If you haven’t taken a barre3 class yet, you might be wondering: What exactly is this workout? We break it down for you here, showing you how we combine movement, mindfulness, and—the magic touch—modifications to create a workout that’s unlike any other. Let’s dive in.
THE BASICS
Barre3 is an efficient, effective workout combining strength, cardio, and mindfulness. Our mission—and the driving factor behind every move we do in class—is to teach people to be balanced in body and empowered from within.
MOVEMENT
During each class, we guide you through a range of movement, all designed to balance and strengthen your body. We always begin the workout with Primary Posture to help align your body, followed by large-range moves that engage your entire body, getting your muscles warm and your heart pumping. Throughout the workout, you’ll strengthen your muscles with isometric moves (think small pulses and “holds”), boost your heart rate with cardio bursts, and open your body with muscle-releasing stretches. We work with a variety of props in our workout, including handheld weights ranging from 2 to 8 pounds, the barre3 Core Ball, Core Sliders, Resistance Bands, a yoga mat, and a barre or waist-high surface.
MINDFULNESS
The barre3 workout isn’t just about moving your body—it’s also about being present in the moment and forming a strong mind-body connection. Throughout each class, the instructor will offer cues to help you focus on how you’re feeling, both in your body and mind. At the end of each workout, you’ll be guided through a mindfulness exercise, using breathwork to help you tune into the moment and to give your body and mind time to absorb all the work they’ve done in class.
MODIFICATIONS
Instead of holding up one person or one way of moving as the ideal, we give you full permission to modify the moves according to what your body needs. Every move we teach has variations, and no variation is better or worse than any other. This works hand-in-hand with the mindfulness component of the workout. The more you tune into your body, the better you’ll become at honoring what it needs. And when you give your body what it needs, you’ll not only help it become stronger and more balanced. You’ll also learn that you are your own best teacher—and that’s the most important step to becoming empowered from within.
MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
Barre3 is a workout, but it’s also a movement to redefine what success in fitness means. Traditional fitness touts exercise as a means to change ourselves, making each workout a battle against our bodies. At barre3, instead of exercising to meet an end goal, we exercise to be present in our bodies. Exactly as they are in this very moment. When we exercise to honor our bodies and give them what they need, we create a healthy relationship based on love, not shame. Suddenly, movement is joyful, and we crave it.
Ready to give barre3 a try? Sign up for a 14-day free trial for unlimited access to barre3 online workouts or join us in-studio.
