Jump Start Day With Pure Barre

I could really tell it was Daylight Savings Time weekend as I drove over to Pure Barre then went in for the 8:30am class.  There were even less folks than normal on the roads on an early Sunday morning and the class was smaller.

I had a goal to get my workout done early today because my list of things to do is extremely long.  This was my sixth Pure Barre class.  I'm trying to get in at least once a week because I love the isometric moves and that the class is based in Pilates, ballet, dance and other forms of exercise that focus on the long and lean body instead of bulk up.

The water ski series and some of the abs series are still really tough for me but now I'm determined to master them!  Next time you're doing leg lifts or abs thing small movements.  Try moves in an up and hold; then up, up and hold; then pulse fashion.  That will give you an idea of what exercises are like in a Pure Barre class.  I just keep thinking long and lean with goal to look like a ballerina to get me through the class.  Pure Barre is purely fantastic to jump start my Sundays when I'm home in Denver and not traveling.

If you've never gone to a Pure Barre class or what to see what it looks like here's a promo.  If there's not a Pure Barre in your city they do sell DVD on their website.

Raising The Barre To Lift & Tone

I've had a few friends tell me they are huge Pure Barre fans.  Well, when Pure Barre offered three classes in a Groupon recently I decided I would give it a try.  I took my first class today....and loved it, shaky legs and all!

The technique uses small isometric moves to lift and tone with moves based in the principles of ballet, Pilates, and dance.  Each strength series is followed by a stretch series in the class.  That process creates long, lean muscles without the bulk.  Think of a ballerina's body - long, lean, and toned.  That's the goal!

As a newbie I didn't feel out of place at all, except that I didn't have on the cool sticky socks that everyone else in the class had on.  It doesn't matter your flexibility.  You're too focused on the small intense movements to even notice what others in the class are doing!  I couldn't believe the class flew by so quickly.

There was one series where we were at the barre, standing on one leg, doing a series of movements leaning on barre and other leg extended out and lifting, squeezing, lifting, and squeezing.  Once we went up on our toes on the standing leg, my leg starting shaking so badly I actually thought I was going to collapse.  That's actually a good thing.  Pure Barre targets the tough areas for women - abs, butt, and thighs.  Don't you want a toned tummy, lifted tush, and no cellulite tight thighs?  I do and adding Pure Barre into my workout regiment.

Here's the great thing.  There are locations across the country and you can do a single class.  Give it a try....bet you'll feel the sweat, shake, and some soreness from the first class like me.  I'm hooked and can't wait to take my next class!

Zumba With Mom

I took my first Zumba class with my mom.  Actually hard for me to believe I haven't tried a Zumba class before but I haven't.  My soon-to-be 73 year old Mom gets her dancing shoes on several times a week and takes a Zumba class at the Life Center in my hometown, Greenville, SC.  Keep in mind that on her 69th birthday she took me to the hip hop class she was in to at that time.  My mom is a pianist so she gets the beat, but she's not a dancer.  It doesn't matter.  What does matter is she gets in there with women well less have her age and the shakes it like the rest of them!  She loves her Monday night instructor Amy and I can see why. Amy is vivacious, motivating and fun.

My mom was so in to trying the follow the moves she didn't even notice I was filming for a few seconds.  Of course I jumped right back in with her and Zumba-ed away.  In the words of my mom as we were heading to the class, "This ought to be a riot."  Yes mom it was and yes I laughed more than once but when I'm almost 73 I hope I can still get my groove on!

Here's a quick clip of my mom moving to the beat.