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Pure Barre - Review

Let me begin by saying, I have only taken one class at Pure Barre Highlands (Denver), so this experience I write about is based on that. :) Also, I typically teach and take classes all week at Qi in Denver, so I always compare my new experiences to the training center I call home! ;)

  

I signed up for the 12PM class to help separate my day full of deep cleaning my house! Upon signing up and paying for class online, I received an email telling me what to bring, what to wear, etc. Super helpful since I was a newbie!

      

The website mentioned I would need to purchase their socks which have grippies on the bottom. I ended up trying not to break the rules by bringing my own (I don't own grippies). We will get to that later!

   

I arrive to the studio 15 minutes before class time start as recommended in order to complete paperwork, purchase socks, and grab all of the props needed for class. I came to learn that they had just ran out of socks, and I didn't have a back up!! The girl at the front desk said I should be find for my first class, so I just went with it.

  

After filling out paperwork, I refilled my water bottle left my shoes on the floor in front of the cubbies and my bag in the cubbies at reception and then sauntered up to the Barre studio. The receptionist showed me exactly what I needed:

   

-1 set of weights ... 2 or 3lbs or both (At Qi, I use 5lb weights for Yoga Sculpt, so this seemed strange..but I grabbed the 3s.)

-1 stretchy band

-1 squeeze ball

  

Simple enough.

I found a spot in the studio; there were probably about 8 other students in the room. The teacher greeted me by name before the class began.

  

Dance beats blared from the stereo system and we got started. We began with a cardio warm-up consisting of knee lifts and a few other poses. Then we were told to "Tuck." As in tuck the hips. I believe I was doing this correctly since I used to dance, but I honestly am not so sure. We tucked throughout class, so I believed this probably should have been demonstrated and described a bit more than it was!!

   

Following the warm-up / tuck stuff, we worked our arms using the 3lb weights. I still think I could have gone up in weight, because nothing fatigued for me. Although going up in weight really wasn't an option unless I doubled the weights I was holding.

   

Later, we completed some plyo work at the bar which definitely fatigued my leg muscles and made me shake. Yes!!

   

We continued to use the barre and switched from the floor to the barre to work different muscle groups.

   

One part I remember well is we were given mats to use against the wall under the ballet barre. We basically rolled half of the mat at the wall and placed our backs close  to the wall. WE then practiced some tucking exercises and leg lifts with flex-pointe-tucks. I liked this part, but I also felt the "crouching" position was not very good for my posture or my spine (especially cervical). I just felt super out of alignment for too long... This position did help us engage our deep within our bellies and we did avoid using the lower back, but I still believe something wasn't correct about the body positioning.

   

We moved to our mats on the floor and completed some leg lift works, practicing moving away from midline with one leg up and moving the leg back into center. Later on, we completed abdominal work which was definitely a bit challenging. Lots of prayer twists on our back and pulsing back and forth, up and down.

   

We ended with cobra pose - 2 sets - and child's pose in order to open up the front sides of our bodies after all of the compression. Cobra pose breath was taught opposite from what I am used to ... exhales on the up and inhales on the release. Finally, we stretched together and class was over.

   

In general, I thought this was a great class... The music was awesome - sounded like a continuous dance party and this kept me going in times when my muscles were tiring. I am definitely feeling sore today in new places especially, which I cannot complain about!

   

I do believe the instructor could have had more energy. She walked around with a headset most of the time and did *some* of the workouts with us, but not all. She continually held her IPod and clicked it to lower the volume to indicate we were moving on to the next exercise. I thought this was strange, but I have a completely different background. I am open to trying a few more classes in order learn more about each instructor's personal teaching style.

   

I am pretty sore today, which is wonderful, and I also feel I have legitimately shocked my body throwing in a completely new routine into my typical routine.

   

I'd love to hear your feedback on your barre class experiences...

What did you love about class ?

Were the movements explained to you well ?

Would you go back and why?

Happy December!

Happy December!! November flew by, but let's be present shall we ?! 31 days left to go in 2011. So, what are your plans for month 12?

I wish to...

1. Have more Early Morning Dance Parties. This is when we blast 80s music throughout our house when we are getting ready for work and we dance around... It definitely takes the "Manic" out of my Mondays!!

2. Find our Christmas Tree and decorate it with biodegradable, DIY craft projects!! Stay tuned :)

3. Take Anusara yoga classes in Denver... I have only scratched the surface, just barely, but I would like to learn more :)

4. Go snowshoeing before year's end. 

5. Journal not just before but also AFTER all yoga classes I teach.

6. Enjoy every moment that is left of 2011. Live the life I love.

XX

Robyn

QUOTE OF THE DAY

FLY WITH THOSE WHO SEE THE POWER OF YOUR WINGS...

Happy Weekend!

FILM - BLACK SWAN

My itty bitty review of the really big movie... Black Swan...
I hadn't watched a scary movie in YEARS!! I love them, because I love not knowing what is about to happen. Black Swan was more of a psychological thriller. This movie was intense, reckless, graceful, twisted, lovely...! Nominated for five Golden Globes, the dancing was phenomenal; the acting was sensational. The film stars Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel. Natalie's role Nina Sayers is a member of a major ballet company out of NYC. She desires the leading role of the play Swan Lake, a role in which she must play both the White Swan - innocent and graceful, and the Black Swan - more sensuous and wild. She fits the White Swan's role perfectly, but needs to find the Black Swan within herself. The movie shows us a struggle between the two roles... I cannot say another word... Go see it!

YOGA, DANCE, LIFE: Quotes to Live By

(via here )

“I did not come to yoga to stretch. I came to live.” Maya Breuer

“What I want to say is that there is a strong relationship between yoga on the mat and yoga off the mat. I’ve really come to believe that the energy accumulated in practice has a lot to do with my ability to get clarity about the reality of things.” John Friend

“When you’re experiencing peace, it’s coming from within you, you’re ‘doing’ peace. And this is true of anything else you might be looking for. Love, happiness, contentment, well-being come from within. Nothing external needs to change for you to have what you want…..If you want to be happier – be happier. If you want to be more relaxed – relax. If you want more friends – be friendly. Sounds simple. It is.”  Cheri Huber

"Doubt everything. Find your own light." -Buddha

The most important pieces of equipment you need for doing yoga are your body and your mind. -Rodney Yee

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. (via my sister)

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.

- Upanishads

First of all the twinkling stars vibrated,
but remained motionless in space,
then all the celestial globes were united into one series of movements.
… Firmament and planets both disappeared,
but the mighty breath which gives life to all things and in which all is bound up remained.

– Vincent Van Gogh

There is vitality,
a life force that is translated through you into action.
And because there is only one of you in all time,
this expression is unique,
and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.
It is not your business to determine how good it is,
or how valuable it is,
or how it compares with others expressions.
It is your business to keep it yours,
to keep the channel open.
You do not even have to believe
in yourself
or your works.
You have to keep an open mind
and be aware directly to the urges that motivate you.

-Maratha Graham

"Fall with awareness and acceptance" -Brian Kest

"Health is wealth. Peace of mind is happiness. Yoga shows the way." - Swami Vishnu-devananda

"Follow your bliss." - Joseph Campbell

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will." -George Bernard Shaw



"Be here now." -Ram Dass