Barre is a form of exercise that combines ballet, yoga, and Pilates. It's also known as ballet boot camp or a ballet workout. So what exactly is barre? How does it work? And what should you expect from a barre class? Here's everything you need to know about this popular fitness trend:
What is Barre?
Barre is a low-impact workout that uses your own body weight to target the muscles in your lower body, core, and upper body. It's a fusion of ballet, Pilates, and yoga.
Barre classes are usually 60 minutes long and they consist of small precise movements that target specific areas of your body. The barre is always installed in all ballet studios as well--it looks like an A-frame or rectangle with rounded edges--so if you go to one there will likely be one available for you to use during class! Barre workouts have been around for years but have recently become more popular due to their many benefits; these include improved posture (which helps reduce back pain), increased strength through targeted muscle groups such as glutes/hips/thighs, etc., improved balance & coordination skills thanks again partially due specifically targeting these areas mentioned above.
The History of Barre Fitness
Barre fitness is a form of exercise that has its origins in London in the late 1950s. Lotte Berk, a German-born modern ballet dancer, created the foundation of barre fitness after injuring her back while stretching a client. Working with an osteopath, Berk incorporated exercises that involved curving her lower back to avoid aggravating her injury. This concept of combining ballet barre routines with rehabilitative therapy formed the basis of the Lotte Berk Method. In 1959, Berk opened the Lotte Berk Studio in her West End basement, where she taught her unique exercise system. Today, barre fitness has evolved and gained popularity worldwide, incorporating elements from other fitness methods such as Pilates, yoga, and cardio.
Why Try It?
Barre is a low-impact, high-intensity workout that can be done at any age. It's great for toning your muscles and getting in shape, but it also has other benefits like relieving stress and helping you lose weight. Barre classes are usually an hour long (sometimes more), but they are still usually shorter than other types of workouts like running or swimming--which makes them perfect if you're short on time!
The reason why barre classes are so effective is that they focus on specific areas of your body by strengthening them through small movements with resistance bands or weights. This makes the class challenging enough without being too difficult for beginners who may not be used to exercising regularly yet; however, if you do want more advanced techniques then there will always be someone around willing to teach them!
Navigating the Class
- What to wear:
a. Leggings, a T-shirt and/or tank top, and comfortable shoes are recommended. You may want to bring a towel and water bottle as well.
b. You can also wear ballet flats or other types of workout shoes that allow you to move freely in class (i.e., no flip flops).
- What to bring:
a) A yoga mat if you have one (they are available for purchase at the studio); otherwise there is plenty of space on the floor where people use towels or mats provided by Verve Fitness Barre for this purpose;
b) A small towel for your face during savasana (corpse pose);
c) An open mind.
Examples of Exercises in a Barre Class
A barre class is an hour-long workout that focuses on strengthening and toning your muscles. It's a low-impact activity, so it's great for beginners. You'll need to be able to balance on one foot while holding onto ballet bars or another piece of equipment while you do exercises like squats, lunges, and leg lifts.
Here are some examples of exercises in a barre class:
- Plié- Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes pointed out at 45 degrees from the center line (A). Bend knees slightly then push hips back as far as possible without arching the spine or raising heels off the floor (B). Straighten legs until parallel with floor (C). Repeat 10 times. Add weight if necessary; start with 5 pounds for beginners!
- Battement - Standing on left leg only with right knee bent 90 degrees at hip level & arms raised above head holding onto barre/handrail behind the head or beside shoulder blades (if there are no handrails). Lift up onto the ball of the right foot while raising the left knee toward chest level & exhaling forcefully through the mouth while keeping eyes focused straight ahead throughout the entire movement sequence; this should create tension throughout the entire body including core muscles which will help stabilize the body during exercise motion sequence. Hold the position briefly before returning slowly down again into the original starting position where both feet would then be flatly planted firmly against the floor surface.
Learn about how the class works, its history, and why it's such a good workout.
Barre is a type of ballet workout that's been around for over fifty years, but it's not just ballet. Barre classes use the same kind of barre that you would see in a ballet studio, but they also incorporate exercises like lunges and squats to work your entire body. The result is an intense full-body workout that improves posture, flexibility, and strength while making you feel graceful at the same time!
Conclusion
Barre is a great way to get in shape and stay toned. It's also good for those who have suffered an injury or want to avoid them in the future. The exercises are easy enough for all fitness levels, but challenging enough that no one has to worry about getting bored with their routine. Plus, there are tons of studios around the country so finding one near where you live shouldn't be difficult!
