[TPBE] A girl walks into (a) barre and says "OW"

I have officially completed my 1st week of The Pure Barre Effect at Pure Barre Pasadena!

WOOHOOO! 

(matchy matchy with instructor Leah Purcell)

Recap

During my 1st week of TPBE, I attending the following classes:

Tuesday 6/19/12 @ 6:35pm with Kimi Cantrell
Class #1 and I LOVED IT - I'm totally hooked! Check out more of my initial thoughts here.

Wednesday 6/20/12 @ 6:35pm with Leah Purcell
Class #2 and still loving it! Going back for a second day in a row was rough, I won't lie, but I ultimately agreed with instructor Leah's opinion that pushing through can feel great and incredibly rewarding. Leah, like Kimi, really keeps me motivated and she adjusted and corrected my posture/form from time to time which I really appreciate. This class was a much smaller group than my 1st class, which was nice because I got to experiment with different sized classes.

Thursday 6/21/12 @ 12:00pm with Alexis Hovden
Class #3 with the one and only OWNER of Pure Barre Pasadena, Alexis Hovden! While I can't usually go during the day because of work, I made a point of getting there for Alexis' class because I really wanted to check out her style. She was great and like Kimi and Leah, kept me motivated, working hard and using correct form. She incorporated some moves I hadn't done yet which was a perfect opportunity to work different areas and learn more Pure Barre technique.

Thoughts & Observations

I find it SHOCKING that I feel such a difference after only one week of 3 classes.

I feel sore, but in a good way. I can still move, but my body and muscles have most definitely been worked on a much deeper level than usual. What I find even more facinating is WHEN & HOW I feel sore - most of the time when I've been sore after exercise, it's just in daily life (every time I walk, sit, turn, talk, etc... I feel like screaming out in pain), but with the Pure Barre technique, my muscles are getting worked on such a deep level that the soreness only surfaces when I go back to work those muscles again or when I bend and stretch in certain ways. To me, this is a type of soreness that is totally manageable, because I hate having to go through my day feeling miserable.

**SPECIAL OBSERVATION FOR THE LADIES**
Ok, ladies... so it just so happened that my first week of TPBE landed right before my special monthly visitor showed up (you know which one I'm talking about...). This is the area that I noticed the most tremendous difference:

2 full days of cramps turned into half a day of minor cramps!
2-3 days of irritability and PMS turned into about an hour!
2-3 days of bloating and feeling like a huge pregnant whale woman turned into barely any bloating at all... like, I almost forgot my cycle was going to start because I use my bloat factor as a good indication of timing!

I should also mention that I have gone through changes with my cycle as I've exercised more, but NOTHING like THIS! The intense core strengthening and tucking and squeezing movements that I've been doing at Pure Barre really tapped into the muscles that are affected by my monthly cycle and completely changed what I'm used to in the best way possible. When push comes to shove, I will always go to Pure Barre because it makes that one week a month a million times more manageable!

(Party @ PBPasadena - from left: Hanna Azboy, Me, Alexis Hovden, Emily Adams, Jenn Barker)

Favorite Technique of the Week

TUCKING MY SEAT!! Tucking your seat is something you do throughout the entire Pure Barre class and I think it makes a big difference. Not quite sure what tucking your seat means? Stand up straight as you normally would and soften your knees so you're legs are not completely locked - from there, pull in your abdomen while very slightly shifting your hips forward so it feels like you're literally tucking your bottom underneath you. By tucking my seat, my core is actively engaged and I have to concentrate on my movements exponentially more. Even though it makes the workout harder, it also makes it way more effective and I LOVE THAT!

Treasure Hunting - Produce Edition

Most of us have tunnel vision. We go through our day(s) without truely looking up at the world around us. It's pretty understandable too... we have a lot to get done! We need to focus! Unfortuantely though, I fear that this habit is allowing a lot of great opportunities and treasures to pass us by.

