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7 Reasons Why Barre3 Online is a Great Option for Moms

Alternative title – 7 Reasons Why Barre3 Online is a Great Option for Anyone

I chose to use ‘moms’ in the title because I can relate to the struggles moms face in the workout department. With that being said, I think Barre3 Online is a great at home option for people being pulled in every which direction.

I first wrote about Barre3 Online back in 2015. We were living in St. Petersburg, and I wanted to try something new because my workouts at the time mainly included running (both outdoor and treadmill) and strength training. Well, it’s now 2017, and I’m still talking about Barre3, so you know it’s good!

Personally, as I’ve transitioned to being a mom, I’ve found Barre3 to be a great way to get (and hopefully stay) strong again. Not only are the classes themselves effective and powerful, but the entire ‘system’ is amazing. I love the mind, body, and soul approach.

With that being said, here are 7 reasons why I think Barre3 Online is a great option for moms/anyone.

1: Cost – A monthly membership sets you back $29. Believe it or not, this is less than the cost of one in person class. And your membership includes hundreds of online classes, online support, access to delicious recipes, etc. Babies/kids are expensive, Barre3 isn’t!

2: Accessibility – Obviously with this being an online option, you can access the classes from anywhere – your living room, a hotel room, etc. As a mom, this is everything because you don’t need to worry about childcare. I usually fit my workouts in during nap time or after Kaiden goes down for the night. Also, you don’t need much equipment to break a sweat. If you don’t want to use just your body weight, you totally can. Want to take it up a notch? You can do that too with the help props – Barre3 core ball, a yoga mat, resistance bands, and/or light handheld weights.

3: Zen – Barre3 is my me time in all ways possible – physically as well as mentally. I love zening out and really focusing on my body, my breathing, my posture, etc. I can honestly say this workout makes me a better version of myself. A more patient version (always appreciated!).

4: Options (time, body part, equipment, etc.) – Low on time and looking for a 30 minute total body workout or a 10 minute upper body workout? Looking to take a ‘break’ and just stretch? All of of that and so much more is available on the Barre3 Online platform.

5: Tough yet gentle – Barre3 is known to be where ‘ballet barre meets yoga and pilates.’ This essentially means it’s a tough, low-impact workout. When I say tough, I’m talking sweat running down my face tough. And yes, even the 30 minute classes are tough. What I love about this tough yet gentle combo right now especially is that I get an effective workout (heart beating fast, muscles ‘quaking; and shaking) while being kind to my new #mombod. 🙂 You can always meet your body/mind where it is that day because every class offers a turbo and a non-turbo option. Love that!

6: Core focus – Until I had Kaiden, I didn’t realize how essential core strength is to being a mom. It’s literally on fire all day long, especially when taking care of K. Barre3 workouts really focus on the core, even when you’re not specifically working the core. Every exercise requires you to be aware of your core, which means it’s constantly on and working. I LOVE that because I HATE things like crunches. Ew.

7: Functional – In addition to the above, all Barre3 moves are functional. This means you really target the muscles used on a daily basis. You know, the muscles you use when you pick your baby up from the crib, squat down a million times to pick something up off the floor, etc.

Don’t take my word for it. Try Barre3 Online for yourself and let me know what you think!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, there are referral links included. If you sign up using my link, we both get $10 off our subscriptions. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

My Journey – Postpartum Food and Fitness

written by Parita 1 Comment

I refused to title this post ‘My Postpartum Body’ or ‘Body After Baby.” Phrasing it that way really irritates me. Pregnancy is such a beautiful and miraculous experience, but for some reason, women oftentimes forget about everything their body did for them over the course of nine months and instead focus on reaching postpartum or ‘body after baby’ milestones. Personally, I refuse to subject myself to that kind of mindset. My body is still my body.

Before I share my journey and experience, I want to state that it’s just that. MY journey and experience. I’m not going to share pictures of myself or anything like that because 1. are you kidding me (shudder!)!? and 2. as I quickly learned, it’s not just about what your body looks like after nine months. There’s so much more to this whole thing.

