Hey fitness / yoga instructor! If you’re just as comfortable leading class as you are at building community and leading a team, we want to talk to you!
The Melrose, MA location of our award-winning barre and yoga studio is looking for an outgoing, detail-oriented studio manager to oversee day-to-day operations and promote the sense of fun and community Barre & Soul is known for.
Have you ever walked into a space or business, looked around, and thought “Ohhh, I don’t quite belong here.” 😬😔
Picture instead a space where you feel 100% welcome and 100% able to be yourself.
The staff knows your name and lights up when you walk in. Your pronouns are respected. If there is apparel for sale, it’s available in your size. Whatever your age, size, or background - there’s someone who looks like you working there, shopping there, or in their marketing imagery.
That feels so much better, doesn’t it?
At Barre & Soul barre and yoga studio, diversity and body positivity are not just embraced, but celebrated. We believe that everyone belongs here, regardless of age, shape, size, or background. We strive to make our studio an inclusive space where individuals come together to cultivate strength, flexibility, and a sense of community.
We know first hand that wellness is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and that's why our classes cater to a diverse range of abilities and experiences. Whether you're a seasoned yogi, a barre enthusiast, or just starting your fitness journey, there's a place for you here.
We believe that diversity is about creating an environment where our clients are seen and valued for their commitment to a movement practice. Our instructors are passionate about fostering a sense of belonging for every individual who walks through our doors. We celebrate the beauty in our differences, recognizing that it is the collective tapestry of our community that makes us strong.
We want our space to be a haven where everyone can let go of judgment, embrace authenticity, and connect with like-minded individuals. It's not just about the physical practice; it's about creating a supportive community that extends beyond the studio walls.
So, whether you're flowing through a yoga sequence, toning muscles at the barre, or simply enjoying the positive energy of our community, remember that you belong here. You belong at Barre & Soul.
Because you’re a smart cookie, you already know that you have access to livestream versions of all our classes as part of your Barre & Soul membership.
On August 23, we switched to an awesome, woman-owned booking software called Walla. With the new software, we thought this would be a great opportunity to walk you through how to livestream our barre and yoga classes.
What happens when you sign up to livestream a barre or yoga class with us
After you sign up for a livestream class, you will receive TWO emails
confirmation email that you’ll receive as soon as you sign up
An email 15 minutes before the start of the class
Both of these emails will include a Zoom link. This link is not live until 15 minutes before the start of that class.
For example: if you sign up for the 4:30 livestream of the Barre & Soul Method Express, the link will work at 4:15. The link will not work at 4:11.
How you receive the class link is based on your account preferences - you can choose whichever method works best for you!
How to attend our livestream barre and yoga classes
Click the live link right before class start time.
You’ll automatically be directed to sign in to your studio account through Walla or brought directly to Zoom. Easy peasy!
We recommend clicking the link (rather than copy and pasting the ID & passcode) because it will automatically check you in on the roster.
What happens if you click a wrong or outdated link
You’ll see a page that looks like this:
Let us know if you have any questions! And if you’re not yet a member and want to give our live streaming (or on-demand or in-person) classes a try, check out our 30-day, $79 unlimited classes new client special!
Here are a few items to double-check if you have any questions, need to access your account, or make your next booking!
Can’t get into your Walla account? Here’s what to do:
Click Log In to access your account details
Can’t find it? Trying looking on your studio’s schedule page
Melrose, MA class schedule
Harvard Square, MA class schedule
Portsmouth, NH class schedule
Providence, RI class schedule
Click Forgot your password?
Enter the email address associated with your account
We’ll send you an email with the reset password instructions
Please note, if you request and receive multiple reset emails, use the most recent email. If the email you entered is not found or cannot be associated with an account, please contact us!
To request a new password link, barresoul.com and select Forgot your password? on the login screen via the class schedule page.
Please note, if you request and receive multiple reset emails, use the most recent email
If you have received an invite from Barre & Soul —and Walla—to create your new account, but the link or email is invalid:
Go to barresoul.com
Select Log In to access your account details
Choose Forgot your password?
Enter the email address associated with your account
Please note, if you request and receive multiple reset emails, use the most recent email
Join Andrea, Ankati and Paige of Barre & Soul, for 5 nights / 6 days of fitness and adventure in the Azores, Portugal!
The Azores are a volcanic land, full of natural, raw beauty, a temperate climate and outdoor activities. Truly an adventure lovers paradise, and just under 5 hours from Boston, these islands are known as the "Hawaii of the mid-Atlantic" and are not to be missed!
