Bar Method Instructor Training

I want to be a full-time fitness instructor.

It took me until recently to finally utter those words to myself. To admit that that’s what I really really want. It took me awhile because:

[one] the thought scared me. Am I good enough to make this my full time career!?!?!

[two] I didn’t know if it’s even possible. Because hi, New York is an expensive place to live. And I’m not ashamed to admit I really like spending money on sushi and Starbucks.

I’ve been really open about all of this because I know I’m not the only one with these career ambitious. And I’m sure I’m not the only one that has had these same doubts about pursuing fitness full-time.

I’m not there yet, but my schedule is starting to come together. As of next week I’ll have 11 permanent yoga classes at y7 and CorePower (hot damn!) But full disclosure: that ain’t enough to pay the NYC bills.

Sooooo, announcement time: I’m going to be a Bar Method instructor at the new Noho location which opens this spring. Ahhh!!!!

Some of you totally guessed that this is what I’ve been up to behind-the-scenes. What can I say, I’m not very good at keeping secrets.

Yes, I’m really really really to rock the Britney Spears mic.

Why Bar Method

I feel like all I do lately is talk about how much I love Bar Method — I swear they are not paying me to say these things! As I started to fall more and more in love with the workout this fall I started to think about the idea of becoming an instructor. Is this a class I’d want to teach?

I’m really excited about teaching Bar Method in particular for a few reasons — besides loving the workout.

The training. I’m addicted to learning new things. That’s why I went to grad school. Why I did yoga teacher training. Why I accumulated a bunch of fitness certifications. I knew the Bar Method requires instructors to go through a super thorough training process [more on that below] and being the nerd I am that excited me.

Location. This one is totally selfish but I’m really really excited to teach at a studio that’s close by! Anytime I can avoid the subway (and subway delays!) is a total win in my book. It saves me money, it saves me time, and it makes teaching full-time more sustainable in the long run.

Low impact. I love teaching yoga sculpt, but it’s TIRING. Demoing burpess in a 90 degree heated room is no joke. If I’m going to teach full time I knew I needed to start adding classes that are less exhausting to teach.

I get to use a microphone. Guys, this is SO exciting to me. And not just because it makes me feel like a pop star [or like I’m in the Broadway production of Rent.] My voice has been struggling lately thanks to teaching. Being a loud human is hard, y’all! Teaching with a microphone is gonna change my lifeeee… and save my voice.

 

Bar Method Training, so far.

I gotta tell you, I have SUCH a new level of respect for all my favorite Bar Method instructors. The training process is A LOT of work. And this is coming from someone that is a NASM certified personal trainer and went through 200-hour yoga teacher training.

My training started in October. Since then I’ve been meeting with the Noho studio owners 2-3 times a week. On my own I’m memorizing the basic class script little by little. It’s why I haven’t been blogging all that much lately, all my free time is spent memorizing. I feel like I’m back in theater school.

This past weekend I attended a 4-day training with a visiting national trainer from Bar Method corporate and other teachers-in-training from the area to learn hands on skills.

I’m now starting to work on my hands on adjustments in classes and I’m also practice teaching sections of the class. It will still take a few more months until I’m officially a certified Bar Method instructor. Like I said, the training process is rigorous and serious. But I personally really appreciate that both as a student and instructor.

As I said on instagram, I’m seriously so so so excited for this journey and that I’m on my way to becoming a Bar Method instructor. Being a fitness instructor has been a long time dream of mine — even if I was too scared to admit that this is what I want to do full-time. It’s taken me a long time to get here, but it’s starting to all come together.