With that, here we go…

BACKGROUND

Let’s start with pregnancy. It’s insane…in so many different ways…most of which are wonderful. I remember being in awe of my growing belly and thanking my lucky stars for the opportunity to create life. It was and always will be the best thing I ever did. However, it comes with some side effects. Those weren’t always so fun, especially the swollen legs, feet, and ankles. But I got through it, and my body didn’t fail me. Instead it enabled me with my long walks to and from work, my early morning workout sessions, etc. Never have I been so thankful for the body I have!

Then came the actual delivery. If you read my post about Kaiden’s birth story, you know it didn’t go according to plan. But I do attribute (at least partially) the positive ending to the hours of exercise and movement I racked up over the course of the nine months. It really does make a difference!

Then came a five night hospital stay because of all the complications. Because of all the fluids they had to give me + the antibiotics, my body was SWOLLEN. I mean, I looked in the mirror on day two, and immediately called out to my sister because what I saw freaked me out! Everything from my waist down was inflated. Vishnu said my legs felt like plastic, and even my mom was freaked out (although she kept telling me I looked great). It took 2-3 weeks for the swelling to go away completely. I never thought the day would come.

PRESENT DAY

Since that time, my body has continued to change. It’s slowly normalizing (whatever that means!). I will say though…I don’t think it will ever go back to the way it looked pre-Kaiden, especially in the belly area. And you know what, I’m 100% okay with that. I mean, I housed my child inside of me. That was his home for nine months. It’s totally ok if that special part of me looks a little different. And truth be told, I’ve never had a super flat belly, so how can I realistically expect to have one now.

With all of that being said, I am trying to be mindful of what I eat and reminding myself to move whenever possible. Not because I want my body ‘back,’ but because I want to feel my absolute best for me and my family. They really need me! Ha!

Before I share a little more on my habits and the tools I’m using to help me along the way, there are a few things all mamas should be aware of before starting on their own journeys. It goes without saying, but any and all decisions should be discussed with your doctor. He/she really does know best!

If you’re breastfeeding or pumping, you want to ensure you’re taking in an adequate amount of calories. This is not the time to start a restrictive diet (there’s never a good time for that but that’s a different topic for a different day). Your body needs fuel to keep up with all the milk your producing, so if anything, eat more! I’ve read more than one account of mamas restricting calories and losing their supply.

The same mantra goes for exercise. If you want to keep your supply up, don’t aggressively exercise. And more than anything, go with what your doctor says with regards to movement. If you’re told to wait eight weeks (like me), wait eight weeks. Instead of thinking about missed gym time, enjoy your baby. It’s worth it!

And my final observation pertains to the number on the scale. The number has never meant less to me than it does now. Pregnancy has showed me that the number on the scale and what you see in the mirror don’t always correlate. You can weigh what you did pre-baby and still not look the same, and on the flip side, you can weigh a little more and look better than expected. My advice to all new moms is to remember that the scale is one small slice of a very larger pie. Personally, I’m using my pants to measure progress. Thankfully, most of my pants/jeans fit now but not as comfortably as they did before, so my goal is to get to the point where I truly feel like myself in my pants. Ha! And to be completely honest, I’m using my clothes because I don’t want to spend money on new pants/jeans. Basically, I’m cheap!

Ok so here’s my postpartum food and fitness non-plan plan… 🙂

Overall, my mantra is to take it one day at a time. Life with a baby requires you to make plans and adjust as you go. My vision of how I think our day will unfold rarely matches what actually happens. And that’s ok. Hey, if this type-A maniac can learn to roll with it, anyone can!

