The whole AUXO team has been talking about Gwynn lately! She has taken almost 750 classes since starting with us in July 2016. She shows up and works hard in class despite leading a busy work life, and we are grateful for her continued support and involvement with AUXO during the pandemic and beyond! Gwynn loves Barre, BarreBata, BodyFlow and more, and we appreciate that she enjoys taking both virtual and in-studio classes. Read on to learn more about our December Barre Star with this month’s Q&A:
Q: What do you love most about AUXO Fitness?
A: Strength. Not only the strength that I have gained physically but also the strength of the AUXO community. It is a diverse community of women (and some men) from different backgrounds, ages, and experiences, who come together to share our lives, improve our health, and add joy for each other. There are different classes to choose from, my favorite is Barre-Bata followed closely by Body Flow, but I wouldn’t give up the strength I build in Barre or Barre Sculpt. I like that the music and routines change regularly. The instructors create a safe space to try new moves and ways to work up to new levels of accomplishment.
Q: What advice would you give someone who struggles with consistency?
A: Set a rhythm, same day and time, and a target number of classes per week. Using the app, I select my classes at the beginning of the week and then try not to change any of them even when work gets busy. I find it helpful to have a few Barre buddies, so I know someone will miss me. When I start to struggle, I visualize how good I feel physically and emotionally when I finish a class. I like having goals to work towards, small ones like participating in a charity donation contest and big ones like 750 classes!
Q: What goal(s) are you currently working toward? (maybe a hike you are preparing for?)
A: Hiking mountains is my passion and with the strength and fitness I gained in my AUXO classes, I tackled several of my dreams, my first 14er (a 14,000 ft peak in Colorado), base camp in Nepal, and 7 days of backpacking in the Grand Canyon. I am working toward the Tour du Mont Blanc, 12 days of climbing in the Alps, for 2021. I know my fit fam at Auxo will be there every step of the way with encouragement, challenging classes to build strength and endurance, and celebrating my journey at the end.
Q: How do you stay motivated (especially during this difficult time) and with your busy work schedule?
A: Motivation in COVID times is really difficult, the grind of our current reality seems endless. Staying connected to my friends at Auxo really helps and we joined a challenge together. The 20 in 30 Friends contest helped me stay focused, and the encouragement and comradery created a connection of achieving something together.
If I am feeling down, I will pick a different kind of class and try a new instructor. The online classes make attending easier timewise and the instructors always make me feel like I am there in person. AUXO fits my personal de-stressing motto, Dance it Out, Move and Breath.
Q: This month we are focusing especially on BodyFlow. What are your favorite aspects of this format?
A: Connecting to the breath in the Tai Chi section helps me center and relax, especially after a long day at work. I can feel the stress leaving me as I breath and move. I like the flexibility of the hip tracks and the strength that comes with the “crocodile down” in the sun salutations. Body Flow was difficult for me when I started but with Jen’s excitement about it and continued encouragement, I found myself getting so much more flexible and better at the moves. My all-time favorite Body Flow song is “This is me.” The power and message embodies the spirit of AUXO. We embrace who we are and work to improve our bodies, mindsets, and balance our spirits.
Q: Which of AUXO’s ‘Community Culture’ Values most resonates with you?
A: While I have had a personal transformation during my 4+ years with the AUXO family, the empowerment value resonates the most with me. Together we collectively work to empower each other to create the lives we want and the impact we want to have within our broader community. No step is too small and no mountain too big to climb, we empower each other with love, kindness, and caring.
Going with the “Flow”