Ever since we moved to Charlotte, I am feeling rather unmotivated when it comes to putting myself through one of my own workouts. There are just too many classes I want to try and while I’m sure the “newness” of all of this will wear off eventually, for now I’m going to ride my group exercise high!
Today’s workout took me to a new Pure Barre class located within five minutes of our apartment. (We are currently living north of the city.)
I’ve taken Pure Barre with my sister in Jacksonville before and was always so bummed that there weren’t any barre classes near our previous home in Ocala. Now I have access to a bunch (yay!) and headed out for an early morning class after breakfast.
I’m not sure what was different about this class, but it was way harder than the class I took back in Jacksonville. And I mean that in a good way. It BURNED into the core of my being. My butt and core were on FIRE and it challenged my body in a whole new way.
So naturally I bought the “new member special” package for one month of unlimited classes. Pure Barre, I will be back!
(And yes, I have a billion keys right now thanks to temporary housing.)
Breakfast + Coffee
Backing up a bit to breakfast… Before I left for Pure Barre, I ate an egg sandwich with cheese and a side of strawberries.
After Pure Barre, I used Yelp to direct me to Madalyn’s, a local coffee shop.
I ordered an almond milk cappuccino (loving all the local coffee shops with almond milk here) and ended up chatting with the owner and a couple who owns a local boxing gym for over an hour (hence my delay in posting this morning).
They were super friendly and are members of a nearby church that caught our eye last week. I made plans for us to go to a Sunday morning service with them which should be great!
As a random side note, I cannot get over how friendly people have been in Charlotte so far. I know a bunch of you said that the people here are awesome and after several 45-plus minute conversations with strangers this week, I see exactly what you mean. So amazing.
Question of the Morning
- Do you think the people where you live are particularly friendly?
- Is there a place you’ve visited in the past where you noticed that the people were extremely friendly?
Rachel @ Blonde with a Chanse says
I live in Utah and people are seriously so incredible friendly and kind! I love it 🙂
Rachel says
Hi Julie,
I live in Philadelphia, and we are definitely an unfriendly city. I have friends who are transplants to Philly, and they say you almost have to have a chip on your shoulder to live here.
I went to visit a girlfriend in Austin, TX this past October and was shocked at how friendly people are. I sat down at the bar for a drink and the bartender shook my hand. I was taken aback and thought to myself, “Don’t shake my hand, just pour my beer.” After that, I warmed up a bit to the friendliness. Everyone I talked to welcomed me and asked me how I was enjoying Texas. I LOVED it. I’m seriously considering a move within the next few years.
Amy says
I grew up in Bastrop (about 30 min from Austin), and know exactly what you mean. If you move to Texas, I hope you love it!
Rachel says
Amy,
Oh my gosh, my girlfriend lives in Bastrop. That’s exactly where I stayed for the week. My friend and her husband have a beautiful home in a development. The only thing that turned me off about the town is the fact you have to drive everywhere. Things are accessible, but it is a pain to drive. And I think Texas drivers are kind of nuts, mainly because they all drive on the shoulder! What’s up with that?
At the time of my visit (late October), I was kind of tired of the heat, but as you may know, the Northeastern part of the US had a very difficult winter. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shoveled my car out or scraped ice from my windshield and thought “Texas is looking pretty good right now.”
SJ says
Love LOVE love Birkdale Village!!! I used to call on Rubbermaid for work and would have to travel to Charlotte (live in Atlanta) — I would always stay right by there. Awesome Target nearby and the restaurants at Birkdale are pretty good too. Plus great shopping.
Bri @ Simple Delights says
I am SO excited that you enjoyed your Pure Barre class. I teach it in Dallas! Needless to say, something on me is ALWAYS sore after I take a class.
Coco says
I live in Baltimore…so, no. Not so friendly haha
Sarah @ Sarah Sincerely says
Yay for meeting friendly faces! I LOVE pure barre – so much so that my husband purchased me a package as part of my anniversary gift a few months back. He knows me too well. 😉
S says
Hi Julie,
I highly recommend you try Xtend Barre! They have a studio in Charlotte (http://xtendbarreworkout.com/new/xtend-barre-charlotte/). Let us know what you think! 🙂
-S
Jen @ Bagels to Broccoli says
I love, love, love Pure Barre!!!
Molly Rose says
Sounds like a great day!
I’ve tried Pure Barre once and just remember that my triceps were ridic sore the next day! I liked it, but I want to try out Xtend Barre too, which I plan on doing this coming weekend, woop woop to classes that lift the bum! 🙂
Hope you two find a church that suits you, that’s the hardest part about being in a new town!