We will be staying on the "Green Island" of Sao Miguel, home to vibrant blue volcanic lakes, black sand beaches, lush natural preserves, and panoramic cliffs. Our days will include hikes to some of the most stunning vistas on the island, soaks in natural hot springs, and exploration of neighboring towns and beaches.
Have you looked at our schedule? You’ll find the class time, title, instructor AND the instructor’s pronouns if they wish to share them. You may have wondered “why?” If so, read on…
What’s up with the pronouns?
Very often, people make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the person’s appearance or name. These assumptions aren’t always correct, and the act of making an assumption (even if correct) can unintentionally send a potentially harmful message -- that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate the gender that they are or are not.
Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just like using a person’s name can be a way to respect them. Just as it can be offensive or even harassing to make up a nickname for someone and call them that nickname against their will, it can be unintentionally offensive or harassing to guess at someone’s pronouns and refer to them using those pronouns if that is not how that person wants to be known. Or, worse, actively choosing to ignore the pronouns someone has stated that they go by could imply the dehumanizing notion that intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people do not or should not exist.
Sharing your pronouns opens the door for others to share with you
So, a great way to create and normalize space for people to share their pronouns is first to share your own. You can do this by saying, for example, “Hi, my name is Farida and I go by the pronoun ‘she’” or “I’m Yoshi and I’m referred to by ‘he/him’ pronouns.”
Sharing your own pronouns is a great idea, but it isn’t requisite. Keep in mind, however, that there is a privilege of appearing in a way that fits both your gender and the pronouns that many people associate with your gender. In other words, if people’s assumptions are correct, never having to name those assumptions begins to normalize the very process of making assumptions (which for others may be incorrect). Thus, sharing pronouns is a great way to disrupt the normalization and privilege of assumption.
Ok - so how does this work in the real world?
First, make sure that you have shared your own pronouns, if you’re comfortable letting them be known. Doing so is the best way to encourage other people to share their pronouns, to help make them more comfortable sharing with you.
If you are meeting someone new one-to-one, you might say something like: “Hi, I’m Akeem, and I go by ‘they’ pronouns. How should I refer to you?” We don’t recommend ever forcing people to share their pronouns. However, people could be invited or encouraged to do so. Thank you for doing your part to help create a welcoming space for all!
The information on use of pronouns is inspired and portions pulled with permission from mypronouns.org. Written by Shige Sakurai, a transgender person of color and a social justice leader, university administrator, professor, and consultant with two decades of community and professional experiences. They are the founder of International Pronouns Day and the first person in the U.S. to receive an officially nonbinary, X-marker driver’s license. We are grateful for Sakuri’s commentary and resources and their permissions to reshare some of their thoughtful guidance.
Why we did away with “namaste”
We appreciate “namaste,” in the way it’s actually intended to be used
Namaste is a word derived from Sanskrit. In India, a country of almost a billion and a half people, you’ll hear it used as a greeting perhaps in a temple or towards someone of authority or spiritual leadership. Mind you, there are five different families of language in India, hundreds of dialects. It’s a diverse country with a history of colonization, regional phrasing and variations, with lots to appreciate and social norms to understand. A key takeaway? Namaste is a greeting. That’s the intention of the word.
Party in the USA
Truthfully, namaste is not part of our yogic traditions or lineage. It seems to have been appropriated by the West when yoga was commercialized in the US; we can loosely trace it to California in the 1960s. Now there are shirts, memes, bracelets… something from Indian culture has been taken out of context, hyphenated with vulgar or contradicting words, and slapped on merchandise. "Nama-slay," much? Even your’s truly, Barre & Soul, is guilty of using namaste in a way that was divorced from its Hindi heritage. For that, we are sorry.
Namaste is not part of Barre & Soul classes
We learn. We grow. We help our team to choose different language that’s not appropriative. Even accidental appropriation is not okay. That is why you won’t hear ‘namaste,' at Barre & Soul. Maybe you noticed it went away from our classes, maybe you didn’t. NPR has a great article by Indian journalist Kumari Devarajan, “How ‘Namaste' Flew Away from Us.” Among other insights, Kumari shared the aggregate feedback from South Asians was that hearing namaste during yoga “makes our skin crawl…” Doesn’t that feel hurtful? We’re sorry for perpetuating even a moment of that harm and being insensitive. It makes no sense to use ‘namaste' at the end of class.
We’re grateful for increased awareness and the progressive nature of life. Learning, listening.
The love and light in us, does indeed honor the light in you.
That’s authentic. Your partnership means the world.
