barre workouts

by Self

If you've never tried a barre class before, then read these beginner tips, shared by our friends at Self!

With all the trendy barre studios popping up everywhere, it may seem like ballet-inspired workouts are just the latest fitness fad. But in fact, barre classes have been around since the '50s, when former dancer Lotte Burke opened her first studio in London.

Fast forward half a century(!) and Burke-inspired barre classes are more popular than ever. And tomorrow, Exhale Spas nationwide are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their signature class, Core Fusion Barre, with a day of free classes! Never taken a barre class before? Core Fusion cofounder Fred DeVito offers five things you should know.

1. Think quality over quantity. "This is not Insanity; this is not CrossFit," says DeVito. "We're not about how many reps you can do in a minute or how many pounds you can lift." Rather, most barre classes focus on precision and proper form; you'll do smaller, slower movements, but you'll definitely feel them because you're isolating specific muscle groups you're not used to using.
2. If you're doing it right, then you're going to shake — and feel that burn. "You're not going to look supergraceful doing these moves, and it's not going to feel easy — even if you think you're in good cardiovascular shape." (Don't be fooled by those tiny little hand weights; they really do get heavy!) Luckily, students are instructed to focus in on themselves, not to watch other people around them. "You can't be intimidated by what you look like — or by hard work," says DeVito.
3. Dress the part. "We encourage people to wear grippy socks, with little rubber nubs on the bottom; we sell our own and almost every other barre studio sells their own, as well. This keeps you from slipping when you're on the barre, and it's more sanitary than going barefoot." (Real fashionistas may want to check out in-studio footwear, too!) Another apparel tip: don't wear short shorts. You'll be doing a lot of inversions and open-leg poses, so capris or full leggings are a better bet. (More on what to wear to barre class here.)

Keep reading for more beginner barre tips.

by Jaime Young

The popular workout Pure Barre has a fresh philosophy on fitness, and it involves more than just toning the tush. The 55-minute class fuses key elements of ballet, Pilates, and weightlifting. Through use of a special barre and small isometric movements, the intense class sessions work to burn fat, tighten abs, and firm arms, glutes, and thighs. The result is a graceful, challenging workout designed to build a lean dancer's body. If you can't get to a class, we've brought one of the studio's most effective moves to you. The burn starts with your seat and then works deep into the love handles.

The Setup

• Begin by lying down with your belly on the mat, toes together, and knees apart.
• Ground your palms on the floor, placing them on top of one another with your forehead resting on the back of the hands.

Leg Lifts

• Squeeze your seat and lower back, floating your toes straight up toward the ceiling and lifting your knees off of the ground.
• Take 10-15 lifts with your toes aiming for the sky.

Upper-Body Lift

• With your legs still floating off of the ground, lift your forearms up in one motion.
• Keep your back and seat engaged while you lift your upper and lower body together. Do this 10-15 times.

See the bonus move after the break.

by Jaime Young

This thigh burner is a take on traditional Chair pose. The position, which is usually taken as a hold in yoga, has tiny pulses to make it shape your muscles from the inside out. Zip your legs together and sit into Chair.

Chair pose

• Stand with your legs together and soften your knees. Reach your arms overhead and touch your palms together as you fold your chest down toward your knees.
• Hold this position as you drop your tail bone down in a small pulsing motion 10-15 times.
• Keep your legs squeezed together for support.

See a more challenging variation after the break!

by Jaime Young

To revamp your routine, mix new techniques in with traditional exercises. This push-up series may require less repetitions, but you'll still feel the burn because you stay active in the muscle group for longer. Try it now for quick blast to your biceps.

Starting Position

• Start by lying flat on your stomach with your legs zipped up together, hands underneath your shoulders. Press off of the floor with the pads of your toes and extend your elbows to straight.
• From here, walk your hands back until they fall below your shoulders and place your hands at a diagonal so that they both point inward. Tuck your hips down, creating a long line from the crown of your head to your knees.

The Exercise

• Bend your elbows and send your chest down closer to the floor. While you lower, pull your abs away from the ground. By keeping your core engaged during the whole push-up sequence, you will make your body feel lighter. Continue pressing and straightening your arms for 10 to 15 reps.
• On your last press to the floor, keep your body halfway there. Make 5 to 10 tiny micropulses one inch lower towards the mat.
• Staying in this position, now make 5 to 10 tiny micropulses up and away from the may. Either extend your arms up and skip to the ending position, or stay here for an added challenge of the bonus move.

See the challenging bonus move after the break!

by Lizzie Fuhr

Barre workouts are an amazing way to work your bod, but unfortunately, they can also be very expensive. If you're on a tighter budget, there are plenty of easy ways to bring the barre studio vibe to your home. And don't worry; there's no need to mirror a full wall or install a professional ballet barre.

Leave ample room: While micro movements are everything in a barre workout, you've got to have space to move around. Make sure you set up your studio in a spot with lots of room for fluid movement.

Build your barre: You may consider investing in a portable ballet barre, but there are lots of ways to get creative with furniture you've already got in your home. Find a counter or grab a chair for a makeshift barre. Either will do the trick as a substitute for the real thing.

Roll out your mat: Bring your Pilates or yoga mat out whenever you're moving through a dance-inspired workout at home. Your mat gives your feet necessary traction when performing the barre routine, so you're not slipping and sliding all over your home's floor — or worse, rolling your ankle!

