Pure Barre Addiction

 I have 2 things in my life that I am addicted to.  Neither of which are edible.  One is Pure Barre.  If you aren't familiar with the barre, let me enlighten you.  This is a 55 minute workout that will leave you shaking, if you do it right that is! LTB, Lift, Tuck and Burn!

It begins with about 6 minutes of warm up, a little floor Pilates type moves, some light weights, push ups, tricep dips and my favorite...plank.  If you don't think 90 seconds is a long time, try planking for the duration, everyday.  It will make you strong from the inside out.  Then we move on to leg work at the barre, and no, you do not put your leg up there.  You do tip toe a lot however, and the mantra is, The Higher the Heels, the Thinner the Thighs.  Ha!  I'm not too sure how that is working out for me, but I have muscles like never before.  On to the other areas like glutes, abs, stretches etc.  The movements are small, but mighty, and the more classes you take, the harder it gets. You can push yourself everyday.  It never becomes easy or boring.  The class has subtle changes everyday and bigger changes about 4 times a year.

It is fast paced, but no impact.  It will make you quiver and sweat but the music and the friendships keep you focused.  I feel amazing when it's over and look forward to the next day!  I am about 300 classes into it, and honestly can't imagine not having it in my life.  And most of the women I work out with every day feel the same way.

It isn't cheap and it isn't easy.  It's not a quick fix, but I honestly believe it makes so many other things better.  I am more flexible, I have a stronger core, I have endurance, and I have self confidence.  I don't do this to get skinny, that is unlikely to happen.  I do this so I can get out of bed and be active into my old age.

Recently I was asked by a gal from a another class to make cookies to celebrate Margaret and her 500th class.  Pretty awesome wouldn't you say?  What can most people say they have committed to for 500 times?  I am hoping that's me this year.

Check out the Pure Barre website and see if there is a studio near you.  They usually offer an introductory class or package.  You can't go once and expect to love it.  Give it 5 classes, it could seriously change your life!  All over the Web, there are tips and lists of what to expect and what to do.  Here's some advice from someone who has been there a few years.

1. Go early, meet the teacher and maybe meet a few other clients.  Those of us that are regulars are happy to tell you the best place in the studio, and who to watch for good technique.  Also, many regulars go to the same spot every day...they can be sort of territorial.  You'll understand.
2. Leave your shoes in the entry.  If you walk across the studio floor in your shoes, you may be face down in that spot in the next hour.  Especially when it rains, be considerate. No one will steal your Hunters.
3. Leggings and a tank.  No bootie shorts, no exposed bellies, no bare feet.  You can buy sticky socks there, or at just about any place that sells yoga stuff.  There are some Lulu model types, but there are plenty of us that aren't made up or matchy matchy.
4. Do not apply perfume before you go.  Please.  You can figure out why.
5. Watch others. You may be able to lift that leg over your head, but when they say an inch, they mean an inch.  It will work the muscle they are after.  Trust the process.
6. Breathe hard.  When we do abs, they tell you they want to hear you breathe, and I can tell you, if you breathe right, your abs contract, your heart rate climbs.
7. Last 10 best 10.  No matter how hard the sequence is, when she says last 10, make it your best.  You will feel a sense of accomplishment.
8. Close your eyes. If you listen, you know where you should feel the exercise.  Close your eyes and focus.  This 55 minutes is all about you.  Make your grocery list when you leave.
9. Leave your phone in your purse.  I get it, we worry about the kids.  This is your time. If there is a tragedy, you can certainly deal with it better if you have all those endorphins working.  When that Bed Bath and Beyond text glows in the middle of legs, you and I will both be distracted.
10. Smile.  This workout is hard.  Give yourself a round of applause, every day, you earned it.

 What are you waiting for?  Get in there and Tuck!

Pure Barre Cookies

I have been working out my whole life, but never the same thing. I went to a small grade school where you did everything, basketball, volleyball, track and softball.  When I was little, my mom owned a Figure Salon.  Yep, rollers to jiggle the fat away, belts to jiggle the fat away and my entrepreneur mom would hold a class to a record she owned (that's a large piece of vinyl that plays with the assistance of a turntable, diamond needle and speakers) and the women would pack Shelly Lynn Figure Salon to do leg lifts, sit ups. jumping jacks and other old fashioned moves that are very hip right now! Dr. Charles Bucher was the man of the hour.

My very hot mom circa 1972...belly dancing was a favorite form of exercise!

I cheered and dove in high school, and was a casual runner and biker in college, because they fit my lifestyle.  I would even head to the pool and swim long distance.  I am all about endurance, not speed.  I used to take an aerobics class taught by a 60 something woman, (I thought that was old when I was in my 30's) and I have done my fair share of home videos like Tae Bo and Shiva Rhea yoga.  My favorite (before now) was Bikram Yoga, but it is just too far to do an hour an a half class.  And, there is no if, ands, or buts; you have to have a shower after that, no running into the market for milk and bananas!  And since this regular exercise has brought no progress, I needed a new outlet!

So last spring I decided to go to Pure Barre.  I love, love, love this class.  Now, I am a realist.  I know that at 48, I am never going to look like these instructors.  One, I didn't look anything like them when I was their age, two, I never danced a day in my life (unless you count alcohol induced dancing at Rayford's Disco), and three, I don't know, maybe the pounds I would have to drop???  These girls are tiny, but oh, they are mighty!  They are curvy and strong.  Muscle definition and great posture, and flexible too.  Me?  Well, yes, I also have great posture, I have always been flexible and I too have muscle definition.  Ha!  I even have a 2 pack.  Yep.  I am not sharing it with you, but Mr. Preppy was like, whoa, I am impressed.  Which is good, because it doesn't come cheap!  Most women describe it as a cross between Pilates and old fashioned exercise.  Which it kind of is.  You work every muscle group, lots of abs, and the workout has little differences for each instructor.  So you do the same routine, but it never gets old.  I love that I can see my progress.  Men's push ups?  Yep, not on that first day, or week, but now, I am pumping away.  Planking?  Who knew how hard that was, for 90 seconds?  Now, I am so focused it flies by.  Another thing I love?  Modesty.  There are no bare bellies, no shorts, even your feet are covered in no skid socks.  And contrary to the name, you do not hike your leg up on the barre for ballet type work, you hold on to that barre for balance and resistance in many sequences.

I feel fantastic, I look forward to going, and everyone who sees me wants to know what I am up to.  It has rearranged my body.  Really.  I made these cookies for the 2 year anniversary of Pure Barre Germantown.  And you should check out their site to see if there is one near you.  The intro package is a great way to see if you love it as much as me! Thanks to the great girls there, and Tuck!