Barre: The Ballet-Inspired Workout
This gorgeous toning workout gets its name from the horizontal handrail, usually made of wood and commonly installed against a mirrored wall, in dance training. Barre incorporates movements and positions found in ballet, such as battements, pliés and relevés into a cardio routine to tone and strengthen the body, creating a beautiful low-impact workout to improve strength, balance and posture. No prior dancing experience required.
“Barre classes are accessible to everybody: the emphasis of the practice is to build strength for optimal movement of all the body’s muscles and joints,” says barre instructor Moriana Kachmarsky. “Barre is a well-rounded, full-body workout. The exercises draw on orthopedic and physiotherapy exercises, as well as stretching, moving to the beat of the music and having fun,” Moriana continues. “Each exercise is modifiable to accommodate clients’ specific needs so that everyone feels safe, confident and strong after every practice."
“Barre classes are accessible to every body: the emphasis of the practice is to build strength for optimal movement of all the body’s muscles and joints,”
Barre is founded on the concept of isometric training. This strength-building technique is made up of small movements and serves to work very specific muscle groups. Raising your leg by a mere few inches is enough to target those muscles and begin strengthening them. Movements get even smaller when pulsing. Tiny isometric movements, called pulses, performed in a series (pulsing) help shape the body. This is when you will hear the instructor say, “Up an inch” and “Down an inch” and begin to feel that famous barre burn. Holding movements in their tightest and lowest positions is a fundamental aspect of barre as is precision of movements and proper alignment.
For all that, barre is far less intimidating than it sounds and can be an ideal workout for beginners. While it can feel tiring on the muscles, barre requires a little less energy than running, tennis, basketball, squash and many other sports.
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Aside from barre studios, which can be few and far between in some cities, there are many options online, from free videos to online subscriptions. While each instructor has their own teaching style, a in-studio barre class is usually 60 minutes long, typically consisting of a 40-minute standing workout at the barre, followed by a 20-minute floor component, including planks and other core exercises. Some instructors prefer to alternate between barre and floor work throughout the class, while others like to keep floor work for the end. You can expect to use small hand weights, resistance bands and exercise balls to further work the muscles. None of these pieces of equipment are mandatory as the exercises can easily be done without them as it’s possible to build muscle with just your own body weight.
It’s best to wear snug clothing to class, such as leggings to allow the instructor to easily spot and correct wrong movements and improper positioning. The workout can be done barefoot if the studio permits. Otherwise, grip socks are usually the norm and prevent slipping.
Meditative and slow paced, many people who enjoy barre fall into a relaxing rhythm as they focus on the music and their breathing.
Barre is a soft, elegant and gentle—even if demanding—workout with remarkable benefits, including long and lean muscles with the added bonus of poise and better posture. My favourite way to exercise by far.
TEXT BY FATIMA RIZZO