Move
THIS HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH HAS BEEN DOING BARRE3 FROM THE BEGINNING—AND SHE’S SHARING WHAT SHE LOVES MOST ABOUT HER BARRE3 PRACTICE
When I find something I love, I can’t help myself—I have to spread the word. Case in point, above is a picture of our family’s Christmas Eve workout tradition. We all come together to sweat, laugh, and be together before the holiday festivities, and this year we were at barre3.
Below, I’m sharing my personal experience with barre3: Why I stepped in the studio for the first time, why I keep coming back, and the benefits of my barre3 practice.
MODIFICATIONS
Barre3 emphasizes the strength, not weakness, found in modifications. In class, I often hear instructors say, “You weren’t made to look like your neighbor,” and it’s so true.
Adapting a posture, whether it’s to make it more challenging or less, is a sign of strength that you’re present and listening to your body.
I love that modifications are embraced in every class, and that they make the workout accessible to everyone.
INTUITION
I’ll confess: Before going to barre3, I didn’t know how to listen to my intuition. But through my years of practice, I’ve learned the power of being present and listening to my instinct. In class, the instructor is there to guide you, but ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what works and feels best for you.
I really appreciate the reminder throughout class to be present for this time you’ve given yourself. This is different from other fitness messaging, where you’re told to push yourself to exertion. In a competitive environment, I’ll push myself beyond what feels right for my body. At barre3, the encouragement to listen to your body is exactly what this recovering perfectionist needs.
COMMUNITY
For most of my career, I’ve worked from a home office, which means that most of my daily interaction is done through the computer. I craved a sense of community, and since it didn’t exist in my work environment, I looked for it in my workout. My local barre3 Portland studios have given me just that. The teachers and fellow clients provide an ongoing source of encouragement. It’s in the studio that I get compliments on my new haircut, or chat about what’s happening this week. It’s a social outlet that I’m thankful to be a part of (and that my daughters join me for on the weekends!), and I hope that I empower and lift up my barre3 friends as much as they do for me.
EFFICIENCY
I’m an efficient person by nature, and I love that I’ve found a workout that shares the same quality. When I come to class, I go in knowing that my 60 minutes will be well-spent. I also love the flexibility of barre3. I can practice it outside the studio with online classes, or even build my own flow from postures I know and love. Barre3 works with my schedule, allowing me to practice where and when I can that day.
BREATHWORK
When I’ve taken yoga classes, I’ve always loved the last few minutes of class when you’re lying on the mat, eyes shut and soaking in your practice. Barre3 has adopted a similar focus by dedicating a few minutes of breathwork to the end of each class. It’s a moment to sit in stillness and gratitude before rushing off to the rest of your day.
It’s easy to overlook the value of this slower time, but I truly believe in its benefits. It can sometimes be the only moment of quiet I get all day.
By practicing breathwork in class, I’ve even learned how to breathe more fully. I’ve learned that I should be breathing from my belly, letting it fully expand and contract. We’ve been conditioned to hold our stomachs in, and though it’s taken time for me to reset this pattern and breathe more slowly from my belly, the effects have been amazing. I am calmer and I’m able to process stress better. In higher intensity workouts, I can direct my focus to steadying my breath and have more endurance simply because I’m breathing more effectively.
This article was written by Kris Rice and originally posted on her website, Deconstructing Wellness. Kris is a holistic health coach in Portland, Oregon, and her work focuses on simplifying health and wellness and providing personalized health solutions to help her clients live their best lives.
When I find something I love, I can’t help myself—I have to spread the word. Case in point, above is a picture of our family’s Christmas Eve workout tradition. We all come together to sweat, laugh, and be together before the holiday festivities, and this year we were at barre3.
Below, I’m sharing my personal experience with barre3: Why I stepped in the studio for the first time, why I keep coming back, and the benefits of my barre3 practice.
MODIFICATIONS
Barre3 emphasizes the strength, not weakness, found in modifications. In class, I often hear instructors say, “You weren’t made to look like your neighbor,” and it’s so true.
Adapting a posture, whether it’s to make it more challenging or less, is a sign of strength that you’re present and listening to your body.
I love that modifications are embraced in every class, and that they make the workout accessible to everyone.
INTUITION
I’ll confess: Before going to barre3, I didn’t know how to listen to my intuition. But through my years of practice, I’ve learned the power of being present and listening to my instinct. In class, the instructor is there to guide you, but ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what works and feels best for you.
I really appreciate the reminder throughout class to be present for this time you’ve given yourself. This is different from other fitness messaging, where you’re told to push yourself to exertion. In a competitive environment, I’ll push myself beyond what feels right for my body. At barre3, the encouragement to listen to your body is exactly what this recovering perfectionist needs.
COMMUNITY
For most of my career, I’ve worked from a home office, which means that most of my daily interaction is done through the computer. I craved a sense of community, and since it didn’t exist in my work environment, I looked for it in my workout. My local barre3 Portland studios have given me just that. The teachers and fellow clients provide an ongoing source of encouragement. It’s in the studio that I get compliments on my new haircut, or chat about what’s happening this week. It’s a social outlet that I’m thankful to be a part of (and that my daughters join me for on the weekends!), and I hope that I empower and lift up my barre3 friends as much as they do for me.
EFFICIENCY
I’m an efficient person by nature, and I love that I’ve found a workout that shares the same quality. When I come to class, I go in knowing that my 60 minutes will be well-spent. I also love the flexibility of barre3. I can practice it outside the studio with online classes, or even build my own flow from postures I know and love. Barre3 works with my schedule, allowing me to practice where and when I can that day.
BREATHWORK
When I’ve taken yoga classes, I’ve always loved the last few minutes of class when you’re lying on the mat, eyes shut and soaking in your practice. Barre3 has adopted a similar focus by dedicating a few minutes of breathwork to the end of each class. It’s a moment to sit in stillness and gratitude before rushing off to the rest of your day.
It’s easy to overlook the value of this slower time, but I truly believe in its benefits. It can sometimes be the only moment of quiet I get all day.
By practicing breathwork in class, I’ve even learned how to breathe more fully. I’ve learned that I should be breathing from my belly, letting it fully expand and contract. We’ve been conditioned to hold our stomachs in, and though it’s taken time for me to reset this pattern and breathe more slowly from my belly, the effects have been amazing. I am calmer and I’m able to process stress better. In higher intensity workouts, I can direct my focus to steadying my breath and have more endurance simply because I’m breathing more effectively.
This article was written by Kris Rice and originally posted on her website, Deconstructing Wellness. Kris is a holistic health coach in Portland, Oregon, and her work focuses on simplifying health and wellness and providing personalized health solutions to help her clients live their best lives.
