Barre is a combination of three tried-and-true workouts: ballet, Pilates, and yoga.
According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), barre was originally created in the 1950s by Lotte Berk, a London-based dancer who needed a new exercise regime to treat her injured back.
Countless barre studios and companies have sprung up over the years. Barre instructors are typically trained through individual studios, many of which — including barre fitness company Physique 57 — offer their own training programs and certifications. Certifications can also be obtained through education organizations, including the American Sports & Fitness Association (ASFA)and American Barre Technique.
Barre is a low-impact strength-building workout, but it’s different from traditional strength training in that it primarily utilizes isometric strength exercises, per the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). This means you hold your body in a certain position for a length of time, so your muscles contract without changing length (or without movement).
However, poses can also incorporate small range-of-motion movements called pulses. Many barre classes add light hand weights, resistance bands, or weighted exercise balls to increase the intensity of the exercises. Movements are performed either standing at the ballet bar, sitting, or lying on the yoga mat.
In addition, barre has cardio elements, so you might feel your heart rate rise slightly. Still, it’s not an overly aerobic workout and, therefore, doesn’t stress the heart much, says Elizabeth Matzkin, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the chief of women’s sports medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. That can be a good thing if you’re new to exercise or battling heart issues.
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Because barre incorporates yoga and Pilates poses, you’ll improve flexibility — defined by the ISSA as the ability of your muscles, ligaments, and tendons to passively stretch. You'll also improve balance, whichHarvard Health Publishing describes as the ability to distribute your weight in a way that lets you move without falling over.
So how does barre fit into a well-rounded exercise routine?
For reference, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises getting a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and two full-body strength sessions per week. You can probably rely on barre for your strength needs, provided you’re targeting all your major muscle groups, but Dr. Matzkin says it may not offer enough of a cardio challenge to meet the aerobic guidelines.
To check, use the talk test to gauge the intensity of your barre workouts. To qualify as moderate-intensity aerobic activity, you should be able to talk but not sing during barre, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If barre doesn’t get you slightly breathless, incorporate other aerobic activities into your routine.
Moreover, barre can help older adults get the weekly balance activities recommended by the CDC to prevent falls and fall-related injuries such as bone fractures.
FAQs
Focus on form
Barre workouts are all about precision and alignment, so it's important to focus on your form during each exercise. This means engaging the right muscles, keeping your core tight, and maintaining proper posture throughout the workout.
How long does it take to start seeing results from barre? ›
After just a few weeks of consistent Barre classes, you'll begin to see a difference in your body. You'll also feel stronger, more energetic and more agile.
How often should a beginner do barre? ›
As a good rule of thumb, you should aim to workout more days than you don't. If you are just starting out or getting back into it, set a goal of taking two barre classes a week. You can then ease your way to 3-4 and really start seeing and feeling those results!
How hard is barre for beginners? ›
You don't need a ton of equipment, most of the moves are beginner-friendly, and the classes work your full body in a relatively short amount of time. “Barre is low impact but high energy,” Peloton instructor Hannah Corbin says.
Is barre class hard on knees? ›
The strength training you complete in Pure Barre classes will help to support your knee in it's natural structure.
Can barre transform your body? ›
Tones your whole body
All muscles in our body require adequate exercise to maintain strength and tone. Barre workouts are great for strengthening and toning your muscles without increasing bulk. Barre also increases cardiovascular endurance and metabolism, allowing you to burn calories quickly.
How can I improve my barre? ›
The trick is regular practice so your hand and fingers get used to playing barre chords and build a little strength (and calluses). If you practice this once a month, you're basically starting from scratch every time, which means barre chords will always be difficult.
What happens when you do barre everyday? ›
Morris explained how barre is effective for building muscular strength, particularly in your legs, glutes, and core. “It's also great for improving posture, thanks to its ballet and Pilates roots, and also boosts flexibility and range of motion.
Does barre help with belly fat? ›
Because barre focuses heavily on balance and strength, your core is an integral part of the training. “As you use the abdominals to hold the body in a correct alignment, barre classes will give you a heavy core workout—perfect for keeping toned tummies in check,” says Willoughby.
What kind of body does barre give you? ›
Barre will help you build and strengthen your muscles, improve your core strength and posture, and give your body a lean and toned look. Unlike yoga and Pilates, which can sometimes take weeks and even months to see visible results, barre participants start seeing results in as little as eight workouts.
Even though barre exercises are intense and challenging, you will get through them. The rush you will get from making it through the ultra-challenging workouts will leave you energized, confident, empowered, and strong. And those feelings are nothing short of addictive.
Is barre harder than Pilates? ›
Barre classes will often utilize light weights, a small exercise ball, and resistance bands. While both methods can push the pace, barre tends to up the cardiovascular challenge more so than Pilates, Becker says.
Do you need a rest day from barre? ›
Allow for rest and recovery.
So give yourself at least one day off between barre classes. Do other activities like walking, cycling, or gentle yoga.
Is barre enough of a workout? ›
The Benefits of Barre
Barre offers a full body workout, toning your core, glutes, arms, and thighs/legs. Due to its use of small, isometric movements, barre often targets the deeper muscles in the body that are missed in other workouts.
Is barre good for weight loss? ›
Is barre good for losing weight? Its level of intensity can make barre a good workout option for anyone hoping to shed a few pounds. "Each barre class can burn anywhere from 300-400 calories for an individual who weighs 155 pounds," says Shemek.
How long does it take to get toned from barre? ›
While you shouldn't expect an overnight transformation from barre classes, some members who've taken 3 to 5 barre classes each week report their body feeling tighter, firmer, more toned, balance, posture, strength after even a few weeks.
Can beginners do barre chords? ›
A common misconception with barre chords is that they are difficult because you have to use a lot of force to press down on the strings to produce a clean sound. The truth is, nothing about playing guitar should require a lot of force; the trick is knowing where to place your fingers, and placing them accurately.
