One of my greatest pieces of advice that I give to those new to taking Barre Where You Are’s barre classes may come as a bit of a surprise to you. It’s not to make sure you have all the proper equipment or the sassiest of sassy pants (although those are both very important 😉), it’s to do the same playlist/workout multiple times a week. You may be thinking, “wait aren’t I am going to get bored?” “Out of the 100+ different workouts in the on-demand library, why would I do the same one 3-4 times during the week?” I can promise you that you won’t tire of it and the benefits of repeating workouts will convince you to keep pressing play. Let’s dive in!

Read More

Have you ever attended any sort of retreat before? Retreats are actually my go-to vacation choice! It’s all my favorite things wrapped into one amazing trip: my passion, relaxation, good food and good times! Which is exactly why earlier this year (2021), I decided to start planning Barre Where You Are’s very first Barre Retreat! I wanted to bring this community of Barre Babes together in a beautiful destination and submerse ourselves in not only what brings us all together (barre, duh!), but also provide an unforgettable vacation with every single detail carefully thought out! Maybe you are reading this and have never attended a retreat before and wondering if this sort of trip is right for you? Read on girl, and let me tell ya all the reasons why you should totally attend a Barre Retreat!

Read More

Are you new to the barre scene? Wondering how to approach or where to start? Are you intimidated by the “barre burn” or maybe coming back from an injury and want to slowly ease your way back to the barre? You are not alone! The majority of new clients and subscribers I get are first-timers and have no idea what they are doing! But surprisingly enough, the least frequently asked question I get is “what do I do?” Which I think is the reason why many become easily frustrated or discouraged and don’t continue. So let’s start from the beginning, taking it one step at a time, with how to begin at the barre!

Read More

Balance - a word that most of us struggle to obtain in all the ways: physically, mentally and emotionally. But when it comes to the physical sense of balance, it is much easier to achieve, especially if you are a regular at your local barre (class 😉)! Balance is important for everyday activities and by improving upon it can help challenge our brains, prevent falls as we age and be a sign of a strong and stable body. Barre workouts can help you improve your balance through single leg exercises, work on a stronger core, increase flexibility and improve posture. Let’s dive deeper!

Read More

As fitness instructors, we often find ourselves at one point or another in our career, burned out. Whether you have been teaching for one year, or ten years, it can happen to any of us! But if you want to continue doing what you love, it’s important to know how to spot the burnout and how to prevent it in order to have a long and fulfilling fitness journey. The longevity of an instructor’s career is based upon listening to your body, changing things up and accountability.

Read More

We’ve all been there before: we are hot and heavy into our newest fitness routine, going to the gym or pushing play on your on-demand workouts seven days a week and living our best life. And then, BAM! You hit a wall and find yourself dreading working out. It becomes a chore. That my friend, is fitness burnout. But good news! There are three easy steps you can start taking today to completely avoid it and keep fitness something that is not only enjoyable, but something you want to do instead of something you have to do.

Read More

The Pilates Ball has been a staple piece of equipment in the Barre world since day one and continues to be used daily due to it’s effectiveness. What makes this barre prop so special you ask? Because it’s a 2-for-1! I use the ball the most out of all the other pieces of equipment, and for good reason! This small ball can not only be used for modifications by providing lower back support and options for pre/postnatal clients, but it can also add in an extra dose of barre burn by creating instability and resistance. Let’s dive into the top three ways you can use the Pilates Ball!

Read More

Have you ever been super excited to start an on-demand fitness program but then quit within a month or so because you were completely overwhelmed? Were you frustrated with the tech side of it? Did you miss that in-person connection? I totally get it - starting a new program can feel daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone! I wanted to help all new subscribers to our virtual studio get off on the right foot and personally introduce myself, which is why I decided to offer a free 15 minute 1-on-1 where we meet via ZOOM to not only go over all the things, but also to get to know one another! Are you considering becoming an Online Barre Babe and curious why you should take advantage of our 1-on-1? Well let’s break it down!

Read More

Music is the backbone of our culture, with large amounts of research highlighting the importance and benefits of music within group fitness classes. When polled, more than 75% of group fitness members said they prefer taking a class that is taught to music. By using music in your classes, it helps to enhance your clients’ exercise performance, increase stamina, motivate participants, improve mood and can even help give inspiration to the instructor and stay on task. But how can a simple song or melody pack so much punch? Well Barre Boss, let’s break it down!