Sarah Whitney says
I just moved to Nashville and have met so many incredibly friendly people! The whole southern hospitality thing is real! And I love it because I’m also overly friendly to everyone haha!
Amy says
I love barre but have only taken a few classes! There aren’t a lot of options for it where I live.
I’m so glad you like Charlotte! My friend’s husband plays for the Panthers and they recently moved their family there. My friend said even if her husband gets traded she felt like they could make a home in Charlotte and would keep their permanent home there. So I’m not surprised you love it!
I live in Iowa and we are pretty “nice” 🙂 This video is super awesome and talks about just how nice our state is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLZZ6JD0g9Y
Joelle @ on a pink typewriter says
I moved to San Diego a year ago and I felt the same. People are so friendly and generous here! I think it’s the constant good weather. 😉
Also, Pure Barre is the BEST.
Kelsey says
I have heard that about Charlotte!! It is on my list of places to visit in the states. I live in Kansas City, MO and it is super friendly. It makes living so much easier and more fun when people care about one another!!! 🙂
Ashley Pitt @ A Lady Goes West says
People seem to mind their own business here in San Francisco. They aren’t rude like in NY, but just keep to themselves. Usually on their headphones or iPhones at all times.
Jordan says
i LOVE charlotte… i have family members who used to live there, and I always loved going to visit! Two churches you should try in Charlotte- Forrest Hill & Elevation Church 🙂
Kelly says
Charlotte people are friendly! When I lived in Spain, my friends would laugh at me and say I was too friendly!
Emily says
Charlotte people are great! After 8 years of living there I feel that I developed that friendly chat with everyone way of life which I get weird reactions to now in Boston. I get back down there today & I am so excited. I LOVE Madalyn’s and the owner is amazing. We have a run group that runs from there on Saturdays and we stay there for hours after our runs.
Luisa says
during my stay in the states I met two sisters. They are from Charlotte and the nicest people I know (I also met the whole family – sooo kind).
Charlotte is very pretty. I kind of missed your moving though on here. oops.
I hope Bure Barre starts in Germany soon too!
Mandy says
I love that you’re loving it here in Charlotte. The Carolinas have my heart and I may travel but North or South Carolina will always be my home! <3
Love Pure Barre as well, sore for days usually!
kelly says
I actually live in Birkdale and absolutely love it!! Are you going to continue to train clients in Charlotte?
Julie says
I’m not sure yet. I have a few ideas. 😉 I will probably wait on this until we have a more permanent living situation in place so I know what area we’ll actually be in before I look into jobs!
Nora says
Hi Julie-
I just stumbled on your blog somehow. I live in Cornelius and go to Pure Barre in Birkdale several times a week. I usually go after work during the week and @9:15 on Sat and Sun. I will keep an eye out for you in class and introduce you to some people if you like. Welcome to the area – it is a great place to live 🙂
Nora
Julie says
You are so sweet! Thank you, Nora! Hope to run into you!
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says
Im currently visiting Savannah, GA for FitBloggin and the people down here are all so nice. It caught me off guard initially because I kept wondering what they wanted from me! It’s nice to see so many smiling people who say hi just to say hi.
That barre class looks awesome! I’m glad you’re settling in nicely!
Jennifer says
I love birkdale and live a couple of minutes from there 🙂
Sydney says
I live in Lincoln, Nebraska and I have to say, I think we win for the friendliest people EVER ; )
Julia M. says
I’m so excited to move to Charlotte in a few weeks. I live in NYC (and have for about 11 years). People here are downright mean! A guy threatened to hit me on the subway the other day for bumping into his backpack… and I’m 9 mos pregnant!
sara f. says
Longtime reader, first time commenter….I live in Cornelius (sounds like we’re neighbors now, yay!) and Birkdale village is so fun. The people here really are friendlier, I think :). Hope you’re loving it!
Julie says
Loving it so far for sure!
Tee says
Hi Julie,
I know this is an older post,but I wanted to give you a quick thanks for opening my eyes and providing some insight into pure barre. I recently moved to a new city and have been struggling to get into a good workout routine, and I have been wanting to make more friends, and pure barre has been the solution to my woes!!! I knew NOTHING about pure barre before reading about it on your blog, and your advice made me so much more comfortable walking in to class on day one! Thank you so so much!
Julie says
This makes me so happy!!! So glad to hear it, Tee!!