Jennifer Mathieu Henshall

In this series of posts, our Southern US Editor Jennifer Mathieu Henshall shares her POV while on her journey to getting certified by theLONDONmethod in the original Lotte Berk Technique.

Without fail, fall, my favorite season, always flies by in a colorful blur. This past autumn was no exception. In addition to enjoying everything pumpkin spice, I completed my ORIGINAL Lotte Berk Certification.

Since opening my congratulatory email from The London Method’s founders – and my amazing Master Trainers – Kelly Wackerman and Pam Kennedy, having Esther Fairfax approve my test out class and receiving my certificate, with signatures from Kelly, Pam and Esther, I have been making the most out of all that I learned from the ORIGINAL’s best. (You can find virtual versions of my ORIGINAL classes on barrevariations.com — where I am a Guest Teacher — and thebarrelibrary.com – my own site.)

Since Kelly and Pam will be continuing to enlighten other groups of ORIGINAL trainees, I wanted to share some tips to help upcoming troupes pass their test out classes with flying colors.

Preparation is Key

Although somewhat opposite of the intuitive nature that I love so much about The ORIGINAL Technique, I find that being over-prepared just helps to boost my confidence in any given situation. I took this same approach when it came to preparing for my ORIGINAL test out video. Below, are some of the ways that I readied myself for instructing my test out class:

1.      Make an outline of your class based on the ORIGINAL class format. I actually made two outlines for my class – one very-detailed outline with set-up cues, positions and things to watch out for and then a boiled-down version of keywords that I used once I was comfortable enough with the sequence and moves.

When putting your class outline together, be sure to choose the moves that you’re most comfortable performing. For example, Hello Sailor is not one of my strongest moves, so I left it out of my test out class. Now that I’m more familiar with the class format and my confidence in my form and technique has grown, I challenge myself by placing more difficult moves in the classes I instruct.

2.      Choose songs that you like for your playlist. Choreographing, practicing and performing your test out class will be so much more enjoyable if you pick some of your favorite songs for your playlist.

When choosing my playlist, I selected a combination of my favorite current songs, along with some old-time faves, and then matched the songs to the sections of the class that I thought worked best. Be sure to stick to the recommended BPM (found in the tLm Manual) when choosing your tracks.

3.      Watch all of the videos offered in the training. Pam and Kelly give you a unique peek into their time training with Esther in England by providing you with exclusive access to a long list of videos. Log into your online training portal to watch (and re-watch!) step-by-step explanations of the ORIGINAL moves, take a full class with Esther and listen in as Esther narrates while Kelly and Pam demonstrate.

4.      Listen to the videos. Not only did I watch all of the course videos, but I also had them on in the background while I did the dishes, cooked dinner for my family, folded laundry, etc. Listening to the videos reinforced what I was learning during training and when taking Zoom classes, and also taught my brain to connect the words (i.e., “Floor, off, floor, off” or “Lift, bend, stretch,”) to the moves.

5.      Review your notes and the tLm training manual several times. If you read any of the earlier posts that I wrote as I was going through the ORIGINAL training, you may remember that in my typical old-school-style, I printed out the 50-page manual and put it in a three-ring binder. I also took notes via pen and paper during our Zoom training classes.

At the end of each training weekend, I would insert my hand-written notes into my binder, which now serves as one of my most treasured instructional resources. Whether you choose paper and pen or phone and fingertip, it is important to continue to refer back to the tLm Manual, as well as your notes, while planning and choreographing your test out class.

6.      Ask questions. Kelly, Pam, the other tLm Trainers (myself included) and your own training cohort are extremely valuable and knowledgeable resources. Be sure to write down any questions that come to mind and ask them via email, during training, while you’re taking one of your required Zoom classes, etc. Although it is the most effective and enjoyable workout that I’ve ever done, The ORIGINAL Technique does have some nuances – that’s why it’s ORIGINAL! – that may need some additional clarification.

