What is Barre?

You’ve likely heard about it, but what is barre really? Learn more about this popular workout and why it’s time for you to give it a try!

Photo by Mackenzie Gaultier Photography

Have you ever seen a dancer and stared in awe at their incredible strength? How on earth do they get muscles that allow them to stand on their toes, jump to incredible heights, and lift their legs in ways that make you wonder if everything you learned about the human anatomy is wrong? They don’t have bulky muscles, so how is it possible?

Dancers work their muscles in a unique way that is different from what you would do at the gym. Rather than lifting heavier weights for shorter reps, they’ll either use only their body weight or go for smaller weights with higher reps. They don’t just work their muscles; they also lengthen them through intermittent stretches.

Welcome to barre.

Barre fitness is a growing trend, especially in the last several years. Now, we’re not talking about the bar, which involves delicious adult beverages (although going to the bar after barre is definitely refreshing). We’re talking barre, where you go with your bestie to sweat, shake, curse, maybe cry a little, and feel empowered at the end.

We can’t guarantee you a life-long dancing career if you take barre. What we can do, though, is work you like a dancer in the most empowering and uplifting way possible. You’ll leave class feeling like a sweaty ballerina.

Shake, Shake, Shake

If you’ve never attended a barre class before, you’re in for a treat. Our muscles shake. That’s right - your muscles will shake by the end of the class. 

Barre comes from ballet, but also ties in Pilates and yoga. You have the basic elements of a ballet class that work your muscles in new ways, and the Pilates and yoga to help strengthen and lengthen everything. It’s the perfect combination for an amazing total body workout.

We break down the class to work specific muscle groups at a time, typically being arms and upper body, thighs, glutes, and core. The small, isometric movements, done either in a hold or multiple reps, work your muscles so much that you actually fatigue them. That is when they start to shake, and boy is that something to experience for the first time!

What is the Barre?

When talking about barre, the context usually refers to the class. Barre, though, is actually a physical object that you use. 

In ballet, the class typically begins with a warm-up and strengthening exercises at the barre. It’s a long, rounded piece of wood that’s bolted into the wall (although there are free-standing barres). You use the barre for support and balance, which is why many dance instructors refer to the barre as your dancing partner class.

For barre class, we use the barre to support ourselves when we rise on our toes, to pull on when we descend into a chair pose, or even for stretching purposes. Have you tried swinging your leg up on the barre? It’s a killer stretch.

Barre so Hard

Don’t let the intensity of barre scare you away from trying it. We often hear that people are intimidated to try barre for the first time, whether it be because they don’t feel coordinated or flexible enough, that barre is for dancers, or that they’re not strong enough to try barre yet.

Take all of these statements, put them into a box and throw it away!

There’s no sugar coating it - barre is challenging, but not impossible. The joy with this workout is that you go as hard as your body will allow you at that moment. If you’re not ready to take your plié (bend) deeper, than stay where you are. Feeling too tired? Take a break and join back in.

You know the old saying, “Never judge a book by its cover”? Well, it’s best not to judge barre off of one class. Barre is a unique workout from anything else you’ve likely tried. It takes a few classes to catch on to the lingo (we use ballet terminology sometimes), and understanding what it means to “tuck.”

So, are you ready to challenge yourself and bring out your inner ballerina? We’ll see you at the barre.