FOOD

When it comes food, the D word is a major no no. As boring as it may sound, my philosophy is to keep it simple, fresh, and delicious. The sugar monster inside of me wants all the goodies I can find, but I’m trying to lower my sugar intake as much as possible (re: not eliminate it because what’s the fun in that!). I’ve also increased my water intake because the more water the better, especially for breast milk production. I haven’t jumped back on the alcohol train just yet, aside from one beer and one glass of wine. I’d like to keep it infrequent going forward…at least for now! As far as eating out is concerned, I try to make the best choice I can in the moment. We eat pretty healthy at home, so I don’t mind ‘splurging’ if you will every now and then. Again, what’s the fun in always picking the healthy option!

I have a post in the works about meal prepping to avoid eating (crap) on the go. Lots of thoughts on that now that time is a rare commodity! Coming soon.

FITNESS

I have even less of a plan when it comes to exercise. Ha! My philosophy is to move as much as possible whenever possible. Sometimes that looks like designated gym time, sometimes that looks like a Barre3 online workout at home, and sometimes that looks like a long walk with my boys. If possible, I’m trying to exercise intentionally 4-5 times a week for 30-40 minutes. Key word is trying. But really, it’s all about building up daily activity at this point in time. One thing that’s super helpful with regards to working out is having a supportive partner. Vishnu encourages me to do what I need to do for my self-care. Have I mentioned that I love him because I do!

So that’s where I am at almost three months out! Can you believe it? Three months!

Hoping to fit in a 40 minute Barre3 workout tonight…or a nap. We’ll see how I feel. Agility at it’s best!

Pregnancy Fitness – Mindset + Resources

written by Parita 9 Comments

Before I share the thoughts I’ve been holding in for weeks, I must preface this post with a clear disclosure. I am NOT a medical professional or pregnancy fitness expert. ALWAYS consult your doctor before engaging in prenatal workouts.

With that out of the way, let’s begin!

MINDSET

When it comes to my pregnancy fitness mindset, I have one goal and that’s to stay active. Whether that means reaching my step goal outside of the gym, taking a 30 minute walk, or doing a strength routine, staying active is incredibly important to me. And for once in my life, it isn’t for me (well, maybe a little bit!). It’s mostly for my baby, as I truly believe my prenatal fitness only helps keep me and the baby strong and healthy.

With all of that being said, it’s incredibly important to listen to your body while exercising. The moment I feel a little more out of breath than I’m comfortable with, I slow down or stop. If I start cramping, I stop. While it’s important for me to exercise 4-5 days a week, it’s not something I’m willing to risk my health or my baby’s health for. There’s always time to get to work after July!

I’ve also read that a good prenatal fitness routine helps with labor (hopefully makes it a tiny bit easier!). Even if 1% of what I’ve read is true, it’s enough to keep me sweating!

RESOURCES

YouTube and the gym in our building have been exactly what this mama-to-be needs to keep up with her fitness. Because I’m not well-versed in pregnancy fitness, I prefer to rely on other people’s expertise as guidance.

My weekly workouts consist of some combination of the following – 35-45 minutes of wogging on the dreadmill/EFX machine, a YouTube cardio video, a YouTube strength video, and/or a prenatal strength workout via Pinterest.

Here are a few of my favorite YouTube prenatal fitness resources:

BodyFit by Amy – My favorite videos include the cardio, core, kickboxing, and strength (with weights). And I basically love Amy – she’s so inspiring and encouraging!

Jessica Smith TV – The strength workout is no joke! It’s only 20 minutes, but I was sore for two days.

Bollywood prenatal dance video – I like to combine this video with Amy’s strength workout or a Pinterest strength workout. It’s only 15 minutes, but the dance moves definitely get your heart pumping!

Mumberry – This 8 part series (8 five minute videos) is an awesome overall fitness routine, and it’s also great when broken down into the individual videos, especially when you’re short on time.

My pregnancy fitness Pinterest board – I recently started this board and hope to add to it over the next few months. There are some great routines out there!

Happy Friday, friends!

Your turn – what workout are you loving right now (pregnant or not)?