7.      Learn the class format by heart. This may seem daunting at first – it was to me! – but, knowing the class format from the warm-up to the final stretch will further enhance your confidence during the test out video. Not to worry, though. After taking the 15 hours of training, participating in your 10 required virtual classes with other instructors and observing three Master Teacher classes, you will have the entire class easily committed to memory.

8.      Practice with others. Whether it’s in-person, online or a combination of both, be sure to get in as much practice time with other people as possible. I wasn’t able to practice my test out class with others, but I found that just participating in the Zoom classes and the feedback that I got from the other instructors helped me with my cues and form.

Practice What You Teach

In addition to watching all of the videos from the course (see above), a few more ways to ensure test out class success are:

1.      Take all of your virtual tLm classes. As a trainee, you are given 10 virtual classes to take during the course of training. This amounts to about three classes (give or take) per week. I signed up for my first virtual class on the second day of the first training weekend and found it very beneficial (albeit, slightly tiring) and fun to take Pam’s Sunday morning class prior to that day’s virtual classroom session.

I ended up repeating this little routine for the three consecutive Sundays during my September 2020 training session and was grateful to get some additional advice from Pam while immersed in the training weekends.

2.      Sign up for tLm TV. TLM TV is an online subscription service that contains additional ORIGINAL classes. You can watch and/or take classes that range anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes with a variety of tLm instructors. Even though I was taking my required virtual classes, participating in my observation classes and practicing the Technique during training, I still watched videos offered on tlm TV to reinforce what I was learning both inside and outside of the virtual classroom. Sometimes, when I was feeling extra ambitious, I’d do a 10-minute Quick Fix or 20-minute Mini, just because they always boosted my spirits and energy levels.

3.      Review the Teacher’s Checklist. After you’ve put your test out class outlines together, refer back to the Tenets of a Great Teacher list in the tLm Manual. Be sure that your class satisfies all of the required elements that will be part of your final evaluation.

4.      Practice your own class in front of a mirror. I have several mirrors scattered along the walls of my at-home barre studio and find that they are invaluable when it comes to keeping me honest and in proper form. The ORIGINAL Technique is heavily rooted in feeling the movements, but I felt that I benefited from those occasional glances in the mirror to make sure that my leg really was as straight as possible or that my Happy Foot was facing toward the floor.

Some Final Pointers

*Have fun! Learning The ORIGINAL Technique was the most rewarding and enjoyable training that I’ve ever experienced in my fitness career. Pam, Kelly and the other trainees were so warm, welcoming and genuine and all of these traits were seamlessly communicated through our digital screens.

If you read my previous posts, you’ll learn how quickly and easily our cohort was accepted into the tLm family. So, relax and enjoy the process – it will be over before you know it! 

*Be confident! You’ve taken the 15 hours of training, practiced during your 10 (or more) virtual classes and reviewed all of the materials countless times over.

Remember, I said that over-preparation was key. When I tell you that I lived and breathed The ORIGINAL Technique for over a month, I’m not kidding. I put a lot of time and effort into learning the Technique, which now feels like second nature to me, and am very confident in my ability to instruct classes that are safe, effective and authentic.

*Be yourself. The ORIGINAL Technique encourages self-expression at its highest level. Yes, you’ll learn that the class follows a particular format and that the moves are precise, but the Technique itself allows for your unique individuality to shine through.

If you have ever read any of Esther’s books or listened to her during an interview, she explains how Lotte didn’t apologize for who she was even though she broke all the rules.

Lotte was true to herself and expressed her flair through her beautiful and graceful Technique. As an ORIGINAL trainee, who is more of an athlete than a dancer, I slowly assimilated this mindset into my own work. And now, as a Certified ORIGINAL Trainer, I find that the Technique has enabled me to express my love and appreciation for, not only the work but also myself.

About the Author

Jennifer is a barre instructor, personal trainer, clinical aromatherapist and author who discovered barre — her soul-mate workout — while training for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As a long-time runner, former bodybuilder, and melanoma skin cancer survivor, Jennifer’s recent battle with autoimmune disease has changed her fitness focus to one that incorporates more mindful, purposeful and low-impact movements.

