I DID IT!!!!!!!

Posted on May 25, 2012 by barrebabe

After a long hard gruel of 4 months…. I passed my written exam and just heard today that my video was approved by my trainer!!!! I am officially certified!

I have wanted to write before now but have been so crazy busy and overwhelmed, but just wanted to share the good news!

I am over-the-moon! So bloody happy!

I am so grateful to my trainer, Jen… and to my amazing boss and mentors, Karen and Kendra. And to my fellow co-workers and amazing clients at the studio… plus a few good friends and fam.

So blessed!

Happy Earth Day!

Posted on April 22, 2012 by barrebabe

In honour of Earth Day I am sitting by the pool enjoying the glorious Florida sunshine. Gwennie is splashing in the pool pretending to be either a mermaid or a whale. I am constantly being requested to take a look at what she’s doing. I am amazed at her incessant chatter. It’s as though her little brain goes 100 miles an hour constantly. It can be a little tiring but she is so damned cute! Now that I am working I think I enjoy, and appreciate more, our times together. She really is such a joy and a blessing!

It’s been 2 1/2 years since we lost Henry and I have grown used to the fact that Gwennie may be our only one. I have stopped getting hopeful each month and am finally able to embrace each period with open arms rather than tears of frustration.

Not sure what happened this month but I ended up being four days late. I felt the old familiar creeping of hope in my veins. Today put a strong, resounding stop to that feeling. Am I disappointed? Yes, in a way, but in another I am not. I know that if G is our only child we will be able to give her so much more than we would if we had two children. I am such a firm believer of everything happening for a reason. I believe there is a greater plan for all of us. I want to try and go with the flow. Sometimes it is easier said than done. I can’t help but battle a feeling of loss. I am getting older and I know my time, in being able to have another child, is nearly done.

In other news, one of my knees is bothering me. After discussion with my peers it seems as though I am going too low in wide turned-out thigh. I did it 3 times in class last week and I am feeling it. I need to bring it on up. I feel it’s fortunate that I am getting a 3-day break from class to rest it a little.

Inching closer…

Posted on April 18, 2012 by barrebabe

I am teaching the last half of class! Which feels great! I feel like I am finally getting closer to certification. I am now working on the last section of exercises and then I can teach the first half of class… and then start setting up my community classes. Here I will be able to teach up to 6 students for free to help me get experience in teaching a complete class before being evaluated on my skills as an instructor. And of course I have the final exam to take! YIKES!

Our studio is holding a training for new instructors at the beginning of June. My trainer, Jen (from the San Marina studio) will be the trainer! I can’t wait to see her again and I am hoping she will have time to evaluate me for my certification. The timing would be perfect!

Fingers crossed that it all works out! I can’t wait to be on the schedule teaching!

In other news, I am feeling a bit down on myself. Now I know we can’t all look great in every single photo, but there have been several photos of myself of late where I have cringed at my appearance. I look heavier than I feel and wow, who is that old lady with all the lines and wrinkles? I feel like I need some divine intervention.

In better news, Gwennie got to dance with the Orlando Magic Dancers Friday night! One of my co-workers at The Bar method is the dance captain for the dancers and she asked Gwennie to go join them. Sadly, Kendra sprained her ankle badly and was unable to perform, but Gwennie still went and danced with Emmy and had a wonderful night! I was amazed at how unfazed she was with all the crowds and noise… and the fact that she was up way past her bedtime. She was a little star and a natural born performer. We were so proud of her!

So proud of my Dad!

Posted on April 6, 2012 by barrebabe

MARTIN DEELEY (my Dad!) is an Internationally recognized companion dog and gundog trainer, behavior consultant, writer and commentator. In the field he specializes in spaniel and retriever training and is renowned throughout Europe and America as an authority on training both dogs and their owners.

Florida Dog Trainer.

He has written several books and has just had another published. This one is a sweet rendition of a true story… as narrated by Leo, a stray pup who finds friends and a good home. It’s a fabulous read… perfect for both adults and children.

It’s featured at an amazing steal-away price right now, so do check it out and get yourself a copy!

Leo- The Incredible and Amazing Dog Star.

Continuing on….

Posted on April 3, 2012 by barrebabe

I have started to co-teach a different section of class this week. It is going well… very new session is a learning experience! I am now teaching curl, back-dancing, and final stretch. I am studying round-back and flat-back, which I will co-teach next. Phew!

I’m not really a person who talks a lot, so I find it a new challenge to be constantly (that’s how I feel anyway!) vocal for an hour! There is so much to say in the way of set-ups, verbal corrections, and the giving of benefits and praise. It’s a lot to spit out, but the more I practice the easier it becomes. I feel very relieved that I spotted classes for a while before co-teaching, as I feel very confident and comfortable with hands-on adjustments. It’s one less thing to worry about in a way! I just have to concentrate on what is coming out of my mouth!

