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At 76, She Took 195 Classes in 3 Months—Here’s What Kept Mary Lawrence Coming Back
It started with a goal—but it didn’t stay there.
When Mary Lawrence signed up for this year’s All In Challenge—a commitment to showing up for class at least three times a week—she wasn’t trying to prove anything. She was curious. Curious what might happen if she kept coming back, even on the days that didn’t feel perfect.
Each week, Mary set a goal she knew she could reach, and sometimes exceed. Around the same time, she was working toward another milestone: 2,000 classes before her three-year anniversary at barre3 Fort Mill in South Carolina. She reached it early, then kept going.
By the end of the challenge, she had taken 195 classes in three months.
“Crossing the finish line felt incredible,” she said. “I was proud, and yes, a little tired. I wasn’t always someone who set goals, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how motivating it can be to keep challenging myself.”
It’s an impressive number, but it doesn’t fully explain what happened over those three months. What changed wasn’t just how often Mary showed up—it was how natural it began to feel.
Finding a Workout That Worked for Her
Mary didn’t grow up thinking of herself as athletic. Movement wasn’t something that came easily, and group classes often felt overwhelming.
“I was not the athletic type. I was clumsy, uncoordinated, and the kid who once celebrated making a basket… only to realize it was for the wrong team.”
When she first tried barre3 in 2023, she was looking for something that felt safe for her body. With a plate and screw in her hip and a history of injuries, that was her priority.
Mary tried a few different studios, but barre3 stood out. Not just because of the class formats, but because of what the room felt like. People moved at their own pace. Modifications weren’t hidden—they were part of the class. There was no pressure to keep up.
“It felt like a family,” she says. It was the first time effort and adjustment could exist in the same class.
What Kept Her Coming Back
Ask Mary what keeps her coming back to barre3, and she doesn’t talk about discipline. She talks about the moment she walks through the door.
“Even on days when I’m tired or thinking about skipping,” she says, “I know that once I get there, the energy of the people around me will wake me right up.
“I love meeting new members and helping them feel comfortable—just like others did for me. When I miss a class, I genuinely miss the people. Being part of this community keeps me motivated to stay healthy and strong, not just for myself but for my husband, family, and friends.”
The decision to go to the studio no longer feels like something she has to push herself into. It feels more like following through on something she knows will leave her feeling better.
The Benefits of Her barre3 Practice
The changes didn’t happen all at once. They built slowly, in ways that were easy to miss at first.
“Physically, I’m stronger,” Mary notes. “My bone density has improved, and my posture, flexibility, and balance are so much better. I feel the difference in everyday life—moving around, working, even just standing.”
There’s a mental shift, too. In her work in software support, she often has to think through problems without having the system in front of her. Clarity matters.
“I feel the difference in everyday life,” she says.
How barre3 Supports Her Schedule
Mary’s life is full. She and her husband—who she calls her biggest supporter—have been married for 30 years. They make time for weekly dates, trying new restaurants and going to local plays.
She’s semi-retired, but still works in software support and testing. She even spends weekends cleaning landscaping offices. Between all of that, she finds her way to class.
Mary’s Advice for Getting Started
Mary is quick to shift the focus away from herself. When people tell her she’s inspiring, she points to the others in the room—the parents, the people working full-time, the ones finding small windows of time and using them. “They’re the real superheroes,” she says.
If she has advice, it’s simple: start with something you can keep doing. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else in the room. Let it take time.
“The hardest part is just showing up,” Mary says. “Be proud of yourself for doing that.”
And then, almost as an aside: “If I can do this at 76, anyone can start—and you’ll be amazed at how good it feels when you reach your goals.”
Join Mary at barre3 Fort Mill or try your first class free at your local studio.
It started with a goal—but it didn’t stay there.
When Mary Lawrence signed up for this year’s All In Challenge—a commitment to showing up for class at least three times a week—she wasn’t trying to prove anything. She was curious. Curious what might happen if she kept coming back, even on the days that didn’t feel perfect.
Each week, Mary set a goal she knew she could reach, and sometimes exceed. Around the same time, she was working toward another milestone: 2,000 classes before her three-year anniversary at barre3 Fort Mill in South Carolina. She reached it early, then kept going.
By the end of the challenge, she had taken 195 classes in three months.
“Crossing the finish line felt incredible,” she said. “I was proud, and yes, a little tired. I wasn’t always someone who set goals, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how motivating it can be to keep challenging myself.”
It’s an impressive number, but it doesn’t fully explain what happened over those three months. What changed wasn’t just how often Mary showed up—it was how natural it began to feel.
Finding a Workout That Worked for Her
Mary didn’t grow up thinking of herself as athletic. Movement wasn’t something that came easily, and group classes often felt overwhelming.
“I was not the athletic type. I was clumsy, uncoordinated, and the kid who once celebrated making a basket… only to realize it was for the wrong team.”
When she first tried barre3 in 2023, she was looking for something that felt safe for her body. With a plate and screw in her hip and a history of injuries, that was her priority.
Mary tried a few different studios, but barre3 stood out. Not just because of the class formats, but because of what the room felt like. People moved at their own pace. Modifications weren’t hidden—they were part of the class. There was no pressure to keep up.
“It felt like a family,” she says. It was the first time effort and adjustment could exist in the same class.
What Kept Her Coming Back
Ask Mary what keeps her coming back to barre3, and she doesn’t talk about discipline. She talks about the moment she walks through the door.
“Even on days when I’m tired or thinking about skipping,” she says, “I know that once I get there, the energy of the people around me will wake me right up.
“I love meeting new members and helping them feel comfortable—just like others did for me. When I miss a class, I genuinely miss the people. Being part of this community keeps me motivated to stay healthy and strong, not just for myself but for my husband, family, and friends.”
The decision to go to the studio no longer feels like something she has to push herself into. It feels more like following through on something she knows will leave her feeling better.
The Benefits of Her barre3 Practice
The changes didn’t happen all at once. They built slowly, in ways that were easy to miss at first.
“Physically, I’m stronger,” Mary notes. “My bone density has improved, and my posture, flexibility, and balance are so much better. I feel the difference in everyday life—moving around, working, even just standing.”
There’s a mental shift, too. In her work in software support, she often has to think through problems without having the system in front of her. Clarity matters.
“I feel the difference in everyday life,” she says.
How barre3 Supports Her Schedule
Mary’s life is full. She and her husband—who she calls her biggest supporter—have been married for 30 years. They make time for weekly dates, trying new restaurants and going to local plays.
She’s semi-retired, but still works in software support and testing. She even spends weekends cleaning landscaping offices. Between all of that, she finds her way to class.
Mary’s Advice for Getting Started
Mary is quick to shift the focus away from herself. When people tell her she’s inspiring, she points to the others in the room—the parents, the people working full-time, the ones finding small windows of time and using them. “They’re the real superheroes,” she says.
If she has advice, it’s simple: start with something you can keep doing. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else in the room. Let it take time.
“The hardest part is just showing up,” Mary says. “Be proud of yourself for doing that.”
And then, almost as an aside: “If I can do this at 76, anyone can start—and you’ll be amazed at how good it feels when you reach your goals.”
Join Mary at barre3 Fort Mill or try your first class free at your local studio.
