Mental Health and the Barre: Part 1

Let's just admit it. Our mental health is being challenged right now. We are in a constant state of flux, and for many of us, especially those type-A planners out there (you know who you are!), not knowing what lies ahead can wreak havoc on our mental health. We are trying to keep everything together- our families, our finances, our homes- and often times, something has to give. Add that to required social distancing and, therefore, isolation, and it's a recipe for disaster.

Most of the time, the first prescription to improve your mental health involves increasing activity level. Thirty minutes of moderate to intense physical activity most days of the week is all it takes to improve your emotional well-being. Neural growth, the release of endorphins and serotonin and reduced inflammation in the brain are some of the physical changes that result in an improved mood.  Mentally, the distraction from your focused worries is imperative to breaking the anxiety/despression cycle.  Barre or any time spent moving your attention to the detail of body mechanics is much like meditation for relaxing an overactive brain.  When you are intently focused on engaging abdominals while balancing on one leg, how can you possibly worry about next months bills!  This mental distraction followed by improved hormone production and just overall feeling proud and accomplished is exactly what we need at this time!

So, in these times of saving money or restricting activities, don't let your exercise be the thing that goes!  Take a virtual class, join us outside or just take a walk adding some standing barre moves every 10 minutes.  However you can make it work, incorporate some exercise that not only gets you moving but also requires enough focus to move your brain from your to-do list to this moment now.  There is nothing more important than our health and well-being and we believe that there is no better remedy for a rusty body and lethargic brain then to get cozy at the barre.....