Andrea Fornarola – Elements Barre Fit Founder

Elements Staff Published On: Jul 13, 2022

Andrea Fornarola Hunsberger is the Founder and Director of Elements Barre Fit and is a celebrity fitness instructor from Manhattan. As a dancer and performer, she discovered her talent and passion for teaching and creating movement patterns at an early age. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a BFA in Dance and performed across the US and New York prior to launching her fitness career.

Andrea found her start in the fitness industry after taking a friend’s practice class and immediately fell in love with the Lotte Berk Method and barre classes. She began her fitness career in 2006 as a founding instructor for Physique 57. She went on to continue to teach fitness and began to pivot her focus to teaching fitness classes full-time.

Andrea has studied multiple fitness modalities and gained many fitness certifications, including ACE, AFAA, Schwinn, and Real Ryder International. Through this education, she focused on learning how different companies trained their instructors and the methods they used to create their workforce.

In 2010, Andrea Fornarola authored the fitness manual that she still uses today and which serves as the backbone of all of Element’s curriculum. She has since created a series of innovative fitness and wellness classes and is reinventing the fitness industry with her unique high-performance, and specialized Barre and Dance fitness training methods, which she offers exclusively at Elements.

Andrea has been instructing sold out classes for Elements since she launched Elements East Hampton in 2014. In 2016 she launched Elements’ corporate wellness program, where she strives to help clients create a work/life integration that extends beyond the office. In February 2020, Andrea signed the lease for a New York studio, which is set to open Fall 2022 on the Upper East Side. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrea shifted Elements’ focus to all online content, growing the Elements On Demand platform to what it is today.

With the focus to create an all-encompassing wellness community both in person, and online, Andrea continues to lead the Elements team in meeting our clients in every element of their daily lives.

Health Benefits of Matcha

Elements Staff Published On: Jul 30, 2021

Walking through any town in The Hamptons, you are likely to see plenty of people holding a bright green iced drink. Wondering what it is? It’s called matcha, a Japanese green tea powder produced from dried tea leaves. This vibrant drink not only makes the perfect iced beverage for the summer, but is packed with health benefits. Keep reading to learn about the many health benefits of matcha!

High In Antioxidants

Matcha is a great source of antioxidants, containing up to 130 times the amount present in green tea. Increasing your antioxidant intake has several health benefits including helping prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and promoting weight loss.

Increases Productivity

Matcha is a source of caffeine, which reduces fatigue and improves concentration. However, unlike coffee, matcha also contains an amino acid that prevents overstimulation. These components together increase overall productivity.

Reduces Inflammation

Matcha has anti- inflammatory properties which have been found to benefit individuals who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Boosts Immune System

Matcha’s anti- inflammatory properties additionally support the immune system. Reduced inflammation increases the body’s ability to fight pathogens. In addition, the chlorophyll present in matcha, which creates its vibrant green color, help detoxify the body from chemicals and toxins.

Best Ingredients to Cook Healthy Meals in The Hamptons This Summer

Elements Staff Published On: Jul 28, 2021

One of the many amazing things about The Hamptons is the fresh food. With farm stands galore, the flavorful ingredients are endless. We searched East Hampton for the best summer ingredients for you to cook delicious meals with!

Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes are the perfect ingredient to add a pop of summer to any dish. No matter what your tomato preference is, East Hampton farmers markets have you covered. Try making these mini caprese kebabs as a delicious and easy appetizer!

Berries

Fresh berries bring a delicious sweet flavor to any recipe. Whether you love berries in sweet or savory dishes, they are the perfect addition to any summer meal. Add a handful of berries to your breakfast for extra flavor and antioxidants, or enjoy them on the beach as a sweet and refreshing snack!

Corn

What’s a summer barbeque without corn on the cob? Pick up fresh corn from a farm stand to enjoy a sweet flavor you can’t find in the grocery store. Simply throw them on the grill or whip up a summer corn salad.

Watermelon

A fresh watermelon screams summer. East Hampton farm stands are the place to find a perfect watermelon that never disappoints. Cut it up and bring it to the beach as a refreshing snack, or add it into creative recipes. Make a watermelon, tomato and feta salad that is sure to be a hit.

Peaches

There is nothing like a fresh, juicy peach from an East Hampton farm stand. Enjoy eating a fresh peach for a sweet bite of summer. Try making your peaches into a delicious peach cobbler for a fruit- filled dessert your family is sure to love!

