Barre with Justine

Graceful fitness for real, busy lives.

Fitness inspired by ballet, Pilates, and yoga — and lifestyle tips from a mom of three who knows what it’s like to have no time!

● Latest posts

  • My Fitness Philosophy

    As a child I was never sporty. I always joke that my activities felt like preparation for a 19th century marriage – dancing, music lessons,…

  • The Beautiful Benefits of Good Posture

    One of the nicest compliments I’ve ever been given was from a lady who recognized me on a walk by my “lovely posture.” Ballet lessons…

  • Yoga for Barre workout

    I’ve been wanting to create a yoga flow that would help barre newbies to develop flexibility in the hips and shoulders PLUS include some delicious…

  • can we talk about insecurities?

    can we talk about insecurities?

    We have ALL been there. You are feeling great and then suddenly just one little tiny comment throws you into a spiral of anxiety. You…

● About Me

I’m Justine, the creator of this blog and a full-time academic librarian, with a passion for fitness.

I believe that everyone deserves to feel valued and strong in their own body. My love of movement started in ballet, where I learned that strength and grace aren’t opposites — and my life as a busy, working mom of three taught me that self-care has to be realistic to matter. I bring both of those things into every class: grace, positivity, and the belief that you are worthy of feeling good.

One of the highlights of being on here was meeting @mandy_neale - she’s been my IG friend for several years now and one of the brightest lights for me and I know many others too, especially when I’m feeling down or need some jnspiration. 💗 Were you also shocked that today is September?! It was DARK when I left the gym tonight 😭 ✨Heavy weights are not the only way to get strong - time under tension, mindful movement, and consistency will take you there. Barre will challenge your muscles in so many ways AND you can feel like a dancer while you work out 🩰 Monday nights are for stretching 🧘‍♀️ 🧑‍🩰this is my youngest daughter’s favourite song - and it makes a great Balletone song too! 🩰 ✨always be kind - that’s the one thing I want my kids to always remember! 🫢Confession: there are weeks when my body feels burned out, with no desire to work out. ✨Will I miss the squabbling? Probably not 😀 ✨I hesitated to post this because I do have mixed feelings about portion control and measuring food. If you disagree with my take, I get it! But at the same time, tracking my portions has really helped me find balance over the years - including a gruelling second round of IVF.