It's Time to Hit the Barre
Barre classes are exploding in popularity, and the reason is quite simple: anyone can take this class.
A combination of Pilates, yoga, and dance, barre focuses on small, exact movements that are designed to strengthen and tone your entire body with a particular focus on the core.
Core movements form the foundation of functional movement.
Master bootybarre trainer Logan Hutt from Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago says, "Active movement is important and barre is a workout that makes sense to improve daily living. A functional training workout allows you to be healthier in day-to-day life."
While barre classes are typically low-impact, they are also high-intensity, and most notice a rapid change in their bodies. Barre workouts appeal to a large demographic of people because of the very low risk of injury. Any movement can be modified. Classes are filled with members spanning multiple generations.
They're also appealing because many barre fans feel as if they're not really working out (they're wrong, of course).
"There's a common misconception that barre is a slow, stretch-focused class. That's not true. Barre is a shake-and-burn class," says Randi Lattimore, Mind Body Director for Midtown Athletic Club in Rochester, NY.
Most barre classes infuse cardio blasts with the static holds, pulses, and squeezes. Not only do you work muscles to fatigue, but you're also blasting calories with these cardio bursts. "These short, 30-second blasts of cardio are more effective than a prolonged period of straight cardio," Randi says.
Participants are in constant motion, working core muscle groups, improving alignment and balance, and lengthening and toning the entire body. The focus on postural alignment creates good posture. When you have good posture, you use your core. When you use your core, all other muscles work in conjunction with it, and are able to work harder.
"A barre class is highly effective because it trains your muscles to exhaustion and fatigue. And yet the recovery time is fast," says Randi.
Each of our clubs features at least one barre class. From Barre Fusion at Windy Hill Athletic Club to bootybarre at Midtown Athletic Club in Willowbrook and in Chicago to The Barre at Midtown at Midtown Athletic Club in Rochester, the offerings and styles are numerous.
Whether you're a very fit athlete who prefers high-intensity workouts, or someone returning to fitness after not exercising for a few years, you'll discover multiple physical benefits in barre class.
Check your club's Group Exercise or Mind Body schedule for more information.