Somehow, acknowledging the power of our thoughts has, of late, gone through a rough spell of Self-Blame and Criticism. Life is full of inevitable ups and downs, but in an effort to take full power in our lives, we’ve come to believe that we should also have full control. (Cue the Game of Thrones theme song.)
Newsflash: there is a LOT that is completely and utterly out of our control. So how are we to find the sweet spot between self-blame and total laissez-faire apathy?
Taking charge of our own well-being and happiness requires one big, radical thing: Personal Responsibility.
The train was late - especially late, and you missed your barre class. The hard-on-herself gal might think, “What did I do to make this happen?!” She analyzes her day to find any hints of how she must have sabotaged her happiness.
Either that, or she silently rages at the train operator, the crowds of people, or her coworker’s incompetence that kept her at work just a little too late. But we know that gets us nowhere fast.
The Self-Responsible gal will think, “Well, dang. Nothing to be done about it now, so how will I make the best of my time?”
A lot of things happen that we don’t choose for ourselves, both pleasant and not-so-pleasant. Those hiccups could totally derail our happiness if we let them, but we won’t- we DO have control over that choice, and we can reorient our attention and energy in a new direction at any moment by shifting our own subtle behavior.
Enter The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, one of Barre & Soul staff’s favorite reads.
If personal responsibility is the path to reclaiming our happiness, The Four Agreements are the stepping stones to get us there. Translated into 40 languages they are, simply, as follows:
Be impeccable with your word.
Don't take anything personally.
Don't make assumptions.
Always do your best.
Practically? You may not be in control of how everything happens during your day. Things will go awry. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, things will fall apart.
Skip the blame part and don’t take it personally. Drop the assumptions that anyone or anything is out to get you, and continue to do your best.
So you missed your 5:30 barre class. Luckily, there’s a 7pm - you can get a few errands done in the meantime and still get your workout. You’ve still got your head on straight.
Work has been slammed, you haven’t had a chance to go grocery shopping in days and your cupboards are looking dismal so you’re grabbing take-out again. Blame-free: it happens. Eat as healthy as you can and slot “groceries!” into your calendar ASAP.
You promised your coworker you’d have something finished for her by 5pm and it just didn’t happen when other things took priority. Being impeccable with your word, in this case, means owning it, apologizing that it didn’t happen, and letting her know your plan for completing your end of the deal. No self-flagellation, no groveling necessary, just a clear plan and honest apology.
Things happen. All the time. Will you succumb to the gremlins of self-criticism and blame? Or will you take a look around, do your best, and make an empowered choice:
Ok, what now?
Go get ‘em.
More guacamole? Better. More vacation time? Definitely better. More sleep? Yes, please.
But more hours of workout time? Not necessarily better, in fact.
Many of us can recall the early days when we first discovered any sort of fitness regimen. We spent hours on a treadmill or awkwardly trying to use the weight machines as we figured out how our bodies responded to exercise. Some of us became runners for simplicity. Some gave up.
Some of us, eventually, found our way to group classes. Maybe barre. Or yoga. Remember Zumba?
The logic might then look something like this: if one class a day is good, then wouldn’t two be even better?!
For some? Maybe. But it completely depends on you, your lifestyle, and your body type. And? We’ve designed the Barre & Soul Method to be SO effective and efficient that even just 3 classes a week will completely transform your fitness and overall well being.
You might see the barres on the wall and think this is going to be all plies and other French words you don’t know. In reality, the Barre classes you’ll find these days take their inspiration from the focused movements and workouts that were used to train dancers - but they have been extracted, honed, and changed to create a workout for everyone. Not just people in leotards.
While you will see some plies (aka squat with turned out feet) in class, you can bet they won’t be accompanied by wide, sweeping arms or spins and leaps. You’ll be focused on your alignment, your breath, and the shaking in your muscles (which is where the real transformation occurs).
Which brings us to...
This part’s a little geeky, but it's crucial: we’ve designed the targeted isometric movements of the Barre & Soul Method to be SO effective that you don’t need to do a barre exercise class twice a day. You don’t even have to be in class every day. Because you’re not doing big, compound movements, you can work a muscle for a longer period of time and fatigue the target area in a way that gets serious results in just 3 classes per week.
You’re also getting a whole body workout every time you come to barre class, meaning there’s no need for “legs day” and “shoulders day”: every day is everything day at the barre. You’ll tone your muscles without getting huge and bulky - and yes, those tiny 2-lb weights will absolutely do the job. And then some. You just need to give them a few days a week of attention.
