Today we’d like to introduce you to Micheal Barber.
Micheal, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Fitness has not always been a passion of mine, at the age of 15, I was obese, around 270 lbs. It was then I decided that I had to make a change, I started by walking daily, then jogging, and eventually worked my way up to going to gyms and attending group fitness classes. My weight fluctuated throughout my entire weight loss journey, up 10 lbs, down 20 lbs, back up 30 lbs, it was a constant revolving door and I continuously fell off of my workout regimen and ultimately felt defeated with each attempt to get back on track. Fast forward to 2012 and my move to ATL, I was working out at LA Fitness and I heard crunk music and people doing crazy movements on stationary bikes. I watched this class for about a week and then decided to hop in and try it out, one class is all that it took and I became hooked. Since that class, I have been cycling at least three times per week and it is the only workout that I found I truly enjoy and I am never tempted to fall off because I truly enjoy it! I have now lost over 100 lbs on my journey and I could not be more proud of my accomplishments!
In 2015, a group of fellow riders grouped together and formed what we now know as Vibe Ride! Vibe Ride was a way to host these style classes in a boutique fitness setting while making it accessible and affordable for everyone. Vibe Ride has been my community, my accountability partner, and the sole contributor to my interest in a fitness career! I joined Vibe Ride as a member, then front desk staff, then transitioned to a fitness coach for cycling, and now, I am the Operations Manager of the Midtown studio and teach both body and cycle classes at the Midtown studio!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! There were many challenges along the way. In order to be a fitness coach, confidence was so important and is one struggle that I have always faced. A lot of the time, my personality and “fake it til you make it” mentality got me through taking and or/teaching classes when deep down, I had self-doubt and inner demons that I was personally struggling with. Being someone who has lost over 100 lbs, you always have a little baggage on the mental aspect of that physical body change, I sometimes still see that 15-year-old kid in the mirror and I just have to remind myself that if it wasn’t for him, I would not be the person I am today. As someone who has lived it and practiced what I preach, I feel that this has allowed me to connect more with my members as they know I understand and have experienced the struggle. Overall, self-esteem and confidence have been my biggest struggle in this industry, even today, it is something that I still battle with even as a fit and healthy fitness coach.
Please tell us about Vibe Ride – what should we know?
We are very ATLANTA, we stay true to the hip-hop vibe in this city and we LOVE our trap, Hip-hop, & ratchet vibes! I teach rhythmic indoor cycling classes, we VIBE to the beat of the music and pair upper body movements with on beat pedal strokes for an all-around party on the bike! I am most known for my Saturday morning class, Rated R for Ratchet! In this class, we get a little explicit but have a lot of fun listening to new and old ratchet hip-hop hits!! I also teach Trap Queen Tuesdays where I highlight female rappers, this class is also explicit but so fun and needed as female artists, especially in hip-hop, do not get enough credit! Thursdays, we throw it back for #TBT Hip-hop & R&B! I also teach Circuit Training classes in our body studio, these classes are called Total Body Circuit as we complete a full body circuit training class in 45 minutes! I am launching one-on-one personal training and small group fitness classes at the end of this year to expand my fitness career! At Vibe Ride, we are known for our diverse client population, hype music, and non-intimidating coaches- we have the motto, “do you,” we all start at different fitness levels and we never want to discourage anyone on their fitness journey!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
A great coach has personality, relatability, energy, and expertise. A coach with no personality is uninspiring and boring, so I feel that this is one of the most important qualities to have in fitness. In my experience both as a student and coach, it is much easier to connect with a coach who is relatable, meaning they know the struggle and can empathize while encouraging you to reach your goals. It is your job as a coach to empower and motivate your class, I personally do this by bringing the energy every time I hit the stage and it is my top compliment from our clients “Micheals energy is crazy!” You can have all those qualities and still not be an effective coach, expertise is key to coaching, clients have to be able to trust that they are in good hands! You should be certified, keep up with your CEUs, and know the industry well as a fitness coach!
Pricing:
- Intro Class is $10!
- Intro Unlimited Week is $29!
- Intro Month is $89!
Contact Info:
- Address: 950 West Peachtree St NW
Suite 225 - Website: https://theviberide.com/midtown/
- Phone: 470.225.6196
- Email: micheal@theviberide.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michealbarber/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micheal.barber
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