One great example of this behavior in my life is that I get used to shopping at the same places and buying services and products at large commercial establishments. For instance, I often shop at the Vons right down the street from my house. Why? Because it's easy, I can count on it being open and having what I need, I know I can use my credit card, and there's no extra thinking or awareness required - it's a one stop think-less shop. While I pride myself on shopping at Trader Joe's too, they're also a larger commercial establishment in many ways, and realistically, I often go because it's right across the street from my work, so I'm still able to stay in tunnel vision. Long story short, I forget to look around for the local treasures that may provide better quality products at more affordable prices than what I'm used to. Most of us wouldn't opt to go to the farmer's market instead of the grocery store every once in a while, buy lunch at a mom and pop shop delicatessin instead of Subway, or support smaller local businesses in general - no matter what they may be... but that doesn't mean that's how it should be...

This tunnel vision awareness couldn't have come at a better time for me. I was heading in a direction from my house that I don't usually go and realized I was at a moment of opportunity. "I never drive this way" I thought... "There might be some fun stuff over here!" I thought more excitedly... Low and behold, as I was driving down this "new direction" for the first time since I moved in about 5 months ago, I spotted a local treasure! A mear 3 blocks away from my house at 1515 E. Washington Blvd in Pasadena lies a quaint little Family Produce shop. Score? I think YES!

So, the other day as I was getting ready to hit the usual Vons by my house, I stopped, smirked, and thought "I'm going to the Family Produce market first!" Let me just tell you, I am SO HAPPY that I did. This little family owned market has a ton of great produce, and very clearly not from the same source that delivers to Vons (no offense, Vons - you're still my homie). The produce is fresh, delicious, and I was able to identify that it was grown on a smaller/more local scale because of the size of the produce. For instance, the yams I buy at the grocery store are like 3-4 portions each, which is a good indication that they are pumped up with not-so-natural extras; on the other hand, the yams I bought at the Family Produce market were perfectly 1-2 portions each, which is a good indication that they were grown more naturally (my home gardening experience taught me that things don't naturally grow as large as we typically buy them). Not only that, but the prices were INCREDIBLE! I bought yams, cucumbers, apples, plums, peaches, and cauliflower for a total of $8.40. That's a fraction of what I would usually spend.

In the end, I'm happy to report that my recent local treasure hunt turned up my new go-to produce market. Thank you, Family Produce, for being awesome and I'll see you again soon!

The 5K Finish Line

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LOVE FIT LIFE TEAM!

 - we walked, we ran, we conquered -

I want to give a huge shout out to everyone on the Love Fit Life Team for an amazing race, a wonderful time, overwhelmingly positive attitudes, and incredible team spirit! We succeeded at being GOAL GETTERS in addition to raising money for the PADRES Contra el Cancer, having a great time, getting outside for some undeniably great exercise, and contributing to the overall good of ourselves and others.

Thank you
Linda Barker
Duncan Wigg
Emily Adams
Claudia Rodriguez (& Max Rodriguez)
Yvette Barone
Branden Boucher
Tiffany Yoshida
Brandon Chong
Chanel Hason
Alex Nawrocki
Erin Shih (& Aidan Shih)
Stephen Shih
Cathy Simms
Garrett Bell
Karen Bell
& all of our sponsors
for helping us go above and beyond our participation and fundraising goals!

We had an incredible 16 participants that helped raise an outstanding $685 (plus any last minute donations I'm not yet aware of). That means we had 6 more participants and $585 more than our original goal - AMAZING!! Great great job team - I am so proud of every single one of you, and of us as a whole!

Not only that, but our very own Alex Nawrocki finished in an astonishing 22 minutes! Talk about FIT LIFE - Great job, Alex!

Setting goals is admirable; Reaching goals is powerful!
GO TEAM GO

[TPBE] The Starting Line

Yesterday, I survived my very first class at Pure Barre Pasadena.

Today, I want to tell you all about it.

