Meet Jac Bost, our January Bar Star who attends class 4 times a week. She is dedicated, committed and LOVELY. When we first met her, she casually mentioned that she was a runner. When we got to know her more, it turns out she is a multiple marathon runner and has completed 35 marathons! Thirty five!
As if that wasn’t inspiring enough, Jac also has MS. An auto-immune disease, MS tries to keep people from moving- but not Jac. She is using the Bar Method as a “…foundation for supporting my day to day life with MS. A strong core is vital to maintain balance which can be a challenge to MS patients, Bar builds a strong core.” And core she has. Look at those ABS!
For the last 2 months, Jac has found the Bar Method to be the perfect compliment to running and to help with her MS. Read Jac’s own words below:
Bar:
“It is the perfect compliment to running. It is a fantastic strength and flexibility work out, with focus on building endurance in key major muscle groups central to running. A strong core is key to running well, Bar gives you that. Runners are notoriously inflexible – a distance runner who can touch their toes comfortably is a rarity. Lack of flexibility makes you prone to injury – a runners worst enemy, being benched from running. Every runner knows this, and yet it is difficult to discipline yourself to dilligently work on your flexibility because let’s be honest, it hurts and going for a run is a lot more fun then stretching. :) Bar changed that thinking and has made a huge difference in my flexibility. It is true- it is addictive! I focus on staying aligned to maximize my stretch. A strong core is the foundation for holding your posture and maintaining your breathing during long runs – Bar builds a strong core. Every muscle group we work includes an extra focus on the core to stabilize and focus the muscle group we are working. The same applies to running – if your core is strong, breathing will be easier and with good posture your legs can do the work. And frankly, you stand up taller and maintain a better posture in daily life.Bar offers a great alternative to a “traditional” gym setting. It is a welcoming environment with a personal touch. How great is it that the instructors know everyone’s name in class? Kudos guys. I am the most “anti class” person you will ever meet. Fitness classes have just never been something I enjoy. I find them loud, the lighting overly intense, impersonal, and I don’t enjoy being “barked” at by an instructor yelling instructions over too loud music to a routine I likely can’t follow because I don’t go all the time. So when my friend invited me to Bar Method – well let’s just say there are not too many people I would have agreed to go with, but this was a GOOD friend so I agreed. Lucky for me or I would have missed out on a gem! On my first day, the instructors made it possible to follow along through the entire class. I never felt lost, and never once did anyone “bark”. I went in a skeptic, I left an hour later completely hooked. I had found a new approach to building strength and flexibility that was both appealing and difficult! I was intrigued. I talked with my coach and told him I was interested and wanted to give it a try. Bar Method was new to him too but he was willing to see what kind of results we could get from it. Since I am a “jump in with both feet” kind of person I bought the intro package for 30 days and started going 4 days / week. In a couple of weeks time I could see and feel the difference. I was stronger, leaner and more flexible. I started to notice on my runs that my core was stronger and my legs didn’t tire as easy. I think they were just grateful to be out running and not doing quad sets in class. ;) Today was a good testament of what I have noticed… I ran the LA 13.1 half marathon and took 8 minutes off of my time from my prior half marathon in October 2010. 3 months later, 8 minutes faster. So 2 months into doing Bar and the results have been great. I am hooked! I feel better, and run stronger with Bar as a part of my training program. THANK YOU!
MS: What is MS? www.nationalmssociety.org
“Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune disease that as the National MS Society says tries to “keep people from moving”. So what does that mean? That’s right.. as I see it it means we need to keep moving! :) I was diagnosed with MS in 2006. I was experiencing vision issues which led doctors to the diagnosis of MS. MS is different for everyone, it doesn’t behave the same from person to person so the journey is different for everyone. My faith is my foundation in accepting the journey of MS, and it helps me approach every day grateful and thankful in a whole new way. Bar is a great foundation for supporting my day to day life with MS. A strong core is vital to maintaining balance which can be a challenge for MS patients, Bar builds a strong core.”
Thank you SO much Jac! We are in awe of you!
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