BARRE 101

Are you looking to try one of our barre fitness classes for the first time but need to know what to expect?

Here's the basic 101 rundown: Barre is a lowimpact, ballet-inspired workout perfect for anyone looking to enhance flexibility, improve posture and body alignment, tighten core muscles, strengthen and stabilize smaller muscle groups, and fine-tune the mind-body connection.

The more important question: is Barre right for you? Check out the following six health benefits of Barre to help you decide if you should give Barre a try.

Barre Incorporates Several Components of Fitness

Most barre-based classes use a combination of postures inspired by ballet and other disciplines like Yoga and Pilates. The barre is used as a prop to balance while doing exercises focusing on isometric strength training (holding your body still while you contract a specific set of muscles) combined with high reps of small range-of-motion movements. Also, it would be okay if your barre fitness class incorporates light handheld weights to bring the heat during all those reps and mats for targeted core work.

Barre combines the core work of Pilates, the mindfulness of Yoga, and the highintensity of strength workouts. The classes are low-impact and performed at a slower pace, with a focus on high-reps and smallrange movements with isometric holds. Most workouts include:

• A warm-up time at the Barre.

• Some mat work.

• A cool-down with stretching and flexibility exercises.

Barre Is a Total Body Workout

Barre builds strength through isometric holds, which require your muscles to remain tense or constantly contracted without changing the length.

A workout at the Barre also requires you to use multiple muscle groups while engaging your core.

Barre also targets the smaller muscles in your glutes that often get ignored when performing strength training exercises in the gym.

Barre Workouts Are Low-Impact

Barre workouts are lowimpact, which means they put less stress on your body, which reduces the risk of injury. Also, the Barre supports anyone needing help with balance or stability.

Barre Workouts Improve Posture, Balance, and Coordination

Better body awareness, including improved posture and balance, are two of the top health benefits of barre workouts. Exercises at the Barre require proper alignment from the top of your head to the ends of your toes. The exercises focus on your hips, spine, neck, and shoulders to maintain this alignment.

Barre Workouts Increase Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the five components of fitness, which is a central focus in barre workouts. Flexibility refers to the range of motion around a particular joint. Several of the movements you perform at the Barre focus on improving flexibility.

Barre Workouts Enhance the MindBody Connection

Barre workouts can help you focus on the mind-body connection. When you attend a class, you receive dedicated attention to techniques and corrections specific to you so that you're more intentional in your work and develop a deeper connection to your body.

Now all you have to do is show up, and PAC’s certified and motivating instructors will take you through a full-body, lowimpact workout in just 50 minutes or less. You will leave the studio feeling stronger, balanced, more flexible, and full of energy to take on the rest of your busy day.