As most of you know, I absolutely HATE working out. Up until recently Dance has been the one and only thing that kept my body “in shape”.
But I’ve been doing this thing...I’ve been training my mind & body to be a barre fitness instructor.
In the past 3 months I have learned sooooo much. I would come home from training days with my head pounding from information overload. There were times where I would have mini panic attacks, questioning, “Can I really do this?” “Am I in over my head?” “Stick to dancing toots”. On top of that, we’re required to, obviously, take classes. My god. I died. But the more and more I learned, the more and more I overcame my lazy-ness. I kept thinking about that end result & pushed my mind and body past my comfort zone.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so accomplished, happy, & overall POSITIVE!
Fitness, like anything else in life is a journey. Our instructor Kelsey went from being a prestigious professional dancer in LA (who, just in case you missed it, hated working out) to a beloved Tone Barre instructor with so much passion, joy and positivity to share with her class Here is her story!
I am a dancer. I am an artist. I am an entertainer. I am emotional. I am passionate. I am strong. I am forthright. I am stubborn. I am a teacher. I wear many hats. Each hat has it’s own story and pathway through my lifeline to this moment in time, but they all revolve around one common word, feeling, and statement. Joy.
Right away, on the island of Oahu, at the age of 10, I fell in love with dance. The freedom you feel when you allow your body to succumb to the sound waves of music is indescribable. Here, at such a young age, I had my first dose of joy. Dance is a beautiful art form but let us not forget that dancers are athletes. When you watch a dancer move, it’s as if a painting has come to life. It’s effortless. It is fragile yet strong. Most times it’s a gasping experience of amazement. Words from onlookers: “How do these kids do it?” - “They are so flexible.” - “They have no fear.” - “Such talent!” Words from the teacher: “Do it again!” - “Full out!” - “Fight for your spot!” - “You’re cut.”
As athletes, we push our bodies and our minds. As dancers, we are perfectionists. There is no time to heal. We fight through pain and agony to be the best. We do not cry or ask for help because we are strong. Nothing will hold us back from being a better dancer than you were the day before and nothing will hold you back from performing, ever.
When I was young, this mentality was what I lived by. I was naive. I was flexible. My body had not fully developed so there was nothing in my way. Even as I grew older and wiser, I knew that I had gift that I could not refuse. Dance was my life. It was a tunnel vision of success to me. Looking back, now having some minor injuries, I wish I had widened my views.
Cross training was not an option for my adolescent life. I was apart of a dance company that bred the most talented and successful professional dancers. Professional. That word stuck out in my head. That’s what I wanted to be, a PROFESSIONAL dancer. In order to do that, I had to devote my entire soul to this art, more so than ever. I dropped out of college in my freshman year. School was in my way. I took trips to LA every now and then, took classes in the major dance studios, networked with renowned choreographers, and came back home with my old skin shed and a new one ready to scuff the grit. After a few years of working simultaneously hand in hand with my company director, I decided to make an official move to LA.
Hollywood is one heck of a beast, especially in the entertainment industry. I was no longer competing with the kids in a studio on a small little island. I was competing with kids all over the world. The words, “Fight for your spot” had never been so real until now. Adrenaline is a funny little drug. You’re at an audition, pressure is on, all of your peers are watching, and then something comes over you. Then, it’s done. The moment is over, you go home and you’re body responds. OUCH! Why did you think you could wack your leg to your face, roll to the ground, do a split, get up, then end in a full lay out, without stretching beforehand? Adrenaline. Everyone’s love/hate drug of choice, no consumption needed.
Over the years of living in LA, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked on many amazing jobs. I got to tour with Nicki Minaj as a dancer, assisted in choreography for JLo and Janet Jackson, as well as the major dance tv show, So You Think You Can Dance. I’ve been blessed with a gift and I’m happy I get to share it. But there comes a time where you seek more opportunity and joy elsewhere.
When I lived in Hawaii, as well as being a dancer, I was also a choreographer and an instructor. As soon as I moved to LA, I put those last two hats on a shelf. Not knowing that I’d ever use them again, I picked them back up over the last few years. There’s a difference between being a “choreographer” and an “instructor.” To choreograph is to create. To instruct, is to teach. This tends to get lost in translation to many. I would love to get more into that, but this is a blog post, and it’s already getting pretty lengthy haha! That’s the passion. That’ll be another blog ;)
My love for teaching/instructing has grown over the years. Not only did I have the gift of dance, but I had the gift of teaching. I already knew I loved it, and I have a lot to say and offer, but it wasn’t until I was asked by JLo to have a private session with her to rehearse when I knew I could be doing a lot more with this. I could relate to people of all ages, all statures, and of all levels of difficulty. Working with celebs are super fun but the reality of it was, I was tired of “the game.”
Now, I am 28 years old, and I have never done anything other than dance. Dance was my only form of freedom, exercise, and sometimes excuse. I had a gym membership once and that didn’t last. I love yoga, but the ohm was not enough to keep me consistent. Some would say 28 is still young. As a dancer/athlete, she’s old. All the years of strain with no stretch, strength, passion, and stubborn stability, has all come forth now. Man how I wish I cross trained over the years. How could I push myself to keep physically active without more damage to my muscles and bones, along with just being aware? How could I broaden my teaching abilities to more than just dance? How do I find the joy again? Enter, Tone Barre.
It’s been roughly 4 months since my move from LA to OC. I was starting my life from scratch once again. I did my fair share of research into barre method fitness places, but there was something comforting about Tone Barre. I liked that it was a neighborhood, just around the corner, personal, boutique type of establishment. I wanted to put myself in the center of the community and spread whatever joy I could offer. Also, I wanted progression for myself in my body and mind. I feel like I’ve won. I’m in a win-win situation. I learned about the muscles and bones in the body that I’ve so roughly threw around over the years, and use that knowledge to help not only me, but other men and women of all ages. When I teach, I like to relate to my clients as well as just kick it with them. I try to make my classes a fun experience so the thought of pain is not an option while they’re spending their work-out hour with me. I am very fortunate to be apart of something so uplifting and to have bosses that are always supportive to everyone’s thoughts and well-being.
It’s never too late to find your JOY. It’s ok to accept defeat, as long as you use it as a positive purpose into something greater than you thought you could achieve. My joy is Tone Barre, my fellow Tone Barre Babe Instructors, and the amazingly strong and kind hearted Tone Barre clients. What is your Joy?
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