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Instructor Spotlight Series: Franny Loch
With so many of us bringing our barre3 practice home over the past year, the online instructors have become familiar faces—friends we invite into our living rooms to help us move, breathe, and destress. In our Instructor Spotlight Series, you’ll get to know the instructors beyond their energy-boosting choreography and motivating mantras.
Today, we bring you our chat with Franny, whose optimistic energy lifts us up every time we press play on one of her workouts. Read on to learn about her first barre3 class, how her movement practice helped her discover her purpose, and the mantra that’s helped her through the tough moments of the past year.
B3 MAGAZINE: We were thrilled to see that we can now filter for your workouts on barre3 online! Can you tell us a little bit about how you discovered barre3 and why you decided to become an instructor?
FRANNY: My husband and I and our two doggos had just moved to Portland and having finished two bodybuilding shows just a few months prior (a story for another time! haha) and I was seeking variety and community. Being in a new city (and a new country!), I was excited to explore the local fitness studios and offerings… Barre was at the top of my list.
I remember my first class so clearly. Afterwards, I snuck over to the instructor station so I could peek at Holly’s (Livengood) Spotify account and went straight back to our apartment, stalked her and began researching what it would take to become a barre3 Instructor.
What I loved about B3 was the combination of flow and functional movement driven by the beat. I wanted to instruct because the messages of body wisdom and awareness rang true to my yoga heart, the sequencing felt really good in my body, and the class was so much fun.
Stumbling into the studio that day, I had no idea I was on the cusp of such a wonderful journey. It was a sweet relief to be so far from home, yet still feel at home.
B3 MAGAZINE: In addition to your online workouts, you also teach classes in the studio. Does your teaching style vary between the two?
FRANNY: In-studio and teaching livestream, you might hear me crack a few more floppy jokes ad lib, but I would say that my teaching style is very much the same across all our platforms. I put a lot of thought into my sequencing and messaging, looking to hold space for you to really connect with your body, breath and internal dialogue (the voice in your head).
Being in class and being unified in movement has had a profound impact on my life and my relationship with myself. I’ve been exceedingly fortunate to have had great teachers inspire my journey, and as an instructor it is my intention to provide that resource and inspiration for others.
B3 MAGAZINE: You seem to have an endless supply of positive energy. Does this come to you naturally, or is it something you’ve built over the years?
FRANNY: I believe that energy is contagious and that what you project ultimately comes back to you. I’m not sure if I would necessarily describe my energy as endlessly positive, but I feel like the most authentic version of myself when I teach. I like to keep things upbeat while wearing my heart on my sleeve and sharing what motivates and inspires me.
B3 MAGAZINE: Your workouts always get rave reviews from the barre3 community. What is your philosophy behind teaching, and behind exercise in general?
FRANNY: “To educate is to elevate” is something I remind myself of often. I consider every workout I do and every class I teach as an opportunity to learn something new, whether it be about where I am in my body and mind, experimenting with different movement expressions, technique, or alignment cues, noticing how something (like language, tone, or a new posture) might resonate with me or my clients.
It was through my movement practice that I realized my passion and purpose. I hope my teaching helps you feel more connected to your body and potentially sparks a similar inspiration inside you.
B3 MAGAZINE: At barre3, we encourage people to listen to what their body needs and adjust their workout accordingly. Do you have any tips for how someone can work right to their edge without pushing themselves beyond what their body can handle?
FRANNY: Our bodies and our minds can often want and need different things, whether it’s digging deeper or peeling back. Fear comes into play. Fear of failing, fear of injury…. This is the practice of meeting yourself where you are. I believe this starts as an honest dialogue with your body. It is a practice because it requires consistent effort, checking in every workout, every day, and honoring what your body has to say.
B3 MAGAZINE: You’re based in Portland, but you grew up in Australia. Do you have any strategies for getting through the gray and rainy Portland winters?
FRANNY: Having lived in a sunburnt country for the first 27 years of my life, adjusting to the cold and wet PNW climate was a conscious decision. I used to see the rain as a total inconvenience—having to layer up, carry an umbrella, wear waterproof shoes—when really, it’s a blessing. I realized that the weather is entirely out of my control, but my response to it is 100% up to me. Being in this amazing climate, I marvel at the wonder of Mother Nature and appreciate that weather, whatever it is, is part of a cycle, with each season different and fleeting.
B3 MAGAZINE: It’s been quite a year. First of all, how have you been doing?
FRANNY: Quite a year!! I have been doing well—holding on with my hopes high and my chin up!
