This Sunday marks an important milestone (and also my mother's birthday which I am excited to be able to celebrate with her in person for the first time in a LONG time!) - it's my five year anniversary of barre!!! It is no exaggeration to say that barre has changed my life - it has become an important part of my identity and was the impetus for so many of the other healthy habits I have formed, things I have accomplished, and invaluable relationships that I have formed throughout the years. Since this time last year, my lifetime barre stats have increased to a total of 2,479 hours of taking…
Slán go Fóill! Lessons I’ve Learned as an Expat
Wow. The past few weeks have really flown by. They've been crazy busy with moving preparations, finishing out work for the year and making the most of the time left with our friends here. I have been overwhelmed with emotion and the whole thing is very bittersweet. Of course I am thrilled to be returning home home/being near to my family for the first time in a long time and I'm excited about our new house and the conveniences of living in the US again. However, I am leaving behind some of the best people I have ever met and the place where I have lived some of my best…
Farewell to Flex! A Love Letter to My Barre Tribe
I have to say, this is a TOUGH one to write. Things are well past getting real around here. Our homehas been empty for over a week, everything shipped off to the US of A, we've said many final farewells and have only two and half more days in Cork at this stage. The entire experience of living abroad has been nothing short of amazing and I will definitely miss the ability to travel around Europe for the quick weekend city breaks, my weekly trips to check out what's new at Sostrene Grene's, and the Sweet Potato Toast at Spitjack's, but I have to say there is no question about…
There is Still Plenty of Time to Finish 2018 Strong!
Although there is probably not a word strong enough to express just how much I loathe the colder weather and precipitation that accompanies it, I have to admit that I do enjoy this time of year. I'm a "finisher;" someone who gets a bigger kick out of squeezing the VERY LAST drop of toothpaste out of the tube as opposed to feeling satisfaction in starting a new one. I like to reach a point of completion on a personal or work project whether that is in total or just my small part of the big picture. This is in contrast to an "opener" who really gets enthusiastic about starting new…
Barre Better: Breaking Up with Bad Habits at the Barre
So lately in an effort to fix some of the ongoing issues and imbalances that I have within my own body, I've been calling on some extra expert advice by taking 1:1 Pilates sessions with Ireland's Master Teacher Trainer up in Dublin. I have to say that something that continues to amaze me is how often (in virtually every aspect of life) there is such a leap between good and outstanding. And when it comes to an eye for detail and understanding of body mechanics, she is outstanding. However, although her insight is invaluable and there have been several things which I hadn't considered previously, I am particularly struck by the…
10 Minute Barre Arms Workout
Before barre, I honestly never thought too much about arms. Mine or anyone else's. Although I did the typical (but unhealthy) "Mean Girls" dissection of my body and its flaws, my arms were towards the end of the list of concerns, but not necessarily a point of pride either. I just didn't pay much attention. But when I started barre, I did notice that many of my classmates had incredibly sculpted and toned limbs and I remember after only about a month of consistent classes receiving many compliments on my recent acquisition of said arms. The transformation in my body in such a short amount of time AND the fact…
Foundational Habits Part Two: Exercise
As renowned sports-medicine physician Dr. Jordan D. Metzl wrote for Time in its special edition The Science of Exercise, "exercise is a miracle drug… take it often, and you'll live a longer, healthier life. Your medical costs will be lower, you'll sleep better at night, and your workdays will be more productive. Your mood will improve and your risk of developing almost any chronic disease will drop. It works for just about everyone who takes it, young or old, and if done correctly, it has few or no negative side effects. Every dose is 100% effective - even small ones. It's the most powerful, readily available drug in the world. …
All for Barre and Barre for All!
This past weekend, I attended the first ever Whole30 Coaches Summit in Park City, Utah. It was a lot of travel and time to get there and back, but it was definitely worth it. The resort and surrounding area was absolutely gorgeous, there was no shortage of ridiculously amazing Whole30 food plus yoga, HIIT, and hiking sessions, and it afforded me the opportunity to learn from a pretty impressive list of speakers and experts in leadership, business and brand development, nutrition and wellness. But most importantly, it provided me with the chance to meet and connect with other Whole30 coaches and I think the majority of us are
How Barre Cultivates a Growth Mindset
If you've ever heard me talk about all the MANY things I love about barre, you know that for me it's more than just the physical benefits. I love the way that barre has transformed my body, giving me tone, definition and strength like nothing else has and the buzz of the #barrehigh, but it's so much more than that. As I shared previously, barre has taught me many important life lessons and provides me with ongoing opportunities to develop mental strength and grit. And just recently, I was reminded of exactly how this happens. Last month I read Norman Doidge's The Brain That Changes Itself which included research and…
Home Cardio Barre Workout
If you've been in any of my barre classes lately, you've probably noticed - they're getting a bit sweatier! That's not only due to the nearly suspiciously nice weather we've had in Cork lately, but also because I've been trying to incorporate a bit more HIIT-type, cardio bursts either on the mat or at the barre as of late. For some reason, it just seems seasonally appropriate - and it's a lot of fun! You get your heart rate up, releasing an extra little rush of endorphins on top of the already euphoric experience of barre, and well, it's addictive! And so I've been doing my own home cardio barre…