A former communication professor and mother of two daughters, Jennifer is excited to share her thoughts and experiences on ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.

In this series of posts, our Southern US Editor Jennifer Mathieu Henshall shares her POV while on her journey to getting certified by theLONDONmethod in the original Lotte Berk Technique.

What goes around, comes back around in style

Scrunchies, fanny packs and high-waisted jeans. My mom was certainly spot-on when she wisely told me that everything eventually comes back in style.

And, as I currently have multiple bins overflowing with these now-trendy hairpieces (thankfully, I have two daughters to share them with), this author, who came of age in the 90s, was thrilled to learn that if something works, it will eventually reappear.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the founding of The London Method, the first studio in the United States to bring The Lotte Berk Technique in its ORIGINAL form to American exercise enthusiasts.

Prior to Kelly Wackerman and Pam Kennedy’s amazing discovery in the heart of Hungerford, England, Lydia Bach’s The Lotte Berk Method was the only version of Lotte’s work that had been taught predominantly throughout the United States.

Like all good stories, some of the ORIGINAL work got lost in translation until Esther Fairfax shared the intricacies of her mother’s Technique, which took London by storm in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, with Kelly and Pam. And, since 2015, The London Method has made it their mission to share the exact moves that were passed down from Lotte to her daughter – the founders of today’s modern barre methods.

Digging into the backstory to get the most out of my training

One of the reasons why I was so intrigued by The ORIGINAL Lotte Berk Technique when I first discovered it was its history – the story behind the Technique goes beyond exercise variations and class format. It is rooted in one woman’s desire to heal her body after an injury, the development of this revolutionary approach to exercise and the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter.

And I felt that in order to get the most out of my training with The London Method, I needed to know as much of the backstory and history of the Technique as possible. So, prior to beginning my training with Kelly and Pam, I read Esther’s most recent book, How to Live and Die, and began her first tell-all book, My Improper Mother and Me.

As a fellow author and trained exercise professional, it was essential that I understood Esther on a more personal level and felt that reading her books would give me even greater insight into the Technique.

Never before had I been so compelled to learn as much about the history of an exercise modality, along with the women behind the modality, as I did leading up to and during my training. And I honestly feel that taking the time to truly understand the narrative behind the Technique enabled me to pass my test out video and to become a Certified Instructor in The ORIGINAL Lotte Berk Technique on my very first try! (More to come on what I did to prepare for my test out video and tips on how I passed my certification will be included in my next blog post.)

What happens next?

With The London Method’s stamp of approval, I plan on using my newfound knowledge of this classic Technique to contribute to its time-honored story. As soon as I received word that I had officially become a member of The London Method family, I launched The Barre Library.

Via The Barre Library, I intend to add to the Technique’s current body of literature, to share its body-shaping exercises through my own classes and to ensure that the Technique, one that is gaining momentum as Kelly and Pam work to train instructors and teach classes, remains on the leading forefront of exercise trends.

As someone who appreciates the minutiae of a good story, I’m excited to announce that Esther will be offering even more insight into The ORIGINAL Technique during an exclusive interview with Kelly Wackerman that will be posted to The London Method’s Instagram page on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at 3 p.m. PST. Tune in as Esther shares even more details on her books, the differences between The Lotte Berk Technique and The Lotte Berk Method, a few secrets about when Lotte first created the Technique and more!

Much like The ORIGINAL Technique, my penchant for scrunchies (and all things from the nostalgic 90s) never really did go away. In fact, I heeded my mother’s sage wisdom and kept a scrunchy or two hidden in the back of a drawer until the time was right to bring them back out again.

Esther expresses similar thoughts in her book, How to Live and Die, regarding the Technique’s longevity, “[Lotte’s] exercise technique was created from her desire to express her feeling for her need for love and fun, which may well be the reason they’re so popular with her followers who experience the fun, warmth and joy of life.” Feelings that, in this author’s opinion, will always be on point.

See you at the barre!

