know it’s only been a few weeks since I started writing to you through these newsletters again, but I have to say it feels GREAT to be connected this way.
I’ve been teaching fitness my whole adult life, but it has ALWAYS been more than just working out for me. And I noticed very early on that most of the people I have met through this “job” feel the same way.
I guess that’s why, back in the summer of 2021, I stopped writing. I was still offering classes but I lost my way and I was in a funky place, emotionally.
See while most of the world felt isolated back in mid to late 2020, at that time I was super busy keeping our JBird community together and moving via LIVE workouts a handful of days a week.
With that and being a mom of 2 young kids I went at an ungodly pace for several months, in hopes we could all continue to feel connected inside and out. It worked for awhile but…
It was when things began to open back up that my 🌎 came crashing down.
I was a one woman show, doing everything possible to keep JBird classes going. I got back into the studio, taught LIVE & in-person and also offered on-demand videos. Yet it never seemed like enough.
In my effort to reach everyone, I started to reach less and less of everyone.
People moved on. Found other ways of working out during the roller coaster ride of our ever-changing demands of simply living our lives.
I understood. I didn’t blame anyone. Anyone…except myself.
I became frustrated. I didn’t know how I was going to continue this career of mine. Doing what I love. Teaching.
It’s ironic that last week was 3 years from the shutdown, the catalyst of all this mayhem. Yet this past weekend was my 1 year anniversary being a Barre3 instructor.
It was shortly after I stopped writing, when Angie (the owner of Barre3) reached out to ask if I’d be interested in joining her team. I have worked for a ridiculous amount of different gyms and fitness studios over the years but never one that required their own in-house training to learn their signature style of class.
So…it took me a moment to decide. Was this what I wanted to do?
What I learned in the past 12 months was it was not only what I wanted to do but what I needed to do.
With the support & encouragement of Angie and the community at B3 I have been given the opportunity to refocus and reconnect with the thing I love, teaching fitness and helping people connect to themselves.
Funny how the memory of one crazy world-wide event can collide with the happy reminiscing of the small steps I needed to take along the way, in rediscovering something that has always been there.
A passion for movement and a love of helping people see the wonder they truly are. (Pssst...that's You!)
So, if you’re in the trenches like I was don’t be afraid to take chances or opportunities others put in front of you. No matter what comes of it, you will learn something about yourself and where you want to go.
On the other side, if you’re on a high right now and have a chance to reach a hand out to someone in need, please do…it can make a bigger impact than you can ever imagine.
With Love,
Janine
P.S. Cheers & a BIG shout out to Angie, the team & the community at Barre3...for helping me see “me” once again.