IMAGE COURTESY OF PURE BARRE.
Summer is an important time for us DePauw students. Not only do we need endless hours for eating Chipotle burritos and binge watching Netflix; but also we need time to relax, recharge and regain a balance that can often be pushed to the side in the busy lives we live in Greencastle.
At school we push ourselves in many different ways: mentally in the classroom, socially on campus or physically at the gym. The transition into summer can be difficult, especially coming off a time of intense studying and going back home to Minnesota away from most of my DePauw friends.
On my drive home, I found myself frantically checking my email and agenda; I couldn’t even remember the last time I had absolutely nothing to do. But all my work was turned in and my things were already put in storage for the next year. At first the feeling was quite odd, but it was nice to recharge and engage in said Netflix binges.
Without all the ways to be involved and stretch ourselves like we have on campus, it is easy to feel quite lazy. To me this is nice for a few days but eventually gets pretty old.
A summer job or internship is always a good way to fill some of our time, but if you're like me you need more. You need some sort of challenge, something to work toward.
After my freshman year at DePauw I really needed something at home to fulfill this. As an athlete in high school and my freshman year at DePauw, I was used to having practices with my teammates. I needed something that would push my body and mind to be stronger, something I was missing without my team.
And that was when I found Pure Barre. I first went to class with my future roommate who was visiting for a weekend. The next week I decided this would be my summer thing and purchased a month of classes.
For me, Pure Barre is different. It challenges me in a way that other workout classes don’t.
First, it is somewhat ballet based. Although dance is not exactly my thing, I was up for the challenge. Another part I love is how individual of a workout it is, but also how much of a community I have found at the studio.
Each class I can push myself to the level I need that day. Some days that is holding my chair position longer than the person next to me and others it’s lifting my leg higher than the day before.
I promised myself that I would stay dedicated even if it meant going to 6:00 a.m. class before nannying or working my other job. Getting up before 5:30 a.m. is pretty daunting, but having a workout done by 7:00 a.m. feels great.
Going to Pure Barre has become a meaning of home for me. During breaks from school I try to squeeze in classes and always enjoy catching up with my favorite instructors.
In my time at home this summer I completed my 100th class within a year of putting on my first pair of Pure Barre sticky socks. This milestone meant a lot to me. I proved to myself that if I put my mind to something and stay dedicated, I can accomplish anything.
The confidence and determination I have gained from Pure Barre is something that helps me everyday at DePauw. Whether it is studying for an exam, going an extra mile on the treadmill or simply trying just to fit it all in.
However, this would not have been possible without taking a break from the DePauw bubble. Our weeks off from school give us the perfect opportunity to learn outside of the classroom staying near to home or perhaps going far.
So, wherever your summer might take you, remember to challenge yourself and that most things are truly mind over matter.