Move
BARRE3 WORKS MAGIC FOR YOUR MOBILITY. HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS.
When you take a barre3 class, you know you’re creating better balance in the body and empowerment from within. But did you know that barre3 works magic for your mobility, too?
Below, barre3 instructor Shannon McClintock explains how barre3 helps you move freely and easily, in the studio and everyday life.
Q: LET’S START WITH THE BASICS: WHY DOES MOBILITY MATTER?
A: Everyone wants to be able to move through life without feeling tight or limited in their movements. When we are children, we have a ton of mobility—think of when a child sits in a “W” position on the ground—but our mobility tends to decrease as we age. By doing a workout that helps increase your mobility, you’re helping your body resist the tightening that often comes with age. With an increased range of motion in our joints, we can move around more easily, help prevent injury, and feel better in our bodies.
Q: HOW DOES BARRE3 HELP WITH MOBILITY?
A: Every barre3 class begins with 10 minutes focused on moving and warming every joint in the body—all moves that foster mobility. Then throughout class, we weave mobility into strengthening exercises. This helps create strength in a balanced way, which lets your body be more mobile in general. This type of strengthening combined with flow-based moves like Cat-Cow work together to increase your overall mobility in a way that’s safe for your body.
Q: HOW DOES BETTER MOBILITY HELP YOU WHEN YOU’RE EXERCISING?
A: Increased mobility opens you up to get deeper into postures and get more connected to your body. For instance, lots of people have very tight hips, and poses like Horse Pose are challenging. When we work to increase overall hip mobility, it allows you to get into postures like Horse Pose more easily, and you get an even deeper connection to the muscles we’re targeting.
Q: HOW DOES BETTER MOBILITY HELP YOU IN EVERYDAY LIFE?
A: When you increase mobility in your body, your body works better overall. You’re able to move about life with greater ease and avoid injuring chronically tight areas because your body is more in balance. Mobility in the spine is especially key. When you can move your spine easily, things like bending over or leaning to the side are more accessible and less likely to result in injury.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME BARRE3 MOVEST THAT FOCUS ON MOBILITY?
A: Every barre3 posture is going to increase your mobility in some way. None are “better” than others, but some are more sneaky at increasing mobility, like our more strength-based moves. These work by increasing strength in a balanced way that allows tension to be released, which can increase our range of motion. We also have some moves that are geared more toward mobility than strength. Here’s my greatest-hits list:
Sumo Squats with large arm movements for shoulder and hip mobility
Crescent Lunge and Runner’s Lunge flows for hip mobility
Warrior Two for mobility in inner thighs and hips
Cat Cows for spinal mobility
Shoulder Pass-Throughs for shoulder mobility
Q: HOW CAN A CLIENT BRING MORE FOCUS TO MOBILITY DURING A BARRE3 WORKOUT?
A: The good news is that we make it easy for you—mobility work is built into every barre3 class, every time. My biggest advice is just to be patient with your body. It took a long time for your mobility to decrease, and it’s not going to come back after a class or two. Over time, though, you should notice that chronically tight areas like hips or shoulders will start to feel less tight and more mobile. It’s all in the magic of balancing your body. As you become more balanced front to back and side to side, your body is free to release the tension that limits mobility.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO FOR OUR MOBILITY OUT OF THE STUDIO?
A: Yes! If you don’t own a foam roller, get one. They’re magical for increasing the health of your fascia and muscles. When the quality of our muscles and fascia are healthy, our joint mobility increases. If you don’t have a foam roller, most of our studios do. Show up a few minutes early or stay a few minutes after class and give yourself a little self-massage with the foam roller!
Ready to boost your mobility? Book a barre3 class at your local studio or press play on a barre3 Online workout today!
When you take a barre3 class, you know you’re creating better balance in the body and empowerment from within. But did you know that barre3 works magic for your mobility, too?
Below, barre3 instructor Shannon McClintock explains how barre3 helps you move freely and easily, in the studio and everyday life.
Q: LET’S START WITH THE BASICS: WHY DOES MOBILITY MATTER?
A: Everyone wants to be able to move through life without feeling tight or limited in their movements. When we are children, we have a ton of mobility—think of when a child sits in a “W” position on the ground—but our mobility tends to decrease as we age. By doing a workout that helps increase your mobility, you’re helping your body resist the tightening that often comes with age. With an increased range of motion in our joints, we can move around more easily, help prevent injury, and feel better in our bodies.
Q: HOW DOES BARRE3 HELP WITH MOBILITY?
A: Every barre3 class begins with 10 minutes focused on moving and warming every joint in the body—all moves that foster mobility. Then throughout class, we weave mobility into strengthening exercises. This helps create strength in a balanced way, which lets your body be more mobile in general. This type of strengthening combined with flow-based moves like Cat-Cow work together to increase your overall mobility in a way that’s safe for your body.
Q: HOW DOES BETTER MOBILITY HELP YOU WHEN YOU’RE EXERCISING?
A: Increased mobility opens you up to get deeper into postures and get more connected to your body. For instance, lots of people have very tight hips, and poses like Horse Pose are challenging. When we work to increase overall hip mobility, it allows you to get into postures like Horse Pose more easily, and you get an even deeper connection to the muscles we’re targeting.
Q: HOW DOES BETTER MOBILITY HELP YOU IN EVERYDAY LIFE?
A: When you increase mobility in your body, your body works better overall. You’re able to move about life with greater ease and avoid injuring chronically tight areas because your body is more in balance. Mobility in the spine is especially key. When you can move your spine easily, things like bending over or leaning to the side are more accessible and less likely to result in injury.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME BARRE3 MOVEST THAT FOCUS ON MOBILITY?
A: Every barre3 posture is going to increase your mobility in some way. None are “better” than others, but some are more sneaky at increasing mobility, like our more strength-based moves. These work by increasing strength in a balanced way that allows tension to be released, which can increase our range of motion. We also have some moves that are geared more toward mobility than strength. Here’s my greatest-hits list:
Sumo Squats with large arm movements for shoulder and hip mobility
Crescent Lunge and Runner’s Lunge flows for hip mobility
Warrior Two for mobility in inner thighs and hips
Cat Cows for spinal mobility
Shoulder Pass-Throughs for shoulder mobility
Q: HOW CAN A CLIENT BRING MORE FOCUS TO MOBILITY DURING A BARRE3 WORKOUT?
A: The good news is that we make it easy for you—mobility work is built into every barre3 class, every time. My biggest advice is just to be patient with your body. It took a long time for your mobility to decrease, and it’s not going to come back after a class or two. Over time, though, you should notice that chronically tight areas like hips or shoulders will start to feel less tight and more mobile. It’s all in the magic of balancing your body. As you become more balanced front to back and side to side, your body is free to release the tension that limits mobility.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO FOR OUR MOBILITY OUT OF THE STUDIO?
A: Yes! If you don’t own a foam roller, get one. They’re magical for increasing the health of your fascia and muscles. When the quality of our muscles and fascia are healthy, our joint mobility increases. If you don’t have a foam roller, most of our studios do. Show up a few minutes early or stay a few minutes after class and give yourself a little self-massage with the foam roller!
Ready to boost your mobility? Book a barre3 class at your local studio or press play on a barre3 Online workout today!
