Barre Workout | Is Barre for You?

Barre Workout:  Is Barre for You?

Ever thought about taking a barre class?  Or even wondered, what is barre? If so, read on. 

I fell in love with barre a few years ago, but not while participating in group barre classes. I truly fell in love with barre during Balanced Body Barre ® instructor training.  Group barre classes were fun, but as I looked around the room I noticed a lot of people whose form wasn't quite right.  I decided to train as a barre instructor to help people feel better, feel stronger, and exercise safely.  

What is Barre?

Barre is a full-body workout using a combination of movements inspired by ballet and other disciplines like Pilates and yoga.  Barre workouts incorporate the use of a ballet barre for balance and to perform certain exercises, but if you're working out at home you can use a chair instead of a ballet barre.  Other props may include light weights and resistance bands for strength conditioning or mini exercise ball for core strengthening.  Energizing music may be played doing your barre workouts as well.

A Typical Barre Workout Includes:

• Warm up
• Strengthening and toning the upper and lower body
• Elevating the heart rate
• Developing coordination
• Developing grace and balance
• Strengthening the core
• Developing flexibility and stability
• Cool down

 7 Classic Barre Moves:

• Plié: Bend your knees and straightens them again.
• Relive: Rise on the tips of your toes.
• Tendu: Slide your foot forward and back on the floor.
• Rond de jambe: A circular movement that you can do with your leg that can be performed on the floor or in the air.
• Dégagé: Low leg lifts.
• Battement: Higher leg kicks.
• Ballet arms: Two basic positions of ballet arms include extending your arms to the front, keeping the fingers on both hands fully touching to form an oval shape, and extending your arms to the sides with the elbows slightly bent.

5 Benefits of Training Barre:

• Improved posture
• Increased strength
• Increased flexibility
• Increased energy
• Reduced stress

What I like most about Barre is that it's a great way for you to get a full body workout and especially strengthen your gluteus (butt) muscles.  I also love the ballet component.

How Do You Know If Barre Is Right For You?

If you enjoy ballet, yoga, Pilates, dance - if you like calisthenics like pushups, planks and light weights - barre is for you!

My Approach is Multifaceted:  

Finding a trained barre instructor who gives you the appropriate cues while accounting for your fitness level is key.  Through many years working with osteopathic doctors and physical therapist in a musculoskeletal clinic - teaching therapeutic yoga and Pilates; I've helped many people find relief from their pain, especially when exercising. I did my barre training through Balanced Body Barre ®.  BBB takes the best of the original Lotte Berk method and updates it with Balanced Body Pilates Movement Principles, to create high energy, safe and fun workout that caters to all fitness levels and ages.

Balanced Body Barre ® Incorporates:

• Proper form and variations
• Small props such as small balls, resistance bands and light weights  
• An emphasis on safety and body awareness 

If you're looking to try Barre; if you want to make a fun, quick and effective barre workout part of your daily routine; if proper form is a priority when you exercise, then check out my free 5-Minute Barre Workout video. 

 Have questions or comments?  Please post them in the comment box below.  I would love to hear from you!

Ranada xo