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HOW BARRE3 HELPS THIS SINGER FIND STRENGTH, STAMINA, AND SPACE TO BREATHE
Anja Kotar is a singer, songwriter, performer—and—hands-down one of the most creative people we’ve met. On top of all of that, she’s a barre3 client, and she loves taking class with her mom at the barre3 Willow Glen studio in San Jose, California.
We picked Anja’s brain to learn more about what it’s really like to make your passion your full-time job and how her barre3 practice, whether in the studio or online, supports her every day. And if you want to give her music a listen (trust us, you do) check out Anja on Spotify here.
BARRE3: You came to the US from Slovenia as a teenager. How did this transition impact who you are today?
ANJA: It was definitely challenging, but one thing that was helpful was having my family with me. When we came to the United States, it was just me, my parents, and my younger brother. We didn’t know anyone else here. At the time, we didn’t have a house, or a car, and we arrived two days before I started school. It was very in-the-moment, but I think the fact that everything happened so quickly helped us adjust. We jumped in the water and started swimming immediately.
The experience greatly impacted who I am today. I was a classical pianist in Europe, but I always knew that singing was what I wanted to do. At the time, however, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to sing in Slovenia. So when I got to the United States, I became really involved with the theater community. I remember thinking that it was exactly like High School Musical, and I was always ready to bust out dancing and singing.
Looking back, I can see the puzzle pieces coming together. The stage prepared me with the work ethic that making your career in music requires. It expanded my horizons, too. I am fully aware that I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today without having the experiences I’ve had, and I’m so grateful that my parents provided it for me and my brother.
BARRE3: What inspired you to pursue music as a career?
ANJA: I literally never had another option. I never considered anything else in my life. Ever since I was a little girl, I was always dancing, singing, and putting on performances for anyone who would watch. My entire life was just taking steps to get there.
BARRE3: As a performer, fame is often equated to success. How do you stay committed to your pursuit of creativity with the societal pressure to have as many people know your name as possible?
ANJA: At the end of the day, it’s all about the people you surround yourself with. I am very lucky to be part of a close family, and I think that’s what helps me stay grounded. Along with that, I get to work with a group of people who are incredibly hard workers and truly committed to what they do. I’m inspired by people who value the quality of their work over fame. If you do everything with your heart and are truly passionate about what you do, everything else comes naturally.
BARRE3: Your work discusses the difference between reality and how we present ourselves online. What’s your goal in communicating this to your listeners?
ANJA: My hometown is San Jose, California, right at the corner of Silicon Valley. The culture, as many people know, is incredibly interwoven with technology, and of course, it’s become a huge part of our lives. These days, it’s almost impossible to do anything without technology. In my music, I want to promote a conscientious use of tech and social media. I think that’s an important conversation for us to have, especially as we move into the new decade and technology continues to advance even more rapidly every day.
BARRE3: Moving forward, what other themes and ideas are you hoping to discuss in your songs?
ANJA: One of the most important things I try to focus on with my music is being honest. I used to write with so many metaphors and flowery language, but as I grow, I see that it’s a lot more challenging to write songs about complex ideas presented in a way that is relatable and accessible to a wider audience. That’s something that I’m trying to emulate through my writing, taking these common, daily experiences and presenting them in a new way. I want to write songs that help people connect to these very common human experiences.
BARRE3: You’ve been a barre3 client for a while now! How did you first discover barre3?
ANJA: I think it’s been three years now since I first stepped in the studio! I kept hearing about it, so I decided to buy my mom a package of five classes for her birthday. I really wanted to go as well, and I figured we could take classes together. We loved it immediately. A month after that first class, we purchased unlimited memberships, and it quickly became something that we always did together whenever I was in town.
We absolutely love it and really can’t imagine our daily routine without barre3. Even if I’m away from home and on the road, I still do workouts online. Barre3 is such an integral part of my life.
BARRE3: What was your relationship to fitness before barre3?
ANJA: I was a dancer for 12 years, and that’s part of the reason why I gravitated toward barre3. I liked the focus on improving flexibility and the elements of yoga woven into the class. Apart from dance though, I never really developed a fitness routine that’s as consistent as my barre3 practice is today.
BARRE3: How do you feel barre3 supports you—your career, your music, your creativity, and your personal well-being?
ANJA: The most important thing I’ve noticed since I started doing barre3 consistently three years ago is an increase in everyday joy. Every time you do a barre3 workout, it’s an opportunity to reassess your goals for the day and put everything in perspective. There’s an added layer of psychological well-being that you don’t find in a lot of other workouts.
As a singer and performer, I’ve also noticed that barre3 has improved my breath control and increased my stamina. I can move around, dance, and perform at a level that I wouldn’t be able to do without barre3.
BARRE3: Outside of music and barre3, what do you love to do? What energizes and engages you?
ANJA: I love to travel and learn about the world. I love to read as well, especially books that have to do with the human experience. Even in fiction, I find that I gravitate toward stories that describe the human experience in a way that mirrors reality. That’s where I find a lot of inspiration for my songs.
Feeling inspired to try barre3 yourself? Get started with a 15-day free trial to barre3 online workouts or try 2 weeks of unlimited studio classes for $49.
