The Studio That Changed Everything: My Journey Into Barre (Part 2)

I was in love. The studio, the instructors, the community, and most importantly the way my body felt after doing barre. And that was just after the first week!

Remember my scheduled gallbladder surgery? I got my gallbladder removed exactly seven days after finishing my free week at the studio. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do any physical activity for about a month. Finally, in January 2025, I officially became a member of Studio 19! You might remember the name Full Circle Fitness and Social Club from Part 1—the studio was now under new ownership by an amazing woman named Therese Burkle. By this time, I had started working, and slowly, things seemed to fall into place. I was going to the studio after work, sometimes even mixing in Strength classes when I wasn’t doing barre.

If you are not familiar with Barre, it is a mix of Pilates, Yoga, and Strength Training. It is a full body workout that increases strength, flexibility, and helps tone your entire body. You know the “barre” used in ballet? In a Barre class, it is used as a supportive prop for balance, leaving you free (or should I say forced) to focus on alignment and form as you are guided through isometric exercises. It consists of small movements and lighter weights, but trust me you will be shaking by the end of those 45 minutes because it targets and engages the deep muscles in your body. I cannot recommend this enough - it is truly amazing for ages and fitness levels.

I began going consistently throughout the year and I became close with the instructors, Therese, and the other clients. Studio 19 is not a franchise, it is a small business in the Oak Park River Forest area. While I didn’t necessarily make friends in the traditional sense, the studio became the one space where I could go and forget everything else. The instructors and front desk team—Lonnie and Meg—genuinely care about you. They’ll ask about your day, your weekend plans, or just listen when you need it.

By May 2025, I was back on the job hunt—my contract was temporary, so I knew it was coming. I had mentioned my situation to Meg, and later that day, I received a text from her wishing me luck on the job search. Therese even asked around for me! And don’t get me started on her kind dad - Ken, who went as far as putting in a good word for me with a friend after having just one conversation with me. This is a one-of-a-kind community you will not find elsewhere. For the first time, I had a space I felt excited to show up to.

As I mentioned, I had been going consistently. One thing you should know about me is that I am always early. Naturally, I was the first to arrive for classes. One day, it’s just Therese and I waiting on the others to arrive. (By the way, Therese is the owner and an instructor - isn’t she great?!?!). Casually she says, “I’ve been meaning to ask you - have you ever thought about being an instructor?”

I paused. “Um, not really.” I replied. Sure, I’d play pretend when I got home from class with my parents, but I had never seriously thought about it. Another thing you should know about me: I am very timid and reserved. The thought of being in front of a large group of people terrifies me - let alone lead a workout I’d have to choreograph, memorize, demonstrate perfectly, AND talk the entire time. No thanks. Sometimes I could barely get through a class with a tough instructor, but now I’m supposed to lead one? But that day, I couldn’t stop replaying Therese’s question in my mind. Is this even me? Well, yes… kind of. I had built such a rhythm and routine at Studio 19, and given my background in sports and movement, maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched. After a few conversations, I spoke with Marla—another amazing instructor who created Studio 19’s Barre Training program—and officially signed up.

Let me break this training down for you. Therese described it as a fourth-month training program with Marla and Eileen (another wonderful instructor). It included studying a very hefty manual, observing and assisting classes, creating and teaching mock classes, and a final audition. This is a paid training program, so the thought of coming up with money for four months while I was unemployed scared me. Initially, I told myself I couldn’t do this because I wouldn’t be able to afford it. But remember, I don’t have a job so I quite literally have availability every single day to fully commit to this. Another thing I kept telling myself is that this is an investment in myself and my future. I know I am not going to pursue this full-time (at least not yet), but this is something I would love to do on weekends or evenings once I do find that career for myself. Most instructors at Studio 19 have other jobs apart from being extremely knowledgeable and experienced instructors. Isn’t that badass? That’s exactly what I wanted for myself.

