I’m not usually a fitness class person. Working out solo or with a trainer, whether I’m pumping iron or logging miles, is my modus operandi. Recently, though, I decided to change it up and scoped out the group classes at my Equinox club.
The first that caught my eye was a barre class. Having been trained in a ballet academy during my childhood and adolescence, I decided to be safe and stick to familiar territory. On the appointed morning, I strolled into the barre-yoga studio, and as I stretched before the mirror, the room filled rapidly with men and women jockeying for position, excited to start. Truth be told, I expected the instructor to be an uber-skinny, sylph-like individual who glided effortlessly toward the front of the room, while waving a graceful arm to her adoring dance enthusiasts.
Oh boy, was I wrong.
Instead, blasting through the front door, dropping her backpack and cranking up pulsating hip-hop music, 32-year-old Liz Corah, a pony-tailed brick wall of brawn, launched into the first of a series of nonstop body-blasting sequences. “I’m awake now!” I remember thinking. Locked and loaded with confidence and finesse, she electrified the room with her commands and cajoles. Inspiring as we were perspiring, she guided and corrected each student, reminding us that success lies outside our comfort zone. As she demonstrated each move, I watched her calves and quads engage and lock the pose. This young woman was the epitome of passion and empowerment. By the end of class, I was a fan girl, vowing to follow her anywhere.
There’s an important reason she’s so unique. She kicks to the curb any stereotypic notion that all female fitness instructors have to look one way – ripped and thin. Instead, the reality is that there’s a whole spectrum of fit bodies out there. People have rich and complex histories that bring them to the field of fitness to teach, inspire and motivate folks to get more active. And Liz is no exception.
A dancer since she was a child, she’s always been powerful and muscular. Pregnancies challenged her ability to recoup her fitness body, which she eventually achieved. Then, diagnoses of celiac disease and thyroid disease threw her off track again. And, like so many people, she’s learning how to regroup. She’s slugging it out like the rest of us. She’s real, not some kind of mythical perfect being, and she’s doing the best she can. This is why it’s so terrific to see her lead and motivate. You know it comes from a deep-set place that says, “Yeah, I get it – been there and still doin’ it.”
We all agree that life’s filled with countless smack-downs, and to survive you must regroup, learn and keep it going. As a single mom who raised herself and endured tough times, Liz is the poster child for Einstein’s famous adage: “In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.”
I noticed during that first barre class that we never used the wall barres at all, depending instead on our core and leg strength for balance. After class, Liz explained that this method was inspired by her experience as an underprivileged teen who had to clean the ballet studio to be able to attend ballet class. As a scholarship student, there was rarely room at the crowded barre. So, most of the time, she was sent to the middle of the room with only a stool for balance. Guess who ended up with the strongest legs in class? In Liz’s words, “I am a stronger person because of my journey. I also feel that these life lessons were given to me so that I am able to relate to others on a deeper level.”
Here are three key takeaways inspired by Liz’s story:
1. Workouts are a metaphor for life. Every time you go out for that run, walk your daily 10,000 steps or sweat through another weight-lifting session at the gym, you demonstrate stress resilience. Soaring outside of your comfort zone, you show grit and perseverance. So when you’re faced with career and relationship stresses, remind yourself that just as you can get through a tough workout, you can also persevere through life’s other challenges as well.
2. We need a diversity of talented fitness professionals. Kudos to Equinox club and others who are sharp and wise enough to include professionals like Liz in their group of fitness instructors. When I posted Liz’s story on Facebook, I took notice of Deb’s reply: “I’m 55 and have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis and am currently taking an aquatics therapy class, taught by two very inspiring women: an 85-year-old former dancer who just underwent open heart surgery this summer and had complications, yet still comes to the pool and does very modified movements for herself while recuperating, and a 57-year-old woman who is a breast cancer survivor, has muscular dystrophy and went from a wheelchair to a walker and now walks independently with leg braces – amazing inspiring women!”
Inspiration comes from so many sources and we need to tap as many as we can.
3. Power is the new thin. I’m referring to mental and physical power. Thin speaks to a specific body composition. It doesn’t guarantee a compassionate heart, the ability to successfully navigate adversity, nor the strength to adapt and adjust when life throws countless curve balls. Achieving the self-knowledge, awareness and empowerment needed to fuel optimal mental, spiritual, nutritional and physical fitness should be the goal. This is clear from Liz’s voice as she declares without hesitation, “I know, without a doubt, that I am doing now what I was put on this earth to do. Through movement, fitness and dance I hope to inspire and motivate others to feel beautiful, comfortable and confident in their own skin.”
So, take a moment and step off the scale, walk away from the mirror, close your eyes and ask yourself if you truly feel powerful – mind, body and spirit. If the answer is yes, you’ve vacated your old comfort zone and are enjoying pushing your own envelope. If the answer is no, and you want to change for the better, I know of a really great barre class you might want to try.