"I've been a horseback rider (hunter/jumper) my whole life but I could never get into more traditional working out. I found barre during law school when I didn't have quite as much time to ride but I needed a good, quick stress reliever. I was immediately hooked. After my local barre studio closed, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find a studio in Austin to fill its shoes. I was wrong--MOD is everything I could hope for and I love that I get to continue supporting a local business. I've been a MODster for over a year and I've noticed huge changes in my body and the way I feel. My horse riding has improved even though I don't have the time to ride as often as I'd like. I survived the bar exam thanks to many stress relieving workouts at MOD. Now that I'm a lawyer, I'm able to sit at the computer all day without any of the back pain that bothered me before I improved my posture by working out at MOD. What distinguishes MOD from other barre studios in Austin is the constantly evolving routines and the dedicated instructors. No matter how consistently you come to class, the workouts will still be challenging and you will continue to see results. The instructors all have their own twist on the classes--I go to some knowing my glutes will burn the next day, and others knowing I'll barely make it through the plank series. The instructors seem to take pride in coming up with new and challenging variations on traditional barre routines. They are high energy and passionate about helping you achieve your fitness goals. I am grateful that MOD has become a part of my neighborhood!"

"I spent the majority of my twenties either not working out or convincing myself I liked to workout. I tried everything but never found anything I loved or was motivated to continue. I figured working out would be something I did because I ate queso but never something I loved. I danced for ten years growing up so when a friend invited me to her barre class a few years ago I was excited to try something somewhat familiar. Immediately, something changed for me and I was hooked. Barre became such a part of my life that I would often pass on lunches and happy hours so I could make class. In November, my barre studio closed! I didn’t see how anything could compare and figured I would end up doing barre alone at home. Our previous instructor pointed us towards MOD and a group of us ventured out to try the new studio. After my first class with Marnie, I knew I had found something special. For years I heard people talk about their workouts like they were discussing a friendship. They loved it and I just didn't understand what they meant. Now, I'm in class as often as possible and going twice a day isn't abnormal. MOD really is everything I was looking for. Every class challenges me to push beyond my fictitious limits. It has become my therapy (in every way); it's the hour of my day that is only for me. Every time I walk through the door I know I will have my tail kicked AND enjoy every minute. I'm stronger than I've ever been and started noticing changes in my body almost immediately. The whole MOD family: Marnie, her team of instructors, and all the MODsters encourage me to do MY best each class. What more could I ask for?"

"Before I was introduced to MOD, working out was just something you did because it was good for you, like brushing your teeth or eating your vegetables. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I lifted weights at the gym after 30 minutes or so on the elliptical while Tuesdays and Thursdays were reserved for walking or jogging around Town Lake. I never felt challenged and I hardly ever broke a sweat. My routine essentially had been the same for 10+ years. This isn’t to say I never tried anything new: I took ballet or hip-hop classes here and there, I tried reformer Pilates and dabbled in Gyrotonics lessons, I frequented a handful of yoga studios… but nothing stuck. Oftentimes the results weren’t worth the price (especially while living on a grad student budget) and I found myself in a rut. When I walked into MOD for the first time, I knew I had found a gem. Not only is the studio bright and beautiful, it’s filled with knowledgeable, encouraging instructors and fitness-minded individuals who enjoy their workout. It’s just so inspiring to be surrounded by strong women (and a few brave men). Though the barre is familiar from my dancing days, the things we do with it are totally different and work muscles I didn’t even realize I had! I remember struggling to climb the stairs at my office the day after my first class. I hadn’t experienced that kind of soreness – the good kind where your body feels wrecked but you still feel accomplished – since my teen years when was at the dance studio 20 hours a week. The instructors at MOD do an awesome job of shaking up their routines and music, so as students we are continually challenged and never bored. The moves seem easy at first, but by the end of a muscle group series, I can feel the burn and embrace the involuntary shake of fatigue. We work hard the entire class; just when I think my body can’t handle any more, we move on to the next muscle group. It’s empowering to end the class with a collective breath and reflect back on all that we’ve accomplished in just an hour. In April I will celebrate my 2nd MOD-iversary. Since that first class, my thighs have become leaner, my arms are more toned, and my core is stronger. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve become a part of something that is really special: a fitness studio where teachers and students alike challenge, encourage, and motivate each other."

"When I first came to MOD Fitness last year, I was looking for a workout that I would enjoy. I was over workouts that I dreaded and that just bulked me up. I wasn't very active anymore and I knew that I needed to make a healthy change in my life. I heard that the most effective workout was something you actually enjoyed, "something that will make you better." I found this and more at MOD. My first class (and even my second) was much harder than I had anticipated but I enjoyed the challenged! After Marnie's first MOD challenge, I was hooked! During every class I am in a competition with myself, striving to make myself better. I love the feeling when I realize that I'm doing something today that I couldn't do even yesterday. I've seen my body change and I've gained endurance. Because my core is so much stronger, things like paddleboarding are a lot easier. I have more stability and strength. Aside from the physical benefits I've gotten out of MOD, there is a wonderful sense of community in the studio. The instructors actually get to know you and care about your progress. They take the time to learn your name and call out encouragement throughout the class. The instructors can give you modifications so that the class meets you where you're at in your fitness journey, but they also urge you to challenge yourself and push past what you think is your limit. They tell you that you can do it and you can!"

