Move
IS BARRE3 CARDIO? WE BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU.
If there’s one question we get more than any other, it’s this: Do I need to supplement my barre3 practice with cardio?
To set the record straight, we turned to our in-house expert, VP of Research and Development, Lisa Schale-Drake. Read on for her answer to the oft-asked question—plus a few other expert insights.
B3 MAGAZINE: Let’s answer the question once and for all: Is barre3 cardio?
Lisa: YES. Barre3 gets your heart pumping and promotes cardiovascular health.
B3 MAGAZINE: OK, but do I need to supplement my barre3 practice with extra cardio?
Lisa: No. Of course, if there are other heart-healthy activities you enjoy, absolutely feel free to add them to your routine. In fact, you may even find that your barre3 practice helps you love them even more. By boosting your energy and by teaching you to be balanced in your body, barre3 helps support traditional cardio-focused activities, like running and biking.
B3 MAGAZINE: Am I still getting a cardio workout when I’m doing the holds and stretching portions of class?
Lisa: Your heart is working hard for you far beyond combo work. Powerful holds can get the heart rate up because you are asking your muscles to stabilize, which requires the heart to work hard. Think about Plank. Even though there is little to no movement, the muscles are firing like crazy to hold your body in that posture. Next time you come out of it, notice your heart rate. I’d bet it will be elevated.
At the end of class, when we stretch and allow our breath to deepen, it’s normal for your heart rate to return to normal. This portion isn’t necessarily cardio, but it is equally important and has so many benefits, such as increased range of motion, focusing your mind, and re-energizing you for the rest of your day.
B3 MAGAZINE: Will doing barre3 help me meet the standard rec’s for cardio exercise?
Lisa: Yes! The American Heart Association recommends either 150 minutes of moderate activities a week or 75 minutes of vigorous activities a week. If you do two to three 60-minute barre3 workouts a week, you are doing amazing things for your heart.
B3 MAGAZINE: If I’d like to up my cardio in class, what can I do?
Lisa: This is a great question. So many of us think that faster, faster, faster is the best way to get more cardio. Instead, think about how you can deepen your connection and find what is exactly right for you. Many clients notice that when they do this, not only are they getting more out of the movement, but they also feel the cardio benefits.
Also, play with the many options you have available in class. Think of modifications as a way to find your sweet spot. Sometimes what you think might be an easier option can actually guide you to a deeper place in your body. The deeper you go, the more your breath needs to work for you and the more your heart will thump.
B3 MAGAZINE: If I already do a lot of cardio (like running or HIIT workouts), how can I work barre3 into my routine in a healthy way?
Lisa: This is where I would really suggest to try a schedule that works for you and then focus inward and see how it feels. At barre3, we believe that you are your own best teacher, and we encourage you to ask yourself what you need in your workout each day.
If you run three to four times a week or take a HITT class two to three times a week, try to add two to three barre3 workouts into your weekly schedule. If that feels like too much, then try for two a week. Let that be a starting point, listen to what your body is telling you, and then adjust your schedule as you need to.
Clients have said that by pairing barre3 with these types of high-intensity programs has helped them run faster, longer, and with more endurance. They also feel a decrease in joint pain and feel energized instead of depleted.
Ready to get your heart pumping? Get started with a 15-day free trial of barre3 at-home workouts or find your local studio today!
If there’s one question we get more than any other, it’s this: Do I need to supplement my barre3 practice with cardio?
To set the record straight, we turned to our in-house expert, VP of Research and Development, Lisa Schale-Drake. Read on for her answer to the oft-asked question—plus a few other expert insights.
B3 MAGAZINE: Let’s answer the question once and for all: Is barre3 cardio?
Lisa: YES. Barre3 gets your heart pumping and promotes cardiovascular health.
B3 MAGAZINE: OK, but do I need to supplement my barre3 practice with extra cardio?
Lisa: No. Of course, if there are other heart-healthy activities you enjoy, absolutely feel free to add them to your routine. In fact, you may even find that your barre3 practice helps you love them even more. By boosting your energy and by teaching you to be balanced in your body, barre3 helps support traditional cardio-focused activities, like running and biking.
B3 MAGAZINE: Am I still getting a cardio workout when I’m doing the holds and stretching portions of class?
Lisa: Your heart is working hard for you far beyond combo work. Powerful holds can get the heart rate up because you are asking your muscles to stabilize, which requires the heart to work hard. Think about Plank. Even though there is little to no movement, the muscles are firing like crazy to hold your body in that posture. Next time you come out of it, notice your heart rate. I’d bet it will be elevated.
At the end of class, when we stretch and allow our breath to deepen, it’s normal for your heart rate to return to normal. This portion isn’t necessarily cardio, but it is equally important and has so many benefits, such as increased range of motion, focusing your mind, and re-energizing you for the rest of your day.
B3 MAGAZINE: Will doing barre3 help me meet the standard rec’s for cardio exercise?
Lisa: Yes! The American Heart Association recommends either 150 minutes of moderate activities a week or 75 minutes of vigorous activities a week. If you do two to three 60-minute barre3 workouts a week, you are doing amazing things for your heart.
B3 MAGAZINE: If I’d like to up my cardio in class, what can I do?
Lisa: This is a great question. So many of us think that faster, faster, faster is the best way to get more cardio. Instead, think about how you can deepen your connection and find what is exactly right for you. Many clients notice that when they do this, not only are they getting more out of the movement, but they also feel the cardio benefits.
Also, play with the many options you have available in class. Think of modifications as a way to find your sweet spot. Sometimes what you think might be an easier option can actually guide you to a deeper place in your body. The deeper you go, the more your breath needs to work for you and the more your heart will thump.
B3 MAGAZINE: If I already do a lot of cardio (like running or HIIT workouts), how can I work barre3 into my routine in a healthy way?
Lisa: This is where I would really suggest to try a schedule that works for you and then focus inward and see how it feels. At barre3, we believe that you are your own best teacher, and we encourage you to ask yourself what you need in your workout each day.
If you run three to four times a week or take a HITT class two to three times a week, try to add two to three barre3 workouts into your weekly schedule. If that feels like too much, then try for two a week. Let that be a starting point, listen to what your body is telling you, and then adjust your schedule as you need to.
Clients have said that by pairing barre3 with these types of high-intensity programs has helped them run faster, longer, and with more endurance. They also feel a decrease in joint pain and feel energized instead of depleted.
Ready to get your heart pumping? Get started with a 15-day free trial of barre3 at-home workouts or find your local studio today!
