THE SEVEN BEST WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BARRE CLASS
by Core Fusion Co-Founder, Fred DeVito
1. Don’t quit on your plank position. This is the foundation for all positions to come in class and the challenge is more mental than physical.
2. Clear your mind, focus on your breath and give your best effort to every position and every move.
3. Less is more. Focus on form over movement and make this your mantra.
4. In thigh work, do your best not to straighten your legs and come out of the position. You may need to reduce the intensity by coming up higher but try not to completely release the position.
WHY WE EXERCISE
By Fred DeVito, exhale’s EVP movement Classes + Training
Here at exhale, we believe that the healthiest lifestyle is one that puts you in tune with your mind and body. My colleagues and I also believe that “if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” So we transform our clients with fitness programs that are meant to challenge your body on all levels, including strength, flexibility, and cardio. For your mind, we bring you stress reduction techniques that clear your thoughts, calm your nerves, and center your spirit. We have programs for you whether you are a beginner, an intermediate student or good enough to be leading the class yourself! And we’ll help you find the right level of intensity to match your goals for the “mind body movement” that is the cornerstone of the exhale philosophy.
WHAT MINDFULNESS MEANS TO ME
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As a positive psychology coach, I help people build flourishing lives by teaching and training the skills of wellbeing. Happiness is not easy because the human brain is hardwired to look for signs of potential threat, a process called the “negativity bias.” Left to its own devices, the untrained mind succumbs to worry, looking for everything that is wrong with ourselves, with our circumstances, and with what could go wrong in the future. Be assured, these negative thoughts are absolutely normal, the result of an evolved neurological imbalance we all must learn to work with!
8 WAYS TO STICK WITH YOUR FITNESS GOALS IN 2017
By Fred DeVito
It’s a new year, and now more than ever, you’re ready to conquer your fitness goals.
At the beginning of a new year, we’re usually pretty good at keeping up with our goals. Then, life interrupts – we make it to an occasional class, we fret over our loss of control, then we beat ourselves up over the entire ordeal. This dynamic is called self-induced stress, and is a common pitfall that leads to low morale and poor self-esteem. How quickly we can go from being on top of our fitness routine to falling completely off the wagon!
FLAT BACK: THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BARRE EXERCISE AND WHY IT’S YOUR CORE’S BEST FRIEND
Flat Back is an old-school exercise: it has roots with Lotte Berk, the founder of the Barre technique back in the ‘60’s. It has been a staple in core conditioning exercises for barre classes ever since.
There are so many benefits of mastering the Flat Back position. It’s a results-oriented, efficient exercise with real results that keep students returning to the barre: a leaner waistline and a stronger core. If you can master this position, it’ll improve your performance in every other exercise in the class, as well as your posture, strength, and balance in the studio and out.
ROUND BACK: FLAT BACK’S BEST FRIEND (AND WHY IT’S YOURS TOO)
Round Back is a classic barre exercise: it has roots with Lotte Berk, the founder of the barre technique back in the 1960’s. It’s also a functional exercise position for gymnastic and springboard diver athletes. A staple in core conditioning exercises in every barre class, Round Back is the second exercise position in your core conditioning trifecta: Flat Back, then Round Back, followed by the Curl.
MARCIE’S BARRE PLAYLIST
WHAT TO EXPECT: HIIT 30
By: Bergen Wheeler, HIIT 30 creator + exhale’s National Director of Core Fusion Talent Development
Only have 30 minutes? Great! I promise you that in half the amount of time this class will pack all the punch of your 60-minute class. Here’s what to expect from our newest class, HIIT 30:
BARRE MOVE BREAKDOWN: PUSH-UPS
Push-ups will help strengthen and tone the entire upper body, and also works your stabilizing muscles in your core. It is best to think of this exercise as a moving plank.
5 WAYS TO KICK STRESS TO THE CURB
Life is inevitable, but stress is not. The way that we react to difficult situations becomes the moment where we can choose whether or not to allow stress to surface. To help you strengthen your resistance to stressful thoughts and feelings, we’ve developed a defense plan that works like a charm.
Move it Whether you’re sweating it out or stretching it out, physical movement is a great way to channel whatever energy you’d normally put towards stress, into something productive and healthy. Release your tension and try some Power Yoga for a dynamic and positive sweat session or Chill Yoga to wind down and mentally disconnect. Stressed for time? HIIT 30 is a half hour of non-stop movement that will leave you feeling exhilarated.
