HerKentucky's Top 10 Posts of 2015
HerKentucky's 10 most popular posts of 2015
Read MoreSo, What Do You Do in a Tabata Class?
HerKentucky.com's Heather C. Watson walks you through a Tabata Class at B.You Fitness.
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So What do You Do in a Silques Class?
When I tell people that I've been taking Silques classes at B.You, they tend to react one of two ways. A few folks are really intrigued, but most seem to think that an aerial silques class would lead to a huge catastrophe. If you went to see Pitch Perfect 2 this weekend, you probably know what they're thinking...
I PROMISE y'all it isn't that traumatic. I really would tell you if it were. Instead, I'm going to tell y'all exactly what to expect from a Silques class at B.You.
First off: what to wear. You'll be doing a lot of the same poses you'd expect in a barre or yoga class, so you don't want a lot of loose-fitting clothes in which to get caught. Stick with the same leggings/ tights, tank top, and sticky socks that you wear to barre. Oh, and leave your jewelry at home. You don't want to snag the silque and risk getting caught during a pose.
Second: what to bring. Of course, you'll need water. All equipment is provided. A can-do attitude and a good dose of humility are good to bring as well; we all feel a little awkward as we navigate the silques.
Finally: what to expect. There are several different silques-based classes at B.You.
The level of inversion and skill needed varies highly by class. I love the B. Silque Yoga class, where traditional yoga poses are aided by the inclusion of the silque, the B.Silque Barre, which incorporates many of the same exercises used in barre class, with the silque taking the place of the barre for stability, and the B.Lifted class, which does incorporate more time standing or sitting in the silque.
Most of all, expect to have fun, work hard, and be a little amazed by your own strength and flexibility!
Before signing up for any silques class, be sure to consult with the inspirers at B.You Fitness to make sure that this regimen is right for you. Pregnant women should not take aerial fitness classes. This post was brought to you by B.You Fitness; all opinions are my own.
Hitting Barre Class Milestones at B.YOU!
When you reach the 100 class mark at B.YOU fitness, the studio celebrates by giving you a little present -- a bracelet with a B.YOU charm -- and by posting your photo across their social media channels. For the first time in my life, 100 classes at my fitness studio sounds like a fun goal rather than an arduous task. I'm still pretty far away from that 100-class mark, however, I did hit some pretty significant milestones of my own in class this week.
On Tuesday, I completed my 20th class. Now, for most folks, that's a pretty standard attendance record after they've belonged to a gym or studio for a couple of months. For me, it's life-changing. When I joined B.YOU in February, I was in severe pain from a back injury. Slowly but surely, the shakes, burns, and stretches of B. Barre classes helped me build core strength and decrease my pain levels. It doesn't hurt that the classes are so enjoyable, with wonderfully supportive instructors and participants. Yesterday, as I was leaving class, my instructor, Jessica, complimented me on how much my form had improved. It was a really big deal for me, considering that I couldn't walk without pain only a few short months ago!
I love the the "Yes, You Can!" attitude of the instructors at B. YOU. The attitudes of the instructors and the women in classes are always so supportive and encouraging. There isn't the competitive vibe that you see so often in exercise classes -- the classes are quite challenging and we're all doing the best we can. It's a great place to get fit and connect with a group of wonderful women. I hope to see y'all there as you set a few milestones of your own!!
{This post is brought to you by b.you Fitness!}
{Please note that I am speaking only from my personal experience. I am neither a medical professional nor a barre instructor. I was advised by my physician to work on core strengthening.}
How Barre Class Changed My Life
Last winter, I was in a lot of pain. I mean A LOT. I'd been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, and the two herniated discs I'd suffered led to a lot of daily problems. I couldn't feel my arm. I couldn't feel my leg. My head hurt constantly, and I could barely turn my neck. I tried not to talk about it too much, but my daily life was becoming severely limited. I couldn't sit through meetings, I could barely sit at the computer long enough to answer an email, and I didn't know whether the pain would ever go away. I was terrified that this pain was irreversible; words can't appropriately convey what it's like to face these fears around your 39th birthday. Let's just say that I hope none of y'all ever have to go through it.
I knew that an intensive exercise program was the key to improving my health. When my doctor suggested core strengthening through physical therapy, I decided to try barre exercise classes. On a whim, I contacted B.You Fitness owners Stephanie Bristow and Rashna Carmicle about trying their studio. I had no idea that I was changing my entire life with a simple email.
Now, I'm not going to lie, the first class was one of the biggest challenges I've undertaken in a long, long time. I immediately texted my fiance "I didn't die!" after the first class, and I felt like that was a huge success. Barre class is a well-choreographed sequence of stretches, lifts, and steps; it took me a little while to get the hang of it. But I saw the results quickly. I was soon able to move with less pain. The numbness in my arm went away, and the numbness in my leg subsided a great deal. I was encouraged by both the amazing fitness program at B.You and the wonderful attitude of the instructors and my classmates.
