Celebrating four years of JuliaCore barre studio

For a while, it wasn’t clear where this story should go: Barre Notes or Comfort Zone. It is about barre. But it is the part of barre that’s my comfort zone. The women. So here it is — my Comfort Zone.

Every morning I wake up scared to death to go and face them.

No, they are not scary. They are nice. It’s the wholehearted trust they put in me and the open support they give me that makes it scary I might let them down and disappoint.

It is the fifth year in my studio. Some of these women have been taking my classes for more than a decade. Nothing has changed: every morning my knees are weak and there’s this heat on the back of my neck: what if today they finally realize that I can’t do anything and know nothing? By the second class, knees are sturdier and the voice is better. Once the last class is over, I know what I am doing, I can do it, let’s keep going! It’s all great!

Then, the next morning arrives…

My friend Nick, who owns a store in Waldwick, NJ, once told me: the problem with having a small business is that your clients eventually become your friends and, when they leave for whatever reason, you don’t lose clients — you lose friends. This is so true. However, somehow I was able to stay close with most of my friends-clients whose paths veered away.

One thing I love about their ways, is that they do not put any pressure on me and even less so on each other. No make up — no problem. Clothes inside out — guess what, mine are, too. Having issues with kids — listen to my story. It’s so good to live without pressure to impress or be perfect.

One of them told me this. Once, she was getting ready to go to class and her husband pointed something about her clothes:

— Are your really going to wear that?

— Come on, it’s just to Julia’s, who cares. No one will notice it there.

Who would wish for more?

Over the years we’ve known each other, so many things have been shared: health scares, losses, relationships, decisions. And I have to say, the positivity of these people is unparalleled. It’s always half full and never half empty. And on the days when I’m dealing with life, they pick me up and keep me going.

One of them even saved me from a tentative “heart attack” when, one day on our way to a class in the city, I accidentally overdosed on coffee after not being used to it. She took the wheel and rejected the idea of the hospital.

In the end, our potential class  turned into a four-hour lunch and one of the best memories I have.

My major flaw is that I cannot finish classes on time. I can keep going and going. When people are really doing it, I lose track of time. A few years ago, a studio guest scheduled a one-hour private class. We really got into the details! Suddenly my phone rang. It was Tom:

— Is everything ok? Just was worried.

I looked at the clock — we were beginning our third hour.

— Sorry, we’re just finishing.

 Actually we were only half way through. It is really hard to stop when you meet a person who is truly interested. 

And when some of them reappear after prolonged absences — things get in the way — it feels good that the parting was not permanent.

We rarely talk in class and there is not much time in between as well. After classes, life takes over. Sometimes, you don’t know who the person is and it’s not always clear how the person feels. And then there are moments that spark — suddenly: it can be a text message, food brought to your home at the moment of being down, or a bottle of fancy vodka at the moment of being up. And it turns out there is such an emotional connection.

And they give me more than I can ever give them back. But I don’t think they realize that.

And they all are… I mean… Gorgeous! No?

Forgot to mention: These pictures are from the studio’s 4th anniversary party at The Park Steakhouse in Park Ridge, NJ. Thank you Dianne and Randy for always making it so special for these special people!