Move
BARRE3 PROP PRIMER: HOW THE CORE BALL, CORE SLIDERS, WEIGHTS, BAND, AND BARRE ELEVATE YOUR WORKOUT
No matter which of our 140+ barre3 studios you visit around the country, the pre-class drill is the same. You grab your props, set up your space at the barre, and wait patiently for class to start. But there’s more behind those props than you may think. Our Master Trainers have considered every detail of the barre3 props, making sure that when used correctly, these tools can challenge your stability, improve your strength, and increase your flexibility.
So why exactly do we use the Core Ball, Core Sliders, weights, resistance band, and barre? We asked Master Train Catie Fahrner to break it down for us.
Read on to learn how the barre3 props take your workout to the next level.
CORE BALL
As its name implies, the Core Ball is used predominantly to target your core. It acts like a magical pillow that allows you to access your abs on a deeper level while still protecting your back, neck, and shoulders. Plus, the ball’s soft, squishy texture makes it easy to place behind your back or between your thighs to add instability without creating discomfort. If you want to add intensity to your glutes while on All Fours, place the Core Ball behind your knee. And if you feel stress in your knees and need extra stability, squeezing the ball between your thighs can help.
CORE SLIDERS
These little black discs create an environment of instability, which forces us to SLOW DOWN and pay attention to what’s happening in our bodies. This helps us find an even deeper connection with our muscles, delivering results you can feel right away. When you do a classic barre3 move with a core slider, you’ll notice a push-pull, or “resisting movement,” in both directions. This helps engage the targeted muscles and create balance in your body.
WEIGHTS
Our 1- to 8-pound handheld weights are used to create resistance when you’re targeting your upper body or glutes. If you’ve been doing barre3 for a while, you might know that the 5+ weight options are a recent addition to the class. After lots of research and months of training, we learned that by slowing down our movements and adding more resistance, we’re targeting the muscles that tend to get neglected in our day-to-day lives. The results? Increased shoulder strength, improved posture, and a stronger core.
RESISTANCE BAND
Bands are often incorporated into warm-ups, seat work, and stretches. They allow you to move fluidly as you strength train. What’s more, bands can help you more effectively target your upper body, inner and outer thighs, and your entire core, including your abs and back body postural muscles. They manage to make your muscles feel both buoyant and strong, especially when performing standing seat work and Boat Pose. Bands are also a great, portable way to add resistance to your barre3 Online workouts.
BARRE
The barre is perhaps our most versatile prop, and central to its role in the barre3 class is its symbol of support. It’s there to provide balance when you need it and remains fixed in place as you choose to let go. The barre is a vehicle for looking inward, but just the same, it’s a means of connection to the rest of the group. It functions differently from person to person and its use can vary from class to class. Using Plank as an example, the barre is also a great tool for modifications. And when you want to get deeper into stretches, like Flatback Foldover, the barre is a wonderful source of relief.
And to support your barre3 practice…
FOAM ROLLER
Foam rolling is a natural extension of the barre3 class and helps further deliver on our mission to balance the body. When we work out, our muscles produce lactic acid, which builds up and causes muscle soreness. Foam rolling helps release lactic acid, helping your body feel refreshed and renewed.
Barre3 studios provide foam rollers for rolling before or after class, but if you want to start practicing at home, you can grab the Manduka Belong Roller in the B3 Shop.
No matter which of our 140+ barre3 studios you visit around the country, the pre-class drill is the same. You grab your props, set up your space at the barre, and wait patiently for class to start. But there’s more behind those props than you may think. Our Master Trainers have considered every detail of the barre3 props, making sure that when used correctly, these tools can challenge your stability, improve your strength, and increase your flexibility.
So why exactly do we use the Core Ball, Core Sliders, weights, resistance band, and barre? We asked Master Train Catie Fahrner to break it down for us.
Read on to learn how the barre3 props take your workout to the next level.
CORE BALL
As its name implies, the Core Ball is used predominantly to target your core. It acts like a magical pillow that allows you to access your abs on a deeper level while still protecting your back, neck, and shoulders. Plus, the ball’s soft, squishy texture makes it easy to place behind your back or between your thighs to add instability without creating discomfort. If you want to add intensity to your glutes while on All Fours, place the Core Ball behind your knee. And if you feel stress in your knees and need extra stability, squeezing the ball between your thighs can help.
CORE SLIDERS
These little black discs create an environment of instability, which forces us to SLOW DOWN and pay attention to what’s happening in our bodies. This helps us find an even deeper connection with our muscles, delivering results you can feel right away. When you do a classic barre3 move with a core slider, you’ll notice a push-pull, or “resisting movement,” in both directions. This helps engage the targeted muscles and create balance in your body.
WEIGHTS
Our 1- to 8-pound handheld weights are used to create resistance when you’re targeting your upper body or glutes. If you’ve been doing barre3 for a while, you might know that the 5+ weight options are a recent addition to the class. After lots of research and months of training, we learned that by slowing down our movements and adding more resistance, we’re targeting the muscles that tend to get neglected in our day-to-day lives. The results? Increased shoulder strength, improved posture, and a stronger core.
RESISTANCE BAND
Bands are often incorporated into warm-ups, seat work, and stretches. They allow you to move fluidly as you strength train. What’s more, bands can help you more effectively target your upper body, inner and outer thighs, and your entire core, including your abs and back body postural muscles. They manage to make your muscles feel both buoyant and strong, especially when performing standing seat work and Boat Pose. Bands are also a great, portable way to add resistance to your barre3 Online workouts.
BARRE
The barre is perhaps our most versatile prop, and central to its role in the barre3 class is its symbol of support. It’s there to provide balance when you need it and remains fixed in place as you choose to let go. The barre is a vehicle for looking inward, but just the same, it’s a means of connection to the rest of the group. It functions differently from person to person and its use can vary from class to class. Using Plank as an example, the barre is also a great tool for modifications. And when you want to get deeper into stretches, like Flatback Foldover, the barre is a wonderful source of relief.
And to support your barre3 practice…
FOAM ROLLER
Foam rolling is a natural extension of the barre3 class and helps further deliver on our mission to balance the body. When we work out, our muscles produce lactic acid, which builds up and causes muscle soreness. Foam rolling helps release lactic acid, helping your body feel refreshed and renewed.
Barre3 studios provide foam rollers for rolling before or after class, but if you want to start practicing at home, you can grab the Manduka Belong Roller in the B3 Shop.
