Taylor Prusa is an instructor at Pure Barre in Boulder, Colorado. She has danced her whole life and later fell in love with Pure Barre! She is teaching a class in combination with PINK CU-Boulder for their Active Wear Launch on October 5th, 2016.
What first made you interested in fitness? I grew up dancing with a professional ballet company, so fitness has always been a part of my life. Prior to college, I realized that I could no longer dedicate my life to dance if I also wanted to explore my other interests. This is when I started to learn more about fitness and began to lead myself through workouts at my schools rec [center]. Taking care of my body was always important to me and completing a really hard workout fueled me. However, I felt like I still needed more than I could give myself, and oddly enough around this same time, there was a Pure Barre opening up in my hometown. I took my first class and was hooked.
What made you want to join the Pure Barre family? When I went to my first Pure Barre class I was SO nervous – although I had danced my entire life and had a rough idea of what a “barre” class would be like, I was still anxious. That all changed when I walked in the doors because of the welcoming staff and the variety of clients I saw sitting and waiting for class to start. Pure Barre challenged me from the very beginning however the staff never wavered in making sure the environment stayed positive. I dedicated myself to the technique for a full month and saw so many changes- not only in my strength, but in my mindset. Pure Barre had a way of making you feel so proud of where you were in your journey, but it also pushed you to go further and gain more strength. After about three months of taking Pure Barre I become a “barretender,” aka a front desk girl, shortly after that I was asked to become a teacher and in September of 2013 I bit the bullet and went through my teacher training.
The positivity that I experienced as a Pure Barre client continued on as I became a teacher and my life just kept getting more and more enriched. I knew that I wanted Pure Barre to be my career so this past December I moved from Columbus, OH to Denver to pursue that dream. Although I was already teaching Pure Barre, I wanted more (Pure Barre really has a way of pushing you) and I was asked to join the national team of “teacher trainers” within Pure Barre corporate. I now train prospective teachers from all over the US and Canada on our incredible technique and share my love of Pure Barre.
What do you love most about Pure Barre? There is SO much to love about Pure Barre, but I’ll start at the beginning. When I first found Pure Barre I was in a place in my fitness journey where all I wanted was to be “skinny.” I was overly obsessed with the way my body looked instead of the way my body felt. Pure Barre changed this mindset in only 1-month. The positivity that I have consistently felt in the Pure Barre community has shaped my physical and mental health like you would not believe. Pure Barre, however, is not just about me, it’s about my clients and the bravery that they show every day they walk through the doors. I am so inspired day in and day out with the drive these men and women possess, and how dedicated they are to the technique. As a Pure Barre teacher it is so rewarding to watch a client have an “ah-ha” moment where something new clicks and they can dive deeper into their work. Pure Barre truly changes lives and it is SO much more than just another workout trend, if you allow it – it will make you realize that you are “stronger than you think.”
What workout do you recommend for people who are new (or just getting back into) working out again? I truly do recommend Pure Barre to anyone that is looking to get back on track or just begin working out. Because of the positive atmosphere of Pure Barre, a beginner will never feel like they are out of place – sure a first class may be intimidating, but as teachers we are trained to help you find what you need out of your workout all while keeping you safe. Pure Barre is like a personal training experience for every client in the room, all while allowing you to work at your own pace so it truly is a workout for everyone. Pure Barre separates class in sections of low impact strength and stretching that targets your entire body. Both of the aspects we incorporate into Pure Barre are essential for any type of fitness and this is what will keep you safe no matter what step of your journey you are on.
What do you usually eat before or after y workout to get the most from your workout? Before working out I ALWAYS eat – even though Pure Barre is low impact, it is high intensity to the point where you can break a sweat and get your muscles to shake. Nutrition is huge to me and I know that if my muscles are working hard for me I have to fuel them right. I like to mix protein and carbs before a workout and I’m sure to have plenty of water before, during and after! By giving your body carbohydrates you’re providing it with energy and protein ensures that your muscles will support all the lifting, toning and burning that we accomplish in Pure Barre ;) Some of my favorites are avocado toast with an egg, banana and almond butter, oatmeal, raw almonds, and coffee :)
What is your favorite pump up song that you workout to? I love anything with a good beat! If you ever take my class you’ll for sure be tucking to some high energy EDM music that you’ll actually just want to dance to. A great song can give you so much more power than you thought you had…sometimes it even helps so much that you hit a new personal goal. I love when a great song comes on when I am taking a class because I can just close my eyes, work a bit harder and feel so proud of what I have accomplished. On the other hand, I love teaching to amazing music because I feel the energy of my clients – I feed off of that and in turn it helps me motivate them to work even harder!
Do you do anything unique before every class? Before each and every class I listen to the songs that I will be using to make sure that I know the beat, and I tailor every exercise I teach to each specific song. I also make sure to check out my class list and see what clients I have in class that day. It’s always so helpful to know if someone in your class has an injury, is pregnant or is a new client – these things assist me in knowing who may need extra attention that day. I strive to make sure that each and every client in my class feels like they are given equal attention and they are personally challenged.
What are you most excited about for this collaborative event with PINK? I am SO excited about this collaboration because PINK is doing an unreal job helping to expose more and more people to Pure Barre. I truly hope that all of the girls coming to take a class can have just as successful of an experience as I did and fall in love with Pure Barre. Falling in love with Pure Barre makes you fall in love with yourself, and I have a feeling that there are some girls out there who may need a little reminder to fall in love with themself again.