What is this "Barre" thing anyway?

Ballet dancers are graceful, their movements effortless. Their muscles perform impressive maneuvers while looking sleek, lean and almost fragile. Their cardiovascular stamina is akin to marathoners, and, dare I say it, they barely even sweat! Now yes, of course, some of their physical attributes are the result of genetics. We can't all have mile long legs, narrow hips and body parts that seem to defy gravity. But any ballerina will tell you that there is one aspect of their training that is integral to their strength and stamina - the barre.

This staple of any dance school and every budding ballerina is not a crutch. It's not used to lean on, but rather to adjust - to give you a visual and physical reference of where your body should be in space. At the barre, you can work every muscle in your body, including your heart. Dancers take the training and fundamentals they learn at the barre onto the stage.

We don't have a stage. Or do we? We perform every day to a 3ft tall, demanding audience. We bend, lift, reach, hold and stretch from sunrise to sunset and often long after. The demands of our family, jobs and even exercise regimen take their toll on our bodies. If we run exclusively our back and arms are neglected. Bikers get hunched upper backs and shortened abdominal muscles. Cross-fit enthusiasts can power through dead lifts and seem the most well-rounded, but can often lack the control of smaller muscles. Even yoga practice, which is often seen as a compliment to any exercise program, can lack cardiovascular benefits and have certain aspects that may be intimidating to some.

But at the barre you can receive balance. No heavy weights, hours of practice, complicated exercise names, or expensive equipment. We will incorporate exercises from many different genres using the barre as our home base and also small weighted balls, hand weights and resistance bands. Class is an intensive 57 minutes (random time I know, but it works); you'll feel it for days.

I'm excited to bring this class to you! Two chances to experience the program firsthand.

Information session and mini-demo class

Monday, December 17th, 8:00pm

The Little Gym of Virginia Beach at Landstown Commons

Bring a mat if you have one; RSVP by December 14th on the Facebook event so that I can be sure to bring enough equipment.

Full Demonstration Class (Yay, my barres will be in!)

 

Monday, January 7th, 8:00pm

The Little Gym of Virginia Beach at Landstown Commons

Class is limited to 8 participants; be sure to RSVP on the Facebook event to reserve your space.

See you at the barre!

 



A lifestyle change doesn't take a holiday!

Did you know that the average Thanksgiving meal has over 3,000 calories; yikes.  Now I'm not saying skip the candied sweet potatoes or macaroni and cheese (because I KNOW I won't be!), but eating your favorites in moderation while stacking your plate with veggies will help you to enjoy the beginning of the Holiday Season and not feel regret on Friday.

You also need to remember to MOVE!  So for that reason, I've rearranged the schedule this week to accommodate visitors, kids being out of school, crazy shopping trips and family time, while still allowing you to get in a great workout!

Here's our Thanksgiving Week schedule
Monday:  Mommy Fit Class, 4:00pm at Providence Park
Tuesday:  NO ZOO CLASS
Wednesday:  NO FIELD HOUSE CLASS
Thursday:  Join our Moms RUN This Town Running Club at the 35th Annual Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot
Proceeds benefit the Striders scholarship fund; you can choose 10k or 1 mile distance.
Friday:  Play-lates class 10:30am at The Little Gym of Virginia Beach (this is a temporary change from our usual location at TeaParTea)
Saturday:  Mommy Fit Class, 10:00am at The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk (Remember a Zoo membership or paid entry is required to attend this class; I have a very limited number of free entries on a first come first serve basis; email me at 1bodyfitness@cox.net if you would like to be on the list).

So join us for a class or two this week!  Click on Class Descriptions to purchase your single class pass or 10 block pass.  Oh and check back on Wednesday for a great Small Business Saturday special.  Happy Thanksgiving!

New classes galore!

So excited to annouce a new partnership with TeaParTea where we will be holding our Play-lates class on Fridays beginning November 9th!  This great space will allow us to move and sculpt while our little ones either particiapte or play.  Be sure to purchase your class pass so that you can be there with us from the start!

Meet our NEW Affiliate!

Be sure to shop from here to get great deals at Moving Comfort - the performance apparel of choice of 1 Body Fitness.  They even have sport nursing bras that ACTUALLY work!


Find Great Sports Bras at Moving Comfort

Some questions I have been asked since begining 1 Body Fitness

Why do you want to do this?

Activity is what I do.  Our bodies were NOT meant for a sedentary lifestyle, but devoting hours to working out in a gym or trying to compete as an elite athlete are not fitness lifestyles that most moms can accomplish.  I want to show women that they can incorporate fitness into their day without disrupting the rest of their lives.

Isn't there already a stroller fitness program in our area?

