What Is Barre and Why Might You Love It?
If you remember the aerobics classes of the 80s, you might already understand why I love Barre.
Remember aerobics in the 80s? The music. The energy. The leotards. The slightly questionable hair. 😂 And then there were the THT classes: tummy, hips and thighs.
I loved them.
They were energetic, a little challenging and, most importantly, they were fun. I remember finishing a class feeling like I’d worked hard but never feeling like exercise was a chore.
That’s one of the things I love about Barre. It has that same sense of movement, music and energy, but with a strong focus on control, technique and precision.
So, what exactly is Barre?
Barre draws inspiration from ballet, Pilates and other forms of movement. And while you don’t need to be a ballet dancer to do it, my 20 years of classical ballet training definitely influences the way I teach it.
You’ll work on things like:
- strength and muscular endurance
- balance and coordination
- mobility
- posture and body awareness
- controlled movement
- flexibility
And yes, you’ll probably feel some muscles you forgot you had!
Barre is generally low impact, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Small, controlled movements can be surprisingly challenging, particularly when you’re asked to hold a position or repeat a movement for longer than your muscles would prefer.
It’s not about being a ballerina
One of the things I hear sometimes is… ‘But I’m not a dancer!’
Good news. Neither your turnout nor your tutu is required.
Barre uses some ballet-inspired positions and movements, but you don’t need dance experience.
The movements can be adapted, and I’m much more interested in helping you find good technique and an appropriate challenge than making you look like you’re auditioning for the Australian Ballet.
Why I think Barre is worth a try
1. It builds strength
Barre challenges the muscles of the legs, hips, glutes and core, while also bringing the arms, feet and upper body into the workout.
The challenge often comes from control and endurance rather than simply lifting something heavy.
2. It asks you to balance and coordinate
Standing on one leg, changing position, controlling small movements and coordinating different parts of the body all give your balance and coordination something to work on.
These are useful skills well beyond the studio.
3. It’s a workout that doesn’t feel like a chore
And this might actually be my favourite reason… I want people to enjoy moving because finding something you genuinely enjoy makes it much easier to keep coming back.
And consistency is where the real value of any movement practice lies.
The secret isn’t pushing through at all costs
Yes, Barre can burn. But I don’t believe that more burn = better workout.
The goal isn’t to suffer your way through a class, it’s to find the right level of challenge for your body.
That’s why I offer modifications and variations throughout my classes.
- You might need to make something smaller.
- You might need a little more support.
- Or you might be ready to make it harder.
That’s all part of the process.
Come for the Barre. Stay for the feeling.
I love seeing people discover that they are capable of more than they thought.
- Maybe you’ll surprise yourself with your balance.
- Maybe you’ll discover some muscles you didn’t know existed.
- Maybe you’ll walk out feeling stronger, taller and a little more energised.
- Or maybe you’ll simply have a really good time moving.
And honestly? I’ll take that!
