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Building Grit and Mental Strength One Barre Class at a Time
Nature vs. nurture – one of the oldest and most longstanding of all psychological debates. Although this was a formerly hotly debated and central issue in the field, most researchers and people in general now accept that each of us are indeed powerfully influenced by not one or the other, but both biology and genetics as well as society and culture in almost every facet of our personality, preferences, tendencies, talents, and inclinations. A lot of evidence supports a variant of set point theory, which argues that we all have a genetically determined range for our weight, our aptitudes, our intelligence and even our happiness. But it is important to…
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The What, the Why, and the How of That “Barre Shake”
I am definitely biased, buuuuuuut barre is just the best! Aside from the sense of camaraderie and community, the upbeat music, and the indescribable “barre high,” your body is challenged in a totally unique way. It’s low impact, but definitely not low intensity!  No matter who you are or how fit you are, it is a shockingly challenging workout. Barre is full of tiny, isometric movements and contractions which generate a big burn and epic shake in your muscles regardless of how strong you are. Seriously – even professional athletes and Olympians (recently witnessed at Flex in the City firsthand – with our special guest Derval O’Rourke!) experience that tremble…
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Avoid Going Through the Motions – At the Barre and Beyond
Throughout business school and my work in both management and consulting, a very popular and often invoked truism has been “what gets measured gets managed.” And while in those settings this has usually been in the context of devising specific ROI targets, service level agreements, or key metric performance trending, the same concept can be applied across a broader spectrum within our own lives. When we monitor and track our actions we usually do a much better job at managing them whether it’s our eating, sleeping, exercise, spending, etc. By tracking and measuring our activities, we raise our level of self-awareness which can increase our resolve and self-control and allow…
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Flow, Optimal Experience, and Intrinsic Motivation
When I was in Milan last weekend, I had the opportunity to see Michaelango’s final work of art, a marble sculpture – the Rondanini Pietà . He had originally intended for it be incorporated into his own tomb and had worked on a few versions of it in various stages, dissatisfied with his progress and the direction it was taking more than once. It is not known as one of his most famous pieces of work, nor the most beautiful, but I was especially intrigued by it when I heard that he had been found working furiously on it into the late hours of the night with a candle strapped around…
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Barre Class
When it comes to choosing an exercise routine, I personally think that first and foremost you should find something that you enjoy and that works for you which I have written about in greater detail here and here. Ultimately, if you don’t enjoy doing something, the chances you will keep it up over the long haul are significantly lower because research shows that habits stick better when they’re pleasurable. Although some of it is purely psychological, an activity seems easier and more convenient when it is fun or provides some level of satisfaction. Once you have found something that you like and suits you, you should try to find ways…
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Pure Love for Pure Barre
Being back in the States this week has been awesome! Although a quick trip, I have (in true to Miranda form) tried to make the most of it with full days of family, friends, food, and fitness. I love my husband’s family and it has been great to spend time with them and some of my favorite Bostonians while here. Catching up over coffee, lunch or dinner has been so enlivening and uplifting! I have also had the chance to do a bit of shopping for things that are not available across the pond and, of course, have snuck in some barre and Pilates classes along the way! This trip…
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Finding a Workout that Works for YOU! Part Two
Although we may agree exercise is good for everyone (Part One), it important to recognize that not everyone is motivated or wired in the same way. I personally love to start my day with exercise first thing – it really sets me off on the right foot and gives me a major energy and mood booster straight away which I can use as fuel to tackle the rest of the day. I can sweat and then shower and know that I have that checked off my list of things to accomplish regardless of what unplanned interruptions or obstacles may lie ahead. However, if you struggle to wake up in time…
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Finding a Workout that Works for YOU! Part One
Long story short – exercise is good for you. Earth shattering news I know (I can feel the eyes rolling already). Most people do not debate that moving your body on a regular basis is a foundational good habit which has a myriad of benefits that spill over to oh-so-many aspects of our lives. Research shows that exercise stimulates blood flow throughout the body and into the brain, so it literally helps us think better, improving our memory and ability to learn. It boosts our energy and focus while improving our sleep quality and slows down the aging process. It elevates our moods and helps to combat depression, anxiety, and…
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Embracing an “Atmosphere of Growth”
“Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure, nor this thing or that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing” – William Butler Yeats With each year that passes, I find that I have become increasingly passionate about growing. And over the past few months, I have become quite serious and focused a considerable amount of time devoted to this endeavor – reading some of the best and most influential research and writing about habits, growth, and happiness. Inspired by one of my role models and absolute favorite writers, Gretchen Rubin, I have started my very own “Happiness Project” which seeks to improve my life, and consequently the lives…