I feel like I am learning something new every day… and the wonderful thing about The Bar Method is that HQ is constantly reviewing the workouts and improving the set-ups. They check in with each studio regularly and we discuss the wisdom they impair upon us on a daily/weekly basis. I love being part of a system that demands excellence and really cares for the clients’ bodies and well-being.

I had a nice email from two of the girls I trained with in Austin. They are cruising along nicely and seem to be enjoying it, albeit finding it a tad challenging at times! We are all excited to get through this training process, take the exam, and be ready to teach classes of our own. I am looking forward to teaching some community classes in the near future. It will be such good experience!

Great week!

Posted on March 24, 2012 by barrebabe

Just completed a wonderful week at The Bar Method. I am almost afraid to say that in case I jinx myself, but really it was fab! I feel like I accomplished a lot and that I am slowly and steadily improving.
The co-teaching went well this week. It is starting to flow more and whilst I am still super nervous inside, I am cautiously gaining more confidence each time I teach.
I had some wonderful training sessions with the instructors. They are each so different in style, yet each one of them has so much wisdom to impair and offer.

I never stop learning.

I love that!

I had some extra fun today. I taught Kendra and Trish half a class (had to leave early to pick up my daughter), BUT…. they were doing a private Master Class and I taught from warm-up all through seat work… and while I know it needed a lot more polish, I got through it and I really enjoyed it! They were very supportive and encouraging.

Have I mentioned how much I love my boss and co-workers? They’re amazing. I love to be in the presence of these women. I have from day one, when I first started coming to the studio as a client. I know I am here for a reason. I know I was brought to this place for something important. Here I am, a nurse… I should be working in the medical field… yet my heart has been completely swept away by The Bar Method. I instantly felt drawn to Karen, the owner, and the other instructors… and more than that, the clients themselves. There is so much love in that studio.

It’s like a big dollop of Girly Therapy is what it is!

You can’t beat that!

Third time… not so lucky!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by barrebabe

Just completed my first week of co-teaching.

The first day went well. I was terribly nervous, but it all went smoothly.

The second day… pretty much the same as the first.

The third day… a train-wreck! I flubbed my words, faffed around with my choreography (to my detriment!), didn’t give enough benefits and compliments, and generally felt flustered!
I gave myself a moment to freak out and fight back the tears (after class!)… then I took a deep breath and said, “Right! This was a learning experience. I will have many more. Onwards and upwards!”

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. ~ Conrad Hilton

The day has arrived…

Posted on March 12, 2012 by barrebabe

I finally start co-teaching at The Bar Method tomorrow morning. Thanks to the wonderful coaching of Karen and Kendra, I feel prepared and ready but I am extremely nervous. I don’t want to let them down!

Keep your fingers crossed for me and think of me around 9:30am Eastern Time… I will be teaching the warm-up!

The Winter Park Bridal Stroll

Posted on March 4, 2012 by barrebabe

My beautiful and sweet boss, Karen… and I!

The new “in”… to be scary thin!

Posted on February 27, 2012 by barrebabe

I love perusing the photos of all the gorgeous Hollywood actors and actresses post-award ceremony day. The Oscars was on last night and naturally the highlight is not just about who wins that golden man, but who is wearing the best dress!

There were some gorgeous outfits. Penelope Cruz, Glenn Close, Michelle Williams, and Gwyneth Paltrow were among my favourites.

I realise the fashion and trend these days is to be rail thin, but there were a few ladies I was really worried about.
I absolutely adore Angelina Jolie. I think she is stunningly gorgeous and sexy… yet I feel worried to death for her. She looked so frail and undernourished.

Now I know that some women are just naturally very slender, but a few women seem to be disappearing before our very eyes… Angelina, Rose Byrne, and Giuliana Rancic.

Poor Giuliana has been through a heck of a time lately, so you can understand why she might have lost so much weight. But there is such an abundance of desperately thin actresses around at the moment.
I feel saddened at the thought that they feel so pressurised to be so thin.

It also puts pressure on us, the Average Joanna. We are inundated with photographs of emaciated models and performers… honestly I feel like an elephant compared to a lot of these women… and I am only 110lbs. Sure, I am also only 5 foot, but even so! I feel like one of my thighs is bigger than their entire torso!

What is this going to do to our children? I am not blaming these women, per say (they are just victims of circumstance), but I am definitely blaming society for buying into this rubbish and making it acceptable.

Please can we bring back the happier and healthier trend of embracing our curves? We are women and, as John Mayer sings, our bodies are a wonderland! Bones are not sexy. Soft curves are.

Isn’t it time we all focused on being healthy? Eating good foods, exercising regularly, and loving who we are? Can we please obsess on our children, husbands, families, and friends, and not on our weight? I think it’s important to be health-conscious and aware of our weight only to be sure that we are not putting ourselves at risk for any type of disease.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all look in the mirror and be able to say, “I love myself for who and what I am. I am good enough.”