::1st:: 

THANK YOU KIMI for a great class (that's us... cute, right?!). You really got me moving and working up a sweat! Your positive energy and welcoming attitude made me feel at home right from the get go, and I felt motivated to keep going even when I was pushed to my limit. Your instruction was easy to follow and I love that you were actively participating with the class :)

::2nd::

Jumping into a new goal/project/transformation really got me thinking about where I am and where I want to be. I am not fat - I just want to say that out loud... I am, however, a constant work in progress. I feel good, but honestly, I don't feel great. I feel strong and fit to an extent, but I don't feel completely toned and firm. Ultimately, there's always room for improvement and I'm all about going for the gold. It's not only me, though. Apparently, I'm not the only one in that boat. I've been hearing a lot of you out there agree that there needs to be a more welcoming place in the world for the "I'm not necessarily fat, but I want to improve myself more" kind of people. I'm tired of people telling me to "Shut up" because I already exercise a lot. I want to be in a community and environment that supports personal efforts to excel and grow - so, I'm going to create one.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OVERWEIGHT YOU ARE OR IF YOU'RE NOT OVERWEIGHT AT ALL - YOU SHOULD ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE YOUR BEST. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS AIM TO BE HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND BALANCED. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE SEARCHING FOR YOUR PASSION(S) AND EXPERIENCING THEM. 
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE BEST YOU THAT YOU CAN BE.

::3rd::
My first class yesterday was such a great wake up call. I had to remind myself to breathe. I had to encourage myself to keep going. I had to be understanding that my body wasn't used to the Pure Barre workout. I had to remember progress takes time and won't happen overnight. I had to push through the pain and keep going.

::4th::
I loved the continuous focus throughout class on tucking in your hips & "seat" (I love that they call it that too! It sounds so much classier than butt hehe!) - it completely activated my core in a way it's not used to. I loved the small concentrated movements that may not look like much to an outsider, but totally rip you to pieces and work you to the bone! Overall, I just love Pure Barre so far. I should note - I am sore today, in such a great way though. I can still move - which is a huge plus. However, because of the concentrated movements, I can really feel which muscles were worked (for instance, my triceps and obliques are feeling it the most). I'd almost say it's like a deeper sense of soreness - one that leaves me trusting the effectiveness of the Pure Barre workout and hungry to go back for more.

::5th & Finally::
Since I really want to see the transformation that my body and mind experience from committing to Pure Barre Pasadena, I thought it would be important to track my progress with actual statistics. So, as much as it may pain me to expose myself to this degree...

Here's me, right now, at the starting line:

*Note: I refused to do the typical "sad face" starting line pictures because I am happy with my current state - I just want to improve even more!

Weight: 134.5 lbs
Bust:  35"
Waist: 27"
Right Below the Bellybutton: 30.5"
Hips: 39"
Thighs: 23"
Biceps: 10"

Peace, Love, Pure Barre Pasadena!
...See you soon...

Introducing: The Pure Barre Effect

My fit life is a balancing act. I want it all - a long healthy life, a great fit body, a memorably fabulous social life, a successful career, and endless amounts of time and funds to relax and be pampered. Easiest balancing act in the world, right?! HA! No such luck my friend. 

My life in general is a total roller coaster. I'm in constant pursuit of aforementioned balance and finding a way to have it all and get it all done. For instance, rewind 2 weeks ago: I was just minding my own business, doing great on my fit life routine, and I got totally knocked down - fever, cold/flu symptoms, overall sad face all of a sudden one night. I recovered fairly quickly (which I'm told is a true sign of good health - sweet!), but it had the usual lame effect that sickness has - my routine was totally thrown off. After 2 weeks of too little exercise and too much food, I'm finally ready to say "Enough!" (like J.Lo, ba-dum-chhhhh). I'm ready for a transformation.

The Pure Barre Effect

:: What is this, Rachel? ::

My new PROJECT!! And if you know me, you KNOW I love projects - like, load 'em up even if my plate is overflowing like Thanksgiving dinner, girlfriend. 

For real though...

It's me...

 attending classes consistently 3-4 times each week...

at the now open Pure Barre Pasadena.

It's me...

making a commitment to consistency for 45 days...

and seeing what happens.

It's me...

showing you that change is possible...

and you can have the body of your dreams.

