was successfully added to your cart.

Cart

All Posts By

Melissa Feeney

Stars Who Barre and the Studios They Love

By Barre Culture, Barre3, Just for Fun, Pure Barre, The Bar Method No Comments

Your favorite celebs might love barre as much as you do. Some in fact swear by their regular treks to the barre. Kelly Osbourne credits The Bar Method with her slim down, while Mindy Kaling would chose Pop Physique over other workouts any day of the week. Here’s the rundown on who goes where!

An image for the Stars who barre blog post.


Pure Barre

Who loves it: Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, Nikki and Brie Bella, Tika Sumpter.

Great barre sesh @pure_barre in Homewood, AL ???? #purebarrelife

A post shared by Brie Bella (@thebriebella) on

Pop Physique

Who loves it: Brie Larson, Mindy Kaling, Diane Kruger, HAIM, Trina Turk, Lykke Li and Kelis.

Actress Diane Kruger attends a Pop Physique class in Los Angeles.

Source: celebmafia.com

Mindy Kaling on Pop Physique:

“If I could do one workout for the rest of my life, it would be a two to three mile run followed by a Pop Physique class…Pop makes me feel flexible and strong. It is super hard and uses many ballet moves,” Kaling told The Chalkboard Mag in 2014. “I always pretend I’m Natalie Portman in Black Swan while doing it.” So do we Mindy, so do we!

Actress Mindy Kaling showing off her Pop Physique barre socks.

Source: http://popphysique.tumblr.com/

Cardio Barre

Who loves it: Dakota Fanning

Actress Dakota Fanning leaving a Cardio Barre class in Studio City, California.

Source: JustJared.com

The Bar Method

Who loves it: Ellie Kemper, Zooey Deschanel, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kirsten Dunst, Anna Paquin, Jennifer Aniston, Eliza Dushku, Cobie Smulders, Kate Mara, Kyra Sedgwick, Ricki Lake, Kelly Osbourne, Denise Richards.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/500955158526049731/

Barre3

Who loves it: Molly Simms, Madonna

You might not see either of these ladies in a Barre3 class but they are big fans of the workout. Molly Sims loves Barre3’s online classes and Madonna hired founder Sadie Lincoln for private sessions in New York.

Physique57

Who loves it: Kelly Ripa, Hilaria and Alec Baldwin, Selena Gomez

Kelly Ripa on her experience with Physique57:

I am totally hooked on this sculpting class I discovered at [New York City gym] Physique 57. It’s transformed my body in ways I never thought possible. I’m a short person, but I’m becoming longer and leaner. The class works your glutes, your abs, and your obliques. It’s all about building muscle, then stretching it out.

 

Pop Physique Review Featured Image

Barre Crawl: A Review of Pop Physique

By Barre Crawl, Barre franchise information No Comments

A featured image for the Pop Physique review blog post.

Studio name: Pop Physique
Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Toronto
Cost per single class: $21 (but your first class is free).

If American Apparel were to open up a barre studio, it would be Pop Physique. The LA-based franchise has the glamour of a retro 80s workout without the shoulder pads. But contrary to their bubblegum pink barre balls and playful aesthetic is an intense workout that leaves no muscle unused.

An exterior shot of the Pop Physique studio in Toronto.

I decided to try the workout that has been described as simple, sexy and effective for myself. Luckily, I was within walking distance of their newest location to open, in Toronto.

An image of a studio at Pop Physique in Toronto

Knowing that Jennifer Williams, founder of Pop Physique was in town to teach a few classes, I sought out the first of her two appearances to ensure my first time at the studio was a memorable one.

Posing with Jennifer Williams, the founder of Pop Physique

Jennifer was welcoming and helpful in guiding me through modifications, since I was almost 8 months pregnant.

The J'Adore Barre sign inside the entrance of the Pop Physique studio in Toronto.


The Format:

The workout begins with some basic leg lifts to get your heart rate up, followed soon after by some core work on the mat. Some of the exercises might feel familiar, if you’ve ever been to Pure Barre or The Bar Method. After the plank and push-up series, we used hand weights to work our arms, starting with a lighter set of weights and moving onto a heavier set for bicep curls.