You know that your body benefits from a full, functional range of movements - including the fluid stretch of yoga. Three barre classes a week will help you take your yoga practice to the next level by increasing your joint stability, revving up your core strength, and targeting the muscles that are more difficult to get in a regular vinyasa practice. On the flip side, including a couple of yoga classes a week will keep you flexible and challenge your body to move in different ways.
Both will help you calm and focus your mind, center yourself, and boost your mood. All in just a handful of hours per week.
Work out in a way that is good to your body, mind, and soul. Your classes should feel good for your whole life - and with a quality barre class, you’re going to feel and see the benefits of your workout without needing to spend hours at the gym.
So. Transformation is at the barre. We will see you there!
Hello Amazing Barre & Soulmate!
There are no adequate words to express how grateful and humbled I am that Barre & Soul has been chosen for Best Barre Studio 2018 in this year's Best of Boston Awards!!!
Words can't do justice to the extraordinary, hardworking, dedicated, passionate (and frighteningly good-looking) team of barre and yoga teachers and staff who are responsible for this honor, both past and present. For a small, indie company like us to get noticed amid a sea of big brands, you are really doing something special!
This honor would surely not be possible without our (equally gorgeous) members, we love you more than you know. You make all of our dreams come true and for that, we are forever grateful. Your bright shining faces, dedication to your health and wellness and your commitment to your soulmate community is at the very core of what Barre & Soul stands for.
We are more than just fitness, we are an empowering, inclusive community of men and women all here to uplift each other all while pulsing and sweating together!
It has been an immense amount of work these past 5 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything. We've been through many ups and downs as a small independent business, however, every step of the way has been a learning process that has brought us closer to our successes. To our mentors, partners, kids, friends, staff, community, and everyone who has taught us something about how to lead, no matter how big or how small, we thank you.
I can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings us!
Thank you. Love you.
Your Barre & Soulmate for life,
Andrea Isabelle Lucas
I’ve been to a lot of industry conferences and trade shows. They’re never amazing. NEVER. There may be a session that you can garner a few worthwhile tidbits, but mostly a lot of filler.
BOLD was nothing like that.
Firstly, the headliners were Michelle Obama and Billie Jean King. NBD.
Secondly, our founder, Andrea, was speaking on a Women in Leadership panel.
Let me just say I was blown away.
The conference was nothing short of incredible. Every session was worth attending. EVERY SESSION. At Barre & Soul, we are always looking to stay up to date on new technology, new trends, and best practices to give our clients the MOST amazing experience at our studios! And the breakout sessions delivered. The speakers themselves had so much to offer in addition to making themselves available for questions, pictures, whatever, they were up for it. There was so much valuable information that I took 3+ pages of notes! Seriously. Not only did I take notes, but I pored over them in the days and weeks following the conference and the presentation decks that accompanied them. Did I mention they had a conference app that was pretty awesome too?
When I asked Andrea to sum up the Women in Leadership Panel , she said, "It was such an honor to be included in the diverse panel of women entrepreneurs. My favorite part was hearing questions from the audience about what the attendees were wrestling with in their own businesses. I was so excited to get to know more about them, and the room was filled with energy as the women gathered were eager to roll up their sleeves and help each other problem-solve."
Michelle Obama was awe inspiring yet incredibly down to earth. It was a 90 minute fireside chat that felt like 20 minutes and I want to be BFFs with her.
Billie Jean King was a rip roaring good time, full of spunk and some big news (she and a collection of friends had just casually bought the LA Dodgers!) oh and it was the 45th anniversary of her win at the Battle of the Sexes match. She had a ton of wisdom to share with the attendees and it was another inspiring, engaging discussion that had me hoping the time would go slower.
That may seem trivial until I mention that I am gluten and dairy free finding food that fits into those specifications that isn’t just a head of romaine lettuce w/ some olive oil and vinegar can be challenging. Did I mention there were 2,000 people in attendance?
The meal options were well thought out and delicious. No hunk of plain lettuce for this girl! WINNING.
This award was given to a select group of studios who embody community empowerment and who are in the top 30% of businesses using MINDBODY. Receiving this award was an unexpected surprise, but so exciting! I know we have curated pretty incredible communities in our studios, but to be recognized for it was pretty awesome.
We are always looking for opportunities to give back, to support members who fundraise for causes they are passionate about, to support women and girls and SO MANY other things. A couple of the biggies this year included EmpowerHer, Cole Haan + Planet Water Foundation fundraising partnerships, and the Africa Yoga Project fundraising and volunteer effort.
2018 has been a big year for Barre & Soul. Thanks MindBody Online for being an excellent partner! We look forward to an incredible 4th quarter and 2019!
