Connect
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month 2022
Latinx Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx communities. Running September 15 through October 15, the month highlights how these important communities have influenced and contributed to society today.
Check out the amazing stories the barre3 community has been sharing with us:
ALINA ECHEVERRIA
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: When did you become a barre3 member?
ALINA: February 2022
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your cultural background?
ALINA: Mexican
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being Latinx?
ALINA: I am especially proud of the magic, richness, and vibrancy of Mexican Folk Art.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being a part of the barre3 community?
ALINA: Barre3 to me is all about moving your body with love, paying attention to how you feel, and trusting your intuition. It has totally changed my relationship with exercise, taking it from “no pain no gain” and counting burned calories, to a practice of self care and discovery by testing my own limits.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Do you have a favorite barre3 memory?
ALINA: I had the privilege of attending Hilary’s last class at the Issaquah studio, and she said something that resonated with me. She reminded us that our heaviest and darkest feelings can be transformed with our body’s movement and encouraged us to see our workouts as a practice, which I think is a really beautiful message.
Watch a day in the life with Alina here.
CARMEN VIVIANA RODI
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: How long have you been a barre3 member?
CARMEN: I went to my first barre3 class seven years ago. I’ve been going to barre3 classes ever since. I worked as front desk staff in the Boston South End studio for about a year as well.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your cultural background?
CARMEN: Chilean
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being Latinx?
CARMEN: My favorite part of being Latinx is that our community is so large and diverse. Every dialect of Spanish is different depending on the country, and each country has its own slang words. The culture and food varies depending on country, but we have many shared values. Many of us are not only Latinx but also Indigenous and recognize the importance of our Indigenous ancestors in the Latinx community. They taught respect for the earth and traditional ways toward healing. I am also especially grateful to the younger Latinx generation who is paving the way toward mental health awareness as well as inclusivity for people of every gender.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being a part of the barre3 community?
CARMEN: I like being part of a community that promotes health not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well. Barre3 is intentional about the words they use on their platforms. I love that every barre3 class includes mindfulness, which I’ve heard instructors talk about as the most important part of class, and I couldn’t agree more. I also really appreciate the emphasis on listening to our bodies.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Do you have a favorite barre3 memory?
CARMEN: My favorite barre3 memory is my first class—it was incredibly refreshing to hear words of encouragement and support that were not based around what our bodies should look like.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Anything else you’d like to share?
CARMEN: As someone who has recently come to terms with her mental health in the most honest way, I have found movement and classes like barre3 to be huge for me. I have anxiety, and while there is still a great deal of stigma with mental health, I know that communities like barre3 recognize that stigma and empower us to not feel shame. Moving my body helps support me in my mental health journey. I am also a huge advocate for mental health in Latinx and BIPOC communities because too often our communities are the ones that do not have access to mental health resources but need it the most. Additionally, we are often in predominantly white fitness and wellness spaces where we may not feel like we belong. I hope that by sharing my story, other black and brown women know that they are not alone.
Watch a day in the life with Carmen here.
CORRINA LASKIN
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: How long have you been a barre3 member and instructor?
CORINNA: I took my first class in 2014 and became a certified instructor in 2020.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your cultural background?
CORINNA: I’m Puerto Rican!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being Latinx?
CORINNA: The culture is so rich and diverse! What you experience with Puerto Ricans is going to be vastly different from Mexicans. I love how as a culture, we love to share, too! Incredible food, music made for dancing…we want everybody to get to experience it and feel welcomed!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being a part of the barre3 community?
CORINNA: Is it cheesy to say the community as a whole? We celebrate each other. We lift each other up. We support each other. And while it’s great being a part of those things, it’s just as incredible to watch it happen as an instructor! Seeing friendships being built, seeing strangers cheer each other on… There is no place as full of love as a barre3 studio!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Do you have a favorite barre3 memory?
CORINNA: There are many to choose from! I remember being in a class doing bridge lifts with 5-pound weights… and the instructor left some 8-pound weights by my mat halfway through. She gave me a wink and said I was ready. Not only was it a challenge, but it was a confidence boost! One that she didn’t know I needed at the time. I left that class feeling strong and full of potential. It’s something I think back on a lot now as an instructor. How can I get somebody to a point where they believe in themselves? How can I make sure everybody leaves the studio feeling confident? That moment was pure magic to me, and I just want to make sure anybody who takes a class from me feels like they are powerful enough. Strong enough. Confident enough. Ellos son suficientes—they are enough.
Watch a day in the life with Corinna here.
Follow along for more Latinx Heritage Month stories on our Instagram.
