May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and we’re so excited to be celebrating it all month long. Throughout May, watch The Barre3 Magazine and barre3 Instagram for stories highlighting members of our global barre3 community who identify as AAPI.
Today, we’re featuring Arya Naidu, an instructor at barre3 Scottsdale. Read on to learn about how her barre3 journey began as a way to connect with her mom, what it was like to grow up Indian in Missouri, and the cultural ritual that grounds her every morning.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Let’s start with how you first got connected with barre3. When did you take your first class, and what did you think about it?
ARYA: I took a couple of classes here and there in high school, but started regularly going in 2016. I couldn’t get enough! My mom has been a client at barre3 Des Peres since it opened, and going with her gave us a chance to spend more time together, too. Getting to move alongside her has been so special for both of us.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I love that! You worked at the Front Desk and in the Play Lounge at barre3 Des Peres. Can you tell us about that experience?
ARYA: Barre3 Des Peres will always be my first home! Working Front Desk and Play Lounge blew open my world. I went to college up in Michigan and came home every summer to be back in the studio; the clients and staff there have taught me so much—about myself, about strength, about what it means to enjoy movement. They’ve seen me through health crises, graduations, career changes, and bad haircuts. I loved working there so much. Whenever I’m back in St. Louis, you can find me in the studio.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: You’re now an instructor at barre3 Scottsdale. How did you decide to become an instructor and what the process was like?
ARYA: Gosh, it was crazy! Honestly, I wanted to become an instructor as soon as I started taking classes. I loved the music, the joy, the grace, the energy—all of it. But the timing was never quite right. After I got my Bachelor’s, I was finally in St. Louis for a while, and I was able to be at barre3 more consistently after bouncing back and forth from Ann Arbor for years. I had about a year at home before moving out to Arizona in July of 2021 for grad school, so I ended up auditioning to be an instructor in St. Louis and then training over Zoom and in Arizona! Ashley, my mentor up in Scottsdale, was such a trooper with me. She got to know me and hired me and became a good friend before ever meeting me in person. She made the transition to being an instructor so seamless despite my making a cross-country move during it.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I’d love to learn more about your experiences as a member of the AAPI community, both growing up, and now, as an adult. Can you tell us a little about your ethnic background?
ARYA: My whole family is from southern India. I was born in the States, but I grew up surrounded by my culture. My mom didn’t immigrate until she was married, and she has always made sure that I know where my family is from. She made sure that I know how rich and wonderful and complex our culture is, and she’ll take me back to India whenever the timing allows. I’ve definitely learned more about myself, and what my background means to me, as I’ve gotten older, and I know I still have a long way to go. I feel more in touch with my heritage now, though, than I ever have.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I love that your mom helped you feel connected to the culture even if you weren’t born there. You mentioned spending summers in St. Louis—is that where you grew up? If so, I’d love to learn a bit about what it was like growing up as a member of the AAPI community in a midwestern city.
ARYA: I did grow up in St. Louis! My grandparents actually founded the Hindu Temple here, so I was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time there. They’ve built something remarkable here. It’s something I’m so proud to witness and be a part of. It’s also spoiled me in many ways; they know everyone, I swear. At every Indian restaurant, grocery store, dress shop, or anything—they’ve got friends. They’re such pillars of the Hindu community, and having them by my side has also meant that I’ve had their friend-family by my side, too.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What a gift to have such a strong community! Were there any aspects of growing up where you didn’t feel as understood or supported?
ARYA: Outside of school, I had the temple and my family, and I always felt at home in my culture. I did go to a smaller high school, though, and for almost my entire time there, I was the only Indian. It was hard, sometimes! Being a woman of color in Missouri can be complicated, especially when your experience feels like such a pendulum swing between each social sphere. I knew my culture and understood it in high school, but I don’t think I really fell in love with it until I got to college. Not having my grandparents’ community around me forced me to find my culture on my own, and I was able to look back at my experience in St. Louis with more perspective.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: It’s incredible how sometimes it takes going away to understand something on your own terms. I’m curious, if you had to choose a favorite tradition from your culture, what would it be?
ARYA: I really love the smaller rituals: those quiet moments that feel like they’re just for me. Every morning, I’ll say a quick prayer before heading out the door, and it always makes me feel more grounded. Even if it’s just for a couple minutes, taking that moment to center myself and clear my head makes all the difference.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I love that. Same question, but this time with food.
ARYA: Oh, this is so hard! My Nani is the best cook. Ever. Her fish curry is my favorite. She’ll marinate the tilapia in spices and fry it up with onions, and it’s so good.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What’s something about your culture that you sometimes feel others get wrong or don’t understand?
ARYA: This is tough, too. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that perspective is key. Seeing people pick and choose parts of Indian culture to appreciate can be hard, sometimes. Especially during the pandemic; India was really suffering. For every tikka masala takeout and hot yoga class in the States, there were hospitals at capacity, bodies being left in the streets. They’re still recovering—I think we all are. So totality, I think, is something I wish there were more of. Understanding India for all its parts, not just those that have been Westernized, is something I hope is in the years to come.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: That is such an important point—thank you. I’d love to hear about experiences within the barre3 community. Diversity and inclusion are paramount to our ethos as a company, and I’m wondering if you’ve felt that in your roles working Front Desk, Play Lounge, and now as an instructor?
I love this company. Inclusivity within the fitness community is so important to me, and being able to be myself, and all that being myself means, within the studio space has been such a blessing.
Thank you so much, Arya!