The barre community has been craving a highly credible, safe, and comprehensive online barre teacher training. A training that shapes YOU into the most knowledgeable, confident and well rounded barre teacher from the convenience of your own home. We've heard you and we are here to provide you with the training you need.
I was a struggling single mom with no credit, no college degree, no job, and no money. In spite of the tough times I faced, there was one area of my life that filled me with excitement.
In the little town where I lived, there was a barre studio, a place where I had seen myself grow and strengthen, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. In addition to getting so much out of the classes and the wonderful community there, I had taken on the challenge of training to become a barre teacher.
As I've shared on this blog before, I wasn’t a "good" teacher trainee. I fumbled over my words and feared the sound of my own voice. I was my own worst critic, at a time when the last thing I needed was self-criticism holding me back.
That barre training was just the beginning. I went on to build my career out of this method that I loved, eventually becoming a Manager and Teacher Trainer for the prestigious Exhale Spa before starting my own company, Barre & Soul in 2013.
If you had told me at the beginning of this journey that I would one day be the proud owner of 5 studios, with the most wonderful communities of teachers and students packing the house, or that I'd be traveling back and forth to England to study privately with the daughter of Lotte Berk, inventor of barre, I would never have imagined it!
I am too filled with gratitude to keep it all to myself. After having the finest mentors in the world, I want to share what I've learned over the years and pay it forward as much as I can!
If you've ever thought about taking the leap into teaching barre, I want to help YOU find your confidence and your voice as a certified barre teacher!
With that, I am excited to announce that we are working on something really exciting behind the scenes!
A way for you to pursue your passion from wherever you are, anywhere in the world...
I've got a sneak peek for you: A few inside secrets to share, drawing from my 10+ year barre teaching career.
Thank you for your interest! I hope to meet you and share my passion with YOU!
-Andrea Isabelle Lucas
As I recover from jet-lag, and digest one of the busiest weeks of 2018 (so far!) its hard to know where to begin. I’ve just returned from a week in England, training with none other than Esther Fairfax. This was my second immersion in training and practicing the original Lotte Berk Technique with Esther (Lotte’s only daughter, and carrier of her mother’s legacy and method).
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Esther is no ordinary barre expert. First of all, she is 83 years old. Many of her peers are thankful just to be able to walk without the assistance of a walker or even a cane. But Esther refuses to relate to this – she takes action to ensure her health and wellness, every day. She continues to practice and teach a rigorous exercise regimen that has bestowed endless benefits. I hope to be able to pursue them all, as successfully as Esther has in the coming decades of my own life. Esther talks about her upbringing in a most unconventional and creative family, and her inspirations – for example, a consistent exposure throughout her life to artists, dancers, actors and performers of all genres. She shares all this conversationally, while she moves gracefully from exercises prone on the floor, then lying on her back with feet under the barre while working the abdominals, and then standing tall at the barre, or moving with strength and confidence in the center of the room.
As she demonstrates the myriad exercises with razor sharp precision, she emphasizes how critical it is to execute them with the best possible form. At the same time she can’t express strongly enough that this exercise method is not just a class. She firmly sees the method as a true work of art, through which participants find not only impressive physical transformation, but expressive self-actualization.
Another notable quality that runs strong in her studio, is community and connection. The friendship and camaraderie she has seen and personally experienced is a crucial part of living a long, healthy life. Experts have long known that people that have close relationships and the support of a healthy community live longer and more vibrant lives into their elder years. Esther is absolutely a testament to this fact. I spent hours interviewing Esther, and members of her home studio community and this is an area that can’t be underestimated for everyone touched by her classes.
As I jump into my routine back at home in our Barre & Soul community – I am so proud to see so many points of alignment between what I’ve learned and internalized in my time studying and training in England with Esther, and what I’ve been working so hard to cultivate in my own studios.
Every day I work closely with our fantastic team of managers in each Barre & Soul studio to ensure we’re all on the same page with regards to the exceptional experience that is delivered to each and every person that enters our studios.
There is so much more to share in upcoming blogs, about the method itself and the details of the training and its benefits. But underlying that – I couldn’t be more inspired by the reminder of the deeper benefits that we offer our members. These benefits don’t seem to be a primary focus at most traditional gyms – fitness that can be sustained for life, art and expression, community and connection. But they’re at the core of our beloved Barre & Soul studios, offering a form of fitness, community, self-expression and joy that lasts a long and healthy lifetime.
Happy 2018 everyone! As you may have heard, I spent last year working on a book, and I'm so excited to begin sharing excerpts with you!