3 Leg Workouts you can do with just a loop band

Elements Staff Published On: Jul 27, 2021

Is your lack of access to exercise equipment making you less motivated to sweat? Whether you’re traveling, or simply not ready to go back to the gym, loop bands are the perfect piece of equipment. Loop bands are resistance bands that you can loop around your thighs, and they can make all the difference in your workout. To help you incorporate this into your routine, we created a list of three leg workouts you can do with just a loop band.

Clam Shells

Clam shells are an effective workout to strengthen your glutes and obliques. Loop the resistance band around your thighs, lie on your side with your hips stacked and your legs at a 90 degree angle, press your feet together and engage your core. Push your top knee upwards, and release it back down, remaining slow and controlled. Repeat this motion for about 15 repetitions, or until you are unable to maintain proper form.

Hip Bridges

Glute bridges are the perfect exercise to get your glutes and hamstrings burning. Loop the resistance band around your thighs and lie on your back. Place your feet flat on the floor, engage your abs, and lift your glutes off the ground by pressing with your heals. Push your knees out against the resistance of the band to keep them in line with your shoulders and feet throughout the movement. Continue for about 15 repetitions.

Lateral Band Steps

right, then bring the left foot back to hips- width distance. Repeat this movement, alternating directions, for about 15 repetitions.

3 Leg Workouts You Can Do With Just a Loop Band

Elements Staff Published On: Jul 27, 2021

Clam Shells

Hip Bridges

Lateral Band Steps

Simply stepping to the side while wearing a loop band is the perfect exercise to strengthen your hip- abductor muscles and quads. Loop the resistance band around your thighs, and keep your thighs hip width apart. Slightly bend your knees, and step your right foot about 12 inches to your right, then bring the left foot back to hips- width distance. Repeat this movement, alternating directions, for about 15 repetitions.

If you don’t own a loop band, you can purchase one at our online shop here!

Biggest Workout Trends of Summer 2021

Elements Staff Published On: Jul 12, 2021

After a year of at home workouts, getting out of the house feels better than ever. With endless options of ways to sweat, we’re here to help guide you on this summer’s biggest workout trends!

Yoga and Meditation

After a tough year, mental health is as important as ever. Focus on you this summer by taking time to be in touch with your body and mind through yoga and meditation. Practice this in an outdoor spot that makes you feel most at peace.

Dance

This summer is the perfect time to turn up the music and get your body moving. Dancing is a source of positivity, and an effective workout that is sure to bring you joy. Start your dance journey in a barre and dance fusion class at Elements!

HIIT

Want to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family that you may not have been able to spend time with this past year? High intensity interval workouts are the perfect opportunity to get outside and get after it. Whether you’re in a park, on the beach, or in your driveway, there’s always a space to get in your HIIT workout.

Hybrid workouts

A combination of workouts that target the full body is just what everyone needs to get moving this summer. These classes will keep you motivated and excited to sweat. Try a barre and dance fusion class at Elements for an exciting hybrid experience!

3 Simple Barre Moves You Can Do While Chilling on the Couch

Elements Staff Published On: Dec 07, 2020

3 Simple Barre Moves You Can Do While Chilling on the Couch

We’ve all been there: five hours deep into a new series, glued to the couch (except to get up for snacks, of course) and feeling absolutely no motivation to get up and get moving. Luckily, we’ve got 5 exercises you can do without leaving your comfy spot. So turn on Netflix, grab your popcorn, and get ready to feel the burn!

Clamshell

Lying on one side, point your knees down toward the floor and toes to the sky. Glue your heels together and open and close your legs, squeezing your glutes each time you open. Think about stacking your hips and engaging your core to stabilize your center as your legs move. This exercise sculpts the glutes.

Repeat 15 times (3-4 sets)

Back Dancing Walkouts

Lying on your back, plant your heels into the ground and draw your hips a few inches into the air. Walk your legs out away from the body four times, while keeping your booty up, then walk back in. The further out you walk your feet, the more you’ll feel your muscles contracting. This exercise strengthens your glutes and hamstrings.

Repeat 5 times (2-3 sets)

Scissor Kicks

Lying on your back, straighten one leg up toward the ceiling and hover the other just an inch off the couch. Hold for two counts before alternating legs. Think about drawing the navel to spine and knitting the ribs together, activating the entire core.