Walking in on the first day of training with Marla felt like the first day of school. I was nervous, unsure what to expect, even asking her what to wear. We spent about two weeks going through the manual. To give you an idea of how thorough it was, Ken (yes, Therese’s dad) said he did less work for his Master’s degree. Let that sink in. It was a lot of information but being an active student in the past helped tremendously. The biggest learning curve for me was being able to articulate why we do a certain type of movement and further breaking it down by cueing to alignment and engagement. At first, I felt awkward at first - even shy - around Marla because she is just so good at what she does. It’s like trying to teach LeBron James how to play basketball.

After those initial nerves, I ran through a mock class with Marla and Eileen. I remember feeling so awkward, but this time because of the microphone I had to wear. I did feel like Britney Spears, but I could not stand the sound of my own voice. The fun part, though, was the musicality. I loved building a playlist and watching it flow with the movements. One thing I was the most nervous about was talking through the class. An experienced instructor should be talking the entire 45 minutes because they are cueing you into alignment and engagement. They should also come around periodically to check on your form. At first, I wrote down everything - every exercise, every cue and tried to memorize it word for word. I even printed out a sheet! But after a few run-throughs, I realized once I understood the “why” behind each movement, the words came more naturally.

Two big moments really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

The first was with Dana (another amazing instructor). One Sunday morning, I was covering the front desk. Dana’s class was set to start at 8:30am. I texted Dana at 8:10am asking if she needed me to set anything up. Two minutes later, I get a phone call from her. “Oh my god Karina I don’t know why I thought the class was at 9:30, I’m leaving the house now but can you entertain them until I get there?” I froze. I thought to myself, “Dana, you don’t even live near Oak Park?! And what do you mean entertain them?!” But then I remembered, Lonnie had once started a class and got them through the warm up. If Lonnie can do it with no training, it’d be embarrassing if I’m not able to do it. Well, it’s now or never. It was a class of about 8 people, I put on the Kesha song marking the start of my warm up, and I got them marching. We made it all the way to plank and pushups as Dana rushed through the door. I adore Dana as is, but I have never been so happy to see her walk through that door. I handed her the mic and for the rest of class I kept replaying those first 10 minutes smiling from ear to ear. I was just so proud of myself. It was the first time I taught actual paying clients!

The second big moment for me was me jumping in on Marla’s Friday class to do an ab series. The Friday classes usually have a big turnout - about 18 people and that Friday was like any other. Unlike with Dana’s class, I had time to overthink it for days. I practiced so much but I was very nervous. One thing you should know about Marla is that she follows a very particular set up that is different from the other instructors. Marla’s mat is in the middle of the space while the students are all alongside the walls looking at her. She is front and center. The day of, I placed my water and weights in my usual corner with Meg, but Marla said, “No you are up and center with me today.” “Why me????” I thought to myself even though I am training to be a literal instructor haha. I somehow found this more nerve racking versus a spontaneous class like Dana’s. Throughout class, I felt I had to do every movement perfectly because everyone is looking at me for guidance. Don’t be fooled though I had to drop my weights at one point. I blacked out and don’t remember much from what I did. I remember speaking into the mic, there being a moment of silence, but then I just powered through it. Even though I was very nervous I was so proud of myself. And you know what? It was fun.

From there, I jumped in on more classes, eventually teaching two mock classes for friends and family. As I look back at it, it’s all a blur. It went by so quick, but I always felt so ready. Sure I’ve made a couple mistakes here and there, and there’s always room for improvement, but this feels so natural for me. Marla and Eileen are truly the best mentors I could have asked for.

I am eternally grateful to Therese and everyone at the studio for creating this space where I thrive in. It has given me more than just training, I even modeled in a fashion show hosted at the studio! I’ve had the luxury to experience things I never thought I would because of Studio 19 and its community. I never imagined myself leading a class, but here I am surrounded by strong, intelligent, and fearless women. Saying yes to the instructor training has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I am so excited to see where this takes me.

Check out their website here: https://studio19barre.com

Instagram: @studio19barre