Up next: My Journey to Getting Certified in the Original Lotte Berk Technique: Tips for a Successful Test Out Class

About the Author

Jennifer is a barre instructor, personal trainer, clinical aromatherapist and author who discovered barre — her soul-mate workout — while training for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As a long-time runner, former bodybuilder, and melanoma skin cancer survivor, Jennifer’s recent battle with autoimmune disease has changed her fitness focus to one that incorporates more mindful, purposeful and low-impact movements.

A former communication professor and mother of two daughters, Jennifer is excited to share her thoughts and experiences on ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.

In this series of posts, our Southern US Editor Jennifer Mathieu Henshall shares her POV while on her journey to getting certified by theLONDONmethod in the original Lotte Berk Technique.

It’s human nature to want to hold onto something we deem as one-of-a-kind. Oftentimes when we discover something new, unique or innovative, we are reluctant to share our treasure with others. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case when Kelly Wackerman found The Original Lotte Berk Technique — a hidden gem just waiting to be rediscovered — in the little village of Hungerford, England.

As someone who enjoyed visiting barre studios while she traveled the globe with her husband, a musician, Kelly immediately felt and saw something different — something she couldn’t wait to share with others — when she was first introduced to The Original Technique in 2015. After training and taking classes with Esther Fairfax for three weeks, Kelly, the mother of twin sons, realized that her clothes were fitting more loosely. Upon taking her measurements, Kelly was amazed to find that her waist had pulled in 1.5 inches in less than a month!

Feeling stronger, leaner and tighter than ever before, Kelly couldn’t wait to reveal the new exercises she learned once she was back home in the United States. And, unsurprisingly, a month after she began sharing these magical waist-whittling movements with her clients, they, too, all noticed an average of 1.5 inches had melted from their own waistlines.

In the five years since she first uncovered a technique that had been extremely popular among celebrities and other A-listers back in the 1970s and 1980s, Kelly shared one of the barre world’s best-kept secrets with her business partner, Pam, countless clients and a now-growing team of instructors.

For the third Saturday in a row, I headed down to my at-home barre studio on the final weekend of training in The Original Technique ready to savor the last few tidbits of the Fairfax family’s secret recipe.

Day 5 — Becoming a tLm Girl

By now, seeing the other trainees’ familiar faces on my laptop’s screen had become a comforting routine. Over the course of the previous two weekends, as we learned about the Technique and practiced the first two-thirds of the class, we were sharing more than just an innovative way to move our bodies. We were forming a community dedicated to disclosing our new secret to the rest of the world — or at least to those in our own respective circles.

By taking Zoom classes together and engaging in a virtual cocktail hour and question and answer session with Pam and Kelly outside of “class time,” we were getting the unique opportunity to see the behind the scenes of each other’s personal spaces and places. Children, babies and even pet roosters sometimes made guest appearances as we discussed pregnancy modifications and practiced our Sardines, Escapes and No Escapes and relaxed in the Final Spinal Stretches.

By the time we had learned the last exercise in the manual and had each enthusiastically volunteered to teach a section of the class during the following day of training, I felt a slight hesitation leaving the meeting, which had been filled with the laughter, joking around and light, airy atmosphere of a girls’ afternoon in. I’m hoping that I wasn’t the only one who felt a lingering sadness on the eve of our final day of training.

Of the laundry list of training that I’ve done over the years — this one being the most comprehensive in terms of material, as well as duration — the amount of support, love and inclusiveness that I felt come through my laptop was unparalleled. As I clicked the red “Leave” button and powered down my laptop, I was thankful that I had a hungry family and the task of preparing my two sections of our collaborative Original Class to distract me from the bittersweet conclusion of our virtual training journey.

Day 6 — The One Where We Whittled Together

Instead of beginning our final day of training with muffins (well, we did share in Muffin No More!) and mimosas, we got right to work on our final performance — a.k.a. our jointly instructed Original Class. Kelly and Pam offered to DJ our Fall 2020 tLm Trainee playlist and VJ our collaborative class. I worked every muscle in my body, as my fellow trainees and I fluidly whittled our way through the hour-long session.