:: And what exactly is Pure Barre Pasadena all about? ::

Pure Barre offers intensely focused, incredibly toning, and muscle elongating classes that utilize the ballet bar. These 55 minute fat burning revolution sessions (as they should be called) are a perfect way to become that long, lean, toned machine you've always dreamed about. Take down that Victoria's Secret model, because you'll be refrigerator worthy and picture perfect in no time. BAM!

Thumbs-Up Fact Sheet

The studio is conveniently located at 107 South Fair Oaks Ave [Suite 109] in Pasadena [SoCal] so I can go right after work - Perf!

Their flexible schedule allows me to plan on attending classes at least a few times a week - Perf!

The cost breaks down very affordably when I'm smart about buying packages, taking advantage of deals, and going consistently - Perf! 

The staff is friendly, fun and extremely motivating - Perf!

The music is great, the technique works, and there's an instructor leading me the whole way through - PERF!!

:: TELL ME MORE! ::

Ok, you convinced me :) 

Come back tomorrow to find out the full details on my transformation starting point and how I did at my very first Pure Barre Pasadena class!

I Want Results

Before exercise was a consistent part of my daily and weekly routine, I had a very general concept about the impact it had or didn't have on my life and my body. I'd go to the gym maybe once or twice a week if I was "good" and I felt like I was pretty good at what I call keeping my fat girl at bay. However, like being shoved from a dark room into the brightness of day, once positive changes were made, I began to see how gloomy and uncomfortable the place was that I'd previously been. An opinion that once went something like "If I work out a few times this week I'll look skinnier..." has completely transformed into an understanding that I'm in control and can have the body of my dreams. Depending on the kind of workout I do and the consistency that I'm doing it, my body and mind will change into something uniquely created by that combination. 

So, as I've pursued and maintained a consistent exercise routine and seen the varying effects that it has on me and my body, I've come to find that my ideal workout combination is "free fitness" like running outside, doing exercises and using free weights at home, etc... and "worth every penny classes" at specialty fitness and exercise studios. 

When I tell people this is what I like to do, I often get the same response of "Oh, well, those are expensive. I can't afford classes like that." Maybe... I think. Maybe you can't... but maybe you also have a gym membership that isn't used very often. Maybe you're complaining about not liking your body, but then you're also paying little to no attention on how you exercise and how often. Maybe you don't really know what you're talking about. I didn't know what I was talking about when I said things like that.

Here's the real deal, based on my experience - Specialty fitness and exercise studios can be incredibly worth it:

• There are all kinds of options and deals (pay class by class, monthly or annual memberships, class packages, deals through the Internet, etc...).
• There are classes for a set amount of time (which is usually longer than you would push yourself) and they're offered at a variety of times each day to accommodate your schedule.
• You're receiving guided instruction - so, it's almost like you're having personal training sessions (which are really expensive).
•  The type of specialty workout you do will have a unique and amazing effect on you and your body.

You guys know me though, I like to be realistic too. Yes, specialty fitness and exercise studios can be incredibly worth it, but they can also be the exact opposite. I like to go into new relationships with studios similar to the way I like to get into pools and the ocean - (1) toe dip first, because let's not get crazy (2) slowly inch further in to make a partial commitment (3) upon feeling everything out and gathering all necessary information - dive in (4) enjoy! Need the translation of how on earth that relates to specialty fitness and exercise studios?? Sure - (1) go to a free or discounted first class to try it out commitment free (2) buy a small(er) package of classes - maybe 5 or 10 - to get started and used to going consistently (3) commit based on your ability - maybe get some type of membership or continue buying packages of classes that meet your needs (4) see how your body and mind transform and ENJOY!

Because I'm such a believer in this process, I'm going to take on my own transformation and show you what happens. Excited?? YAH, ME TOO!

Tomorrow marks a new day, a new fitness studio relationship, a new opportunity to commit, and a new me. Stay tuned...

The Pure Barre Effect

...is coming!

Nice Words for a Nice Weekend!

 

 

Thank you for the nice words Fitness For Life!

Do It, Review It: Chanel Hason on Run.Yoga.Give

This special edition of Do It, Review It comes from the one and only Chanel Hason! Thank you so much for being the first ever Love Fit Life Guest Blogger, Chanel - take it away....

