MY JOURNEY TO THE BARRE AND BACK: WHAT I LEFT BEHIND
As most of you know, I just returned from Nashville (Franklin), TN last night after a 3 day intensive training certification to become a BarreAmped Instructor. And let me just start this post out by saying, I packed my Kindle, yeah I actually packed my Kindle. Its very laughable now looking back over the last 3 days, I mean in my defense with most certifications I have experienced in the past, there is a bit of downtime in the evenings. How was I to know that this BarreAmped class I am bringing to Burn Studio, that I was going to train for, was actually not a class at all, it was a METHOD. A method built on solid integrity and form and an actual real science behind each and every movement. BarreAmped is no "quickie" one day certification you will find created by Sally or Susie with moves they just thought looked cool and came up with. No!! BarreAmped is based on 12 years of practice and research by Suzanne Bowen (who for you dancers out there studied under Lotte Berk for years). It is first class all the way. This by far, is one of the tougher certifications I have ever worked for and I am so proud to have it. Its the best Barre method out there, hands down! BarreAmped you have won my heart!!
But lets just say, its taken me 4 solid days of tears, laughter, excitement, fear, panic attacks and more to get here. ( Did you forget already that I packed my kindle)? Let's chat about it, it goes a little something like this:
Friday Day 1: I wake up bright and early to arrive pretty and shiny and ready to learn. I actually think singing birds pulled my covers back that morning, is how glorious it was. I walk in to Amy Weber's studio Releve One, who by the way is a total BarreAmped bad a*#@ you must know this, and sign in ready to go. I think to myself, I totally have this, I mean I have 13 years fitness experience, no need to be nervous, right? I mean I have taken a BarreAmped class so I wasn't totally in the dark. And I know all about form in the fitness world, right? This rainbow and butterfly scenario came to an abrupt hault once we delved into the manual and starting working with the positions. My knowledge of everything fitness did not apply here. The realization that this was a method and not just a workout class became real. What also became real, is I knew nothing!!!! And my hips were tight, my chest was tight, I want to squat to do everything, and what I thought was working deep in my core all these years, yeah it wasn't .........For the first time in a long time, I was starting over, I had to learn something new from scratch. And to top it off, 99% of the girls in my training class all have BarreAmped class experience. I was longing for a good ole' burpee! This quickly turned to tears at Embassy Suites later that evening with a couple chocolate cookies. Yes, I had a pity party. But, because I'm a fighter, I had the pity party in front of my BarreAmped manual.
Saturday Day 2: The birds did not show up to pull my covers off, I knew the minute I woke that I had a LOT of work to do in the next two days. I decided I would not give up and spent the morning before training class studying more. But, little did I know this is the day that would change everything. Amy Weber, our trainer for BarreAmped, had us take one of her actual classes with her clients, to start out the day. I set up my mat and approach the bar knowing how many corrections with my form I was in for. It was in Amy's class that the rainbow came back---it wasn't just about the burning and shaking muscles, and getting my form just so---it was about MORE THAN THAT. BarreAmped is all about connecting your mind and body as one. Amy not only gave me an amazing workout, she somehow tapped into my very soul. And by the end of class as I lay on the mat, exhaling away all the stress as she instructed, I not only was brought to tears, but I did just that---I exhaled all the fear away and I left it on that mat!!! It was at that moment I knew, I am here for a reason. If I can make my clients feel the way that I am feeling right now, after I teach my own class---that is my purpose. I arose from the mat and decided to become "the barre". The next 48 hours were just that. After the long days of training it was late nights of studying. Who knew a desk chair at the Embassy Suites could become your barre in a pinch? Still, even though I was enlightened and confident---I still had Sunday--practical and written testing.
Sunday Day 3 : After a late night of studying, muscles soreness, and an early alarm to study more I knew I couldn't have given this any more than what I had given it. I poured everything I am into learning this method. The 3 hours of testing came and went like a flash. And to my excitement (and a couple cheerleader type jumps with tears) I actually did pretty well! In fact, I got "Most Improved" in my training class. And coming from a master like Amy Weber, it felt amazing. Of course, there are many things I need to work on to get my form to teacher level--BUT I DID IT! I got in my car to make the drive feeling like I really did something. Something filled with fear and as far out of my comfort zone as I could possibly get. And the best part: I GET TO BRING THIS METHOD OF PRESTIGE HOME TO YOU!!! So, until the studio opens you can bet I will be practicing--and a lot. Some of you need to be prepared to be a guinea pig. Hey, you cant beat a free Barre Amped class from your favorite trainer can you? No way! So get ready!
Can you still believe I packed my Kindle??????