We then made our way to the barre for thigh and seat work, where we fatigued our muscles through thigh-shaking pulses. Then it was back down to the mat for additional ab work. Finally we stretched out with a band to end the class.

An image of socks on the counter of the Pop Physique studio in Toronto.


What I Liked About Pop Physique:

My first impression? At first glance I made note of the playfully appointed bubbly pop aesthetic. It is definitely the most fun barre studio that I’ve ever been to. The studio wallpaper at first glance appears to be in a criss cross pattern but if you look closely you’ll see they are actually women’s legs, to go with their sexy workout branding. At the barre are bright pink balls and yellow ropes to add a pop of colour to the studio. In the hallways and entrance are rose gold hangers, which stand out against the black and white tiles, flooring and wallpaper.

The staff were very welcoming. Upon my arrival I was given a tour of the changing area and studio. Most importantly they reassured me that Jennifer would chat with me before class to talk about some modifications, which put me at ease.

I loved the colourful socks and merchandise on display. Even though I have a full suite of sticky socks, I was definitely considering purchasing a cute pair of pink Pop Socks or a J’Adore Barre tank.

I enjoyed the small touches that sometimes get overlooked at other studios. The beautifully appointed bathrooms are stocked with enriched hand wash and lotion from Nuori for example. The White Tea Blossom fragrance was particularly lovely.

There are showers available if you need them to freshen up before work or anytime of the day for that matter.

Also worth noting is that they had built in locks for their lockers. Just like a hotel safe you decide the four digit combination you want to use. I found this helpful so I didn’t have to worry about bringing my own lock, having to bring the key into class with me or having no lock option at all.

The workout was tough without being intimidating. Even though the plank series isn’t a walk in the park, you’re not in any one position for too long. If you’ve ever taken a Pure Barre class you know the first 10 minutes can be particularly challenging. I would say Pop Physique has half of the intensity of a PB workout, as a comparison.

The cost of a class is very competitive, compared to other studios. At $21 a pop (no pun intended), that’s still less than Barre3 ($25) or The Bar Method ($28). As the franchise rises in popularity, I’m sure the price will change but for now I’ll take advantage of the single class cost and frequent discounts being offered for 3-class, 6-class or 20-class packages.

An image of the change area and lockers inside the Pop Physique Toronto studio.


Suggestions for Improvement:

Maybe I’ve been spoiled but I’m used to the instructor coming around at least once during every phase of the workout to correct my technique or offer up suggestions. The class sizes are smaller than what I’m used to, so it wouldn’t be particularly hard to give more attention to the students or call out their names for encouragement.

There are no hand towels supplied to use during the workout and the studio can get quite warm. That’s not a deal breaker for me but it would be nice if a complimentary towel was provided. You can however request a towel to use for the shower.

Inside the bathroom of the Pop Physique location in Toronto.

An image of Pop Physique merchandise displayed within the Toronto studio.

An image of Pop Physique socks available to purchase at the Toronto studio location.

 

An image of the various set of hand weights available for clients to use within the Pop Physique Toronto studio.

 

Signage on the sidewalk of the Pop Physique studio in Toronto, to advertise the brand.

The Final Verdict:

This is a workout I can see myself going to consistently. It has just the right amount of thigh-shaking intensity without being intimidating. Considering I purchased the New Client Special after the first class, so I could take 30 days of unlimited classes, I would definitely recommend Pop Physique.

Most importantly, I loved that the hour flew by. I’ll take that as a good sign.

An image of a Pop Physique Report Card
If you are interested in trying Pop Physique, they currently service 4 cities in North America including: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Toronto. The company is planning for aggressive growth in the next 18 months, with 15 additional studios in the works. Perhaps Pop Physique will be coming to a city near you.

Have you tried Pop Physique? What do you think? Leave a comment below!

Barre Studios That Will Hook You Up On Your Birthday

By Barre franchise information, Barre3, Just for Fun, Pure Barre No Comments

A collage of barre equipment on top of a birthday cake sprinkle background.

 

Don’t you love getting free stuff on your birthday? Having recently been the recipient of free classes and offers from various barre studios in my area during my birthday week, it made me want to find out which barre studios had the best deals to hand out to their clients on or close to their birthday.

