So, I’m riding my bike home from my Bar Method class, and I
see this older woman, white hair, very heavy, swollen ankles spilling over the
edges of her athletic shoes…and she is hosing off her front walk to remove the
leaves. I though to myself, “she would do herself and the environment a world
of good by using a broom.” Then I thought about how I felt a year ago. Using
the broom wasn’t a big deal, but riding my bike to a class, taking a class, and
then riding back home would have been out of the question. I turned off my
inner critic immediately. I don’t know this woman, I don’t know her journey,
and it is not fair to mentally criticize her choices.
Then I thought a little more about my personal journey. If I
had known 10 weeks ago that I would feel 100% stronger, more energized,
happier, and less stressed from taking this class and riding my bike would I
have done it sooner? The honest answer is, probably not. I wasn’t ready. If I
had known my belly fat would be reducing? Still no. Wasn’t ready. One day I
woke up and I was ready…and there was
a social media deal…and it was for the type of exercise I might enjoy…and it
was close by. Seemed like the universe
was conspiring to make it easy for me to change. I just had to say yes. So I
did. Yes to The Bar Method.
The Bar Method is a phenomenal workout. One hour of
prescribed exercises – targeted and, for such tiny movements, incredibly challenging!
I have been going to class 3-5 times per week for 10 weeks. Each class is a
little more difficult than the last because in each successive class I have better form. I thought I might
get bored with it and use that as my excuse to bail. But no. I find that I am determined to find
proper form, determined to do one more rep, encouraged by my teachers to add a
challenge. Today a simple “you can do it” nod from Helen made me perform an
exercise I thought would be about 10 more weeks away.
My biggest challenge – by far – it the giant blob that has
become my abdomen. I never thought I would have a fat belly, but here it is.
Now that I am exercising regularly I have become impatient with it and striving
for its demise. However, as I am equally determined to shut off my inner critic
today, I will list the Top Ten positive changes that have occurred in the past
10 weeks:
- I want to ride my bike more often than drive.
- My triceps have dents in them because I can do pushups (on the bar)!
- I want to do pushups!
- Subtle changes I think only I can notice in my body are being noticed by my family without me asking.
- My clothes fit better because I am smaller and tighter.
- My waistline is making a reappearance.
- My body only hurts where I have exercised…no more stupid pain.
- My jaw line is re-emerging. I couldn’t figure out why my bike helmet was sliding around and I suddenly realized my extra chin was gone!
- Today my arms looked as straight as they felt when I was warming up.
- I am happier, stronger, and hopeful.
I don’t know if barre exercise is the right choice for
everyone, but it is for me. But my thought is that there is usually a better
choice than doing nothing. There is always room to improve. If you start today
who knows where YOU will be in 10 weeks! Do it. Do it. Do it.
