At the Barre

Downtown is the heart of Saratoga Springs, NY. The buildings have been around for decades, occupied by fancy restaurants and stores. It is a small, but busy city. People are walking to work, shopping, or looking around in stores. Then, there’s those hundreds of people heading to the track to lose those hundreds. Of course, maybe that gal, with the floppy-hat, can win it all. These people make street parking busy and garage spots a game of chance. Add the summer heat, and I think we might have a brawl.

I’m over here, off Broadway, walking in leggings and a tank, heading to barre class. The Staccato Barre is located right on Broadway. I have to pick-up my pace a bit, since I parked way out in the Goonies. Five minutes does not give me time to set out my equipment. But lucky me, my friend, Steph, is sure to help me out.

Barre is Steph’s idea. She’s motivated me to come give it a try. I used to swim competitively for 19 years. Now, I’m out of college, with no coach, no team, no one to push me to workout, except for myself. For two years, I pushed myself to go to the open swim at grad school. I'd like to say I went every day, but it's difficult going alone. Work always came first, making sleep second, and food next...working-out didn’t always fit in a 24-hour day. My current, I’m-done-with-school-and-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-my-life calendar is depressingly empty—but, surprisingly quite a mouthful. With all these blank spaces under the dates, there are no more excuses. I have plenty of time to work-out…and quite frankly, I need the pick-me-up.

Barre is not just ballet. The Staccato Barre is a yoga studio that incorporates yoga, Pilates, and barre exercises. The owner, Renée, used to run the studio all by herself, but now she has other instructors to help her out. It’s important to be a few minutes early to get your yoga mat in a good spot and pull out the equipment needed for the day.

"Hey, you’re late," Steph says. "I set you up next to me."

"Thanks." It’s more like on time, but same, difference. "I forgot parking would be nuts with track season," I explained.

I throw my blonde hair in a messy-bun and toss my flip-flops under the bench by the door. My mat is right next to the fireplace, close to the window that looks down on the street. Natural light brightens the room, with the small theatrical lights on the ceiling. The barre, or what I normally would call a railing, wraps around the entire room.

Sarah, who used to dive on my old, high school team, is the instructor today. "Ah, everyone is here," she says.

Apparently, they were waiting for me. Renée has set up a spot in the back, while Sarah has set up in the front of the room. The music starts to give me energy. We do pulses in a 10-count, three times through for each move—sometimes more. The music helps get rid of any awkward silence. 

"Engage your core and bring your hips forward," Sarah instructs. "Bend your knees and keep your chest up. Shoulders are back and down, away from your ears."

I can't find my core—oh, maybe now it's working.

"Now, come up on your toes, with the ball in between your legs, squat down, and pulse. 1, 2, 3..."

The blue ball in-between my legs creates resistance as my thighs struggle to close. I look around at the other women in the room, watching as they easily move from one move to the next. Steph seems to be a natural at it. Her long legs, tall torso, and—oh, my arm should extend to the center of the room. Both, Sarah and Renée, have slender figures as well, which makes me more aware of my love handles. I can get there though...I mean, I've been fit for years with swim, so I know those abs are somewhere in there. 

When I switch sides, Sarah is now behind me, so I watch Steph and Renée as I listen to her instructions. We are in a squat position, with one arm on the bar. I can barely stay up on my toes. Ah, my toes! I’ll just go on my heels for a second.

"Laurie, try not to arch your back,” Sarah says. “Pretend it's up against a wall." She comes over and places her hand on my back. "Bring your hips forward. There you go! You should all be feeling this in your glutes."

"I feel! I feel," I respond. Everything hurts!

I wish working out was as easy as eating twenty-four Pillsbury, chocolate chip cookies...hot out of the oven. As we finish up class, I follow Steph and put my equipment away.

Sarah walks over and asks, "What did you think of barre?"

"I'm not sure I know how to tighten my core. I feel like in swim it just kinda happened."

"It takes practice. I imagine I'm bringing my hips up to my ribs. And I keep my chest up," Sarah explains. "It is easier to feel it when you are laying on the floor. Or, you could do it in bed and hold it for a few seconds. After a while you will start to sweat."

I smirk. "I'll have to give that a try. Maybe I'll do better next time."

I walk down the creaky flight of steps, like a struggling old woman. I try to open the oak door. I turn to Steph, “Well, I guess we are staying here.”

With Steph's assistance we managed to escape. It's good to take a break after being in school for so long, but routine is a necessity in my life. I want my nerves to stop sending messages of what's next, to my brain. It feels painful, and it makes my body sink into the couch further.

I walk to the car and practice tightening my core. Maybe those passing by can’t tell, but I feel stronger now that I worked out. I schedule another class with Steph, creating an obligation to wake up and get out of the house. I take out my calendar and write, barre.