I just have to share some exciting news with y'all. At my last visit to my neurosurgeon, he released me from “every 6 weeks” follow up visits and said that I have absolutely no need for additional spinal surgery. He said he’d never heard of barre classes being used for rehab, but I walked him through the core strengthening process and told him how much the classes had changed my life. He specifically asked about the B.You program, and followed up his questions with a cheerful “Whatever you’re doing, keep on, because it’s clearly working!”
Clearly, this is a lifelong journey to good health. I'm not going to stop attending barre classes just because I'm not writing about them every week. I know that degenerative disc disease brings flare-ups and that I have no guarantees that I won't have further pain, but I fully credit B.You with putting me on the road to recovery!
I hope to see y'all at the Barre soon!
{This post is brought to you by b.you Fitness. Please note that I am speaking only from my personal experience. I am neither a medical professional nor a barre instructor. I was advised by my physician to work on core strengthening to relieve a lumbar spine injury.}
Be You at B.You!
I like a lot of things about B.Barre Fitness at B.You. I love the workout. I love that the studio is close to my house, so I don't waste all day driving to and from the gym. I love the fabulous turquoise and chartreuse decor of the studio. But, most of all, I love that B.You encourages me to take the workout at my own pace.
I'm a really competitive person by nature; I tend to benchmark my own performance against others'. For years, I'd push my yoga poses or bootcamp moves farther to mimic or surpass my classmates'. A little push is good, you know. It encourages you to push your muscles a little harder and to get a little more out of the workout. I'm not exactly in a place to push myself too hard these days, though. Part of it is the diagnosis of degenerative disc disease that I received last year, with the accompanying surgeries and treatments. Part of it is the somewhat painful fact that the birthday I celebrated earlier this year is the last one that will begin with a 3. And, a not insignificant part of it is the fact that I've spent a lot of time over the past year "medicating" my back injury with red velvet cake and Netflix binges. (It made sense at the time that Scandal was more therapeutic than Lortab...) Needless to say, I don't have a lot of "personal bests" in me right now.
The great thing about classes at B.You is that, well, they actually encourage you to be you. You'll often hear "Focus on doing your best, not your neighbor's best!" or "Think about your reason for being here today!" as you hold a difficult pose. You'll hear a lot of suggestions for modifications,with the assurance that even with modifications you can attain the muscle shake that comes along with strengthening and sculpting. You'll often feel the instructor's gentle nudge to correct your form, but it's always discreet and encouraging. (Once, in a big-box-gym yoga class, an instructor told me, "Oh, don't even bother. Let me tell you, it was the Least. Namaste. Moment. Ever.)
I love a lot of things about B. You, but what I love most of all is that it's a friendly, inclusive studio that focuses on each participant setting and achieving her personal goals. In just a few short weeks, I've felt myself become so much stronger and I've lessened the pain and numbness that resulted from my two herniated discs. I've had to go at my own pace, and make a lot of modifications, and that was just fine.
{This post was brought to you by B.You. All opinions are my own. I am neither a medical professional nor a fitness instructor; please consult professionals before attempting to rehab an injury.}
Yes You Can: Barre Fitness at B.You
At least once, during every barre class at B.You Fitness, the instructor encourages you to push just a little harder -- to take a pose one inch deeper or raise your arms one inch higher -- with a gentle, yet emphatic "Yes, You Can!"
Over the past few weeks, as I've worked on rehabbing my back injuries in barre classes at B.You, I've come to associate that very phrase -- Yes, You Can! -- with B.You classes. After only a few weeks of stretching, strengthening, and toning in barre classes, I find myself believing that I can do more.
Last week, as Louisville was covered in more snow than anyone cared to measure, I realized that the first anniversary of my back surgery had arrived. I didn't think a whole lot about it, because I was actually shoveling snow off my back deck that day. I was (mostly) pain-free. Of course, the groundwork had been established by a great surgeon, determined physical therapists, and a supportive network of wonderful friends and relatives. But, the "I Can" portion? That was all thanks to B.You!
Please join me throughout as I embark on a journey of fitness at b.you. I'll be posting every Monday to let you know how the classes are going, and you can keep up along the way on HerKentucky's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow b.you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well!
I hope to see y'all at b.you soon! They have two convenient locations here in Louisville: one in St. Matthews and one in Springhurst!
{This post is brought to you by b.you Fitness!}
{Please note that I am speaking only from my personal experience. I am neither a medical professional nor a barre instructor. I was advised by my physician to work on core strengthening.}