Meet Laura L., the obé Member Leading Accountability Groups on Facebook

You’ve seen her leading a daily accountability group on the obé fam Facebook group. Now, let’s get to know Laura L., the incredible force behind them.

Tell us about yourself!

Laura L., Los Angeles: “My birth certificate says I was born in 1970, so that makes me 51. But I keep checking because it feels surreal!”

How did you first discover obé?

I discovered obé quite randomly on Instagram in August 2020 while looking for an alternative to another at-home fitness streaming platform.

What hooked you—and keeps you coming back?

What first hooked me was how natural all the instructors are. It feels like hanging out with your most positive best friend while getting a killer workout. That is SO different from some of the other platforms that feel less personal and all about getting ripped.

What keeps me coming back: the insane variety, the programs, the enhancements (like Replay!), and the results. But all of this wouldn’t keep me coming back without the people. The instructors are just so uniquely themselves (how could you ever pick a favorite!) and the incredible connections I’ve made in the obé fam.

How has obé changed your approach to fitness—or life in general?

I’ve never worked out in community with other people. At first, I was pretty reserved and a little shy about connecting, doing workout parties, or posting on Facebook. It’s now the complete opposite. It is so much fun to cheer each other on, celebrate together, send a kind word of support—it’s really the best corner of the internet.

As far as changing my approach to life in general, how can you NOT change when you are literally enveloped in positive messages every time you work out? I was doing pretty well before obé, but I’ve seen my confidence in all areas of my life increase significantly. I take the lessons from the workouts into my daily life:

• “I can do hard things.”
• “Remember who you are and whose you are.”
• “There are no mistakes when you’re doing a solo.”
• “When the workout starts getting hard, get really, really calm.”

Go-to class types:

I love doing the programs. Right now I’m halfway through Harder AF—taking it on as a weekend project. So, with all these badass classes on the weekend, during the week I like to play it by ear and do whatever my body needs that day. Cardio Barre and Yoga Sculpt are two of my favorites. And mashups! Nothing like having two instructors or a guest in the Box. Especially when the other person is literally saying what I am thinking about the insanity that is going on.

At least three times a week, I do the 5-minute Dorian upper body stretch. It’s my “gateway” class—when I have zero motivation, I put that on and by the end of the class, without fail, my body is asking to get into another class.

Go-to instructors:

So many! But I’ll narrow it down to those on my current shortlist:

• Katherine M.: I literally want to die but she is so delightful, funny, and always makes me remember that she is suffering too. That is comforting.
• Lulu S.: Gosh, she has got it going on. The live classes, the music, the vibes. I am transported to another dimension.
• Adam D.: I go into a zone with Adam. Whatever he says, I do. He could tell me to use my feet to redo my ponytail and I’d give it a try. He gives excellent direction and variations, and keeps things moving.
• Eve C.: Love Eve’s Yoga Sculpt class! I take this class when I really want to just lie down on the floor and stretch. Any time I can do a down dog in between sets, I’m in! Plus I’m pretty sure over time my legs are going to get a little longer just by taking her class. (I’m five foot even. What do I have to lose?)
• MarMar: I used to avoid mat Pilates. Too hard. Too uncomfortable. Too boring. Enter MarMar. Yes, it’s hard, but it gets easier as you get stronger. But the stories—come on. So entertaining and the time just flies by. Plus she has a wonderful bedside manner—she knows just when to say a soothing, “I know. I know.”
• Kat E.: All the reasons that everyone loves Kat. So chill. So calm. Such great direction and education. Everything feels do-able with Kat.
• Alex S.: Alex, Alex, Alex. Just pure joy. I’ve decided that I would like Alex to be a surprise guest in every instructor’s classes. She is an everywoman. Speaks the truth and never fails to bring joy.
• Peter T.: He is my go-to when I need to shed the weight of the world. In the Fall of 2020 when things were really heavy for me at work, I would put on any class with Peter as a pick me up. Instant mood changer. He helps me remember that I’m a sexy supermodel. 🙂

Have you connected with any other obé members, either virtually or IRL?

Big time. I host a daily accountability group on the Fam Facebook page. I loved what a couple other members were doing in April (stretching, with Meagan DiBartolo) and then May (abs, with Katie Abbott) and I picked up the baton in June with a group called #sunsoutbunsout. It worked out so well that I kept going, switching the theme in July to #strongereveryday, a focus on adding more strength training to our routines.

Well, here we are in November and the group is still going. I put out a call for interest at the beginning of the month and then tag everyone who wants to join in. At its largest, the group was about 140 members, and in November is about 80. I like to keep the accountability group in the main Fam feed rather than moving it into a separate group—that way it’s open and anyone can jump in any time they like, or can just read the accountability posts, which are always so inspiring. The accountability group has been a great way to stay motivated together and get to know each other. I keep it lively with funny memes, quotes, and side challenges—and respond to all the accountability comments every day.

I’m also in a few other member subgroups: Obé Our Way!, Pacific Time Zone accountability group, and MarMar’s Spicy Crew.

In real life, I HAVE connected with a few members to go on hikes in Southern California. Very fun!

Never have I been connected to so many kind people who can completely geek out about fitness and also be real and keep it friendly and nice. Heaven bless obé and the internet.

Where do you do obé? Coolest place you’ve taken obé?

In my bedroom, in the living room, in the dining room, in my backyard, in my front yard, in a hotel, in a hotel gym, and, most recently, in the parking lot of a shopping center while waiting for a chicken kebab.

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