Move
YOUR BARRE3 QUESTIONS, ANSWERED: ROUND 3
We’re constantly getting fantastic questions from the barre3 community—and since we know that when one person is curious about something there are oodles of others wondering the same thing, we’ve dedicated a series to answering your questions. In today’s installment of Your Barre3 Questions, Answered, barre3 Lead Instructor Catie Fahrner speaks to the why behind our breathwork, who barre3 is for, and more. Read on for her answers, and remember, if you have questions of your own, post them in the comments below.
Q: I do barre3 for the cardio and strength conditioning. Do I really need to stay for the breathwork at the end?
A: Yes! 100% yes, and I’ll break down why in a moment—but first, know that if you need to leave early from a studio class, it’s absolutely OK.
There are a few key reasons the last section of our workout, which we dedicate to guided breathwork and stretching, is a key part of the barre3 class. For starters, it helps bring your body back to a neutral state. After all the cardio work and muscle-burning postures throughout class, your heart is beating faster than its normal rate and your body temperature is elevated. If you stop abruptly, your body essentially goes from 100 to zero too quickly. Slowing down to stretch and breathe helps gradually decrease your heart rate and body temperature, bringing you more safely to a resting state.
The breathwork component of the end of class may feel relaxing (because it is!), but it’s actually very important muscle-work. Those deep inhales and extended exhales work the diaphragm, the intercostals, and the transverse abdominals—all muscles that are key to our wellbeing but often, thanks to our modern lifestyle, underworked (in our day-to-day lives, we’re much more likely to breathe in a shallow manner or even hold our breath than to take deep, cleansing breaths.)
On a less tangible (but no less important) level, breathwork also flexes our be-present muscle. Most of us go through life in a semi-distracted state, constantly thinking of what’s next or replaying something from the past in our minds. When your instructor invites you to focus only on your breath, letting thoughts come and go without latching onto them, you’re learning the power of presence—a skill that you can take with you into the rest of your life.
Harnessing our breath is a simple effective way to create ease, relaxation, and calm in our minds and bodies.
Q: Are there age restrictions around who can do barre3?
A: Thanks to our modification-based approach, people of all ages can benefit from our full-body balanced workout. You don’t need any prior experience with group fitness (or working out in general) in order to feel successful and strong in your barre3 practice.
Minors aged 14 and up are welcome to attend studio classes with a parent or guardian. Clients 16 to 17 years of age don’t need to be with a parent, but they do need a New Client Waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
Q: Is barre3 as beneficial for men as it is for women?
A: Yes, absolutely. Barre3 is designed to balance the body, and everyone—regardless of gender—can benefit from that.
Think of it this way: Our modern lifestyle doesn’t discriminate. Thanks to screens, commutes, and long days behind desks, we spend much of our day sitting and slouching. This causes lack of use of major muscle groups, which leads to imbalances—and those imbalances affect men and women are equally. Our hamstrings and hip flexors get tight, and our glutes, lats, and abs weaken.
The great news: barre3’s functional approach to moving the body is all about unraveling these patterns (AKA “removing the chair”), and bringing your body back toward a state of balance, where you feel aligned and supported. We combine strength work with mobility to encourage freedom within the body and to release tension.
We reinforce healthy alignment for all bodies in every barre3 workout. When our body is in alignment our spine is long, our heart is open, our shoulders are relaxed, and our lower back is in a neutral position. When we have proper alignment, we have more sustainable energy throughout the day, we walk with ease, we sit more comfortably, and we know when it’s time to get up and move around because we crave that movement! We even sleep better!
Q: Will you please open a barre3 studio near me?
A: We’d love to! We currently have 151 studios all over the U.S. and Canada (plus more to come!).
If you don’t have a studio near you and are curious about opening one, we’d love to chat. Start by taking a look at our Franchise Site, which is packed with key information, and then reach out to start the conversation. Wondering what it’s like to be an owner? Check out this article, where barre3 Camas owner Tiffany DeLorenzo shares her experience.
