Erica's road to barre

Erica's upbringing in a small, rural Northern California town revolved around her passion for volleyball. However, being one of few, or sometimes the only, Black players on her teams, she often felt a sense of not belonging. Despite this, the joy and power she received from the sport provided her with the strength and confidence to overcome feeling like an outsider and face the discrimination she endured during her middle and high school years. Volleyball ultimately helped build resilience.

Erica's journey took an unexpected turn when she obtained a volleyball scholarship for a college in the Bay Area and relocated. Once her collegiate volleyball career came to an end, she struggled to find movement that brought her the same joy as her beloved sport. Everything changed in 2010 when Erica was introduced to mat Pilates. It didn't take long for her to become enamored with this new form of exercise, especially after she hopped on a reformer for the first time. The experience was nothing short of love at first sight. Erica was so passionate about Pilates that during her first pregnancy with her son in 2011, she decided to undergo instructor training with the owner of the studio she attended. She taught at the studio until its closure in late 2012.

Life continued, and Erica had her daughter in 2014. She taught at an Oakland gym for a brief period. Throughout this time, Pilates remained an essential part of her wellness routine. Eventually, she discovered a Pilates barre fusion class that combined Pilates foundations with music-based, high-repetition, light-weight barre. Erica had a new love.

Over the years, she dabbled in and out of barre classes, regularly incorporating them into her fitness regimen. However, it wasn't until the fall of 2020 that Erica took a deep dive into barre, committing several months of the year primarily focus on the practice. Erica had a newfound strength and energy through this low impact mode of movement, which led her to obtain a barre certification in 2022.

Recognizing that physical movement is just one aspect of overall well-being, she also pursued a yoga RYT-200 and social emotional facilitator certification in 2023. Currently, Erica is working towards her nutrition and women's hormonal health consultant certifications, with the goal of providing comprehensive support to her clients on their wellness journeys. Through her diverse certifications, Erica aims to offer a well-rounded approach to holistic wellness, empowering individuals to achieve their health goals.