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!

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!

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.”