FREE At Home Fitness Resources

written by Parita 6 Comments

I’m tired.
It’s too cold outside.
I feel lazy.
I’ll do it tomorrow.
I’m busy.

Excuses. And if I’m being honest, all ones that I’ve used before and sometimes still do.

Motivating yourself to exercise when you really don’t want to is the entire battle! For me, having a handful (or more!) of workouts in my back pocket ready to go when I need them is absolutely key. And being able to do them in the comfort of my own home immediately negates most of the excuses I come up with, especially during the holidays!

I was putting together a list of all my favorite free at home fitness resources the other day to take with me to Atlanta (we’re heading home on Saturday!). Vishnu’s parents have a big semi-empty basement that’s perfect for at home workouts. I figured if I have a bunch of options to choose from, I’ll be more likely to move my butt.

And because I can’t keep a list this good from all of you, I thought I would share!

Happy sweating! 🙂

Jessica Smith TV

POPSUGAR Fitness

30-Minute Full-Body Workout to Burn Calories

FitnessBlender

BeFIT

Jillian Michaels – No More Trouble Zones
Jillian Michaels – Boost Fat Blast Metabolism

The MIS Pinterest fitness board

Not free but an affordable option – Barre3 Online!

What are some of your favorite fitness resources?

Barre3 Online Review

written by Parita 9 Comments

Barre is all the rage right now. It’s like the kale of the fitness world.

What is barre? Well, I really like Barre3’s explanation – where ballet barre meets yoga and pilates. Basically, you use a barre (or chair if you’re working out at home) to balance your body while alternating between pulsing type movements of various exercises and high reps of small range of motion movements of the same exercises.

I know this doesn’t sound super intense, but it is. Trust me. I went into this whole barre thing a cynic, but it turns out it’s a super effective way to train the body. The puddle of sweat around my yoga mat proves it.

Barre classes at barre studios are pretttty expensive. We’re talking $35 a class expensive. I don’t know about you, but that’s not something we can afford right now.

That’s where Barre3 Online comes in. With Barre3’s [affordable] online workouts, you can turn your living room into a barre studio.

If you can’t tell already, I’m hooked. In fact, it’s been exactly a month since I signed up with Barre3 online. When I first started, I decided to take advantage of the two free weeks. I made a deal with myself that if I did 2-3 workouts a week, I could sign up for the $15 monthly plan. Guess what? I did it! I average about 3 barre workouts a week right now.

If you’re looking to switch things up or just want to try something new, I highly recommend taking advantage of the two week trial.

And if you need more convincing, here are my top five reasons to try Barre3 online…

1. Convenience – For me, the convenience that comes with at home workouts can’t be beat! It’s like having your own personal trainer for pennies a day.

2. Minimal equipment – Barre3 Online workouts require minimal equipment. While there are a few no equipment options (great for when you’re traveling), most require a yoga mat at the very least. If you’re planning to make Barre3 workouts a regular thing, I recommend investing in light hand weights (2-3 pounds) and the Barre3 ab ball. If you’re not ready to buy the ball, a rolled up towel kind of sort of works too.

A little tip if you do want to buy the ball. After signing up, go to the online shop, put the ball in your shopping cart, and don’t check out. I did this and ended up getting a 25% off code emailed to me a couple of days later!

3. Variety – There’s a huge variety of Barre3 Online workouts available. You pick how long of a workout you want (10, 30, 40, or 60 minutes) and what part of the body you want to focus on (upper, lower, total, core, etc.).

Depending on the class you select, you often end up getting some cardio, quite a bit of stretching, and lots of strength all in one!

4. Barre3 is challenging – Like I said before, I used to be super cynical about these kinds of workouts. And then I quaked and I sweated and I took breaks because it’s HARD! After my first 30 minute no equipment workout, I was sore for two days!

Not only is Barre3 physically challenging, but it’s a great mental workout too. You have to focus or you’ll literally fall over! But don’t worry, there’s always someone moderating the movements.

