Who: Kirstin W., 32, an optical lab technician in southern Ontario, Canada shares her weight loss journey—and how obé has changed her relationship with working out.
What hooked you about obé—and what has kept you coming back?
Right away, I found instructors and types of movement that I really enjoyed. I had tried HIIT-type exercises in the past but was never able to stick with it because eventually I got bored and stopped liking the movements and instructor messaging—it was always very weight-loss centric which was not my vibe. I also really appreciate the extensive library of on-demand classes! Live classes are a great feature but I can’t often make the classes, so having access to hundreds of workouts anytime is absolutely fantastic!
How obé changed your approach to fitness?
It has certainly helped harbour a stronger relationship to my body and the way I choose to move it. For the last several years I have taken an intuitive eating/movement approach to life, which has helped tremendously in combating diet culture and negative body talk in my life. obé has allowed me to maintain a consistent movement routine which in turn has made me realize how much I truly love working out. I do mainly Strength and Power workouts, and never feel pressure to do something else, or to push myself beyond my personal capabilities. obé has taught me it’s ok to like what I like; that I can do as little or as much as I want while still progressing.
What are your go-to class types on obé?
My go-to class types are Strength, Pilates, and Power. Prior to obé, I had never lifted weights! Now I’m throwing around pairs of 15- and 20-lb dumbbells regularly and I love the way that feels! I’ve never been in this for weight loss or definition or toning; it’s always been about the way I feel physically and mentally. These classes make me feel strong!
As a woman, I’ve felt discouraged to be or look strong and these classes have given me back my autonomy when it comes to how and why I move my body. I love the calm and thorough exhaustion that comes from a good Strength class. Pilates makes me feel in-tune with my body and enhances my mobility. Power is so tough! It makes me feel accomplished at the end of the 28 minutes or hour-long class!
Who are your go-to instructors on obé?
I love Kat E. and Mar-Mar [aka Marcia M.]! They are my go-to instructors for Strength and Power, and Pilates, respectively. I respond really well to Kat’s calm and informative approach to teaching; she’s effective and fun without being hectic. Marcia’s straight-forward, get down to business while still having fun style is just what I needed when I stepped into Pilates. She’s so funny, but also very to the point: it’s tough, but that’s where the change happens!
Have you connected with any other obé members, either virtually or IRL?
My obé journey is mostly a solo one and that suits me as a person. I like the Facebook group and learning about other member’s lives and routines and I do find some support in that, but I’ve always been in this for myself and I like the ability to focus on where I’m at in my workouts.
Where do you do obé? Coolest place you’ve taken obé?
I am a living-room warrior! I live in a small apartment with my husband, and our cat and dog so the living room is my only option! Each day I carve out some space, usually between the cat and dog, haul out my weights and yoga mat, move some furniture out of the way, and do obé in my living room! While I’ve had good intentions of working out on vacation at the cottage, it never happens so obé has been an at-home venture for the last 10 months 🙂
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