My Bar Method Story

For those of you who don't know my bar method story and my love affair with the amazing exercise and community, I am sharing a piece I wrote for the Bar Method SoHo facebook page last year!

My bar method journey began at 8:30am on the first Sunday morning in April 2011. This was not just my first Bar Method class; this was my first exercise class – ever. I was 24 years-old and had never been to a gym, never experienced a group exercise class, and had a total lack of motivation to work out. I had thought that walking to a restaurant in NYC was exercise enough.

I purchased the New Client 30-Day Unlimited Package even before trying my first class. I was going to commit to this workout for the next 30 days. And to my complete and utter surprise, as well as to the surprise of everyone around me, I have been committed to Bar Method for over 2 years now.

I met my husband Ryan at Clark University 6 years ago. I was a little over-weight, and had no confidence in myself. I was always seen smiling around campus and had a good group of friends, but I could not say that I was happy. I had let myself go after coming to college. I had not just gained the "Freshman 15" pounds from a diet high in carbohydrates and nonexistent in exercise, but I had put on an additional 15 pounds before the end of my freshman year. My appearance and weight was not what defined my happiness, but my clothes being too tight, my difficulty breathing walking up stairs, and eating fried foods was not setting myself up for a happy future. Ryan helped me get back on track and helped me discover a better version of myself. But even after salads, fruits and vegetables became a new normal to me, the gym still never became a thought in my mind. I had lost 10 pounds after meeting Ryan and felt satisfied. I moved back to New York City after completing my Master's Degree and I finally felt as confident as I appeared to be.

A warm spring afternoon in SoHo, while doing my daily exercise of shopping, eating, and shopping some more I found Bar Method. I don't know what came over me or how I convinced myself to sign up for classes, but I did - and a wave of emotions have followed me ever since. During my first morning class with Amy, I can remember chanting in my head: "What am I doing here?...Why are my legs shaking?...Why can't I touch my toes?…And what the heck is 'pretzel'?" After finishing class, I could barely walk down the single flight of stairs and questioned how I would return the next day. But I did, and not only did I return the next day, I
returned day-after-day and then the next month, and the month after that, and the year after that. I took it one class at a time - one arm lift, one water-ski, one curl, and one back dance at a time.

There is something very special about Bar Method – we all know it because we all find ourselves at the SoHo studio. I have found a family in the 6:30am class, a place that I enjoy being before the sun even rises. There is a feeling of pride when you take a Bar Method class that you cannot feel anywhere else – and where else, except in the Bar Method studio, is it acceptable to stare at yourself in a mirror for an hour?

The group dynamics of the class has helped me to stay focused and to keep coming to class each morning. If I miss one morning class, one of the girls is asking where I was or why I was skipping out.There is also a personal feel to the class, despite 25 other students shaking in as much pain as you. The teachers make you feel special, they fix your posture, they encourage your good work and they push you farther than you ever thought that you could go. In the past month, Robyn has pushed me past the limits that I set for
myself and encouraged me to do push-ups on my hands and feet. Bar Method has taught me that I am physically and mentally strong enough to get through 30 full range push-ups and that the walls I put up for myself can be broken. Soon, I hope to be in an L-shape during round back or curl. But I still take each class one at a time and listen to my body and how it feels and how it wants to be worked that day – and then I “sink one inch lower” – just because I can.

When I first walked into the studio, I resolved to put my health first and get my physical well-being in order. I was going to do more than worry about weight-loss, but care about how I feel on the inside. I never thought that I would gain so much in a 60 minute work-out. The feeling of accomplishment, and the desire to show off a lifted seated and toned arms is indescribable. I have lost more weight since starting this work-out, but I can honestly say that I have gained more than I have lost. I have gained the confidence in myself that I lacked 6 years ago. I gained a desire to seek out wellness in my everyday life outside the mirrored walls of the Bar Method Studio. I wear my grippy socks with pleasure around my house, excited for my next Bar class. I have learned to stop counting in my head along with the teachers but rather listen to the music and to my body and enjoy the experience of the workout. I have let go mind and body and given in to the shaking and realized that it is the strength of my own body that gets me through each class.

I have spent 3 birthdays, my engagement and my wedding with Bar Method. I have felt the pain of shaking each morning and finally feel beautiful, proud and empowered. The Bar Method has welcomed and accepted me into a community that from the outside can seem very intimidating. I have found an appreciation in myself that I never felt before. I have embraced exercise and a healthier lifestyle and I am pushing myself to be more mindful of my body and environment. I hope to spend many more special occasions at the Bar Method and hope to share my experiences with as many people as I can. Everyone should feel the power of a good leg shake at least once in his or her life.