Covid changed everything fitness for me.
Before the worldwide change, I was a local Barre3 Devotee. I went to Barre3 like it was my job. I was there every morning between 8 and 10 am, after dropping the kids off a school, at least 5 days a week.
It was my happy place. It was where I escaped.
I am a stay-at-home mom. Well, let’s stop there because as soon as your children get older, I’m talking late elementary school and up you are no longer at home except when they are at school. Not even school hours because that pick-up line is the bain of my existence. After school, it’s the gentle juggling act of overlapping ballet, soccer, swim, extra soccer, cross country, extra ballet, pointe, and jazz classes. I’m sure I’m forgetting something.
So see it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of kids’ activities, as well as keeping up the house, and helping manage my husband and businesses. My exercise routine is where I found an escape from all of that. A little over an hour a day I was able to just be Danielle. Not thinking about my to-do list, all my wifely and motherly duties. Just me. And that is therapeutic in itself!
A little-known fact about me, and all of us for that matter, is that it is difficult to carry on thoughts when you are trying to remember correct posture and an exercise combination. Hell, it’s difficult just to carry on a conversation while doing that. So, for me, I am able to get lost in the movement and the beat of the music. Music is an escape in itself.
I had this routine for over 6 years. Then the world stopped. A virus shut everything down. My happy place was no longer safe anymore. I tried to supplement with TV and YouTube workouts. It wasn’t the same.
Then my Barre3 instructor turned best friend said she was going back to her roots and personal training. Yes, I am in, I said! MY husband and I both got on the schedule and soon we had a bi-weekly training session and I found my happy place again. Except it wasn’t outside of my home it was AT my home. Before long the South Carolina summer heat started settling in and I knew something had to change.
We did away with the guest bed, moved the home office where the guest room one was, and retrofitted the old home office into the new home gym.
I knew we had to have a wall of mirrors, a barre, and enough room to move, I mean really move.
So I gave it a fresh coat of Sherwin Williams paint. We bought a sticky mat for the center of the floor since it was just stained concrete with no cushioning it needed something and this has worked out great. We moved the treadmill against the wall to free up as much space as possible. Actually, in front of a door that exits to our backyard so when it’s nice we open the door for some fresh air. We mounted tv in the top corner for YouTube yoga classes and online Barre3 classes. I bought these over-the-door mirrors from target and my husband using a laser level hung them on the walls. I found this great quality barre with brackets that come in multiple sizes on Amazon from right here in SC. We repurposed this Ikea shelving unit with some target baskets to hold all the mini bands, stretchy bands, thick bands, toe socks, exercise shoes, cleaning supplies, and sweat towels.
This bench that had been in another part of our home was moved in to have somewhere to sit other than the floor and also disguise the dumbbell weight storage underneath. I pulled the Mexican blankets we got on a trip in here for savasanas. We found yoga blocks, battle rope, and kettlebells at TJ Maxx. We also keep a Dyson fan in here when it gets a bit steamy.
Since we didn’t have a large room we made sure that everything in here serves a purpose.
Then my birthday came and I was surprised with THE MIRROR! First of all, it looks beautiful on the wall of mirrors if I do say so myself. To be honest y’all I saw the advertisements and thought it looked very cool but I was also very skeptical about it. Why would this be any different than watching something on TV and still feeling disconnected? Well, I am happy to report I have had mine for 6 months and WE use it on an almost daily basis. I will do a separate blog post on it soon!
Well, that’s how it happened ya’ll. That is how my set it stone fitness routine was turned on its head and I’m not upset in the least. It has actually been a great improvement for my family and something I didn’t even know we needed. WE ALL use it! Ballet, soccer conditioning, meditation, personal training, Mirror workouts, and yoga!
I hope this inspires you to carve out your own space. By showing what works for us I hope that it helps you figure out what may work for you!
Everything I could find to link is linked over on my Like to know.it page!
I’ll have a coupon code for THE MIRROR soon! Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss it!
Keeping moving y’all!
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