Fitness fads come and go, it’s a fickle industry!
Remember when Step Aerobics was THE class, and home equipment like the Thighmaster was a thing? Thankfully, workout clothes have changed too – who can forget leotards and leg warmers?!
Sometimes, amid these trends, fabulous things arrive and stand the test of time. Pilates, Spin & Yoga have rightfully remained staples on studio timetables. Barre is also standing proud and tall with the elite – well, it is renowned for developing amazing posture after all!
So, what is Barre and why is it holding its own?
Despite the name, Barre is NOT ballet. Yes, it was developed by a ballerina in 1959, as a post-injury rehab workout, but later, in the 2010’s, it evolved and became the class to go to for safe, joint-friendly, low impact strength and mobility training. Now, more popular than ever, Barre sits alongside Pilates and Yoga, appealing to all ages and fitness levels.
Barre adopts small, controlled movements and static (isometric) holds. Detailed instruction enables you to position and move your body in a precise manner to target a specific muscle or muscle group until it fatigues – which happens surprisingly quickly! Targeting individual muscles gives weaker muscles the chance to strengthen, and this helps prevent injuries. Barre can also be viewed as a road to recovery from existing injuries, since many of the exercises are physio worthy due to their small precise nature – some have likened Barre to an hour of physio!
Barre uses light 1kg hand weights to build strength, but light doesn’t equal easy. Try holding a 1kg weight out at arm’s length, hold it steady for 60seconds – it will absolutely start to cause muscle fatigue. Working muscles to fatigue improves muscle strength which leads to higher fat burn, long lean limbs and great posture.
Each barre class is different, so your muscles never get used to the moves. It’s always challenging and never boring. The upbeat music adds a fun vibe, but it isn’t just background noise. The beat of the music sets the pace of the movements, and undoubtedly a good tune is uplifting and motivating.
A great fitness program should include Cardio, Strength & Mobility training. Barre ticks both the strength & mobility boxes, giving you two for the price of one. Add in a cardio session and boom, job done!
Connect Fitness have a new and exciting Barre class six days a week, no two classes are ever the same. Our highly trained, experienced instructors will give personal adjustments to suit your body and your fitness capabilities. It really is suitable for everyone. Come for a free trial, online or in studio. We’d love to meet you at the Barre!