Tip 1: #selflove
Barre Fitness is all about creating a healthy relationship with yourself and your body which is why our theme for 2018 is #selflove. Our lives are busy, and we are pulled in so many directions, as mothers, daughters, friends and wives, it can be hard to find balance or justify our own self-care, but you can’t pour from an empty cup. Fill your cup by choosing activities that energize you, and create rituals that build your inner strength. When you become your best self, you will be better at supporting those around you.
Tip 2: Do What Makes You Happy
The best and most effective workout is one that you love to do. Find something that is fun and enjoyable that you can stick to and you can’t go wrong. Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it. If it makes you happy then it won’t feel like a task to get yourself to go do it. This applies to all areas in your life, if it doesn’t bring you joy, is it really worth doing?
Tip 3: Don’t Give Up on Your Workout Routine
It’s common for motivation to fade but the key is to ‘get back on the horse’ – just because you didn’t make it to the gym today doesn’t mean you have to give up on your goals. Refrain from beating yourself up about it. Start fresh each morning and choose self-love over self-destruction. Ditch the all or nothing approach, do what you can, a little step forward everyday will get you further on your fitness journey than stopping all together. Pressed for time, travelling or stuck at home? Barre Fitness has free 10-minute videos that you can do anywhere so you never have to miss your workout: www.barrefitness.com/video-library
Tip 4: Practice Mindfulness
Meditation has been a game changer for me! It doesn’t have to take up too much time and it doesn’t have to be complicated – it’s the simple practice of being present. I’ve formed a healthy morning ritual of meditating for 10 minutes every morning using my Headspace app. The time I spend working mindfully helps me to set healthy intentions for my day and it’s made a tremendous difference in the way I approach my work, my relationships and even my workouts. It takes time to get used to at first, experiment with different methods and find what works for you.
Tip 5: Try Something New
We get bogged down by our day to day, and begin to settle into what we know is comfortable, break out of your rut and try something new! Whether it is a new workout class, learning how to meditate or taking on a new hobby (mine is macramé!), trying something new will always make you feel accomplished.
Wellness retreats have become popular as part of the self-love movement and they are a great way to take some well deserved time for yourself and try something new! Our Barre on the Beach retreat is an amazing way to revitalize, explore and connect! Check it out: www.barrefitness.com/retreats
Tip 6: Nourish from the Inside Out
The biggest tip I recommend for eating healthy is to change your mindset about food. Create healthy habits, not restrictions. Count nutrients, not calories. Measure success in the way that you feel, not by a number on a scale. I recommend choosing foods that lift your energy up, instead of brining you down. Choose real, honest, nourishing food that isn’t processed and doesn’t contain artificial sugars and preservatives. Eat local and organic when you can and don’t be afraid to indulge (once in a while). Taking the time to make nourishing food for yourself is the ultimate form of self-love for you and your family.
These are my go-to healthy recipes:
Article by Barre Fitness founder and instructor Ella Jotie
Barre Fitness became Canada’s first Barre studio when it opened its doors in Yaletown in 2010. It’s a fun and intense 1-hour workout that combines the best elements of ballet barre, pilates, sports conditioning and stretching, and is guaranteed to trim, tone and transform the entire body. In pursuit of creating happiness through health, Barre Fitness is dedicated to fostering a culture of quality, fitness and fun for everyone.
Co-founders Ella Jotie and Michele Murgel bring over 20 years of expertise in dance, choreography, fitness, personal training, human resources and business management. Together, they researched, studied and practiced barre based exercise programs in order to capture the best of the specialized methodology to create a unique, effective and safe method to introduce into the Canadian market.
MOTHER MUSE 