Barb has been active throughout her life, enjoying activities such as field hockey, dance and running during her childhood in Oregon. Later, she majored in recreation and carried a minor in physical education at the University of Oregon. She began teaching fitness classes in 1983 and has been an American Council of Exercise (ACE) certified fitness instructor since 1986. Barb also holds certifications in REP REEBOK and Turbo Kick, and has taught physical education at the University of Alaska Southeast.