A Google User
December 5, 2017 14:43
I'm not particularly proud of this fact, but I never really worked out. I decided after some minor health issues that I wanted to feel like I had some control over my health and I wanted to do what I could to hopefully remain as healthy as possible. I have never taken any group type classes and I have only had a brief gym membership that I used maybe once...I wanted to find something that would increase my energy and give me some muscle tone, but most of all, I knew I needed to find something that I would not quit and that I could stick to. I had heard of barre classes and did some research in the area to compare cost, class times, and reviews. Based on those things I picked Xtend Barre in Alexandria. My first class was an eye opener. I knew I had terrible endurance but when I had to quit not even halfway through class I knew it was worse than I thought. I felt defeated and embarrassed and thought of never coming back. At the same time, I felt like I had something to prove to myself. Thankfully, the front desk girl reached out to me after class to check on me and the owner reached out as well. I never expected that and I got reassurance that I'm not the first person that had to take a break from class, and they gave me some tips for any future classes that gave me some hope. I learned basics like the fact that I should probably hydrate better (like I said, I'm new at this), that I can skip advancements or start with modifications of certain moves, and that I can take breaks if I need them etc. I feel like some of the pressure I had put on myself was taken off and I decided to get over my own insecurities and go back. I'm happy to report that I made it through the entire second class and every class since then. I have been going for about 9 months now and am so very glad I stuck with it. Here are some reasons I love this barre studio:
-The instructors are awesome. They motivate you, they are kind, they are experienced and they make you feel welcome every time. I am definitely on the shy side but I still feel like I am part of this group.
-The classes are challenging but doable. One thing an instructor said early on in a class stuck with me "it doesn't get easier, but you get better". There are still parts I find more challenging than others but I love the variety and the sense that every class is different, but always targeting all parts of my body. Some days I feel like I can take most of the advancements, other days I take pretty much none and stick to the basics, but I know that that's ok too. I know just showing up and sticking to this routine is half the battle. And surprising even myself, I look forward to coming most days, and on the days I'm dragging, I am still always glad I came afterwards.
-The schedule is great for me. I work pretty regular hours and feel like I am able to catch a class most days if I want to and some on the weekend as well.
-Results. I didn't really start this for weight loss, more for health and toning, so I can only speak to those things (for the weight loss I would probably need to target my carb habit more). I feel like I definitely have better muscle definition than before, and I have seen an increase in energy and endurance. I have also seen an improvement in my resting heart rate and also feel like it's been a good addition to manage stress and anxiety. The combination of cardio and toning through weights, movement, resistance bands etc. is just the right amount of everything to feel like you're getting a good full body workout.
In conclusion, the only thing that would have held me back from writing such a glowing review is the fear that everyone will start seeing the light and filling up all the classes..But I'm honestly more than happy to recommend this place to anyone who will listen!