Although I’ve been teaching barre for over four years, I still felt butterflies in my stomach as I led the class through that particular stretch. It had been a while since I’ve taught a class and wanted to show Kelly and Pam that the quality of instruction that I had received had been effectively transmitted through our online channel.

At the end of class, my fellow trainees and I were showered with compliments and high praise from our Master Trainers. Each trainee was also given notes and encouraging feedback from both Kelly and Pam. I jotted down their advice and “things to be aware of,” which I plan to use when I start preparing my test out video.

After hearing how few things we needed to work on, I was proud of my fellow trainees and I for proving that the bond that had been forming since the beginning of September had enabled us to demonstrate our newfound love of and knowledge for The Original Technique. And in a time when hugs and handshakes are discouraged and social distancing rules the world, seeing the looks of sheer pride and joy on our trainers’ faces made me feel right at home.

Week 3 Impressions

I could write a book — and actually plan to someday — highlighting the mental and physical benefits that I experienced during my three weeks of training in The Original Lotte Berk Technique. But I think my 10-year-old daughter put it best one morning last week when she cheerfully said to me, “Mama, you have been so much happier lately!”

I must admit that I was a bit floored by her statement. Yes, without a doubt, I have been feeling so much happier since living The Original Technique — there is truly something magical about the way the aptly named exercises change not only your body but also your mindset. However, I felt saddened by the fact that both of my daughters could tell that I was feeling less-than joyful as of late.

We are certainly living in uncertain and challenging times and after six months of changes and limitations, I was starting to feel a bit suffocated. But, learning this Technique has given me something to aspire to in so many areas of my life. And when it comes to future challenges, I plan on putting into practice the same advice that my fellow trainees and I were given by Pam and Kelly when we found that we may not be able to execute some of the more difficult Original moves right away — “Get into position, tilt in it, hold onto the barre and tilt, then progress from there with very small movements.”

On the first day of training, we learned that the Technique was the Original because it worked. It has helped thousands of women develop a feminine, sexy and svelte look. Today, it is enabling women who may be unhappy with the bulk they’ve gained from more rigorous forms of exercise to, as Kelly and Pam have experienced, “Get the body back to a more naturally-designed state” with longer, leaner lines.

On the last day of training, we, as a group, knew that the Technique was the Original because it was inclusive. Through over 15 hours of technique-specific lecture and hands-on instruction, 10 hours of live Zoom Original classes and hours upon hours of videos filled with Technique secrets, as well as glimpses into Kelly’s and Pam’s personal relationships with Esther Fairfax, I, along with 10 other women, became part of a society dedicated to sharing our newfound treasure with those who also seek a community where they will feel authentic, feminine and included.

For me, the end of the training is only the beginning of my personal projects and endeavors. As I’ve told Pam and Kelly, I have found true muses in the Technique and in Esther, herself. Before I learned the history and background of the Original and read Esther’s books, I knew that I wanted to build a Barre Library — a community where barre students, instructors and devotees can come together to share knowledge, experiences and ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.

Now that I’ve been immersed in the Technique for a month, my direction is crystal clear. Thanks to their passion for and unselfish willingness to share The Original Technique, Esther, Kelly and Pam have gifted me the tools to unearth my own gem — one that I, too, will eagerly reveal to others.

Trainee Testimonials

If the last day of training had been in-person, I’m sure that each of us would have given a token of appreciation to our incredible Master Trainers, Kelly and Pam. Instead, several of the trainees graciously offered to share their own treasures:

“The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know. I thought that I knew barre, but I’m realizing that, without this foundation, I really didn’t.” – Lara Foldvari

“I have spent the last 25 years teaching women methods of movement that allow them to look and feel wonderful in their bodies. I’ve been a Master Trainer in a technique called T-Tapp — mindful movement designed to help you lose inches in record time. I loved that it allowed women, who otherwise wouldn’t exercise, to get up, do the workout and get results.