Read More

Is the thought of having to purchase loads of exercise equipment holding you back from doing a barre workout from home? What if I told you you already have everything you need to Barre Where You Are?! With just a little bit of creativity and a quick search around the house, you can start right where you are for zero dollars invested in exercise equipment, which also means you have zero excuses to not get your sweat on!

Read More

Did you know at-home workouts are the fastest growing trend in the fitness world? On-Demand subscriptions are quickly becoming the new gym membership. Predictions are that there will continue to be an increase in online and at-home workouts in the next few years. And while probably the most obvious reason is due to the still looming pandemic and health and safety concerns, the benefits go much further! Consumers have found just how convenient (and productive!) it really is to be able to get their workout in whenever and wherever they want! Are you considering jumping on the On-Demand Train but not sure if it’s the right fit for you? I’ve broken down the top three reasons why fitness lovers are loving this new shift!

Read More

The New Year is fast approaching, which means new goals are being made! I know there are many different options out there when it comes to on-demand workouts, in-person classes and instructor trainings and it can all become one big blur. Perhaps even for some of you, you may be trying to figure out which route is best for you: online versus in-person? What type of training you should consider when becoming an instructor? So instead of me telling you why you should choose all that I have to offer, I thought it best my clients tell you why they love BWYA!

Read More

Over the past five years that I have been teaching in-person group fitness classes, specifically barre, I have had overall the most respectful and considerate members take my class. There have really only been two things that irk me, and quite honestly surprise me, that some of my clients have done. Now that online classes have become more and more popular, I have found that those two pet peeves of mine have also manifested over to the virtual world. But I don’t blame my class participants, I honestly believe the majority of the culprits are completely unaware of what they are doing! Which is why I wanted to address here in the blog proper group fitness etiquette both in-person and virtually!

Read More

As a fitness professional, I often get asked what diet I am on. People want to know how many calories I consume in a day or how much protein I eat. The look on their faces when I tell them “I don’t do diets” is one of equal parts relief and annoyance. Relief because they don’t have to worry about me putting them on a restrictive food plan, and annoyance because they didn’t get the “quick fix” they were looking for. I in fact encourage them to not diet as well. But this hasn’t always been my train of thought. I struggled for years with an unhealthy relationship with food and dieting. There are three main things I have learned through my journey that I always explain to my clients as to why diets are a big NO-NO, and I wanted to share them here with you as well.

Read More

I love working my core and find it the most important area to focus on while exercising, hence why the BWYA method has such a strong emphasis on core work through our format, exercises, etc. And as much as the idea of a six pack is enticing, the benefits of strong abdominals are even more motivating. Having a strong core helps prevent lower back pain, improves posture and helps with overall better health. A quick breakdown of the abdominal muscles are as follows: the transverse (deepest muscle layer and helps stabilize the trunk), rectus (most commonly referred to as the “six pack” and helps move the body between the ribcage and the pelvis) and the obliques (sides of the body and helps with twisting movement). When executing any abdominal movement, it is important to make sure you have proper form, most commonly cueing belly button into spine, to help prevent injuries. Now that we are on the same page as to what exactly our core is and it’s function, let’s get to my top three favorite exercises to strengthen it!

Read More

Barre was first created more than fifty years ago using primarily a mat, ballet barre, light hand weights and a small Pilates Ball. While the basics of the original method and format are still our main foundation today, we have seen Barre evolve over the past few years by finding even more creative ways to use what we already have and by adding new pieces of equipment into our routines. To add a little extra pizzazz in my classes and routines, I like to incorporate my three favorite Barre props - the OG small Pilates Ball, resistance bands and gliding discs!

Read More

Most of the time, we as adults, do what we are told by professionals because we know it is in our best interest. We are told by our dentists to brush our teeth at least twice a day, and we do it. Our primary care doctor tells us we should wash our hands frequently, and we do it. But we have also all been told by fitness professionals, physical therapists and our chiropractors how important it is that we stretch, but do we do it? While working in the fitness industry for more than five years, I have come to the conclusion that “stretching” has become an afterthought. But after recovering from quite a few injuries during my professional dance career, I know for a fact that stretching should always be on the forefront of our minds. So much so, that when I had the opportunity to create my own barre format, I designated 3 different times for my clients to stretch during any given class. In this month’s blog, I not only dive deeper into why stretching is so important, but also when and how you should incorporate it into your daily workouts.

Read More