"Working out on a regular basis has always been an important part of my life, going all the way back to playing sports in grade school and beyond. I am the type of person for whom "diet" is a four letter word, and because I enjoy eating, it is all the more important that I maintain an active lifestyle. I am originally from Denver, so it has always been very easy for me to find different activities to help keep me in shape, whether it be skiing, biking, running, or even the occasional day at the gym. When I moved to Austin after getting married a little over 2 years ago, I found two things to be particularly challenging for my body-all of the incredible food this city has to offer, and very few options in the way of a gym...at least that I liked, and could bring myself to go to on a regular basis. In fact, I checked out all of the gyms in the central Austin area, and didn't like any of them...AT ALL. If you are going to spend several hours a week at a gym, or wherever you choose to work out, you certainly want to enjoy it as much as you can, and this was becoming a challenge-as was fitting into my clothes! While I remained active, I was having a lot of difficulty finding the motivation to go to the gym most days (and let's face it, Austin's long summers are not exactly ideal for outdoor excercise). I was pretty frustrated, but had just come to accept that I would have to grin and bare the gym as it seemed like the only option. Then I discovered barre-and my workout routine had forever changed...for the better. I took one of Marnie's classes before she even opened her studio, and after my first session, I went home and quit the gym that day...I was hooked. I also couldn't walk for a day or two, and can't remember the last time felt that kind of (good) pain! I began going on a regular basis, and actually started to notice some real changes in my body. I have always been fortunate to be able to build muscle, and my arms were, for the most part relatively defined-but it wasn't until after joining MOD that I noticed how much more defined my arms were, but in a longer, leaner way...not to mention my abs! I am currently 8 months pregnant (I should mention that before I got pregnant I had a 6 pack for the first time in my life!) and I have still been able to do just about everything that the MOD workout offers, with the exception of having to do modified abdominal work. My body still feels strong, which I know will be very important during delivery. What I really love about the MOD workout is that it changes daily, and it is always incredibly challenging-and that was the case before I became pregnant. The instructors are all awesome, and it is always nice to see familiar faces when I go to class. The pregnancy has honestly been a difficult transition for me as far as how my body is constantly changing and growing every which way, but I will say that having been able to continue with my MOD workout has made it so much easier. I always feel better after every class, and I think that because I have been able to stay active throughout this pregnancy, my mind and body remain strong. I am also much more confident that I will be able to bounce back into shape after the baby comes as a result of this fantastic workout."

"I’ve struggled with weight my whole life. 5’2 is not the ideal height for extra pounds! While I wouldn’t say I was ever incredibly overweight, I always have felt like the short “chubby” girl surrounded by all my taller skinny friends. Lets put it this way, I rarely leave the house without a pair of minimum 3 inch heals or wedges on! I’ve tried everything from pills, to shakes, to juicing, to crazy diets and even starvation. Even, though very embarrassed to admit, contemplated bulimia at times! I moved back to Austin in June of 2014 from Pittsburgh, PA where I belonged to a barre studio, did yoga and dabbled in a little jogging here and there. While I did notice slight changes, I was not consistent or made a conscious effort to change my lifestyle. Work has always been my excuse. I have an extremely high stress job that involves a lot a travel and entertaining, making it very challenging to maintain a normal eating and workout routine. I think when it really hit me is when I came back to Austin last summer. It was boat and pool season. I found myself constantly trying to lay down, or keep a towel or t-shirt over my midsection due to embarrassment of excess weight. I had to do something. I’ve always enjoyed jogging as part of my mental therapy. While I had been jogging more often, about 3 days a week, it wasn’t making earth shattering changes. In August, my girlfriends bribed me to sign up for a half marathon by making it part of a trip to Vegas. I knew I needed to start strength training. I’m not into hard core “cult” type exercise or heavy weight lifting; it's aggressive. Not to mention, I’m way too self-conscious and clumsy as all get out. But there was no going back, there was no way I was not doing the marathon. I may be a lot of things but quitter has never been one of them! My best friend belongs to MOD and invited me to a class. That is when the true transformation began. I became a member in September 2014. I changed my eating style to the 80/20 rule. Clean eating Monday morning through 5 pm on Friday nights, no rule weekends. I made myself run 5 days a week and attend 3 MOD classes a week. Within a FEW weeks, I was starting to get the question all of us, men included, treasure and can never be asked enough: “Have you lost weight?” I have since become a MOD junkie. I made a commitment. I made a conscious effort to change my lifestyle. Work and being on the road was no longer a barrier. The only barrier all along had been me. By January, I lost 25 LBS, 4 sizes, saw my first size 0 (that’s right, 0) and now have 2, shiny half marathon metals hanging on my mirror. Its not just about the weight and how I look. Ok, lets not kid ourselves, it is a majority of it! However, it is also about wellness both mentally and physically. Wellness and health are commitments. Commitments we make to mentally, physically, honor and take care of ourselves and bodies. I committed to take MOD 3 times a week and continue my jogging and eating habits. MOD is now part of my life, part of my routine. Marnie and her crew are amazing support systems. They take a personal, non-aggressive, no “cult” pressure approach. They know their members, their journeys, and lives. They aren’t just instructors, they’ve become friends. I’ve tried some other barre studios in the past. MOD just feels like home. Everyone asks me “What did you do? How did you do it?” MOD is my number one answer. I threw my excuses out the window and made a decision to change my lifestyle. I made MOD part of mine. What’s your excuse?"