So what is the recipe to become a fitness phenomenon founder?
Take a dash of yoga, a pinch of pilates, a teaspoon of health and wellness and combine it with ten years in marketing and you will have a winning combination.
Tell me about your fitness background. What disciplines are you trained in?
I am trained in yoga, pilates and barre (obviously!). My first training was in yoga in 2008 and I absolutely fell in love with teaching. Since then I’ve done a load of other trainings as I love learning new concepts and putting them into practice in my classes. My latest passion is aerial yoga, pilates and barre and that is the next thing I’m planning to train in and incorporate into Barre Body.
What inspired you to start Barre?
After my baby was born, I started incorporating ballet barre conditioning to my yoga practice to firm up and lose the lingering baby weight. After only a few weeks I noticed that my body was leaner, longer and more toned and in the best condition it had ever been in so I was inspired to share the method. We found a gorgeous studio space in Melbourne and just went for it.
What are your personal fitness philosophies?
It’s very simple; do any form of moment that you love and don’t overdo it. Try to get a little strength training, cardio and flexibility each week so you balance your body. Barre Body is obviously perfect for this!
Top Three Life Lessons
- Practice gratitude.
- Be kind to others and the planet.
- Don’t be afraid to live your dreams
Diet Tips?
I advocate eating well and am also a big fan of Michael Pollan’s food rules.
- Don’t eat too much. Eat mindfully, slowly and don’t overeat.
- Eat whole foods all or 90% of the time.
- Avoid foods that bloat you.
- Eat food that is not packaged or processed and that your great-grandmother would recognise as foods.
- Eat mostly plant-based foods and some meat if that is appropriate for you.
It is pretty simple, but it works beautifully for me.
How do you find balance?
I moved to Byron Bay! With eight Barre Body studios in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and two beautiful children, life is very, very busy for me. We decided to base ourselves in the Byron hinterland to be closer to nature and for a slower pace of life when we are not travelling and opening studios. It’s working beautifully so far.
Do you have a personal motto?
Be present. Act with grace and love.
You are a wonderful role model for all women. Do you have a role model?
My mum. She is a beautiful, kind, clever, tenacious and well-rounded lady. She has taught me to be strong and care about people and the planet. I think a lot of the culture of Barre Body (love, care, giving) was influenced by the values she instilled in me.
What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs looking to start a business?
Be brave. Take chances and believe in yourself, and if you don’t believe in yourself, pretend to and “fake it until you make it.” Many of those who try, succeed, but all of these who don’t try, don’t succeed. Also, don’t think you need a 20 page business plan to start a business; one page will do it!
How do you relax?
I sit on my veranda and listen to the birds and look at the trees or I do a little yoga or meditation on my outdoor yoga platform. Lucky me!
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Netflix, chocolate and coconut ice-cream!
Lets talk about Barre.
Barre Body is Australia’s leading barre-fusion exercise program integrating the fat burning format of interval training, muscle shaping of isometrics, elongating principles of dance conditioning, flexibility of yoga, and the core strength of Pilates to create a dynamic and highly effective workout that shapes and tones the body in an hour, with results seen in just 10 sessions.
There is so much to love about Barre Body, but mostly women keep coming back again and again because it’s so much fun and it works so darn well to tone their bodies.
This story was originally published on The Carousel.
