I’ve been a self-proclaimed “fitness girlie” for a couple years now. I bought a membership to gym near my house, fully committed to it, and never looked back. The gym is my therapy now, and I enjoy going several times a week. I’ve heard many good things about barre fitness classes and the cult following around them. My workouts usually consist of lifting weights, but I switch up my cardio with machine cardio, kickboxing, and Zumba classes. I would say I was in pretty good shape already before I started taking barre classes, but I wanted to see if they would make a difference.
Pilates and low impact workouts have grown in popularity, especially on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Social media content has not only centered around the actual workouts themselves, but also around the aesthetic of these workoutsā€”cute and practical outfits and hairstyles to wear for these workouts. I’ve been a ballet dancer since I was three, and I wanted to see if the workout was similar to and as fun as a ballet class. While Pilates classes are an extra charge at my gym, barre classes were offered at no extra charge if you already had a membership, so I signed up and started my experiment.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Results
Barre fitness is a strength training workout based on low weights and high repetitions, with an emphasis on the lower body. They use isometric movements, or static contractions of the muscle with very little visible movement of the muscle. That’s what makes barre workouts burn! I definitely felt the burn, as these workouts are hard! In the first few weeks of classes, I had to take multiple breaks during the exercise blocks because my muscles were exhausted.
Barre fitness claims to help you achieve a lean and “toned’ physique. I found this to be true to my experience: My butt is more lifted, and I can see the muscle definition in my arms and thighs. I definitely feel like I’ve leaned out a bit, and I feel so much stronger than a year ago. I’ve graduated from using 2lb weights to 3lbs in class, and I can finish an entire exercise block without having to take a break. I started seeing a difference in my body around 6 months in. However, I was only averaging about one barre class a week, coupled with my usual workout routine. I’m sure if I was going more frequently I would’ve seen results faster. I think it’s also important to mention that I wasn’t on any particular diet throughout my whole experiment; I was just eating intuitively but relatively healthy. My sleep quality has also improved; I can fall asleep faster on nights that I’ve done the workout and I feel more refreshed the next morning. My muscle soreness in the couple of days following the workout has also decreased, as I’ve gotten stronger.
Community
I really found a that there is a real sense of community in barre classes. I think it’s because the classes are so challenging, everyone has a mutual understanding of each other’s experience. The classes I went to were held in the women’s-only section of the gym, which I usually find less intimidating and people are friendlier. I started getting to know the regulars in class as I became a regular myself, and I even made a few friends through barre! It helps that they’re around the same age as me, and we have a mutual interest in staying fit. I go to different fitness classes with my friends I’ve met through barre, and even grab protein smoothies with them after workouts.
Motivation
I started feeling my results before I could see them. I felt stronger and the classes started getting easier around a month into my experiment. I really started seeing results in the mirror around the 6 month mark. This has especially helped motivate me to keep going to these classes, as I could see and feel that they were working. The community and friends that I found in these classes really helped me with staying consistent as well.
Final thoughts
I think barre fitness is definitely worth it. Those with a dance background or those wanting to try low impact workouts would enjoy this fitness class. Not only are the physical benefits of this class great, the friendships I’ve made through this class are so fulfilling as well. I’m so lucky to find another workout I enjoy, and I’m glad my experiment worked out. Now, I can’t imagine a week where I don’t take a barre class!