2020 was a teacher. I have been reminded again and again to practice compassion, to not take anything for granted, and to truly appreciate what’s right in front of me. I am so fortunate to have my health, my husband, my family, barre3, and to be part of the community.
We couldn’t have predicted or imagined prior what 2020 threw at us. I believe that what we struggle with provides us with an opportunity to grow stronger. A mantra I like to use is “what challenges us, changes us.” The things that test us, teach us and ask us to pay closer attention to who we are at our core, individually and collectively.
B3 MAGAZINE: What are some of the things that have helped you get through the challenging parts of last year?
FRANNY: I find comfort in routine. This year was a chance to fine-tune my morning ritual and create a practice that was nourishing and grounding. This helped me feel a sense of stability amongst the uncertainty or “calm in the chaos,” as we say at B3.
As I no longer have early-morning classes on my schedule, I meditate and journal as soon as I wake up. Before I check notifications or look at screens, I read, giving myself as long as it takes me to drink a mug of green tea. I rinse my face and scrape my tongue (game changer!) before taking the dog out for a walk, and then most days will do 30 minutes of strength training or a B3 online class before getting started with work or stuck into the rest of the day.
B3 MAGAZINE: Is there anything from these past several months that you hope to continue after the world goes back to “normal?”
FRANNY: Patience. This year has given me an appreciation for a slower pace and helped me to let go of some attachments and expectations. I remind myself to trust life’s timing. Sometimes we have to just let things run their course. Life will ebb and flow, have its peaks and troughs. What matters is that we keep on going.
B3 MAGAZINE: Aside from an incredible sweat session, what do you hope people take away from your barre3 workouts?
FRANNY: Exercise made me realize that I am stronger, more resilient, and more capable than I probably ever would have given myself credit for. Really, when we work out, we are opting into overcoming some kind of challenge—whether it be using heavier weights, learning a new move, or making it through six minutes of Step Taps or the entire 60-minute class. The more we practice overcoming the challenges we willingly choose, the better prepared we are for overcoming challenges in general. I hope that by the time we have finished working out together you feel connected to your center (physically and mentally) and more confident in any and every aspect of life.
Thank you Franny! Connect with Franny online with a 15-day free trial of barre3 online or find your local studio to get started with barre3 today!
With so many of us bringing our barre3 practice home over the past year, the online instructors have become familiar faces—friends we invite into our living rooms to help us move, breathe, and destress. In our Instructor Spotlight Series, you’ll get to know the instructors beyond their energy-boosting choreography and motivating mantras.
Today, we bring you our chat with Franny, whose optimistic energy lifts us up every time we press play on one of her workouts. Read on to learn about her first barre3 class, how her movement practice helped her discover her purpose, and the mantra that’s helped her through the tough moments of the past year.
B3 MAGAZINE: We were thrilled to see that we can now filter for your workouts on barre3 online! Can you tell us a little bit about how you discovered barre3 and why you decided to become an instructor?
FRANNY: My husband and I and our two doggos had just moved to Portland and having finished two bodybuilding shows just a few months prior (a story for another time! haha) and I was seeking variety and community. Being in a new city (and a new country!), I was excited to explore the local fitness studios and offerings… Barre was at the top of my list.
I remember my first class so clearly. Afterwards, I snuck over to the instructor station so I could peek at Holly’s (Livengood) Spotify account and went straight back to our apartment, stalked her and began researching what it would take to become a barre3 Instructor.
What I loved about B3 was the combination of flow and functional movement driven by the beat. I wanted to instruct because the messages of body wisdom and awareness rang true to my yoga heart, the sequencing felt really good in my body, and the class was so much fun.
Stumbling into the studio that day, I had no idea I was on the cusp of such a wonderful journey. It was a sweet relief to be so far from home, yet still feel at home.
B3 MAGAZINE: In addition to your online workouts, you also teach classes in the studio. Does your teaching style vary between the two?
FRANNY: In-studio and teaching livestream, you might hear me crack a few more floppy jokes ad lib, but I would say that my teaching style is very much the same across all our platforms. I put a lot of thought into my sequencing and messaging, looking to hold space for you to really connect with your body, breath and internal dialogue (the voice in your head).
Being in class and being unified in movement has had a profound impact on my life and my relationship with myself. I’ve been exceedingly fortunate to have had great teachers inspire my journey, and as an instructor it is my intention to provide that resource and inspiration for others.
B3 MAGAZINE: You seem to have an endless supply of positive energy. Does this come to you naturally, or is it something you’ve built over the years?