Hello Love Fit Life world!

When Rachel asked me to write a guest blog - I said HECK YES! I been writing my own blog called Photography+Science=Chanel for a little over 2 years now. It’s a great way to vent, spread knowledge, and make new friends J

Last weekend, I participated in an event called Run.Yoga.Give. promoted by lululemon Pasadena in order to raise money for Madison Elementary School through the Pasadena Educational Foundation. The money for the school was to keep in place their physical education department, which was unfortunately halted because of budget cuts.  

The event consisted of a fun run 5K around the Rose Bowl lead by Run Ambassador David Liston from Stadium Fitness, followed by a power yoga class on the field of the Rose Bowl lead by Liana Gannan from Yoga Blue.

My friend Josh and I decided that we were going to go for it! I’m running a 5K on June 24^th with the Love Fit Life team for the Padres Parents Against Cancer Foundation event. I thought this would be the pre-Padres running challenge J

We got there early- and soon we were off on our run! I have ran the Rose Bowl before, but cheated and didn’t run the FULL loop in entirety.  So this time, I was going to really push myself to not stop, and kick some butt. I WAS GOING TO DO THIS ALL FOR ME. Luckily Josh and I had a similar pace the whole run, so I was even more motivated to stay up with him. It is amazing the running “high” I got while doing this 5K - the whole sense of doing something good, with tons of other people running along side me, really pushed me to finish hard and fast! I focused on my pace and breathe, and at 28 minutes I crossed the finish line!

I forgot to mention that I’ve had 2 knee surgeries, luckily (or not) on the same knee. So if you may think that 5K (3.1 miles) really isn’t something to brag about, then I’d say run a 5K in my shoes. I will never fully have a healthy knee, but I’m a competitive strong woman and won’t let my knee stop me. This was a huge accomplishment in my book, and I cannot WAIT to run another 5K with the Love Fit Life Team J in less than 2 weeks.

After the run, people could do the stairs of the Rose Bowl lead by Stadium Fitness or relax until the yoga on the pristine grass of the Rose Bowl Stadium. I relaxed, and took some classic silly photos in the meanwhile ;)

When we started doing yoga, the sun was out and the weather was perfect. For an hour and a half, I was in the best mindset and my body was feeling fantastic. I was happy that Rachel and her mom joined in on the yoga after coming back from a wedding the night before!

For the rest of the entire day- I was in the best mood and my body felt golden. We ended up raising over 3k for Madison Elementary School, too! Do good things for your mind, body and soul once in a while J and fully understand why life is great.

Chapstick Champion

Let's talk about something really important for a minute... chapstick. Chapstick, you ask? Yes, you read that correctly. Chapstick and I have had a rough roller coaster of a relationship over the years. It can be a rip off, it doesn't always get the job done, some brands can become incredibly addicting, and of course there's lip protection to think about! Not only is chapstick important for creating healthy, soft, luscious lips, but it also comes in handy when us ladies have a sexy man around that doesn't care for bright pink lip gloss all over him (although that can be quite entertaining). And let's not forget about the men! Men get dry chapped lips too and from what I understand, they don't always prefer a fabulous looking lipstick option...  Don't worry you guys, I found the chapstick champion!

Trader Joe's (or Trader Johann's as they call their toiletry products) has the one.... the ONE chapstick I commit to using for the rest of eternity. Trader Joe's - please don't ever stop carrying this chapstick or we'll have to have a serious conversation...

The Details:

  Trader Johann's Lip Balm

VIRTUOSO

SPF15

Spearmint Lip Balm

"Music to your lips"

(and they're not kidding)

Each box comes with 3 Lip Balms (YAH! You can keep them in 3 different places or have extra on hand when you run out!) and is currently sold for $2.49

$2.49 FOR 3 LIP BALMS?!? YOU CRAZY TJ's! CRAZY AWESOME THAT IS!

