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8 WAYS BARRE3 BALANCES YOUR BODY
For decades, workouts have emphasized strength over all else. And while a strong body is certainly important, it can create problems if you’re not also building a balanced body. Consider your core. If you focus entirely on your abs and neglect your back body, your core will be imbalanced, which can lead to chronic low-back pain, among other problems. But if you work your entire core, you’ll build both strength and balance, which helps your body function properly and safely.
That’s why at barre3, every workout includes body-balancing moves. “We work with a group of experts in biomechanics to stay updated on the latest research about how the body works, so that all of our classes reflect the current science on achieving better body balance,” says Lisa Schale-Drake, VP of Research and Development at barre3. These techniques are woven into your workouts in such a smart way that you may not even realize they’re there. Here are a few ways it’s happening:
WE ADDRESS UNIVERSAL WEAKNESSES.
There are some areas that are naturally imbalanced due to overuse and/or inactivity, such as our glutes (from sitting too much) and our shoulders (from using computers and phones, and from general stress). Every class targets these areas specifically, stretching, strengthening, and opening up where necessary, in an effort to restore your balance and proper pelvic alignment.
WE FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH.
“Most of us are shallow breathers, drawing air from our neck, traps, and chest, instead of from our low belly and diaphragm,” says Lisa. “Simply cueing you to take a deep breath into your belly helps you unwind those breathing patterns, which ultimately leads to less stress hormones, more blood/better oxygen flow in your body, and an improved recovery. You will also feel more clear-minded.”
WE OBSESS OVER OUR SEQUENCING.
“We train our instructors to create a balanced class based on the movements they’re choosing,” Lisa says. There are times when we might weigh heavier on one muscle that needs it, but when we do, we stretch the opposing muscle to balance things out,” she says. All of the barre33 choreography is designed to help unwind everyday patterns that prevent us from having a balanced body.
WE WORK MUSCLES IN REPETITION.
“If you work something in repetition over and over again, like your glutes, for example, you create muscle memory so that when you leave the studio and want those muscles to fire, they remember how,” says Schale-Drake.
WE OPEN UP YOUR CHEST AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BACK.
Two of the most common imbalances we all face are the result of tight shoulders, neck, upper body, and a weak backside. So every barre33 workout includes chest openers and back strengtheners (which target rhomboids, lats, traps) that serve to combat these issues.
WE’RE ALWAYS EVOLVING OUR WORKOUT.
“Our love of learning is really strong in the sense that we’re always seeking to understand more about how the body works and surround ourselves with experts who can help,” says Lisa. “Our instructors are so passionate and are always willing to evolve their classes,” she says. “Sometimes I think we take the hard road. But that leads to better results. It’s a lot easier to just do what you do and never change, but that’s not what we we’re about.” By being open to learning and obsessed with the latest science, we ensure that our workout is always giving you exactly what your body needs.
WE REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST TEACHER.
If you’ve ever taken a B3 class, you’ve heard your instructor tell you to listen to your body. That’s because each person starts class with different needs, based on where they are that day, explains Lisa. “If you want to create long-term sustainability to building better body balance, you’ve got to work with people to find what works best for them in their journey to getting healthy. It’s essential.”
WE KNOW THAT EXERCISE ISN’T EVERYTHING.
Balance means so much more than what’s happening in your body. “At barre3, we understand that exercise is not the answer to everything,” Lisa says. “It’s a piece of the pie. It’s an important piece, but if you want to achieve true balance, you have to look at all aspects of your life,” she notes. “Just like you get uncomfortable in class, you need to challenge yourself and get uncomfortable in other parts of your life, too. Then see what happens.”
Ready to try our body-balancing workout for yourself? Book a class today, or stream one of our hundreds of workouts on B3 Online.
For decades, workouts have emphasized strength over all else. And while a strong body is certainly important, it can create problems if you’re not also building a balanced body. Consider your core. If you focus entirely on your abs and neglect your back body, your core will be imbalanced, which can lead to chronic low-back pain, among other problems. But if you work your entire core, you’ll build both strength and balance, which helps your body function properly and safely.
That’s why at barre3, every workout includes body-balancing moves. “We work with a group of experts in biomechanics to stay updated on the latest research about how the body works, so that all of our classes reflect the current science on achieving better body balance,” says Lisa Schale-Drake, VP of Research and Development at barre3. These techniques are woven into your workouts in such a smart way that you may not even realize they’re there. Here are a few ways it’s happening:
WE ADDRESS UNIVERSAL WEAKNESSES.
There are some areas that are naturally imbalanced due to overuse and/or inactivity, such as our glutes (from sitting too much) and our shoulders (from using computers and phones, and from general stress). Every class targets these areas specifically, stretching, strengthening, and opening up where necessary, in an effort to restore your balance and proper pelvic alignment.
WE FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH.
“Most of us are shallow breathers, drawing air from our neck, traps, and chest, instead of from our low belly and diaphragm,” says Lisa. “Simply cueing you to take a deep breath into your belly helps you unwind those breathing patterns, which ultimately leads to less stress hormones, more blood/better oxygen flow in your body, and an improved recovery. You will also feel more clear-minded.”
WE OBSESS OVER OUR SEQUENCING.
“We train our instructors to create a balanced class based on the movements they’re choosing,” Lisa says. There are times when we might weigh heavier on one muscle that needs it, but when we do, we stretch the opposing muscle to balance things out,” she says. All of the barre33 choreography is designed to help unwind everyday patterns that prevent us from having a balanced body.
WE WORK MUSCLES IN REPETITION.
“If you work something in repetition over and over again, like your glutes, for example, you create muscle memory so that when you leave the studio and want those muscles to fire, they remember how,” says Schale-Drake.
WE OPEN UP YOUR CHEST AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BACK.
Two of the most common imbalances we all face are the result of tight shoulders, neck, upper body, and a weak backside. So every barre33 workout includes chest openers and back strengtheners (which target rhomboids, lats, traps) that serve to combat these issues.
WE’RE ALWAYS EVOLVING OUR WORKOUT.
“Our love of learning is really strong in the sense that we’re always seeking to understand more about how the body works and surround ourselves with experts who can help,” says Lisa. “Our instructors are so passionate and are always willing to evolve their classes,” she says. “Sometimes I think we take the hard road. But that leads to better results. It’s a lot easier to just do what you do and never change, but that’s not what we we’re about.” By being open to learning and obsessed with the latest science, we ensure that our workout is always giving you exactly what your body needs.
WE REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST TEACHER.
If you’ve ever taken a B3 class, you’ve heard your instructor tell you to listen to your body. That’s because each person starts class with different needs, based on where they are that day, explains Lisa. “If you want to create long-term sustainability to building better body balance, you’ve got to work with people to find what works best for them in their journey to getting healthy. It’s essential.”
WE KNOW THAT EXERCISE ISN’T EVERYTHING.
Balance means so much more than what’s happening in your body. “At barre3, we understand that exercise is not the answer to everything,” Lisa says. “It’s a piece of the pie. It’s an important piece, but if you want to achieve true balance, you have to look at all aspects of your life,” she notes. “Just like you get uncomfortable in class, you need to challenge yourself and get uncomfortable in other parts of your life, too. Then see what happens.”
Ready to try our body-balancing workout for yourself? Book a class today, or stream one of our hundreds of workouts on B3 Online.
