On March 31st, 2017 our first momma barreista (aka tone barre instructor) Melissa Barriga welcomed her first beautiful baby girl into the world. Our BYOB classes combined with her experience of giving birth for the first time and being a new mom, she was able to mentally and physically push herself to get back to the barre. Plus she got to do it with her sweet daughter by her side. Here is her story!
For many of us Moms we all feel like a stranger to our bodies after giving birth (especially if it’s for the first time). Adjusting to a new lifestyle, assimilating yourself into a whole new person that cares for another being 24 hours a day - it can be very hard to take in. Some of us lose ourselves in it, and sadly for many, it may manifest and lead to much worse. I am sure you can agree on the seriousness of taking the crucially needed time to simply love yourself and reward yourself, not only physically but also mentally & spiritually - acknowledging the fact that you are a powerful being who just brought a little person into this world.
Lucky for me I had Tone Barre, a place that allows new moms to be present in a space of no judgment, motivation of pure self-love, appreciation, female empowerment and acknowledgement of the strength within each one of us that we never knew we had. What could be better than to be in an environment where you can embrace your body for all it has done, and reward it with a little encouraging push of strength and conditioning. It’s even better when you can have your little one tag along with you!
My experience…
Tone Barre’s “Bring Your Own Baby” class is literally a mother’s dream come true. As a new mother, going back into any workout routine seemed almost physically impossible. When I took my first Tone Barre class after birth my daughter Gracie was probably about 3 months old. I had no idea what I was in for and I am an instructor! As all the women started stretching and preparing themselves quietly for class, I had been preparing for class with my child by my side. I began to deeply reflect on the last three months of my life. I knew that this class would be the absolute hardest thing I’ve done since giving birth. I had to go in with the mindset that, “If I could bring a baby into this world, I can do this”. I applied every challenge I had faced as a new Mother to every individual exercise in class. No matter what exercise it was, when it was time for that final 10 I would use my birth experience to motivate me along the way. I must say it was definitely an extraordinary thing to witness how my emotional reflection on my birth experience could assist me physically – it literally gave me strength I didn’t know I had to not just complete, but push myself through every exercise. It was such an awarding experience that helped me find the strength that I had forgotten was inside of me. Even though my body still felt somewhat of a stranger to me, little by little, attending barre class with my baby helped me mold into a mentally and physically happy, healthy and strong Mother.
I began to realize that Tone Barre, this workout class I was teaching before I started on my “mom journey”, is much like motherhood. It’s a full body workout - much like bringing a baby into this world. It involves challenging isometric movements that will build, shape and strengthen specific muscle groups - much like unique struggles you face adjusting to a new baby at home, which in time, begins to help shape & strengthen you as a mother.
Of course as an instructor I’m a little bit bias, but I love Tone Barre & it’s unique “BYOB” classes because although jumping back into a workout routine was challenging, doing it with my baby by my side was absolutely unimaginably rewarding for my mind body & soul. Tone Barre is not a place of physical punishment because of something you ate or because you simply haven’t worked out in a while. Tone Barre is place where new moms can acknowledge their strength and celebrate their body for what it has accomplished, all while still fueling themselves with the self-love they deserve. What’s the best part of it all? You get to look down by your side, and see at any moment, your greatest achievement - a precious little reminder of the tremendously indestructible woman that you are.
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