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JOHN ROSS ISN’T AFRAID TO BE THE ONLY GUY IN CLASS. HERE’S WHY.
John Ross is well-versed in the world of sports. As the Personnel Video Coordinator for the Portland Trail Blazers, John’s days are spent shuffling among trainings, practices, and games, taking on film work, scouting, and team support.
While working in the NBA comes with the advantage of a gym at his disposal, John has gravitated to barre3. Below, John shares how barre3 has supported him after back surgery, why he dropped his other fitness memberships, and what he loves most about the barre3 workout.
BARRE3: What was your relationship to fitness before discovering barre3?
JOHN: Sports have always been a big part of my life. I grew up running track, playing baseball and tennis, but ever since I was a kid, I had dreamed of playing basketball. Fast forward to today, where I’ve now been working in the NBA for the past 13 years. Working in that environment naturally keeps me active, and we have a gym at the office that I use for the elliptical and weights.
BARRE3: You injured your back 10 years ago. What was that like to be unable to do all these sports you loved, and how did you get back into fitness?
JOHN: I was in my mid-twenties when doctors found a herniated disk in my back. Right after they discovered it, I underwent an emergency surgery the next day. After that, my back and my entire body was never the same. Most workouts, especially weightlifting, would aggravate my back. Even when I was running, the pain would flare up.
I dealt with that for several years and always had to be extremely cautious. Being in my mid-twenties, it was extremely challenging to have chronic back pain. I felt like I could no longer exercise without being afraid of hurting myself. Even when I got into a rhythm of stretching, doing yoga, and going to the chiropractor, I would still feel pain. Every day was just a struggle to feel okay.
BARRE3: How did barre3 come into the picture?
JOHN: A few years ago, my roommate’s girlfriend (now wife), suggested I check out barre3, and though it was several months before I went with her, I was hooked from the first class. I was surprised by how much I sweated, and the movement, stretching, strength conditioning, and breathwork was a perfect blend for my body.
I left that first class feeling accomplished. While other workouts would aggravate my back, I came out of barre3 feeling better than when I went in. It became a Saturday morning routine, going to a barre3 class with a friend and grabbing coffee afterwards. Eventually, though, I loved it so much that I started to go on my own.
BARRE3: What was it specifically about the class that makes you feel so good?
JOHN: Barre3 is such an efficient workout. Even though I use the gym at my office, I get much more done during a barre3 class than I do exercising by myself. It probably takes me about 2 hours working out alone for my body to feel the same benefits as I do in a 60-minute or even 45-minute barre3 class. I feel a lot more productive in a group setting.
The flow of the class is designed in a way that sets the body up for success. There’s ample time at the beginning for warm-up, and I love the breathwork at the end. Finishing class with that gives you the space to breathe and process the day. I always use that time to thank my body and express gratitude for the time I gave myself. I never feel sorry that I worked out for an hour.
Modifications are also a really positive aspect of the class. You’re always working hard, but you’re given the freedom to go at your own pace. It’s not like other workout classes where you feel like you have to do something a certain way just because everyone else is. The instructors do a great job of providing guidance while also giving you your time and space to explore the postures for yourself.
Plus those tiny squats get you. They’re so much more effective than they seem at first.
BARRE3: You were a member at a few other fitness studios before becoming a barre3 studio member. What made you commit to barre3?
JOHN: I was also taking various types of yoga classes when I first started doing barre3. I’d do a mix of hot yoga, yin, and vinyasa, but I found that I got the same benefits from doing barre3 as I would from a yoga class. It was also how often I was going to class that convinced me to join as a member. When barre3 changed from a weekly routine with friends to going to the studio myself 3-4 times a week, I realized that I would be better off going all in on barre3.
BARRE3: While barre3 is a workout that works for everyone, many classes fill up with women. Have you gotten any of your guy friends to join you for class?
JOHN: I’ve told a lot of my male friends about it, and two of them joined me for classes last week! I’ve had about 20 different girls take class with me, and I think the difference in numbers might be because of a misconception that this is a class just for women. But the workout is as good as it gets, and that’s what I’m here for.
Ready to experience barre3’s transformative workout yourself? Try 2 weeks of unlimited studio classes for $49 or sign up for a 15-day free trial of online workouts today!
In addition to his work for the Portland Trailblazers, John Ross is a writer. You can read his original article here as well as check out more of his work on his website, gospelof.org.