If you want to make this your boldest and most wildly successful year yet – make 2018 the year you decide to own it all. What does that mean? When I use the word own," what I mean is…
Once you accept 100% personal responsibility for everything you want to do, have, and become – you’ll be amazed at how empowering it feels, and the choices that are available to you.
Owning it all is a promise you make with yourself—a promise you keep renewing and practicing, day after day. There’s no perfection required in the process of doing this each and every day, but there’s continual progress. There’s always another level you can master, and there’s grace, beauty, and joy in the process.
I’m sharing my personal story, rebuilding from a shockingly low place to create a life I am in awe of each and every day. I want to share actionable, concrete steps that you can put into practice to eliminate old ways of falling into the same old unsatisfying routines and catapult your life in the direction of your dreams.
Stay tuned for more on my book, and get ready to own it all!
If you'd like to get exclusive excerpts from my upcoming book, Own It All, sign up here and as an added bonus, I'll send you my Radical Time Design e-course free, so you can start owning your day right now!
Congratulations – you survived the 2017 holiday season! We’re all cleaning up from lots of well-deserved celebrating, and now’s the time to recalibrate and hit the reset button.
We can recommit or establish new habits anytime – but there’s something that feels so appropriate about mapping out our boldest intentions and most thrilling goals at the outset of a new year.
In order to set yourself up for the most efficient path to success, you need to put a few things in place to ensure you’re operating with a healthy, high-performance foundation – inside and out. Here are a few pieces of advice we all can benefit from:
As you set goals for the future, and envision how we want the coming year to go, be sure you don’t lose sight of accomplishments you’ve already made, and successes you’ve already achieved. Take a moment and bask in gratitude for the goodness you have right now – especially your health and vitality, and the opportunity to wake up each morning with a new day in front of us.
We often fall into the trap of feeling like we’ll finally “be happy when…?” Goals are important, but it's important not to live in a constant state of anticipation of the future at the expense of the present.
Do you have a future aspiration that is serving as a road-block to your happiness today? Ask yourself where and how this kind of thinking tends to trip you up – and pay attention to that so you can enjoy the present while working towards an even more rewarding future.
Clear out the excess and the clutter. File or just get rid of old papers and receipts. Donate items you’re not really excited about. And if you received holiday gifts you don’t want – give them away before they crowd-out space that should really be reserved for the things that bring you joy.
Create some breathing room.
Remind yourself how important it is to take great care of your body. It is the only one you’ll ever have! We tend to indulge in extra sugar and alcohol throughout the holiday season, so now is a great time to realign with priorities for a healthy body.
Reflect on and celebrate all the achievements you’ve made in 2017. Decide where you want to go even further, and start envisioning your goals in 2018. Make a mental note of what made you feel the best about the past year and what gave you the most happiness and satisfaction. Let that information support the plans and goals you envision.
A fun project I really enjoy to kick-off a new year is creating a vision board! This is a visual collection of images, photos, and words that symbolize, describe or depict the things, feelings, achievements or experiences you want to have in your foreseeable future. Studies show that if we put this in a prominent place where we can see it clearly for even just a few seconds each day – our chances of manifesting our dreams skyrocket.
Whatever your goals are, your Barre & Soul community is here to provide support and encouragement every step of the way. We’re here to cheer you on when you’re killing it – and since we’re all human, we are here to count on when you divert from the path to your goals and end up on an unplanned detour!
See you at the barre in 2018! Its going to be great!
P.S. Want to dream and scheme with me in person? I'll be holding two Dreamers Summits next month: one on February 18 at Barre & Soul, Portsmouth, NH and one on February 25th at Barre & Soul Harvard Sq. in Cambridge, MA. Sign up!
P.P.S. Are you signed up to receive my monthly love notes? You can sign up here, which includes a free 5-day mini-course on my Radical Time Design method for getting stuff done!
Xox,
Andrea Isabelle Lucas
I am committed to making sure the classes we offer you at Barre & Soul are simply the best in the world. For the past decade, I've learned from some of the foremost innovators who preceded me in teaching barre and yoga in the US.
In our barre classes, I’ve worked to fuse all the collective wisdom of the American barre industry, with my own passion for empowerment, social equality and a mindful approach to fitness - to create what has become a phenomenal community of Barre & Soul studios.
This year, I decided it was time to dive deeper – and go straight to the source of where barre was born. Lotte Berk was a ballerina who fled Nazi Germany in the 1940s and then developed an unprecedented method of conditioning and strength training in the UK that was as much a social and community building experience as it was a fitness regimen. Its popularity grew throughout her life, and Lotte mentored her daughter Esther Fairfax in the details, style and philosophy at the heart of what we now call “the Lotte Berk technique”.