Ready to try barre3? Find your local studio or get started online with a 15-day free trial today!
We’re constantly getting fantastic questions from the barre3 community—and since we know that when one person is curious about something there are oodles of others wondering the same thing, we’ve dedicated a series to answering your questions. In today’s installment of Your Barre3 Questions, Answered, barre3 Lead Instructor Catie Fahrner speaks to the why behind our breathwork, who barre3 is for, and more. Read on for her answers, and remember, if you have questions of your own, post them in the comments below.
Q: I do barre3 for the cardio and strength conditioning. Do I really need to stay for the breathwork at the end?
A: Yes! 100% yes, and I’ll break down why in a moment—but first, know that if you need to leave early from a studio class, it’s absolutely OK.
There are a few key reasons the last section of our workout, which we dedicate to guided breathwork and stretching, is a key part of the barre3 class. For starters, it helps bring your body back to a neutral state. After all the cardio work and muscle-burning postures throughout class, your heart is beating faster than its normal rate and your body temperature is elevated. If you stop abruptly, your body essentially goes from 100 to zero too quickly. Slowing down to stretch and breathe helps gradually decrease your heart rate and body temperature, bringing you more safely to a resting state.
The breathwork component of the end of class may feel relaxing (because it is!), but it’s actually very important muscle-work. Those deep inhales and extended exhales work the diaphragm, the intercostals, and the transverse abdominals—all muscles that are key to our wellbeing but often, thanks to our modern lifestyle, underworked (in our day-to-day lives, we’re much more likely to breathe in a shallow manner or even hold our breath than to take deep, cleansing breaths.)
On a less tangible (but no less important) level, breathwork also flexes our be-present muscle. Most of us go through life in a semi-distracted state, constantly thinking of what’s next or replaying something from the past in our minds. When your instructor invites you to focus only on your breath, letting thoughts come and go without latching onto them, you’re learning the power of presence—a skill that you can take with you into the rest of your life.
Harnessing our breath is a simple effective way to create ease, relaxation, and calm in our minds and bodies.
Q: Are there age restrictions around who can do barre3?
A: Thanks to our modification-based approach, people of all ages can benefit from our full-body balanced workout. You don’t need any prior experience with group fitness (or working out in general) in order to feel successful and strong in your barre3 practice.
Minors aged 14 and up are welcome to attend studio classes with a parent or guardian. Clients 16 to 17 years of age don’t need to be with a parent, but they do need a New Client Waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
Q: Is barre3 as beneficial for men as it is for women?
A: Yes, absolutely. Barre3 is designed to balance the body, and everyone—regardless of gender—can benefit from that.
Think of it this way: Our modern lifestyle doesn’t discriminate. Thanks to screens, commutes, and long days behind desks, we spend much of our day sitting and slouching. This causes lack of use of major muscle groups, which leads to imbalances—and those imbalances affect men and women are equally. Our hamstrings and hip flexors get tight, and our glutes, lats, and abs weaken.
The great news: barre3’s functional approach to moving the body is all about unraveling these patterns (AKA “removing the chair”), and bringing your body back toward a state of balance, where you feel aligned and supported. We combine strength work with mobility to encourage freedom within the body and to release tension.
We reinforce healthy alignment for all bodies in every barre3 workout. When our body is in alignment our spine is long, our heart is open, our shoulders are relaxed, and our lower back is in a neutral position. When we have proper alignment, we have more sustainable energy throughout the day, we walk with ease, we sit more comfortably, and we know when it’s time to get up and move around because we crave that movement! We even sleep better!
Q: Will you please open a barre3 studio near me?
A: We’d love to! We currently have 151 studios all over the U.S. and Canada (plus more to come!).
If you don’t have a studio near you and are curious about opening one, we’d love to chat. Start by taking a look at our Franchise Site, which is packed with key information, and then reach out to start the conversation. Wondering what it’s like to be an owner? Check out this article, where barre3 Camas owner Tiffany DeLorenzo shares her experience.
Ready to try barre3? Find your local studio or get started online with a 15-day free trial today!