Latinx Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx communities. Running September 15 through October 15, the month highlights how these important communities have influenced and contributed to society today.
Check out the amazing stories the barre3 community has been sharing with us:
ALINA ECHEVERRIA
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: When did you become a barre3 member?
ALINA: February 2022
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your cultural background?
ALINA: Mexican
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being Latinx?
ALINA: I am especially proud of the magic, richness, and vibrancy of Mexican Folk Art.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being a part of the barre3 community?
ALINA: Barre3 to me is all about moving your body with love, paying attention to how you feel, and trusting your intuition. It has totally changed my relationship with exercise, taking it from “no pain no gain” and counting burned calories, to a practice of self care and discovery by testing my own limits.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Do you have a favorite barre3 memory?
ALINA: I had the privilege of attending Hilary’s last class at the Issaquah studio, and she said something that resonated with me. She reminded us that our heaviest and darkest feelings can be transformed with our body’s movement and encouraged us to see our workouts as a practice, which I think is a really beautiful message.
Watch a day in the life with Alina here.
CARMEN VIVIANA RODI
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: How long have you been a barre3 member?
CARMEN: I went to my first barre3 class seven years ago. I’ve been going to barre3 classes ever since. I worked as front desk staff in the Boston South End studio for about a year as well.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your cultural background?
CARMEN: Chilean
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being Latinx?
CARMEN: My favorite part of being Latinx is that our community is so large and diverse. Every dialect of Spanish is different depending on the country, and each country has its own slang words. The culture and food varies depending on country, but we have many shared values. Many of us are not only Latinx but also Indigenous and recognize the importance of our Indigenous ancestors in the Latinx community. They taught respect for the earth and traditional ways toward healing. I am also especially grateful to the younger Latinx generation who is paving the way toward mental health awareness as well as inclusivity for people of every gender.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being a part of the barre3 community?
CARMEN: I like being part of a community that promotes health not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well. Barre3 is intentional about the words they use on their platforms. I love that every barre3 class includes mindfulness, which I’ve heard instructors talk about as the most important part of class, and I couldn’t agree more. I also really appreciate the emphasis on listening to our bodies.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Do you have a favorite barre3 memory?
CARMEN: My favorite barre3 memory is my first class—it was incredibly refreshing to hear words of encouragement and support that were not based around what our bodies should look like.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Anything else you’d like to share?
CARMEN: As someone who has recently come to terms with her mental health in the most honest way, I have found movement and classes like barre3 to be huge for me. I have anxiety, and while there is still a great deal of stigma with mental health, I know that communities like barre3 recognize that stigma and empower us to not feel shame. Moving my body helps support me in my mental health journey. I am also a huge advocate for mental health in Latinx and BIPOC communities because too often our communities are the ones that do not have access to mental health resources but need it the most. Additionally, we are often in predominantly white fitness and wellness spaces where we may not feel like we belong. I hope that by sharing my story, other black and brown women know that they are not alone.
Watch a day in the life with Carmen here.
CORRINA LASKIN
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: How long have you been a barre3 member and instructor?
CORINNA: I took my first class in 2014 and became a certified instructor in 2020.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your cultural background?
CORINNA: I’m Puerto Rican!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being Latinx?
CORINNA: The culture is so rich and diverse! What you experience with Puerto Ricans is going to be vastly different from Mexicans. I love how as a culture, we love to share, too! Incredible food, music made for dancing…we want everybody to get to experience it and feel welcomed!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: What is your favorite part about being a part of the barre3 community?
CORINNA: Is it cheesy to say the community as a whole? We celebrate each other. We lift each other up. We support each other. And while it’s great being a part of those things, it’s just as incredible to watch it happen as an instructor! Seeing friendships being built, seeing strangers cheer each other on… There is no place as full of love as a barre3 studio!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Do you have a favorite barre3 memory?
CORINNA: There are many to choose from! I remember being in a class doing bridge lifts with 5-pound weights… and the instructor left some 8-pound weights by my mat halfway through. She gave me a wink and said I was ready. Not only was it a challenge, but it was a confidence boost! One that she didn’t know I needed at the time. I left that class feeling strong and full of potential. It’s something I think back on a lot now as an instructor. How can I get somebody to a point where they believe in themselves? How can I make sure everybody leaves the studio feeling confident? That moment was pure magic to me, and I just want to make sure anybody who takes a class from me feels like they are powerful enough. Strong enough. Confident enough. Ellos son suficientes—they are enough.
Watch a day in the life with Corinna here.
Follow along for more Latinx Heritage Month stories on our Instagram.