There is; a very good one in fact!  But there are two reasons why my program does not carry that name.  The first is because, after a long evaluation process, I decided that a franchise solution was just not for me.  I could not get past the fact that I would be paying someone (a LOT of money) to do something I was already trained and adept at doing.  Though it is called a 'mommy-owned" business it still felt like working for someone else to me.  Secondly stroller fitness is only a small part of my overall business plan.  In the months to come I will be offering specialty and short-term classes such as Dynamic Stretching, Barre Fusion,  Mommy and New Parent boot camps,  lactation counseling, and CPR/First Aid certification.  And in the (hopefully not too distant future) I will also offer doula and midwifery services.

You incorporate yoga into your classes but you are not yoga certified.  So, do you know what you are doing?

Yes!  I do not teach ANY exercises that I have not studied and tried myself.  The fact of the matter is I will never become  RYT (registered yoga teacher).  Indeed most yoga certifications that I have researched require an alarmingly low amount of time spent on actual kinesiology and physiology (study of how the body moves and functions) -  most often only 20 hours in a 500 hour course! Though I have a specialty group exercise yoga certification, the RYT requires a great deal of what they call "spiritual" components including chanting and mediation that do not align with my Christian beliefs.  Proverbs 9:10 says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding," (NIV).  Certain spects of yogic practice ask the practitioner to rely on their own knowledge and supremacy or that of the "universe" looking inward for understanding and not to God.  This simply is not what the Bible teaches.  I find value in the physical postures of yoga, the understanding of the body and mind connection, and the discipline that it encourages.  So those are the parts that I teach.

Why are your classes so cheap?!

They aren't cheap; they just are not over-priced! To be honest the stroller fitness classes have few over-head costs for me.  I have been blessed enough to be aligned with organizations and people who have been extremely helpful and generous.  I see no reason to charge more for them at this time.  I do not feel that this devalues the classes in anyway, but rather aligns with my mission to bring fitness to every mom.  I should point out though that specialty classes and long-term courses in the future may  not be as inexpensive as the stroller fitness classes.  However, I will always make every effort to keep costs low without sacrificing quality or safety.

It's taken me a few days to formulate these answers.  But I hope that they show you my clients that my background is sound and my plan for the future of 1 Body Fitness is great. I hope you will be a part of it!

Blessings,
Lei

Get ready for a ZOO Power Hour!

Our Grand Opening at the Zoo is going to be more than GRAND!

On Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 9:00am come workout for free in the most unique setting in Hampton Roads.  This hour long interval training class will take place on the grounds of the Virginia Zoo before it opens to the public.  Children are welcome at class as long as they are secured in a stroller or approved baby carrier.

We'll have lots of give aways as well as a chance to win a one month membership to The Little Gym of Virginia Beach!

Bring some water, a mat or towel, and exercise bands if you have them.  Be sure to RSVP for the event:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/208098949321232/


I look forward to seeing you there!

*This first class is free, however it DOES NOT include the entry fee into the zoo.  If you do not have a membership you will need to plan to pay for your zoo entry: Adults $11, Children 2-9 $9.

Why 1 Body Fitness

You were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.” (1Cor. 6:20, NIV)

As a mother, I have come to understand that God has given me one body to do many things.  My ultimate goal with that one body is to glorify our Lord; in order to do so I need to make sure that my body is functioning properly for the tasks I have to do.  That is where a well rounded fitness program comes in. 

In the coming months I will be adding several differnt types of programs, but the interval training program - Mommy Fit -  is the basic class that I offer

During a Mommy Fit class, mothers participate with their children in a fun and effective interval training program.  In 45-50 minutes women will target all of the major muscles in their body as well as increase their heart rate to facilitate muscle development and cardiovascular endurance.  You will finish class feeling refreshed, empowered and ready to take on your to-do list with gusto!

A few things about our interval training classes:

• You can participate in these classes with your child or children in a stroller or approved baby carrier - I do not recommend the use of ring slings or pouch style slings during class.
• Plan to arrive to class about 10 minutes before starting time to get you and your child settled and ready to go.
• You will be asked to sign a waiver at the beginning of each class.
• For classes held at The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, the cost of your 1 Body Fitness class DOES NOT include entrance into the zoo.  You will need to have a membership or be prepared to pay for your entry into the zoo.
• Bring water, a mat or towel, resistance bands and entertainment items for your child.  Any other special equipment needed for class will be provided.

Vist the class description page to get scheduling information and purchases your class passes.  And be sure to visit the other pages for other great offerings, including a free running club and an aswesome way to reward yourself!  I look forward to working out with you.Blessings,

Lei

Grand Opening!

I am finalizing the details for all my class sites and will post a schedule and descriptions soon!  Stay tuned for information on a Grand Opening Celebration!  In the meantime check out what's going on with our run club at Virginia Beach Chesapeake Moms RUN This Town.

Blessings,
Lei