5. Great instructors – When it comes to workout DVDs and online workouts, sometimes the instructors suck or you just don’t jive with their energy. I’ve tried quite a few Barre3 online classes and can personally vouch for how great ALL of the instructors are! It may take a class or two to understand the lingo and flow, but once you get it, every class feels the same regardless of who’s leading. I love that!

I hope you try and love Barre3 online! Let me know if you decide to sign up.

Thanks for reading!

Have you ever tried a barre workout? Thoughts?

Fitness Friday

written by Parita 16 Comments

There was a time when fitness posts were a more regular thing around here. Oops!

I guess I’m more likely to blog about my exercise routine when there’s a routine to talk about. Ever since my half marathon, my workouts have been a mix of a little bit of this and that and a fair amount of running. And I’ve honestly kind of enjoyed the freedom of not having a set plan and just being active.

The idea of being active was an easy one to grasp with Brickell Key in my backyard. At the very least, I could always count on a beautiful evening walk.

St. Petersburg is a little bit different. We live in a walkable area, but I’m not super comfortable venturing out on my own just yet. The gym in our apartment complex is amazing, so there’s that. Lots of equipment/cardio machines, free weights, and space. So far, I’ve been able to squeeze in a few gym workouts and an outdoor run with Vishnu.

But here’s the thing. Even though I don’t want a super structured routine, I still want to have a general idea of what I’m going to do every day. So here’s what I’m thinking…

The first thing I want to focus on is getting my 10k steps in a day. My day job requires me to be glued to my laptop and phone all day long, so this one’s going to be a bit of challenge. Vishnu suggested taking a short break every hour and walking around for a few minutes. I think I’m going to try that and see where it gets me!

With the outdoor running thing on hold (unless Vishnu wants to wake up super early and come with me…hint hint!), I’m resorting to the dreadmill for now. It’s been so long since I’ve regularly ran on a treadmill so we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully, I can find a good outdoor running route soon!

In terms of strength training, I want to get back to a 2-3x a week schedule. Again, not following a specific program or anything, but just doing something and challenging myself with different workouts. I’ve been pinning workouts like crazy and can’t wait to try them out! Follow my Fitness board on Pinterest if you’re interested!

In line with my strength training goals, I also want to gain a bit more core strength. BUT I absolutely despise core work. Go figure. The one thing I don’t totally hate is the plank. I actually enjoy plank variations and coming up with different timed sequences to complete. And the best part is that I can do my planking in the evening while watching TV or before going to bed.

And if all of the above fails me, I can always look for a gym/studio in our neighborhood. I really don’t want to go down that path though because Vishnu and I have some pretty solid savings goals right now, and a $50-100 gym membership is not going to help!

Well, just thought I would share where I’m at in terms of my fitness goals and workout routine. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, but like I always say, every little bit counts!

Happy Friday and thanks for reading!

What does your fitness routine look like right now? Do you prefer to run outdoors or on a treadmill?

Fitbit Charge HR

written by Parita 12 Comments

Both Vishnu and I have been using Fitbit Charge HR fitness tracking devices since January. Now, I know what you’re thinking – “You never mentioned this on the blog.” Yes, I kept my Fitbit a big secret! But I promise it was for a good reason! I wanted to use it for a few months before sharing my thoughts.

Like everything else, our Fitbits come with a back story! It all started when Vishnu declared that he wanted a Fitbit. I told him to go for it, but that I definitely wasn’t interested. I didn’t need a tracking device to motivate me to workout (or so I thought!). Well, to make a long story short, Vishnu ordered the small band for himself. It ended up being too small, so he suggested I keep it. After playing with it for a bit, I unexpectedly fell in love. And Vishnu ended up ordering a larger Fitbit for himself.

To this day, I don’t know if Vishnu made a true mistake when ordering or if he did that on purpose so that I would end up getting a Fitbit too. He claims it was a mistake, but I’m just not convinced!

