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Being Gentle As We Move Back Into A New Normal
Our 170+ barre3 studios are more than just places to work out—they’re communities of supportive individuals dedicated to holding space for what you need, and we’re ready to welcome you back. At the same time, we want to remind you that now, more than ever, it’s important to honor your body where it is right in this moment.
Today, Meghan Van Metre, owner of barre3 Menlo Park and life coach, offers advice on how to restart your studio practice in a safe, sustainable way (hint: compassion and intention will take you far!). Read on for her tips, and put them into practice when you sign up for the barre3 September Studio Challenge—a month of community, connection, and support, all designed to help you jumpstart your studio practice.
As the world continues to shift, you might feel ready to get back into the swing of a workout routine. It’s probably safe to say that a lot of us cannot wait to release pent up energy in-studio. I’m definitely feeling that way! While our bodies are craving movement and community, I want to offer a gentle reminder that you’ve probably changed quite a bit over the past 18 months. It’s important to recognize that our bodies have too; our bodies are in recovery from all the challenges we’ve experienced. As you go back into the studio, please listen to what your body needs and know that your workout might feel different now—and that’s ok!
In our “do more, be more, accomplish more” culture, you might be feeling pulled to bounce back to who you were in 2019. But let me ask you something: How can you possibly go back to an old version of yourself when so much has shifted? If you want to safely reintegrate into the new world we find ourselves living in today, you might want to take it slow and steady—in the studio and every other area of your life.
There’s no such thing as “bouncing back,” only bouncing forward.
I’m sure many of us moved less than we wanted to in the past 18 months. We were tethered to our homes, worked out with others through a screen, and made intimate friends with our couches. With all of those changes taking us out of our regular routine, we can’t magically snap our fingers and instantly have the same endurance as we did pre-Covid. I really want you to have grace for yourself as the pressure of bouncing back to “normal” life starts to creep into your mindset. Where did that notion come from anyway?! There’s no such thing as going back in time! You can only move forward. And the way to move forward is to take one small step from where you are in this moment right now. And then another. If you take enough small, manageable steps, you will build strength sustainably.
Slowing down will help you reintegrate into the world with ease.
One of the silver linings that being at home gave us was slowing down. In my own experience, slowing down taught me how to be more gentle with myself and surrender to being without doing. So many of the ideals I was living by started to dissolve. Trying to produce as much as possible wasn’t adding value to my life anymore. Taking things slower taught me a big lesson: When I move more slowly, I feel more balanced.
Let me explain with a barre3 example. In combo work, the instructor cues at a 2-count, sometimes even at a 4-count cadence. Why? Because when we slow down, we dive deeper into our bodies and don’t let momentum interfere with the integrity of the posture. At a slower speed, we can tap into the wisdom of our bodies and understand if we can go further or need to pull back a bit. We don’t underdo it or overdo it, our practice is just right. We remain balanced in each posture and protect our physical health. I encourage you to find one area of your life where you can slow down and notice how it makes you feel.
Be deliberate about how you show up in this new world.
It takes courage to move at a different pace than the rest of the world. But you have permission to do just that. Instead of feeding into the frenzy around you, why don’t you pause and connect to the pace of your body? Your body is a source of infinite wisdom. To access it, take a deep breath in stillness. If something feels like tightness, it’s out of alignment with who you are at this moment. If something feels light and expansive, it’s what your intuition and heart call for in that given moment. As you contemplate your workout and other decisions in life, how would it feel to deliberately follow your intuition and let go of ideals that no longer serve your life?
As a brand-new studio owner, I’ve heard the little voice in my head telling me to “whip it into shape” for my studio’s grand opening. But as I reflect on everything I’ve gained from taking it slow over the past 18 months, I’ve learned to be gentle with myself. My body has kept me healthy from Covid. My body birthed a baby in January. My body is remarkable. Why would I “whip” it into shape, when I can honor what it needs most right now? I choose the pace of love, affection, and gratitude, and I hope you do too.
Lots of love,
Meghan Van Metre
With in-person guidance from our expert instructors—plus the unparalleled support of our incredible community—the barre3 September Studio Challenge is the best way to get back into your studio practice. To join and learn more about how your studio can support you, find your local studio here. We can’t wait to move with you.
