This is a beautiful article written by studio member Elissa, talking about how her time at The View Studio
has brought sunshine and a positive mindset to her world.

There’s a saying that goes, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Believe me. It is the truth. I have two toddlers and a husband who will testify. When I’m not on my game, the family suffers too. Things have been much better around our house since I started attending barre classes back in January. I feel strong and happy and as a result, the family is too. This is my story………

Before having children, I was obsessed with barre classes. I worked at Lululemon’s corporate office and could take an on-site class over lunch, no questions asked. I’d often return to my desk with jiggly legs and an enormous smile.

The low-impact exercises mirrored ballet conditioning and pilates. The classes also let me relive my glory days as a dancer, pop music and all. They refined my posture and gave me strength and flexibility to eventually make it comfortably through my first pregnancy.

My husband and I welcomed our baby in June of 2011. That following September, we packed our lives into suitcases and moved to Scotland from Vancouver, Canada for my husband to complete a PhD here. Transitioning to a new country as a first-time mother was not easy.

I did what I could to prepare for the imminent mental and emotional hardship. I braced myself for homesickness, sleepless nights and incessant crying but I was blindsided by the physical pain, what I like to call the occupational hazards of motherhood. All the lifting, forward bending and buggy pushing aggravated injuries from ages past. I didn’t expect carrying a ten-pound baby to wreak havoc on my body the way it did. I was experiencing chronic pain in my back and chest.

The combination of physical and emotional pain didn’t bring out the best in me. (That’s the nicest way to put it.) I wasn’t myself and our family certainly wasn’t thriving. The days often dragged on. I knew the best thing I could do to ease the tension was to get out and exercise.

There were no barre classes in St Andrews when we moved here so I reluctantly started running to combat stress, get some alone time and shed baby weight. Running with sand underfoot worked wonders but once the darkness settled in and the wind and rain swept through town, I grappled for motivation to run. And then I got pregnant unexpectedly. (Surprise!)

When my daughter arrived, I pledged to get back to exercising as quickly as possible. My motivation was mostly to reclaim my sanity and emotional well-being, not to fit into a pair of old jeans. I wanted to get back into my barre routine but there were no classes to suit my needs until Sam opened her studio.

My husband saw my plight and last Christmas he decided to give me the gift of endorphins and alone time. (What a guy, right?!) He gave me a ten-class card to The View. We agreed mornings were best – he has flexible office hours – so we modified our Tuesday routine to allow me a solid workout and a cappuccino for the leisurely walk home.

After one class, I was glowing and standing taller. After three, I felt more energetic and efficient in other areas of my life. By the fourth week, my husband noticed the spring in my step and happily told me I could carry on taking a weekly class for as long as we were living in St Andrews. I literally squealed. It’s amazing what a little exercise and alone time will do for a mother.

Barre Fit classes are my personal favourite. The low-impact workout strengthens the lower body which is crucial for managing back pain. Your legs will feel like jelly in the best way possible. The focus on proper alignment and technique also trains your body to move gracefully throughout the day, avoiding injuries and strain. Barre exercises are friendly for beginners yet still hard work for advanced students. The more aware you are of your form, the more challenging the classes become. I could go on and on about the benefits but I’ll spare you.

There are lots of other classes to choose from too. Pilates and yoga also focus on strengthening your core and honing your posture. The Mum and Baby Nordic Walking classes couldn’t be better suited to new mothers. They allow women to get out of the house with their babies and meet other mums. Participants walk along the beach with poles to support their knees and back. The new Salsacise class is another fun way to shake off the stress of motherhood.

There is something for everyone at The View.

We all benefit from taking care of ourselves but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of personal time and exercise specifically for new mothers. It was a lifeline for me, keeping me limber and strong for my family, both physically and emotionally. Now that I know I have my weekly class to look forward to, I’m happier and so is the family. We all win.

Elissa