to really get to know myself. I’ve always been very much an achiever. Whether it was in sports growing up, succeeding in school, or working my way up the ladder in my corporate career, I always had a clear goal, and a clear way to measure my success. It took time, but at barre3, I learned that I was a strong individual with purpose—even without those goals. I discovered that I was ok with just being me, and that I have inherent confidence and strength. That was a revelation.
Soon after I had my second son, I started to feel this physical and emotional void. I knew I needed barre3 back in my life. I went back as soon as my doctor cleared me to exercise, and had some of that same nervousness (new baby, new body). But the minute I walked into the studio I felt that same sense of tranquility I’d experienced on my first day.
About four months later, I decided I wanted to have a bigger part in this amazing community. I wanted to be able to give people the same experience I’d had when I started. I reached out to an instructor I took class with often, and she encouraged me to try out to be an instructor. I dove right in, and by February 2017 I was teaching classes.
I absolutely love being able to get to know the clients, to support them as they go through pregnancies, job changes, life evolutions. I feel grateful that I can play a role in empowering them to try something different—and something they’re not used to in group-fitness classes. Maybe that’s taking a modification, or moving more slowly, or trusting that they can listen to their bodies and their hearts. It’s been so rewarding to lead people, and such an incredible privilege to earn their trust.
I think back to when I first moved to Austin, newly pregnant, my career behind me, and unsure of my identity. I wish I had known then that I would find this incredible community—but even more than that, that I would find myself.
At barre3, we’re exercising to feel present and at home in our bodies, and that’s what The January Challenge is all about. Sign up today for unlimited barre3 classes, a workbook packed with intention-setting exercises, and more.