Our 170+ barre3 studios are more than just places to work out—they’re communities of supportive individuals dedicated to holding space for what you need, and we’re ready to welcome you back. At the same time, we want to remind you that now, more than ever, it’s important to honor your body where it is right in this moment.
Today, Meghan Van Metre, owner of barre3 Menlo Park and life coach, offers advice on how to restart your studio practice in a safe, sustainable way (hint: compassion and intention will take you far!). Read on for her tips, and put them into practice when you sign up for the barre3 September Studio Challenge—a month of community, connection, and support, all designed to help you jumpstart your studio practice.
As the world continues to shift, you might feel ready to get back into the swing of a workout routine. It’s probably safe to say that a lot of us cannot wait to release pent up energy in-studio. I’m definitely feeling that way! While our bodies are craving movement and community, I want to offer a gentle reminder that you’ve probably changed quite a bit over the past 18 months. It’s important to recognize that our bodies have too; our bodies are in recovery from all the challenges we’ve experienced. As you go back into the studio, please listen to what your body needs and know that your workout might feel different now—and that’s ok!
In our “do more, be more, accomplish more” culture, you might be feeling pulled to bounce back to who you were in 2019. But let me ask you something: How can you possibly go back to an old version of yourself when so much has shifted? If you want to safely reintegrate into the new world we find ourselves living in today, you might want to take it slow and steady—in the studio and every other area of your life.
There’s no such thing as “bouncing back,” only bouncing forward.
I’m sure many of us moved less than we wanted to in the past 18 months. We were tethered to our homes, worked out with others through a screen, and made intimate friends with our couches. With all of those changes taking us out of our regular routine, we can’t magically snap our fingers and instantly have the same endurance as we did pre-Covid. I really want you to have grace for yourself as the pressure of bouncing back to “normal” life starts to creep into your mindset. Where did that notion come from anyway?! There’s no such thing as going back in time! You can only move forward. And the way to move forward is to take one small step from where you are in this moment right now. And then another. If you take enough small, manageable steps, you will build strength sustainably.
Slowing down will help you reintegrate into the world with ease.
One of the silver linings that being at home gave us was slowing down. In my own experience, slowing down taught me how to be more gentle with myself and surrender to being without doing. So many of the ideals I was living by started to dissolve. Trying to produce as much as possible wasn’t adding value to my life anymore. Taking things slower taught me a big lesson: When I move more slowly, I feel more balanced.
Let me explain with a barre3 example. In combo work, the instructor cues at a 2-count, sometimes even at a 4-count cadence. Why? Because when we slow down, we dive deeper into our bodies and don’t let momentum interfere with the integrity of the posture. At a slower speed, we can tap into the wisdom of our bodies and understand if we can go further or need to pull back a bit. We don’t underdo it or overdo it, our practice is just right. We remain balanced in each posture and protect our physical health. I encourage you to find one area of your life where you can slow down and notice how it makes you feel.
Be deliberate about how you show up in this new world.
It takes courage to move at a different pace than the rest of the world. But you have permission to do just that. Instead of feeding into the frenzy around you, why don’t you pause and connect to the pace of your body? Your body is a source of infinite wisdom. To access it, take a deep breath in stillness. If something feels like tightness, it’s out of alignment with who you are at this moment. If something feels light and expansive, it’s what your intuition and heart call for in that given moment. As you contemplate your workout and other decisions in life, how would it feel to deliberately follow your intuition and let go of ideals that no longer serve your life?
As a brand-new studio owner, I’ve heard the little voice in my head telling me to “whip it into shape” for my studio’s grand opening. But as I reflect on everything I’ve gained from taking it slow over the past 18 months, I’ve learned to be gentle with myself. My body has kept me healthy from Covid. My body birthed a baby in January. My body is remarkable. Why would I “whip” it into shape, when I can honor what it needs most right now? I choose the pace of love, affection, and gratitude, and I hope you do too.
Lots of love,
Meghan Van Metre
With in-person guidance from our expert instructors—plus the unparalleled support of our incredible community—the barre3 September Studio Challenge is the best way to get back into your studio practice. To join and learn more about how your studio can support you, find your local studio here. We can’t wait to move with you.