Repeat 10 times each side (2-3 sets)

3 Tips for a Healthier You

Elements Staff Published On: Dec 07, 2020

Founder Andrea’s Tips for a Healthier You

Eating healthy, feeling strong, and fueling from the inside out is the quickest way to becoming the happiest and healthiest version of yourself!

Check out Founder and CEO Andrea’s 3 tips for integrating healthy habits, exercises, and foods into your everyday!

Tip 1

Weights, Cardio, Protein, Power:

How increasing these 4 powerhouses can optimize your training.

1. Weights: adding wrist or ankle weights to cardio activity increases the workload, meaning you’ll burn calories in a shorter amount of time.

2. Cardio: cardio activity in conjunction with sculpting & toning exercises increases the metabolic rate, which helps the body burn calories more efficiently.

3. Protein- increasing the intake of protein helps muscle function and builds strength. Protein powers the body to build and 3strengthen. You can find protein in powders, lean meat, tofu, and beans.

4. Power- increasing the intensity of your work out STEADILY over time helps the body to gain greater overall health, rather than, for example, adding 50 lbs to your deadlift overnight, which can lead to injury and burnout.

Tip 2:

Ditch the stationary equipment:

Hit the mat & hit the floor.

I see a ton of clients with horrible hip and low back injuries from increased use of indoor stationary equipment.

The body does not move perfectly parallel, however indoor cycle bikes, elliptical machines, and such have a property called sheer force, which holds the equipment in place, forcing the body to only work in one plane of motion. This causes pain and, over time, injury. It’s best to include cardio routines that use weight bearing, free moving exercises, allowing the body to move across all planes of motion with ease. Things like HIIT classes, dance classes, and barre classes are great options.

If you do have an injury, consider rehabbing by focusing on mat pilates exercises to regain strength while allowing the injury to heal. It’s always best to consult a physician if you experience persistent pain or ongoing problems.

Tip 3:

Matcha & Bars:

Yummy energy boosters.

I particularly like to add Matcha and healthy protein bars to my clients’ diets as it helps them curve cravings and boost the metabolism. Matcha is a natural source of energy and caffeine. Regular use in the diet can actually speed up the metabolism by helping the body burn calories faster and more efficiently. It can replace coffee altogether, and mixed with coconut milk is a great non-dairy latte option.

In addition, RxBars are my new favorite grab and go snack, as they are power packed with lots of protein and help the body sustain energy for long periods of time. RxBars are a great supplement as you run from meeting to meeting and have no time for a full meal. This helps the body avoid high and low spikes in blood sugar, which can make you feel both jittery and sluggish.

Top 5 Tips to Get #TonedAF!

Elements Staff Published On: Dec 04, 2020

These are our top 5 tips to get fit and toned in a hurry at home!

1. Booty Booty Booty Rockin’ Everywhere:
Grab your red or green booty band, hit the mat, and throw your booty band around the thighs. Lay down on the mat with the legs in a parallel position and press the hips high, pulsing up and down, squeezing the glutes and the thighs. This exercise sculpts the booty and the legs.
Repeat 20 to 30 times (4 to 5 sets)

2. Sexy Shoulders:
Standing with the legs in parallel, holding 3 or 5 lb weights, pull the elbows into the waistline with the palms high, then press the arms out long at shoulder level and turn the palms down. This exercise sculpts the biceps, triceps and shoulders.
Repeat 10 times (2 to 3 sets)

3. Wickedly Sexy Waistline:
Holding the 3 or 5 lbs weights by your side with straight arms, bend side to side from the waistline, squeezing the obliques and the transverse abdominal wall. Try to reach the hands all the way down to the ankles. This exercise sculpts the core.
Repeat 20 times (2 to 3 sets)

4. Thigh Burner:
Placing the booty band around the thighs and standing with the legs parallel and slightly wider than the hips, bend the knees, taking the seat towards the back wall, drawing the arms high over the head. Pulse down one inch and up one inch. This exercise sculpts the thighs and booty.
Repeat for 30 to 60 seconds (4 to 5 sets)

5. 60 Second Plank:
While holding a forearm plank, do these three leg variations to ignite your core.

A. Alternating knee bends- hover your right knee just an inch off the ground, then switch to the left (20 seconds)

B. Hip Presses- press your hips high, like a downward dog, then bring them back to shoulder level (20 seconds)

C. Hip Twists- twist the hips from side to side trying to touch your hip to the mat (20 seconds)