Welcome Grace!

Meet Grace!  She is unlike any of our instructors who are part of the talented equipe here at labarre… and as a matter of fact, she is one of a kind for so many reasons!  Help us welcome Grace and learn a little bit about the instructor behind our newest class, Monday 4:30pm Restorative Yoga!
 
Grace moved from China to Hawaii when she was sixteen where she attended two years of high school then onto University of Hawaii. She has lived on the East Coast, in San Francisco as well as the French Alps. Yoga came into her life in her 20’s and it fell off her radar for quite some time until she made her way back to the States. 

Eight years ago Grace started teaching yoga, when one day a 70 year old student, Brian, came to her Advanced Vinyasa class. He had just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and his doctor recommended yoga and biking. Brian at the time was very stiff, he shuffled towards Grace and explained that he was not able to ride a bike because his brain couldn’t command his feet to pedal. 

That day Brian was only able to do 10% of the class and although he left feeling very frustrated and discouraged, he did not stop taking Grace’s class. 
 
Inspired by Brian’s determination to kick this disease, Grace decided to create a yoga class for people with limitations.  She became a student of anatomy and as her knowledge of the human body grew, her Therapeutic and Restorative Yoga journey began.  Students from ages 12-92 attend her classes where she helps people recover from surgeries, injuries, and chemotherapy.  She also works with students who suffer from fibromyalgia, MS, or just every day tightness. 7 years later Brian still goes to Grace’s class regularly, he is much stronger and more flexible and he can ride a stationary bike now!​

Lisa Alberino, labarre founder and instructor herself, recently attended one of Grace’s Restorative classes.  The two clicked and Lisa was sold. “I understood Grace’s incredible ability to connect and heal, after her class I felt my body went through detox!” Lisa said, “That was when I realized she had to be part of labarre.”
 
“The first few minutes of the class are crucial” Grace mentions as she reveals what class might look like from her eyes. “I have to understand very quickly what each student’s limitations and needs are before I can proceed”.  At the end of each class, students feel they stand an inch taller and with better posture, they also feel less tight, they have gained much more range of motion.
 
In her Restorative Yoga class Grace uses bolsters, folded blankets, straps, blocks, massage balls, and Pilate balls to work on trigger points. Under her guidance, students can effectively self-massage for deep tissue myofascial release for more flexibility and better circulation. Come try out all the wonderful props that labarre provides and experience the various deep stretches with Grace, you will leave the class on a cloud.

When you meet Grace you will find her to be kind, mindful, bubbly, and beyond well travelled.  She speaks Chinese, French, Spanish, and English.
 
When not teaching, she takes care of three Airbnbs that she and her husband own together. This keeps her incredibly active and busy but it also adds some spice as it allows her to meet amazing and interesting folks from all over the world.
 
Grace is comfortable inside and outside of the studio.  Every evening she and her French husband enjoy a home cooked meal from scratch, with wine of course!  She is also a proud mom and grandmother, and lights up as she talks about her daughter, son-in-law, and 4 year old grandson who live in New York City.

Come see what’s cooking at labarre studios and sign up for Grace’s Monday Restorative Yoga class and while you are at it, spend some time with our newest family member!  Welcome Grace!