John Ross is well-versed in the world of sports. As the Personnel Video Coordinator for the Portland Trail Blazers, John’s days are spent shuffling among trainings, practices, and games, taking on film work, scouting, and team support.
While working in the NBA comes with the advantage of a gym at his disposal, John has gravitated to barre3. Below, John shares how barre3 has supported him after back surgery, why he dropped his other fitness memberships, and what he loves most about the barre3 workout.
BARRE3: What was your relationship to fitness before discovering barre3?
JOHN: Sports have always been a big part of my life. I grew up running track, playing baseball and tennis, but ever since I was a kid, I had dreamed of playing basketball. Fast forward to today, where I’ve now been working in the NBA for the past 13 years. Working in that environment naturally keeps me active, and we have a gym at the office that I use for the elliptical and weights.
BARRE3: You injured your back 10 years ago. What was that like to be unable to do all these sports you loved, and how did you get back into fitness?
JOHN: I was in my mid-twenties when doctors found a herniated disk in my back. Right after they discovered it, I underwent an emergency surgery the next day. After that, my back and my entire body was never the same. Most workouts, especially weightlifting, would aggravate my back. Even when I was running, the pain would flare up.
I dealt with that for several years and always had to be extremely cautious. Being in my mid-twenties, it was extremely challenging to have chronic back pain. I felt like I could no longer exercise without being afraid of hurting myself. Even when I got into a rhythm of stretching, doing yoga, and going to the chiropractor, I would still feel pain. Every day was just a struggle to feel okay.
BARRE3: How did barre3 come into the picture?
JOHN: A few years ago, my roommate’s girlfriend (now wife), suggested I check out barre3, and though it was several months before I went with her, I was hooked from the first class. I was surprised by how much I sweated, and the movement, stretching, strength conditioning, and breathwork was a perfect blend for my body.
I left that first class feeling accomplished. While other workouts would aggravate my back, I came out of barre3 feeling better than when I went in. It became a Saturday morning routine, going to a barre3 class with a friend and grabbing coffee afterwards. Eventually, though, I loved it so much that I started to go on my own.
BARRE3: What was it specifically about the class that makes you feel so good?
JOHN: Barre3 is such an efficient workout. Even though I use the gym at my office, I get much more done during a barre3 class than I do exercising by myself. It probably takes me about 2 hours working out alone for my body to feel the same benefits as I do in a 60-minute or even 45-minute barre3 class. I feel a lot more productive in a group setting.
The flow of the class is designed in a way that sets the body up for success. There’s ample time at the beginning for warm-up, and I love the breathwork at the end. Finishing class with that gives you the space to breathe and process the day. I always use that time to thank my body and express gratitude for the time I gave myself. I never feel sorry that I worked out for an hour.
Modifications are also a really positive aspect of the class. You’re always working hard, but you’re given the freedom to go at your own pace. It’s not like other workout classes where you feel like you have to do something a certain way just because everyone else is. The instructors do a great job of providing guidance while also giving you your time and space to explore the postures for yourself.
Plus those tiny squats get you. They’re so much more effective than they seem at first.
BARRE3: You were a member at a few other fitness studios before becoming a barre3 studio member. What made you commit to barre3?
JOHN: I was also taking various types of yoga classes when I first started doing barre3. I’d do a mix of hot yoga, yin, and vinyasa, but I found that I got the same benefits from doing barre3 as I would from a yoga class. It was also how often I was going to class that convinced me to join as a member. When barre3 changed from a weekly routine with friends to going to the studio myself 3-4 times a week, I realized that I would be better off going all in on barre3.
BARRE3: While barre3 is a workout that works for everyone, many classes fill up with women. Have you gotten any of your guy friends to join you for class?
JOHN: I’ve told a lot of my male friends about it, and two of them joined me for classes last week! I’ve had about 20 different girls take class with me, and I think the difference in numbers might be because of a misconception that this is a class just for women. But the workout is as good as it gets, and that’s what I’m here for.
Ready to experience barre3’s transformative workout yourself? Try 2 weeks of unlimited studio classes for $49 or sign up for a 15-day free trial of online workouts today!
In addition to his work for the Portland Trailblazers, John Ross is a writer. You can read his original article here as well as check out more of his work on his website, gospelof.org.