User Opinions:

My opinion: [OBSESSED] This is the perfect chapstick - it doesn't become addictive (like some that leave your lips worse off when you don't have it on), my lips feel nourished and protected when it's on and after it's gone, and it's so affordable that I never regret buying it. I frequently buy a pack and donate at least 1 or 2 to friends complaining about needing chapstick, and they too fall in love.

Upon donating a tube to my amazing co-worker Claudia Rodriguez, she too became obsessed. Last week her son took her tube out of her purse and replaced it with crayons... I thought she was going to cry. Luckily, I have a spare at the office so we got through the day!

Upon donating a tube to my wonderful friend Mikelle Lopez, she went from feeling like finding the perfect chapstick was a lost cause to totally found it and in love. Her message to me after trying it read, "Ummmmmm, I LOVE my chapstick! It's A-MA-ZING!"

Get Your Own:

Find a Trader Joe's near you HERE

Buy it online HERE

Very Inspiring Blogger Award & One Lovely Blog Award

Love Fit Life has been nominated for Very Inspiring Blogger Award and the One Lovely Blog Award!

THANK YOU CHANEL HASON FOR THE NOMINATION

... AND FOR BEING A GREAT BLOGGING MENTOR FOR LOVE FIT LIFE!

I am beyond honored to receive this incredible recognition. I never imagined that my fit life journey would be a source of such inspiration and motivation. More than anything, I look forward to continuing to share my strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and be the best FITSPIRATION I can be for myself and the world around me. Thank you for reading, commiting to a healthier lifestyle, and being the incredible person that you are - all of you!

The rules for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and One Lovely Blog Award are:

• Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post
• Share 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 15 bloggers you admire
• Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated. 

Seven things about Rachel Barker & Love Fit Life:

1. The first fitness class I fell in love with was spinning. I didn't always like the instructor's taste in music though so I bought my own spin bike and now I ride at home!
2. I love to cook... mostly not-so-healthy things for friends and family... my favorite dish to make is Chicken Pot Pie.
3. The majority of the time, all I really want to do is turn the music up and dance dance dance.
4. I love talking to people I don't know in public and joining in on random conversations... most of the time people look at me like I'm crazy, but then we become friends :)
5. I didn't truely know what it was to love myself until recently in life, and I'm never not loving myself again.
6. I daydream about when I'll have a big dog that I can do everything with, outside, all the time.
7. I love eating cucumbers and pickles together, which I think is weird since they're kind of the same thing.... relatives you could say?? I eat food relatives together...

My 15 nominations for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and One Lovely Blog Award are:

1. Second Hand Challenge
2. GLAM GRAD
3. Educaskin
4. Photography + Science = Chanel
5. The Happy Mouth Blog
6. Homemade Ginger
7. 366 Random Acts of Kindness
8. Those Young Moms
9. Meal Muse
10. Fit Bottomed Girls
11. Ego-Friendly
12. Wisdom through Mindfulness
13. Zen to Fitness
14. The Happiness Project
15. Greatist

BLOG ON!

Waking Up Accountable Continues

As you know, I started Waking Up Accountable to get myself going in the mornings and make sure I'm exercising during the week [no matter how busy my schedule is or becomes]. Week 1 was a complete success! It was challenging to get myself out of bed 15-20 minutes earlier, especially on a daily basis, but it was also unbelievably refreshing to feel the positive difference that each morning workout made. Not only that, but reaching the point where it started becoming easier to roll out of bed and get moving is one of the feelings I love most! Last week, I decided to create and complete a fresh new schedule of morning workouts to switch it up from week 1. Now, I have 2 full weeks of routines to use in case I don't have time to make a new one each week - SCORE! Check it out, give it a try, and start feeling better one morning at a time:

MONDAY

100 jumping jacks

10 burpees

30 seconds plank

10 mountain climbers

20 squats (or lunges if you prefer)

20 bicycle crunches

30 seconds side plank on left

30 seconds side plank on right

50 (phantom) jump rope

Repeat 2 more times

 

TUESDAY

20 high knees

20 butt kicks

12 bicep curls

50 (phantom) jump rope

12 tricep kickbacks

12 shoulder shrugs

20 ski jumps

Repeat 2 more times

 

