I’ve been active my whole life with volleyball, yoga, and in the past four years barre and spin. I’ve pretty much maintained the same weight, give or take 5 lbs since high school, but was always thin with some, but not much muscle tone. I was a size 2 before starting and have been a size 0 consistently after taking The Studio (MDR). Mentally, I am constantly looking for ways to strengthen myself. The harder someone will push me the harder I will work. I love challenges! The Studio (MDR) is the hardest workout I’ve ever done so I knew it was the right fit for me—a torturous challenge!

For the first time in my life I had ABS. Not just a tone stomach, but I could actually see abs! I’ve also never been so strong in my life, which has come in handy when only making one trip with groceries from my car!

I have a love/hate relationship with almost all the stationary lunge/leg exercises because they’re so challenging for me balance wise, but the pose I hate most is bungee. Every time I walk into class and see bungees on the floor a part of my soul dies. I wouldn’t say I love it, but I try to look at it as “I live for the day this won’t make my butt burn like the fire of a thousand suns!” I try to remember that at one point this entire workout seemed SO hard and just finishing a class was an accomplishment. Two years of persistence and I have finally been able to take my hands off the machine during leg exercises for more than ten seconds. Any move I hate means I need it the most, and just have to work a little harder to finish it with good form.

I struggle with anxiety, so it burns off my crazy and lets me feel peaceful. Maintaining calmness is always my number one goal, but a shredded bod doesn’t hurt either (it’s a goal, but just not my main focus)! I will say The Studio (MDR) has provided me with an amazing outlet to develop my mental strength. There’s a reason when I moved I had a stipulation that I had to be within a 10 minute drive of a studio. I’ve been in a class thinking “oh my god when will this be over?! Why am I doing this to myself” and I turn that into “this is only thirty seconds of my life—I can do anything for thirty seconds! I’m not going to quit on myself!” It not only helps me push through moves I would absolutely otherwise take a break when I don’t “need” one, but as cheesy as it sounds, I’ve definitely seen it translate into life outside the studio. Going forward, I hope it keeps inspiring me to take on more challenges even if I don’t execute them perfectly on the first try.