FRANNY: I believe that energy is contagious and that what you project ultimately comes back to you. I’m not sure if I would necessarily describe my energy as endlessly positive, but I feel like the most authentic version of myself when I teach. I like to keep things upbeat while wearing my heart on my sleeve and sharing what motivates and inspires me.
B3 MAGAZINE: Your workouts always get rave reviews from the barre3 community. What is your philosophy behind teaching, and behind exercise in general?
FRANNY: “To educate is to elevate” is something I remind myself of often. I consider every workout I do and every class I teach as an opportunity to learn something new, whether it be about where I am in my body and mind, experimenting with different movement expressions, technique, or alignment cues, noticing how something (like language, tone, or a new posture) might resonate with me or my clients.
It was through my movement practice that I realized my passion and purpose. I hope my teaching helps you feel more connected to your body and potentially sparks a similar inspiration inside you.
B3 MAGAZINE: At barre3, we encourage people to listen to what their body needs and adjust their workout accordingly. Do you have any tips for how someone can work right to their edge without pushing themselves beyond what their body can handle?
FRANNY: Our bodies and our minds can often want and need different things, whether it’s digging deeper or peeling back. Fear comes into play. Fear of failing, fear of injury…. This is the practice of meeting yourself where you are. I believe this starts as an honest dialogue with your body. It is a practice because it requires consistent effort, checking in every workout, every day, and honoring what your body has to say.
B3 MAGAZINE: You’re based in Portland, but you grew up in Australia. Do you have any strategies for getting through the gray and rainy Portland winters?
FRANNY: Having lived in a sunburnt country for the first 27 years of my life, adjusting to the cold and wet PNW climate was a conscious decision. I used to see the rain as a total inconvenience—having to layer up, carry an umbrella, wear waterproof shoes—when really, it’s a blessing. I realized that the weather is entirely out of my control, but my response to it is 100% up to me. Being in this amazing climate, I marvel at the wonder of Mother Nature and appreciate that weather, whatever it is, is part of a cycle, with each season different and fleeting.
B3 MAGAZINE: It’s been quite a year. First of all, how have you been doing?
FRANNY: Quite a year!! I have been doing well—holding on with my hopes high and my chin up!
2020 was a teacher. I have been reminded again and again to practice compassion, to not take anything for granted, and to truly appreciate what’s right in front of me. I am so fortunate to have my health, my husband, my family, barre3, and to be part of the community.
We couldn’t have predicted or imagined prior what 2020 threw at us. I believe that what we struggle with provides us with an opportunity to grow stronger. A mantra I like to use is “what challenges us, changes us.” The things that test us, teach us and ask us to pay closer attention to who we are at our core, individually and collectively.
B3 MAGAZINE: What are some of the things that have helped you get through the challenging parts of last year?
FRANNY: I find comfort in routine. This year was a chance to fine-tune my morning ritual and create a practice that was nourishing and grounding. This helped me feel a sense of stability amongst the uncertainty or “calm in the chaos,” as we say at B3.
As I no longer have early-morning classes on my schedule, I meditate and journal as soon as I wake up. Before I check notifications or look at screens, I read, giving myself as long as it takes me to drink a mug of green tea. I rinse my face and scrape my tongue (game changer!) before taking the dog out for a walk, and then most days will do 30 minutes of strength training or a B3 online class before getting started with work or stuck into the rest of the day.
B3 MAGAZINE: Is there anything from these past several months that you hope to continue after the world goes back to “normal?”
FRANNY: Patience. This year has given me an appreciation for a slower pace and helped me to let go of some attachments and expectations. I remind myself to trust life’s timing. Sometimes we have to just let things run their course. Life will ebb and flow, have its peaks and troughs. What matters is that we keep on going.
B3 MAGAZINE: Aside from an incredible sweat session, what do you hope people take away from your barre3 workouts?
FRANNY: Exercise made me realize that I am stronger, more resilient, and more capable than I probably ever would have given myself credit for. Really, when we work out, we are opting into overcoming some kind of challenge—whether it be using heavier weights, learning a new move, or making it through six minutes of Step Taps or the entire 60-minute class. The more we practice overcoming the challenges we willingly choose, the better prepared we are for overcoming challenges in general. I hope that by the time we have finished working out together you feel connected to your center (physically and mentally) and more confident in any and every aspect of life.
Thank you Franny! Connect with Franny online with a 15-day free trial of barre3 online or find your local studio to get started with barre3 today!
