WATCH: On location at Barre Body Studio
Sure, you started that New Year’s resolution to lose weight with good intentions, but now that we’re a month into 2014 it’s easy to fall off the workout wagon. That’s why it’s important to choose activities that make you actually want to exercise—even in the depths of winter.
In this special series, Global News looks at some of the fun fitness offerings that promise to tone you up—no treadmill required.
Hitting the bar before work sounds like an easy way to lose your job—but not if you’re heading to barre class.
The workout has taken North America by storm over the past few years, and while it may appear to have its roots in ballet, absolutely no dance experience is required.
“People had started to hear about barre through celebrity magazines and TV shows and Victoria Secret models doing it, so when we opened people had an idea about what it was,” says Marlo Brausse, founder of Calgary’s Barre Body Studio which just celebrated its one year anniversary. “There was a lineup out the door the first day.”
The setup is similar to a ballet studio in that there are bars attached to the wall surrounded by mirrors, but the workout is more about strengthening and toning versus channeling your inner Black Swan. The hour-long session kicks off with a warm up before targeting the arms through about 10 minutes of pulsing with light weights or using bands. Variants of squats are up next—dancers will recognize the plie position—which tone the legs and butt, before moving on to core work and the cool down.
“We’re using yoga, Pilates and some elements of dance or aerobic movement, so we’re doing cardio intervals. But when we get into the isometric work—that slow, controlled movement that’s holding postures or holding positions—what we’re doing is breaking through the larger muscles to target the accessory muscles,” explains Brausse. “So we break down into the deeper muscle and work and tone there.
“When we work and tone there, that’s when you get leaner, that’s when you create definition, that’s when you sculpt.”
She adds that the fast pace paired with energetic instructors is what keeps people coming back.
“We live in a society that’s fast-moving and constantly stimulated, so some people will go to a yoga class and say ‘I can’t sit through that for an hour.’ But you pair all those movements together and marry it to high-impact, top 40 music and create sort of a party atmosphere with something that gets results, and it’s fun.”
Those who go about three times a week can expect to see weight loss, more muscle strength and tone.
“They’re feeling more defined, toned, their glutes are lifted and they’re defying gravity in the back end. They’re getting stronger, their posture improved.”
There’s also an unexpected side effect: increased swagger.
“One of the biggest pieces of feedback that we get is we’ve helped increase people’s confidence,” Brauss says.
“If people feel good about themselves, I don’t care if you lose a pound on the scale.”
A number of fitness studios in Calgary now offer barre classes, and there are also studios set up in Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and on the east coast.
NEED TO KNOW
Duration: 50-60 minutes
Main body parts worked: Full body
What to wear: Tight capris or leggings are recommended, so the instructor can see your feet to correct any issues with form. Grip socks are mandatory to give you traction on the floor, which can be purchased at many stores as well as in studio.
Calories burned: 450-500 calories per hour
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