I have always been a seeker of movement techniques that I could incorporate into my daily classes to keep these results going. I am certified in Barre, BarreAbove (lots of their certifications), Dynamic Walking, race walking coach, Somatic Stretch and Gentle Somatic Yoga. Having studied the history of barre, I understood that Lotte Berk created a movement because her “Original” WORKED. When you tweak and change what works, often the results suffer. When I learned that Kelly and Pam were going to be teaching and certifying this method online, I knew I had to be a part of it. I was not disappointed. I am in love with this method and have already seen results in my own body. And I teach classes daily, so for me to see changes in my body, is really saying something. Kelly and Pam are passionate about the method and about sharing it with the world. That passion, along with a ton of work to put this training together, hit its mark. It has been a fabulous experience and I’m looking forward to being a part of this beautiful community of Original lovers.  – Renee McLaughlin

“My life changed the moment I discovered the barre technique — instantly in love, never to be stopped. Digging through the history of development lead me to Lotte Berk, her daughter, Esther Fairfax, and now her proteges Kelly and Pam at The London Method! My commitment to certification training in the Original Lotte Berk method was written in the stars long ago, but came to life in September 2020. And what a ride! Full of excitement, hard work, discoveries, new bonds, love, encouragement and, most of all, being a part of the carrying on the Legacy of Lotte.

Pam and Kelly will embrace you with the utmost care —  most precious golden nuggets of knowledge passing on through generations now to us. Kelly’s Pilates background gives you an incredible outlook on the dynamics of the human body and her passion for the Original method is second to none. Pam’s infectious laugh makes you feel like an instant family.

Sitting in the class, you’ll know the universe’s energy revolves around “BARRE” and its original founder Lotte Berk, and her daughter Esther Fairfax. May the Force of this Legacy be with you!” – Andrea Lincoln

“This training experience was so incredibly special! Learning the history and origin of barre’s beginning was the perfect foundation upon which Kelly and Pam so passionately shared their knowledge about the exercises, as learned from Esther herself. This program embodied the spirit and essence of Lotte and Esther. Not only have I come out of this training with so much solid info to share with my community, but I feel more confidence and lightheartedness in my teaching, which is just an extra bonus that I wasn’t expecting!”  — Lisa Saphr

“TLM’s online training of the Original Technique was awesome! Kelly and Pam are so tuned into the details that make this Technique so effective. They have had the unique opportunity to train with Esther Fairfax and are eager to share everything they know in an effort to preserve the Original exercises. Kelly’s focus on form is unwavering – even through the lens of a laptop – and her love and belief in the program is inspiring! Pam’s laugh is contagious and her sense of humor keeps you smiling even through the burn. It was a great experience. I can’t wait to continue getting stronger and healthier as I continue practicing and teaching the Original Technique.” – Catherine Morvant

“I am super grateful to have found The London Method. I have been instructing in the fitness industry for more than 30 years and have to say that the tLm Teacher Training is one of the best programs I have participated in. Kelly and Pam so thoroughly share their expertise and knowledge of The Original Lotte Berk Technique, all while being warm, supportive and fun. The combination of the TLM TV, live/recorded Zoom Training, live studio classes, instructor video Library with Esther Fairfax teaching, the Training Manual and more, leave no stone unturned as far as learning the Technique and successfully teaching classes.

I have been teaching barre and have been obsessed with its origins for about six years. It’s an honor to have had the deepest dig possible into the beginnings of our favorite subject and to present a teaching video to Esther Fairfax herself!” – Colleen Fontes 

“The work Kelly and Pam are doing to preserve the legacy of Lotte Berk, and maybe more importantly, her daughter, Esther Fairfax, is a priceless gift to the barre community and an aspiring feat to witness. They are incredibly genuine and their passion for sharing the Original Technique is filled with so much respect and love. I’m honored to be a part of the community they’ve built and proud to say I’ve been through their training. As leaders, they are welcoming, compassionate, approachable, and bring humor to all they do. This is the spirit of Lotte and Esther, which lives on through them, and now can be passed onto others through the Original method.” – Michelle DuVall

Up next: My Journey to Getting Certified in the Original Lotte Berk Technique: I’m a Certified Instructor!

