When I tell people I’m a Barre instructor, two-thirds of them don’t know what I’m talking about—or exactly what Barre is. I tell them to imagine a class featuring a hybrid of ballet, yoga, Pilates, add small, controlled movements (isometric moves), and the use props like resistance bands, core balls, sliders and 1 kilogram hand weights - now you’re working your booty off (literally!). It’s a workout that will tone, define and chisel the whole body. The low-impact workout focuses on proper alignment.
You don’t have to be flexible, a dancer, or even have experience exercising to benefit from Barre. If you put in the effort, listen to your instructor, and have fun, Barre can transform your body so quickly you won’t even believe how incredible you feel within weeks!
Still deciding if Barre should be your next workout? Here are five reasons why you should join in on the Barre trend because it’s here to stay:
1. Rapid Strength Gain
Barre is designed to exhaust—then stretch—every muscle group. This combo is a highly effective, low impact way to increase your physical strength super-fast. You use your own body weight as resistance. Your body position is essential to working the right muscles, the right way. If your instructor says “Keep your knees in line with your toes” or “square your hips towards the barre,” DO IT. The results you’ll feel and see will be worth the effort.
2. Injury Rehab/ Prevention
With Barre, you’re working all of your muscles, especially around your knees, ankles, hips, shoulders, and spine with no impact or shock to your joints. By doing that, you’re giving your body the strength it needs to support you. Strong joints are instrumental in keeping your body in good working order. Also, as someone with damaged back and doggy knees, I can tell you that nothing at all, ever, has helped my body like Barre. Strengthening the muscles around your injury is essential to healing.
3. Improved Posture
Every movement in a Barre class involves working your core. This includes your back! There’s a reason for this—and it’s because of the core + upper back + hip strength needed at all times. So when you’re in Barre class being told things like “Pull your belly button toward your spine” and “Zip it up ,” you’re setting yourself up to walk out of class taller and poised than you’ve ever been!
Posture will prevent upper back and shoulder fatigue. Plus, you’ll also look and feel more poised and confident in the process :)
4. Increased Flexibility
So, maybe one of your excuses for not taking a Barre class is, “But I’m not flexible at all.” Barre is so much more about correct body positions and tiny movements than flexibility. However
how will you ever become more flexible if you don’t try? In class, you’ll stretch what you’ve strengthened, and that combo is going to loosen you up everywhere. You have to give it some effort as flexibility doesn’t happen overnight, but you’ll feel the difference as you become looser over time and you’ll love the way you feel.
5. Focus Enhancement
Speaking of breathing, this last part is probably the very best part of busting your butt in Barre. The breathing you do while working your muscles in class will not only support the effort you’re putting in, it’s also forcing you to focus your attention on the air coming in and out of your nose/mouth. A great instructor is going to talk you through this for the entire class—guiding you when and how to inhale and exhale.
Breathing exercises are also instrumental in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. When you are fully concentrating on your breath and the precise muscle movements, you’re focused on what you’re doing at that very moment during class.
Final parting thought.....
You haven’t lived until your muscles are shaking during a workout, and you haven’t lived until you’ve given yourself a strong, healthy body you feel great living in!
So, go kick butt - book a Barre class. Once you try you'll be hooked..best core workout!
edited article
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