I knew I wanted to write about Bhargavi Ogale when we were in the locker room and she told me that she doesn’t even live in the Twin Cities. What?
She went on to explain that she’d come to Minneapolis for the first of three internships in the terrible Polar Vortex of 2013. Upon returning, she was determined not to let herself spend her days at work and her nights with Netflix. So the day after she got here, sight-unseen, she bought a Six Degrees new student intro month and took her first class.
Here’s what Bhargavi, a biomedical engineering student at Marquette University, had to say.
How did you end up coming to Six Degrees?
I’m part of a co-op/internship program through my school that allows students to work full-time in their industry for three alternating semesters. In my first rotation in the Twin Cities, I quickly fell into a depressing, monotonous, and isolating schedule—these weren’t the best few months! I wasn’t exercising or making the effort to eat healthy.
Returning, I was determined not to let that happen again. I vowed to make new friends, go new places, try new things, ad basically get out of my apartment as much as I could. How fitting that my third semester in the cities started right after New Years! Armed with my resolution to get happy and healthy again, I bought a Six Degrees new student month and registered for my first class literally the day after I moved in. I’ve been hooked ever since!
Have you branched out into different classes since that first trip to the studio?
Trying new things is definitely my Achilles’ heel. I’d say 95% of the classes I’ve taken over the past month and a half at Six Degrees have been the Barre classes, and I love them—they are quite the work out! Now I’m switching it up with some Yoga and Pilates Reformer classes.
The most surprising thing about my time at the studio is how much I actually look forward to my classes. This is the first time “workouts” have been enjoyable! I was worried this would turn into another gym membership kind of deal, where you force yourself to go because, well, you paid for it. Instead, Six Degrees’ classes are probably the best hour of my day.I’m also genuinely surprised by my progress, not just physically, but mentally. I feel stronger, more energetic, and all around healthier. I was hoping, but not really expecting, to feel this way.
What’s your favorite move in your favorite class? Which one do you groan when you hear it coming?
There are a few groan-inducing moves, but in Kelly’s Barre class, after what feels like hours of doing squats and relevés, she’ll have us do wall sits while pulsing magic circles with our outer thighs! It’s probably only for a minute or two, but those are the longest two minutes! Honorary mention goes to mountain climbers.
My favorite segment though is the ab series on the foam rollers. Hurts so good! And the cardio always gets my heart pumping and adrenaline going.
Just today, what’s the song that best gets your blood pumping in a hard class?
Aside from the exercise and all the cool people, the music is my favorite part about class. A good playlist during a hard class goes a long way! I’d say my song right now is “I Won’t Let You Down” by OK Go. I was way excited when I heard it during one of Josh’s classes!
What are a few other ways you like to support your own “wellness”?
Oh man, just give me a good book, some hot chocolate, and an armchair and I’m good!
That said, I’ve been trying really hard to eat healthy this semester—I think I’m doing pretty well so far! I’ve also challenged myself to drink at least 8 cups of water throughout the day. It’s amazing how much fresher and more energetic I feel. And Pilates and learning to connect with my breath and myself has gone a long way to helping me with anxiety: now I try to just take a few moments throughout the day to take deep breaths and check in with myself.