About the Author

Jennifer is a barre instructor, personal trainer, clinical aromatherapist and author who discovered barre — her soul-mate workout — while training for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As a long-time runner, former bodybuilder, and melanoma skin cancer survivor, Jennifer’s recent battle with autoimmune disease has changed her fitness focus to one that incorporates more mindful, purposeful and low-impact movements.

A former communication professor and mother of two daughters, Jennifer is excited to share her thoughts and experiences on ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.

In this series of posts, our Southern US Editor Jennifer Mathieu Henshall shares her POV while on her journey to getting certified by theLONDONmethod in the original Lotte Berk Technique.

The core. The abs. The middle. Otherwise known as the elusive center of physical and emotional well-being, many of us strive to keep balanced, aligned and well-defined. We all have a core, try to engage it as much as possible and may even fall victim to its inconvenient irritabilities, such as back pain, poor posture or insufficient balance, from time to time.

Every move we make is rooted in this powerhouse – the foundation of each exercise from the ORIGINAL Lotte Berk Technique. And as someone recovering from a back injury, Lotte Berk knew that it was necessary to exercise her core in a way that worked both the front- and backsides of the waist. This approach would allow her to improve her strength while maintaining her feminine shape.

After my first weekend of training in the ORIGINAL Technique, I immediately immersed myself in the core of the material and the method. As part of the requirements for this round of virtual training, all trainees are given ten Zoom classes to attend and three recorded classes to observe.

Of course, I began booking my Zoom classes that initial Saturday night of training and scheduled my first live class with Pam for the following Sunday morning. I felt that taking a virtual class right before our Sunday afternoon training session would be a useful way to start putting what I was studying into practice, while also allowing myself to learn from my mistakes before bringing any questions into the next online training class.

Between the start of my daughters’ respective virtual school years, writing projects aplenty and taking ORIGINAL classes via Zoom, the week flew by. Before I knew it, the second weekend of training had arrived! This time around, my excitement was fueled by my growing confidence in my knowledge of the Technique and my own body’s ability to execute – or at least attempt to perform – the unique exercises.

Just as the previous weekend had begun, I, once again, headed down to my at-home barre studio with laptop, binder, pen and water in-hand ready to pulse even further into the heart of the ORIGINAL Lotte Berk Technique.

Day 3 — “We want to create a community for continuity, as well as constant support” – tlm

When Kelly traveled to Hungerford, England, to meet Esther Fairfax and experience her first ORIGINAL class, she discovered more than just the birthplace of what would become Americanized barre. As she entered Esther’s home and prepared to take the class that would come to change her life, Kelly was introduced to Esther’s students and amazed to find, “This Secret Society of Women in their 70s and 80s who were strong, limber and so connected with one another.”

From that moment on, Kelly knew that she wanted to replicate these same feelings and sense of community in her own classes back home in the States. If you’ve ever taken a TLM class in-person, via Zoom or through TLM TV, you will find that this vision has become a remarkable reality.

Although the ORIGINAL’s mindful micromovements will have you working hard and seeing results, each class feels like a girl’s night out, whether you are gathered in a circle warming up in the studio or gearing up for Genies while tuning into TLM TV. After a successful first weekend of virtual training, the TLM Girls can confidently add fostering a safe space for trainees to learn and grow in their mutual love of the Technique.

Not only did they fulfill their wish to create the same training experience that they had with Esther in England by giving trainees access to exclusive videos of Esther instructing, but Kelly and Pam also added to the intimacy of the virtual training by sharing stories and other personal details from the beginning of their own ORIGINAL journeys.

During the beginning of our third session together, we were allowed to ask questions about the previous weekend’s material before digging JCB-style into the next three sections of the class. Kelly and Pam disclosed that it took them five years of training with Esther in England before they felt they knew the ORIGINAL Technique intricately enough to bring their instructor training course online.

