You’ve Got the Power (& Balance)

A new workout just arrived on Ellen Barrett Let’s Move! called Power & Balance. It’s a 30minute Ballet-inspired strengthening experience with lots of grounding, core connection and stability challenge. We filmed in a new location and I’m happy to report, Amy and Krystal joined me again, so you’ll see their smiling faces throughout class. 

Power is more than just strength. Power is strength integratedPower is the entire universe of your body working as one, and it hinges on two things: 1. accessing strength and 2. activating muscle chains. 

(I’ve told this story a few times, so if you’ve already heard it, I apologize.) Years ago, my husband had a rental property where a previous tenant left behind a big futon mattress, lying in the middle of the living room. For some reason, I had to go give a tour of this apartment to prospective renters, so upon walking into the unit, I saw this futon mattress and thought, “Oh no, I’ve gotta get this out of here, and quick.” I vividly remember taking a bag off my shoulder and putting it on the floor, and then putting my hair up in a bun. I then proceeded to drag this mattress down the hallway, down a narrow staircase, and then propped it up next to the dumpster in the back. I was sweating, grunting and breathing heavy but I managed to do it before the showing. I showed the apartment and then went back out in the world, and didn’t give a second thought to that futon mattress.

A few days later, I get a call from my husband in the afternoon. He said, “Hey, who got the futon mattress out of the unit?” I said, “I did.” He said, “Who helped you?” I said, “No one, it was just me.” He said, “That’s impossible. We’ve had a couple guys in there and they couldn’t do it. I was waiting on Will to haul it away with me.” Steve was dumbfounded, and Will, his handyman, was also dumbfounded. To this day, they both still scratch their heads about it. 

Well, I don’t scratch my head about it because I know how it happened. My years of mind/body movement methods taught me true power, a.k.a., strength integrated. I know how to access strength and activate muscle chains – and that makes me functionally pretty strong. And you know what? Power comes in handy! 

So I hope you enjoy Power & Balance and suck up all its benefits. May it infuse you with strength integrated, so that you’ll be ready to move any and all futon mattresses that stand in your way.