Image Credits: Jani Ugrin
Anja Kotar is a singer, songwriter, performer—and—hands-down one of the most creative people we’ve met. On top of all of that, she’s a barre3 client, and she loves taking class with her mom at the barre3 Willow Glen studio in San Jose, California.
We picked Anja’s brain to learn more about what it’s really like to make your passion your full-time job and how her barre3 practice, whether in the studio or online, supports her every day. And if you want to give her music a listen (trust us, you do) check out Anja on Spotify here.
BARRE3: You came to the US from Slovenia as a teenager. How did this transition impact who you are today?
ANJA: It was definitely challenging, but one thing that was helpful was having my family with me. When we came to the United States, it was just me, my parents, and my younger brother. We didn’t know anyone else here. At the time, we didn’t have a house, or a car, and we arrived two days before I started school. It was very in-the-moment, but I think the fact that everything happened so quickly helped us adjust. We jumped in the water and started swimming immediately.
The experience greatly impacted who I am today. I was a classical pianist in Europe, but I always knew that singing was what I wanted to do. At the time, however, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to sing in Slovenia. So when I got to the United States, I became really involved with the theater community. I remember thinking that it was exactly like High School Musical, and I was always ready to bust out dancing and singing.
Looking back, I can see the puzzle pieces coming together. The stage prepared me with the work ethic that making your career in music requires. It expanded my horizons, too. I am fully aware that I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today without having the experiences I’ve had, and I’m so grateful that my parents provided it for me and my brother.
BARRE3: What inspired you to pursue music as a career?
ANJA: I literally never had another option. I never considered anything else in my life. Ever since I was a little girl, I was always dancing, singing, and putting on performances for anyone who would watch. My entire life was just taking steps to get there.
BARRE3: As a performer, fame is often equated to success. How do you stay committed to your pursuit of creativity with the societal pressure to have as many people know your name as possible?
ANJA: At the end of the day, it’s all about the people you surround yourself with. I am very lucky to be part of a close family, and I think that’s what helps me stay grounded. Along with that, I get to work with a group of people who are incredibly hard workers and truly committed to what they do. I’m inspired by people who value the quality of their work over fame. If you do everything with your heart and are truly passionate about what you do, everything else comes naturally.
BARRE3: Your work discusses the difference between reality and how we present ourselves online. What’s your goal in communicating this to your listeners?
ANJA: My hometown is San Jose, California, right at the corner of Silicon Valley. The culture, as many people know, is incredibly interwoven with technology, and of course, it’s become a huge part of our lives. These days, it’s almost impossible to do anything without technology. In my music, I want to promote a conscientious use of tech and social media. I think that’s an important conversation for us to have, especially as we move into the new decade and technology continues to advance even more rapidly every day.
BARRE3: Moving forward, what other themes and ideas are you hoping to discuss in your songs?
ANJA: One of the most important things I try to focus on with my music is being honest. I used to write with so many metaphors and flowery language, but as I grow, I see that it’s a lot more challenging to write songs about complex ideas presented in a way that is relatable and accessible to a wider audience. That’s something that I’m trying to emulate through my writing, taking these common, daily experiences and presenting them in a new way. I want to write songs that help people connect to these very common human experiences.
BARRE3: You’ve been a barre3 client for a while now! How did you first discover barre3?
ANJA: I think it’s been three years now since I first stepped in the studio! I kept hearing about it, so I decided to buy my mom a package of five classes for her birthday. I really wanted to go as well, and I figured we could take classes together. We loved it immediately. A month after that first class, we purchased unlimited memberships, and it quickly became something that we always did together whenever I was in town.
We absolutely love it and really can’t imagine our daily routine without barre3. Even if I’m away from home and on the road, I still do workouts online. Barre3 is such an integral part of my life.
BARRE3: What was your relationship to fitness before barre3?
ANJA: I was a dancer for 12 years, and that’s part of the reason why I gravitated toward barre3. I liked the focus on improving flexibility and the elements of yoga woven into the class. Apart from dance though, I never really developed a fitness routine that’s as consistent as my barre3 practice is today.
BARRE3: How do you feel barre3 supports you—your career, your music, your creativity, and your personal well-being?
ANJA: The most important thing I’ve noticed since I started doing barre3 consistently three years ago is an increase in everyday joy. Every time you do a barre3 workout, it’s an opportunity to reassess your goals for the day and put everything in perspective. There’s an added layer of psychological well-being that you don’t find in a lot of other workouts.
As a singer and performer, I’ve also noticed that barre3 has improved my breath control and increased my stamina. I can move around, dance, and perform at a level that I wouldn’t be able to do without barre3.
BARRE3: Outside of music and barre3, what do you love to do? What energizes and engages you?
ANJA: I love to travel and learn about the world. I love to read as well, especially books that have to do with the human experience. Even in fiction, I find that I gravitate toward stories that describe the human experience in a way that mirrors reality. That’s where I find a lot of inspiration for my songs.
Feeling inspired to try barre3 yourself? Get started with a 15-day free trial to barre3 online workouts or try 2 weeks of unlimited studio classes for $49.
Image Credits: Jani Ugrin