Esther Fairfax has now been teaching her mother's method for 54 years. She lives a few hours outside of London and is in her early eighties. She is strong, vibrant and dedicated to carrying on her mother’s legacy. She continues to teach those interested in practicing the purest form of barre.
This summer, I had the honor of traveling to England, alongside our own Crissy Trayner, to spend time with Esther and become certified in the “Pure Lotte” technique, creating a direct connection from Barre & Soul to the source of where the barre phenomenon began.
The workout Esther presented was one of the most challenging I’ve experienced anywhere. I could see clear connections to the movements we teach at Barre & Soul. It was the essence of barre – no props, mats or weights. Just the elegance of precise form and movement - and body weight used as resistance to develop a lean, strong, flexible, agile body.
The trip was enlightening, as I understood more clearly than ever the differences between Barre & Soul and Lotte Berk’s original method.
Some elements that distinguish Barre & Soul were born from my personal passions – for example, a focus on mindfulness and feminist empowerment as much as physical training, postures and elements from the yoga tradition, and some are standard practice in US barre classes, like the use of light weights, and the fusion of calisthenics like push-ups and planks that invite another layer of full-body strengthening.
Barre & Soul will continue to offer our distinctive method that you have come to know and love! But my time with Esther Fairfax opened my mind to the importance of learning about roots, and continuing a legacy, and we look forward to sharing with you some of what we have learned.
We will be training more of our Barre & Soul instructors in the “Pure Lotte” technique, to help preserve the beautiful, powerful method Esther Fairfax’s mother began. I believe Pure Lotte deserves to carry on even in a world that is obsessed with innovation and change. I see it as a personal and professional duty to keep the legacy alive, and I can't wait to share this timeless method with you in our upcoming Pure Lotte workshops!
See you at the barre!
Andrea :)
Not so many years ago, I was a struggling single mom - I had no credit, no college degree, no job, and no money. I’d by lying if I said I didn’t feel hopeless on a regular basis, comparing my life to what I saw around me.
Each day, after my 7-year old son caught the bus to school outside of our tiny apartment, I would push my 1-year old daughter’s stroller down the sidewalks of a town that seemed picture-perfect, and full of picture-perfect people on their way to important meetings, coffee dates and social engagements that filled their comfortable lives.
I walked to a studio where I was trying something new – with excitement, but so, SO fearfully. I was training to be a barre teacher. I loved barre classes, I knew that. But I wasn’t a "good" teacher trainee. I fumbled over my words and feared the sound of my own voice. I was undoubtedly my own worst critic, at a time when the last thing I needed was self-criticism holding me back.
“Practice getting your words out,” my trainer would say. “Count aloud when you’re alone in the car to get used to it.” But even then, with no one around to hear me, the second I opened my mouth, a voice inside my head would insist: Just shut up, just shut up, just shut up!
It's not unusual to be intimidated by public speaking, I'm sure you've heard before that most people fear it more than death! Maybe it's something you'd like to get more comfortable with too. For me, it was especially hard because my life was at rock bottom.
To say I felt unworthy doesn’t even begin to explain it. It felt like every cell in my body was made of unworthiness. Who was I to teach these women anything about fitness, or well-being? I was still working on getting back to my pre-baby body, going through a long and wretched divorce, feeling unaccomplished no matter what angle I looked at my life from.
What did I have to teach these wealthy, successful, happy women, who seemed to have J.Crew catalog families and perfect marriages? How could they take me seriously when I was a failure at marriage, could barely support my children, relied on assistance to buy groceries, and on the Salvation Army for my kids' Christmas gifts in that terrible first year of my divorce. I wanted so badly to create major change in my life and be an example of better things – inspiring even – for my kids and for myself.
Determined to overcome my circumstances, I took baby steps forward. I used the word “confidence” in my computer passwords, hoping to invoke blessings and begin to establish a sort of mantra to move towards embodying this quality. I craved confidence like a dry field craves a drenching rain.
I had to type the word each time I checked my (tiny) bank balance, an incantation of power even in the face of my nearly empty account. Little by little, hour by hour, month by month, I did find my voice. I collected scraps of confidence in the moments when I could at last do a set of push-ups on straight legs - when I could teach a class to a few friends without losing my nerve - when I won a small victory in family court and started receiving the support I needed.
“Where do you get your confidence?” people often ask me now. "You seem so sure of yourself."
When I reflect on this, I call to mind the countless hard-won increments, gathered over many years.
