Beauty Box 5

I am a firm believer that exercise should be a staple part of any beauty routine. Exercise leads to less stress and improved circulation, both of which lead to clearer skin! (Not to mention there are like 8 hundred other benefits of exercise!) After personally trying almost every way under the sun to get my fitness on, I think I’ve found the 1…or the 3 for me, barre3!

Founded by Sadie Lincoln, and accomplished fitness instructor who helped grow 24 Hour Fitness into the largest chain of health clubs worldwide, barre3 offers a combination of ballet barre work, yoga and Pilates. With the goal in mind of helping participants develop the length of a dancer and strength of an athlete, each 60-minute class offers fast body shaping results and long term postural benefits. With two classes under my belt, I can honestly tell you that all they promise is true! (So much so that I even bought the instructional DVD & 9” workout ball for at home use!)

"Our mission [at barre3] is to ensure that every class we teach is balanced, effective, and personalized for our clients. We have a deep commitment to being best-in class and have a love of learning, creativity, and innovation. We strive to make barre3 a "3rd place" after work and home so leading a healthy lifestyle becomes an integrated way of life."

What initially impressed me about the barre3 studio in downtown Austin was the atmosphere; the studio is modernly decorated with lots of natural light…a very pleasant atmosphere for a workout. The reception staff was extremely welcoming and immediately offered to give me a tour of the studio. On top of offering child-care ($5 per class or $45 for a 10-class pass) they have a full-stocked baby changing station, a feeding lounge and a shower room. The Downtown Austin location is also very family friendly and I’ve seen both moms and dads dropping off their kiddos before class. (I expect that the other 22 US franchise locations to have similar offerings and atmospheres.)

The workout itself is even more impressive than the studio! I was an athlete as a teen and have continued to work out as an adult. I swim, run, take conditioning classes and lift weights on a weekly basis and without a doubt barre3 is the best core workout I’ve ever had! The integration of yoga and Pilates is very evident during class…you’re just as likely to be in Warrior Pose as you are to be doing one of the many ab-related Pilates exercises or lifting weights. You’re always working a major muscle group and its usually on top of one or two minor ones. The gentle reminders from my instructor, Aurora, to be mindful of my posture and keep my core tight really made the class that much more beneficial for me. I also fell in LOVE with the 9” exercise ball they use during class. I have always had a difficult time with ab work because I have a hard time pressing my lower back into the ground. The majority of the ab work in barre3 is done with the ball placed under your sit bones and I think I honestly felt some of my ab muscles working for the first time in my 32 years!

While barre3 isn’t everywhere yet (11 states, 2 countries) they are growing! If your interested in opening your own studio, take a look at their franchising page. In the meantime, you can always buy their DVD package online ($19.99) and/or subscribe to their online workouts for only $15 a month.

Well my BB5 beauties, I hope you enjoyed my little departure from the “standard” beauty blog. Remember that staying healthy inside keeps you beautiful on the outside! As always, let me know if you have any questions, comments, tips or stories to share! For those of you who haven’t yet subscribed to Beauty Box 5, we’ve got an amazing box shipping in mid-July so stop by our website and take a look at the beauty-full goodness we’ve got to offer!

Peace, Love & Samples,

Felicity Fromholz