Excited To Be At The Barre (Barre Blend, that is)

I started something new this week, which sounds so clique the first week of January, and is not my usual thing to do. Except this time, it is! I started a 60 day Barre Blend workout program today. While today was only day one, I did the sample workout a few times already too, and before I even finished the sample workout, I knew it was right for me. I’m kind of in love! Let me tell you why I think it’s kind of amazing.

It’s good to try something new! Barre has been on my radar for a while, but I had yet to try a workout. I always default to my same favorite workouts (anyone else do that?) For me it’s yoga and running. But if you always do the same thing, you always get the same results. Something different is good. While I’m a cardio girl junkie and running is my go-to, my therapy, and my best “me” time, I committed to doing something different this year. After my fall marathon, I decided to work on getting really fit and strong.

So when high school friend reached out to me with a sample Barre Blend workout, I was excited to try it. This was a perfect opportunity without having to commit to classes or even leave my house.

Because I really like working out at home.

After having kids, I never wanted to leave the house and go to the gym or bring them along to the gym and drop them at the daycare. I thought I would, and even switched to a closer gym after having my daughter. But I never wanted to go. This totally surprised me, because going to the gym was such a part of my life for a lot of years before having kids (about 13!).

But yet it really shouldn’t have surprised me, for other reasons. I really love quality time. Traveling to and from takes extra time, and I don’t need any more reasons to run around from here to there. I’m very self motivated for workouts, and once I made the switch in my schedule and babes were on a good sleeping pattern, I have had no problem getting up early to workout before the kids wake up. Plus, I’m a total germa-phoebe, so, there’s that stacked against the gym scene. At home workouts for the win! For now, at least, I very happily do it all at home.

However, I could a little structure. This workout is a part of a Beachbody program that rolls out early January for an extra cost, or for all members in June. Now I am a BeachBody on Demand member, and even though I don’t use it regularly, I enjoy having the options. I actually joined after having my second child, and I found the accessibility for working out in so many ways whenever I wanted (with a pause button!) so incredibly helpful during a transition time for my health and family. I still find it helpful to have the options and I will occasionally add in a beachbody workouts, especially if traveling and definitely more often in the winter months. But I’ve never gone through a whole series

It’s a simple set up and straight forward execution. You need a mat (or not). You need weights between 1-5 pounds (or not). You need a chair or counter to act as your Barre, and you need a streaming device. It’s SO not complicated. The workouts all seem to be between 30-40 minutes, which is a really achievable amount of time to tackle.

It is a great mix of strength, cardio, and grace. Since I haven’t make strength as much of a priority as I want to, this Barre Blend program provides the great opportunity for me to do so. It’s got enough movement and cardio to keep me interested, both grace and expression with ballet-type moves, some hints of yoga, and resistance training. It uses body weight, lighter weights, range of motion, repeated reps on targeted areas, and you can definitely feel the burn. I know that it will help develop more of the lean muscle that I crave. I consider myself pretty strong (I can still carry both kids at the same time, one in each arm, and even squat their total weight of 70 pounds or so, which I love in so many ways.) However, I really want to improve full body toning and take it to the next level. Plus, the serious core work is so very much welcomed after recovering from serious diastasis recti with my second child.

It is interesting and fun. I really enjoy the instructor, Elise (and who wouldn’t want the kind of lean muscles she’s got!?) I enjoy her energy and positive spirit. She also adds a nice sprinkle of powerful positive self-talk with a serious growth mindset. So I’m a big fan of that mind work, which is so deeply connected to the body work.

I’ll keep you posted how it goes. (I’m feeling the burn already!). I’m still running several times a week, at least walking every day, and I’m pretty sure I’ll use plenty of yoga to rest and reset those tired muscles.

Have you tried Barre or Barre Blend? Are you starting another fitness journey that I can cheer you on in? Let me know in the comments!! I’d love to give you a virtual high five. Xox

PS. If you’re interested in trying it, feel free to connect with my Beachbody friend Brooke Henderson with this link https://form.jotform.com/brookelhenderson/request-barre-sample-workout Or you can reach out to anyone you might know that’s a Beachbody coach. It’s a great chance to try something new, and fantastic!