Name: Daniela Barba
Birthday: January 8th
Hometown: Mexico City
What is your athletic background? Did you play any sports growing up?
I was definitely not the sports type growing up. That said, at different points in time since college, I got into Pilates, yoga, swimming, or spinning. Then, a couple of years ago, I tried a functional training class and loved it. It has been the main thing I do to work out since then.
When did you attend your first workout with Arlington Sports Conditioning, and how did you first learn about the group?
It was summer 2024, thanks to an ad in my building.
What is your proudest athletic accomplishment, and why?
It’s probably not much in absolute terms, but I feel in better shape now than in my twenties, which means a lot to me.
What is your favorite exercise(s)?
Skipping! And any exercise that will require so much effort that I forget everything else in my task list, even if for a short while.
What is your favorite workout song or musical artist?
Difficult to mention a single one, but Depeche Mode, James Brown, Florence and the Machine, Heems, and Residente are in the top five.
What is your favorite sports team?
Tottenham Hotspur (although it’s only to be a good sport with my husband; I honestly don’t pay a ton of attention to sports beyond the Olympics and the World Cup).
Who is your favorite athlete?
Simone Biles and anyone who succeeds against the odds.
Other than working out, how else do you like to spend your free time?
Hiking with our dog, attending concerts and theater plays, traveling, and planning the next trip, most of all if it involves seeing friends.
What do you like best about Arlington Sports Conditioning?
The supportive crowd, the variety of exercises, and the chance to push myself while working out.
What are the biggest benefits of being a member?
Fun activities in addition to the regular schedule and friendly but effective nudges.
What advice would you offer to new or prospective members of Arlington Sports Conditioning?
Look at the elderly people you’ve had in your life. The more you stop doing, the less you are able to do. So be friendly to your 80-year-old self and get off the couch / away from the desk.