Meet Kate Cuno, another member of our Bar Method family here in New York. She began with us 3 years ago in Soho, shes such an accomplished, strong and lovely member of our community, inside and out. In her words ... I came to the Bar Method after being sidelined from running after one too many hip injuries, wanting something that still challenged my endurance and maintained my strength. I had not realized after years of repeating the same motion (running in a straight line), my body was very unbalanced in terms of strength and flexibility. After literally only 3 or 4 classes, I noticed a huge shift in my body. The Bar Methods emphasis on working all major muscle groups in every class, making certain muscles burn while simultaneously lengthening others, followed by those blissful few minutes of stretching, evened me out faster than any other form of physical therapy I have ever done before. I began taking class during graduate school and at a time in my life when I was spending much of my day hunched over a book or a computer. I am honestly not exaggerating when I say that I literally grew an inch in the first 3-4 months of taking class. My shoulders stopped rounding over, I sat and stood taller, I started keeping my chin up without even noticing it. That lower back pain I used to get after standing/walking around all day was gone - you can thank the infamous Bar Method tuck for that one. Its amazing what happens to you outside the studio when you start to walk and stand a little taller too. All that shaking definitely leads to a little more inner strength to get through other challenges. I notice this everyday in the locker room, as were all getting ready together after class, Ill hear clients talk about the positive changes theyre making in their lives from places of strength, whether its leaving an old job for something better, an old boyfriend for someone better or for themSELVES, or just daring to wear that new outfit theyve been shying away from. I am so thankful for the support I get from these ladies everyday! Im not going to lie, when I started taking class I definitely was motivated by a somewhat vain motivation to become long, lean, and graceful like the dancer I am NOT (by build or talent). But over time, I started to realize that The Bar Method is not a way to change yourself but rather embrace your body for what it is and enhance its natural curves and strength. In a world where tiny physiques and small frames are the implicit ideal, I love that The Bar Method embraces a womans body and assets (pun intended). I love that the studio is always filled with women and men of all shapes and sizes and that the workout itself is not tailored to one particular type of person. And no, in 3 years, I have not stopped shaking immediately when bending my knees in thigh, so sadly it doesnt get any easier, but thats my favorite part - because the workout is always changing and growing, my body is always changing and becoming stronger, safely and effectively. In a city of so many people moving a million miles a minute, staring at our phones or running to make the next train, I am grateful for the 60 minutes each day (75 if you count the pre-class cup of coffee and gossip magazine reading) I get to just be with myself and channel my inner graceful (shaking-like-a-leaf) ballerina.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:07:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015