We were also assured that after training was over, we would continue to receive unlimited support from the TLM team. Their goal is to nurture an inclusive family of ORIGINAL instructors who feel confident in the Technique, as well as themselves, and who will ensure the integrity of the exercises as they share them with others.

Once the question and answer session ended, Pam demonstrated the new movements, as I feverishly took notes while mimicking fun moves like Burnt Thighs, Genies, ½ Banana and the famous Hello Sailor. By the end of that Saturday’s session, I felt happily exhausted, further in love with the Technique’s purposeful movements and playful names and more connected to my physical and mental core.

Day 4 — “Something is always anchored” – tlm

Unlike Americanized barre classes, the ORIGINAL is a “core-conditioning class that uses the barre for leverage and support.” Contrary to the “gently rest your fingers on the barre approach” that I had been taught, the ORIGINAL Technique encourages participants to anchor themselves underneath the barre for ab work and to use the barre as a stable base during various thigh-focused exercises.

Pushing up on the barre serves as the leverage and support needed to help you fully engage your core muscles while holding onto the barre during outside thigh work allows you to deeply stretch your body on one side as you work the other.

As we made our way through another four sections of the class, my wall-mounted barre was crucial in allowing me to properly perform exercises like Barre Press Ups (otherwise known as pushups) and the entire section devoted to working the abs with your feet beneath the barre. Not to worry, however, if you don’t have access to a wall-mounted barre, several modifications are offered that will enable you to achieve the same waist-whittled results.

After the fourth day of virtual training, we had learned and practiced about half of the ORIGINAL class. Up to this point, it was more than apparent how central the core and support – both from the barre and those who share the barre with you – is in this Technique. Some part of your body is always anchored – it might be your feet on the floor during thigh work, your arms on the barre during your stretches or your lower back pressing down during your abdominal sets.

My fellow trainee Renee put it best when she stated that the ORIGINAL class invites you to “Experience your body in such a different way. I feel so good and strong in my body.” Whether it was the barre or the encouragement that I received from the TLM Girls and my fellow trainees, I had never experienced a method where I, too, felt so grounded and secure in my body, its current abilities and its promise to progress.

Week 2 Impressions

By the end of that second weekend of virtual training, I had learned more than just how to cue, set up and do the ORIGINAL exercises. We were starting to move further into the core of the Technique, where more than solely the structure lies. We understood that although the moves may look simple and easy, their actual complexity and level of difficulty will shape more than just your form.

As a seasoned barre instructor and athlete, the shame that I had felt in prior training because my form wasn’t perfect didn’t matter in our virtual forum. Sure, I wasn’t able to get my leg to move as fluidly as I wanted in my Hello Sailor, and I definitely need to work on keeping all but my middle still during waist whittlers but Kelly and Pam’s encouraging words – “sometimes just getting into the position is enough” and that a lot of the “strengthening comes from barely moving” – helped to anchor my convictions in my own physical capabilities, while healing some internal struggles regarding my health and well-being that I have been dealing with since last year.

Thousands of miles may separate us – just as they separate the TLM Girls from Esther – but hundreds of minutes filled with laughter, learning, engagement and encouragement helped to bring forth the Essence of Esther during our second weekend of training. And as Kelly and Pam had hoped that Saturday and Sunday, I was transported from my basement barre studio in northern Virginia to Esther’s cottage in Hungerford, England – the core of it all.

See you at the barre!

Next up: My Journey to Getting Certified in the Original Lotte Berk Technique: Third Weekend Recap

About the Author

Jennifer is a barre instructor, personal trainer, clinical aromatherapist and author who discovered barre — her soul-mate workout — while training for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As a long-time runner, former bodybuilder, and melanoma skin cancer survivor, Jennifer’s recent battle with autoimmune disease has changed her fitness focus to one that incorporates more mindful, purposeful and low-impact movements.

A former communication professor and mother of two daughters, Jennifer is excited to share her thoughts and experiences on ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.