Physique 57 Founder Tanya Becker: Raising the Barre
People self-identify with their exercise rituals: There are the diehard bikram yogis, who travel en masse with their mats in tow; the testosterone-fueled Cross Fit junkies; the masochistic Tough Mudder athletes. There are those who find their Soul on stationary bikes, and the good, old-fashioned gym rats, who get their high each day on the treadmill. But for those of us who bow down to the barre, who see #barrelife as an actual way of life, Physique 57 is our sanctuary, and Tanya Becker, our spirit guide. If you’ve ever walked into one of its three New York studios or outposts in Scarsdale, Beverly Hills, or Dubai, you know Ms. Becker. She’s the one chatting up clients, cracking jokes, and looking like she runs the place—because she does. Ms. Becker, 43, is a dancer and former instructor of the Lotte Berk method, the precursor to today’s barre craze that features small, ballet-like toning movements. In 2005, Ms. Becker teamed up with Jennifer Maanavi to create an updated version of a Berk-based workout: 57 minutes of hardcore, barre-based cardio, strength training, and stretching that is rigorous and spirited without impact. It’s designed to push clients to their limit, strengthen the body and build longer, leaner muscles over time. And it does. As a Physique addict myself, I leapt at the chance to chat with Ms. Becker about dance, beauty and how she transitioned into the cult world of “fitness.”
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What was your first memory of beauty and of your body in the context of beauty?
My mother put me in dance class at two-and-a-half years old; I discovered costumes, sequins, tulle, and tutus. I loved it and it was so beautiful. I grew up watching old MGM films with all of that Hollywood glamour—Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers—that was so elegant. That was the foundation for what I ended up loving about Lotte Berk. Being in ballet at such a young age and seeing the point in your foot and doing passé and arabesque, I thought it was so beautiful what you could do with a body.
Did you feel the pressure of having to maintain that perfect ballet body?
I had the last of those old school ballet teachers. Around recital time, she would say, “Lay off the potato chips.” It made me sad for some of the girls. I was small so I didn’t worry, but I was aware of it. At age 14 I started commuting into New York from my hometown of Edison, N.J. for jazz. It was a departure from the ballet world. People of all different shapes and sizes were dancing their hearts out and I thought that was beautiful and I wanted to be a part of that.
Did that start to pave the way for Physique 57?
I was still dancing at the age of 23, and began teaching at the Lotte Berk studio on the Upper East Side. It was the only barre studio in existence, and I thought of it as a type of ballet class, only with small isometric movements. When Jennifer and I opened Physique 57, I never wanted a career in the fitness industry. I found something I loved to do and I loved making a difference in others’ lives. So I feel like I fell into it backwards.
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Twenty years later, how has your overall beauty and fitness regimen evolved?
I do Physique three to four times a week; nothing else feels as good. My skincare has definitely changed. I’m way more into more organic products. I just do everything that [Physique 57 regular] Norma Kamali does. I use her calcium liniment cream for my body. I just started with a carrot butter cleanser. Whatever Norma’s doing!
She is radiant. So what are some tips you would offer a young woman from a fitness perspective?
Make exercise a part of your life when you are younger and you will age more gracefully. It’s like brushing teeth. If it doesn’t become a habit younger, then when you become a mom or have a career, you’re less likely to maintain it. Also, do what you love that has longevity that won’t lead to injury. Clients come in with injuries, it’s a part of life, but I still teach women who were doing Lotte Berk in the 1970’s. It’s not just an exercise class, it’s a way to stay strong, healthy and fit.
What do you think is the biggest mistake women make in caring for their body?
Women are too hard on themselves. You don’t have to suffer to get a great body, you have to strive, but not suffer. Physique 57 is about becoming the best version of you with what you inherited genetically and being OK with that.
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How has your opinion of your body changed since having children? Has it surprised you?
I gained 70 pounds with twins, so my body has been through a lot. Many of our clients look stronger after having children. But when it was me, I said, “If this doesn’t get the 70 pounds off, I’m going to have to quit.” I feel stronger and sexier than ever. I put Physique to the test, but it didn’t happen overnight.
What makes you proud?
I’m proud of the strong women we call clients. I’m proud to give them the tools in class that help them through life. Women come up to me and say, “I went through a tough divorce, Physique helped me work it out.” I have clients with cancer, and they’ll say, “I came to class while going through chemotherapy just to feel normal and the staff helped me through it.” I love helping women feel confident. What our clients do here, they take outside with them. They get stronger here, and they can go write that book. It’s all functional training for life.