WEDNESDAY
100 jumping jacks
20 crunches
20 side leg raises (each side)
10 burpees
12 reverse crunches
12 back extensions or supermans
50 (phantom) jump rope
Repeat 2 more times


THURSDAY 
20 ski jumps
15 mountain climbers
12 dumbbell chest press
12 dumbbell flys
50 jumping jacks
12 dumbbell overhead press
Repeat 2 more times


FRIDAY 
30 seconds plank
The Hundred
20 bridge
1 minute shadow boxing
Repeat 2 more times
End with 5-10 minutes stretching and/or yoga poses

Do It, Review It: Studio Fusion

STUDIO FUSION

16401 Gothard St.

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

(714) 596-7400

I decided to start the "Do It, Review It" series with Studio Fusion because this is where my fit life really started kicking in. I was living in Huntington Beach, not eating well (and eating WAY too much), and not getting much exercise. One day, I was introduced to the incredible Heather Lauchlan (soon to be Heather Cotsenmoyer!) and told she was someone I would totally get along with and a Zumba instructor to make things even better! Long story short - yes, she's AMAZING, yes, we get along VERY well, and yes, she's a FANTASTIC Zumba instructor that really gets me moving and motivated! Before I knew it, I was going to classes at Studio Fusion almost every weekend and absolutely loving it. With that said, here are some of the niddy griddy details to get you going:

Classes Offered?

Studio Fusion specializes in classes that fuse together different methods of exercise and dance. Most classes I've been to use low weights and various props that simultaneously give you that "I CAN DO THIS" feeling while maximizing your workout and its effects. The result is a unique and incredibly fun workout that I've become completely addicted to. Now that I'm not living in Huntington Beach, I feel devastated to the point that I recently decided to head down on some Saturday and Sunday mornings because it's such a one of a kind place that I can't get enough of (let me know if you want to join me and carpool from Pasadena/LA!). Some of my favorite classes are Zumba, Barre Fusion, Pilates Sculpt, Hip Hop Cardio Fitness, Yoga Sculpt Fusion, and I'm sure all the rest that they offer as soon as I can try them!

The Vibe?

The vibe at Studio Fusion is great. The studio is clean and absolutely adorable, the people are friendly and welcoming, and overall it feels like you're part of the family regardless of how often you go. Also, parking is free, easy, and right outside the front door which always improves my own vibe.

Worth It?

Let's be real for a minute... the main issue that most people have with smaller specialized gyms is the cost. Studio Fusion is not the least expensive, but it's also incredibly reasonable for the classes and services provided, and it's much less expensive than most other semi-comparable studios. From my experience, most places will charge you $18-$25 for a single class, while Studio Fusion comes in at a reasonable $15. Plus, if you're smart about it and take full advantage of going, you can buy a package of classes, a monthly membership, or maybe even use a coupon to try a class out for free! It is absolutely worth it in every way. I started by purchasing a package of 5 classes and quickly jumped up to a monthly membership. As aforementioned, I plan on going back on weekends I'm available so I will be purchasing another package of classes very soon!

The Results?

AMAZING!!!! I have noticed more results from Studio Fusion than ANYWHERE ELSE EVER! Seriously, it changed my entire perspective and outlook. I went from saying "this is just how my body is" to "ummm, just kidding, that's NOT just how my body is!" I even remember the moment when I realized the change... I was in a Yoga Sculpt Fusion class and we went into a down facing dog position - as I was hanging out with my head upside down, I glanced at my legs and almost fell over... My legs looks leaner than EVER before... EVER before. My whole mentality of being stuck with stubby chubby legs was over. The fusion style that they accomplish and teach so well does an outstanding job of elongating your muscles while toning your entire body to give you that long and lean look no matter how tall or short you are.

The Moral of the Story?

Studio Fusion is worth every penny and every minute spent there.

THANK YOU STUDIO FUSION for showing me first hand that fitness can be fun and that I am not trapped in a certain body type (to some extent haha) - I am longer, leaner and more toned than ever before and with your help, I'll stay that way forever!