I met Janaye in 2012 and always admired her beautiful glow that was accompanied by her passion for exercise and overall health.
Out of curiosity I would ask a lot of questions about Barefoot, but never had the confidence to join. I was very insecure to work out in front of others. I tried every “at home” workout: live streaming, videos, YouTube coaches, running….you name it, I tried it and all it accomplished was bad habits, discouragement and incorrect form.
In the Fall of 2019, my husband was wanting structure and encouraged me to give Barefoot a try with him. It was a Saturday, we parked further away and had to walk a little ways giving me time to try and talk myself out of going inside. Fighting back tears, I kept telling Corey.. “This is crazy, I sweat to much, I don’t know what I am doing, I am not going to know anyone, what am I doing here? I don’t belong in a gym.” All kinds of excuses and lies! But I found the courage to take that first step through the front door, and it was the best step I took!
1 WEEK…JUST 1 WEEK, is all it took for Barefoot to go from a scary and intimidating thought to a staple not only in my life but my whole family’s life. I quickly realized, that everyone there was welcoming and over a short period of time the insecurities were disappearing. I was feeling confident, and never wanted to miss a day.
When Barefoot had to temporarily close due to COVID-19, I cried at my last class. I never knew how much I would long to be part of a something where everyone has the same goal…..”to be a better YOU than yesterday!”
Although physical health is a bonus, it is about so much more at Barefoot. It is overall wellness, just to name a few: good nutrition for fueling your body correctly, good sleeping habits, water intake, creating good time management, and clarity of mind.
Over the last 9 months through a lot of very hard trials in life, this is the healthiest and strongest I have ever been: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Thank you Barefoot! Thank you for taking the time for each individual member, thank you for demonstrating care and compassion to meet people exactly where they are and what they need. Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge about overall wellness, helping people with personal goals all while making it completely safe and judgement free. Thank you for pushing and encouraging me to be the best I can be! Thank you Barefoot for not being just a gym, but a community!