So this isn’t going to be a comprehensive review of the Fitbit Charge HR. I’m not super techie, so I’m pretty sure a technical review from me would help no one! If that’s what you’re looking for, I highly recommend you check out the following sites…

Instead, I want to share the everyday user perspective, specifically the good and the not so good as well as behavior changes/lessons learned.

Let’s start with the good…

The caller ID feature is pretty cool. Basically, if you get a call and your phone is close by but not accessible, your Fitbit vibrates and the name of whoever is calling shows up on the screen.
This Fitbit can serve as a watch. In fact, on a day to day basis, I hardly wear my actual watch anymore.
The sleep tracker is helpful at a high level. In the beginning, I looked at my sleep patterns every day. Now that it’s been a few months, I hardly take a look. But if you’re a light/poor sleeper, this may be a helpful feature. It doesn’t give very detailed data, but I’ve found that the information it does provide is fairly accurate.
The Fitbit app is a great tool. I love all the chart and graphs and the built in GPS feature. It’s very convenient.
Battery life has not been an issue for us. I usually charge my Fitbit when I shower, and even that small amount of time is enough to make it last a few days.
I like how Fitbit fosters friendly competition among its users. There’s a feature in the app that allows you to add friends and see their seven day step count. Not sure how many people it actually motivates, but knowing exactly how much other people are moving definitely motivates me to increase my activity.
The built in heart rate monitor (the HR in the Charge HR) is a really neat feature in this Fitbit model. If you want to understand the technology behind it, check out the reviews I linked to. Basically, the device uses your wrist pulse to assess your heart rate, and from the very unscientific tests I’ve run, it’s fairly accurate. This feature also allows the Fitbit to calculate your daily caloric burn with a fair degree of accuracy using your age, height, and weight along with your heart rate from throughout the day.

The not so good…

I’ve found that the step counter is not always accurate. It does a good job counting steps when you’re actually moving your legs, but I’ve learned that it also counts steps when you’re sitting/standing. For example, I somehow went from 4,000 steps to over 10,000 all while driving to Savannah. I also seem to accumulate a lot of steps while chopping vegetables and washing dishes. I get that it’s not designed to be precise, but it can get a little annoying sometimes! This also goes to show that the Fitbit data should be looked at as more of a trend than anything else. It gives you a big picture view of how active you are, not an exact one.
The physical design of the device has grown on me, but it’s still a little too clunky. I wish it was a bit sleeker, especially for those of us with smaller wrists.
If you’re the type of person who needs instant feedback, don’t rely on the Fitbit app to provide that for you. While the content is great, it takes forrrrever to update!

Behavior changes/lessons learned

To be honest, I don’t know if the Fitbit has changed my behavior much in terms of activity level. However, I will say that it’s been an extra source of motivation on days where I’m teetering on the edge of “should I workout today or not.” Not going to lie, meeting and sometimes even exceeding your step goal for the day is a great feeling! And for the numbers people like me, it’s nice to see the facts and figures.

Regularly wearing a Fitbit has also been eye-opening. On days where I don’t intentionally exercise and just flow through my normal routine (go to work, come home, cook dinner, etc.), I barely hit 5,000 steps!!! If that doesn’t push you to move more, I don’t know what will.

As far as Vishnu is concerned, I honestly haven’t seen much of a change in him. As much as he wanted a Fitbit, he’s not as into it as I am (go figure!). I’m hoping that having a more normal/structured routine come July will help in this department! This just goes to show that a Fitbit alone is not good enough to change behavior. Your own internal motivation plays a much bigger role!

So while this wasn’t a technical/detailed review of the Fitbit Charge HR, I hope it provided good, practical information! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.

Do you own a fitness tracker device? If so, which one?

7 Reasons Why Barre3 Online is a Great Option for Moms

My Journey – Postpartum Food and Fitness

Pregnancy Fitness – Mindset + Resources

FREE At Home Fitness Resources

Barre3 Online Review

Fitness Friday

Fitbit Charge HR

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