Keep reading for two more tips for creating a barre studio at home.

by Lizzie Fuhr

The Xtend Barre Workout has been getting lots of press these days — and for good reason! One of the newest darlings of the ballet barre circuit, Xtend Barre has fresh choreography with every class that both experienced dancers and ladies with two left feet can perform with grace. I recently chatted with the workout's founder, Andrea Rogers, on how Xtend Barre sets itself apart.

FitSugar: What motivated you to create the Xtend Barre workout?
I was a professional dancer for years, and then I transitioned into the Pilates industry, which I absolutely loved. However, I was really missing the choreography and the creative elements of putting together a sequence of exercises or a routine. I started to sprinkle in some dance elements with my Pilates clients, and I started to see extremely fast results. Not only were my clients gaining more energy and endurance because of the cardiovascular elements, but they were also able to apply at the Pilates principles a little better because they were in a vertical position.

FS: What sets Xtend apart from other barre classes out there?
We don't call it a dance workout just because we're at a ballet barre! We actually use dance in the choreography and it doesn't mean you have to be a dancer to perform. You don't have to have any experience in dance to benefit from the elements in Xtend Barre, but no matter how conditioned you are, everyone gets challenged in the class. It's nice to see people who are in the best shape of their lives shiver and quiver and shake. It makes you feel like I can do this! Each class you get better and stronger.

Keep reading for Andrea's reasons she loves the ballet barre.

by Fit Community

Personal trainer and FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV shared this heart-pumping barre workout that you can do in any small space!

Join fitness expert Jessica Smith, live from her living room, for this one-on-one endurance cardio session that combines various styles including ballet, yoga, and modern dance — all done sans shoes for maximum freedom of movement and energy flow. This 36-minute routine is perfect for lighter cardio or recovery on superhot Summer days.

Have a workout to share? Post it in our Fit Community, and we may feature it on our homepage!

by Leta Shy

It's not just yoga and Pilates anymore; the popularity of studio classes — spanning everything from ancient practices to trendy new hybrid workouts — keeps rising. So if you've never set a bare foot in a yoga/Pilates/barre/dance class, then here's what you should know.

1. How to choose: The last thing you want to do is shell out money for a 10-class package only to realize that you dread the thought of coming back. Many elements come into play when choosing the right class: the studio's location, what the class and teacher are like, and even the regulars who go there. Not sure how to start your quest for the perfect studio? Ask about new-student specials before you commit; many studios offer low-cost new-student packages so you can discover what type of class is the right fit for you.
2. What to bring: You'll only need the essentials when it comes to studio class, and knowing what to bring beforehand can make your transition from street to studio quick and easy. Wear a light cover-up that you can throw on over your workout clothes after class; if you know you'll be working up a sweat, then make sure the cover-up is moisture-wicking to help you avoid feeling like you're wearing wet clothes. Since most studio classes are held barefoot, wear easy-on-off shoes. You also will want to bring a water bottle and a bag to hold your essentials, but since many studios use unattended lockers to hold your stuff, try to leave your valuables at home.
3. What to wear: Most studio classes will have you moving around, twisting, and stretching your body in various positions. What you don't want to deal with, then, is the worry of flashing the class or trying to keep a too-loose shirt out of your face in Downward Dog. The right apparel is very important; stick with body-hugging leggings and tops that still allow you to move and stretch. And if you're taking a hot yoga class, then here's a word of advice: leave those hot pants at home and opt for full-coverage capris or leggings instead.

Keep reading for more studio tips!

by Leta Shy

Barre workouts promise you a ballerina figure by working small supportive muscles throughout your body, with a style of exercise called isometrics. These workouts may not seem hard when you watch other people do them, but just wait until you're holding onto the barre, one leg up, trying to move past the burn. If you're ready to try, then here are three ways to work your arms, legs, and butt on the barre!

Arms and legs: Sadie Lincoln, founder of Barre3, helps us get our limbs in shape with this 10-minute arms and legs workout. Click on the video above to get moving!

Kitchen counter workout: Going to a studio for your ballet-inspired workout can get expensive. Try this at-home barre workout (above) instead; all you need is a countertop or sturdy table to find your inner ballerina!

Butt toning: Strut your bikini bottom in style with this easy move from celebrity trainer Fred DeVito, who trains stars like LeAnn Rimes and Kyra Sedgwick and shared this barre move (above) with Self.

by Self

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body in your living room. "This at-home workout is effective because it targets the whole lower body. Cardio Barre is amazing because it is a no-impact workout that allows you to lengthen and strengthen your muscles while burning fat. It will also help increase your flexibility and strength," says Bosworth.

Celebrity devotees, including Dakota Fanning, Neve Campbell, and Heather Morris, can all attest to the fact that Cardio Barre has given them "a lifted tush and leaner, dancer-like legs!" Incorporate these three moves into your regular routine three times a week for maximum results.

Butt Blaster
Come down to the floor on both forearms with your knees bent. Your left hip is directly over your left knee. Your right leg is bent to a 90-degree angle with your foot flexed. Extend your right leg toward the ceiling as if you were pushing the ceiling away from you (see photo above). Bring your right leg down past your left hip and then back up toward the ceiling, keeping your leg parallel to the floor with your kneecap pointing toward the ground and your foot flexed. You are doing a full range of motion, trying to imagine extending your leg all the way through the ceiling.

Keep reading for more barre moves you can do at home!