There were no shortcuts. No celestial signs. No surprise inheritance or lottery ticket came to my rescue. And I certainly didn’t wake up one day and start a thriving business with multiple locations.
I simply persevered. Kept on. Pushup by pushup, password by password. I did one mildly terrifying thing at a time. I forced myself to keep practicing my teaching. I watched my classes improve, little by little. And one day, when I opened my mouth to speak, it was no longer scary. Soon, it was even fun.
The look of fear and shame in my eyes was replaced by shyness at first, then finally by passion and enthusiasm. Believe it or not I ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD to public speaking opportunities these days. Teaching barre and yoga classes gave me the opportunity to embody the quality I had so longed for. By facing my fears and showing up again and again, in time, I found my confidence.
Hi! Andrea here! I’m so excited to finally unveil something I've been working on all year - Barre & Soul®'s own clothing collection! The first drop has arrived in our studios and I can't wait for you to check it out. This apparel collection is made in small batches in Los Angeles with ethically sourced/recycled materials, and it's designed by us, for you!
I have personally overseen every detail of the line’s creation from collaboration with our designer (a former top designer for brands like Nastygal, Revolve clothing, and more!), to choosing the materials, to selecting a production house here in the USA, and travelling to LA several times to visit the factory and participate in fittings and design meetings.
Our apparel line is not just for working out in a stylish, ethically sourced way – it will make YOU feel badass and beautiful wherever the day takes you.
The line is inspired by you our community, classic rock, the Feminist movement of the 60 and 70s, with a nod to the grace of ballerinas like Lotte Berk, the original creator of barre. It is a collection with grace and grit.
I know that Barre & Soul®'s students are busy people. You've got jobs to do, kids to raise, degrees to earn, and workouts to fit in! I wanted this line to look just as good coming to and from class as it feels during your workout.
Full-length leggings
Black, perfect compression, high-waisted, full-length, delightfully flattering and supportive
Capri leggings
Leopard print, recycled materials, brushed soft handfeel
Satin "Rebel Rebel" Bomber Jacket
leopard print lining, gold on black
Feminist AF Cropped muscle tank
100% cotton, breathable fabric absorbs moisture, vintage wash
Barre & Soul® Cropped muscle tank
100% cotton, breathable fabric absorbs moisture, vintage wash
High-Low Black Resting Barre Face muscle tank
100% cotton, breathable fabric absorbs moisture, vintage wash
High- Low white ‘Barre Butts’ muscle tank
100% cotton, breathable fabric absorbs moisture, vintage wash
Strappy sports bra
leopard print, recycled material, lined, brushed soft handfeel
And more!
I hope you love it!
:) Andrea
I was as low as could be in my life when I first made a commitment to my mind/body fitness practice. This brought physical strength and stamina, along with a revolution in my confidence and beliefs about the goals I could achieve.
I was a single parent, struggling to work through financial strain, domestic violence and emotional abuse. At vulnerable moments, the last thing anyone needs is a message that we’re not enough.
Everyone has vulnerabilities that can be addressed in healthy, empowering ways through fitness. When I turned to barre and yoga in search of a little peace of mind, what I got was a meaningful breakthrough – it changed my life, gave me the power to “own it all” and, eventually, the vision to launch Barre & Soul. I want everyone who walks through the doors of our studios to have the same opportunity for personal growth and empowerment.
Women need to know we have the capability to shed emotional and physical burdens - rather than focusing on a few stupid pounds.
When fitness programs emphasize ‘bikini season’ and ‘shaping up for summer,’ this implies women’s bodies aren’t really their own. Assuming women somehow owe it to society to look a certain way positions us as objects for consumption.
Do it for your 100-old self
Do you envision living an active and adventurous life after retirement? Start building physical, mental and emotional strength and stamina into your routine now!
Do it for you, not to fit someone else’s definition of what’s “hot.”
Women are already under tremendous pressure to fit the mold - from career, to social and domestic life, to unrealistic beauty standards. This is all impossibly high-maintenance if we choose to subscribe to it, and it leaves us with less freedom and leisure time to devote to real self-improvement and development compared with men. So don’t buy in!
Don’t get me wrong — I appreciate my toned muscles and seeing my body physically transform had a huge effect on my belief about what I could accomplish. But that’s just the surface. We need to get real about how much we have to gain from making a commitment to our health and fitness, and stop reducing it to a silly notion like bikini-season.
Learn where Andrea, owner/founder of Barre & Soul came from, how it all began and what inspired and encouraged her to create her Feminist Fitness Empire.
We renegades have to stick together.