After contacting a number of studios to find out if they offered anything, here is what I found out.

(In alphabetical order)

Barre3
Locations: Multiple throughout North America and Philippines

You can take a free class on your birthday. You must bring your ID for verification and it’s only valid on your actual birthday. If you have an unlimited membership, you can bring a friend to work out with you. An email I received from a Portland location also gave me the option to redeem a promo code for an online workout, if I wasn’t able to make it to the studio in time to redeem my free class.

Barre44
Location: Avon, Connecticut
Barre44 offers clients free classes and 25% off any retail merchandise.

BarSculpt
Location: Portland, ME
Clients receive an email letting them know they can have a free pair of BarSculpt (grip) socks with their next purchase.

Barreworks
Location: 2 locations in Toronto, ON
If you’re a client, they’ll give you a Monday to Friday class on them! To redeem your gift, you have to reserve any Monday to Friday class (online only and use the promo code within a week of your birth date. If you have an unlimited membership you can use the class yourself, or gift it to a friend to come join you in a class if you’d prefer.

Barre Belle
Location: Calgary, AB
If you’re a client you’ll receive a free class as long as your birthdate is registered with the MINDBODY app.

Barre Belle Yoga & Fitness
Location: Knoxville, TN
Clients receive a 30% off retail coupon that is valid for two weeks after their birth date.

Barre Bohemian
Location: Seattle, WA

Barre Bohemian clients receive a free class that they can use within one week of their birthday.

Barre District
Locations: Multiple locations in and around Milwaukee, WI
Barre District clients receive a gift card and 50% off merch for the week.

Barre Evolution
Locations: Mt. Pleasant, Greenville and Charleston, SC
Barre Evolution gives their clients 20% off of any BE Boutique retail item during the week of their birthday.

Barre Fitness
Locations: 5 locations in British Columbia

Clients receive 15% off of a retail purchase within 30 days of their birthday.

Barre Forte
Locations: Colorado, Florida, Kansas
For clients of the Southmoor Park/Cherry Hills, Highlands Ranch or Westminster locations, you’ll receive a free class. If the client already has a membership, then they can save 25% off a single retail item during the week of their birthday.
For clients of the LoHi/Riverfront Park location, you’ll receive a pair of sticky socks or 30% off one retail item during your birthday week.
If you’re a client of the Gainesville, Florida location, you’ll receive a postcard offering 10% off a single merchandise item. You are also entitled to a free class on your birthday or to bring a friend for free if you are already in an unlimited contract.

BARRE Kamloops
Location: Kamloops, BC
There is a customer loyalty platform that offers extra loyalty points/incentives on the client’s birthday.

An image of clothes on the floor with a happy birthday sign.

Barre Life
Location: Manchester, NH
Barre Life clients receive a free class pass that they can use during their birthday month.

Barre One
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Barre One offers 30% off of either a package of classes, one month unlimited, or apparel if clients purchase during their birthday week.

Barre South
Location: Mt Pleasant, SC
Barre South offers clients a free class. If the client already has an unlimited membership, they can enjoy 25% off a merchandise item. The offer is valid for 30 days.

Barre Tech
Location: Alexandria, VA
If you are a Barre Tech client, you will receive a free class.

Be Barre Fit
Location: Hockessin, DE
Clients are invited to bring a friend to class for free on their birthday.

BLUE Barre & Dance Fitness
Location: Waltham, MA
They offer a complimentary class to new and existing clients. If you’re a monthly unlimited member, you get a choice of their branded tank top or a pair of sticky socks instead of a class.

Body Balance
Location: Vancouver, BC
Body Balance give clients a free Buddy Pass and 15% off an apparel purchase the next time they are at the studio. The gift is valid for 30 days.

Body Sculpt Barre Studio
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Clients are offered two free classes each birthday, as well as three anniversary classes for each year they are with the studio.

JC Barre
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

You will receive 10% off any package if you are a JC Barre client. You also have the opportunity to receive an auto pay membership for $130 per month rather than the regular price of $170 for a single month.

Native Barre
Locations: Multiple locations in Ashburn and Middleburg, VA
Clients receive a free class and an email wishing them a Happy Birthday.

Neighborhood Barre
Locations: Multiple locations in Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama
Most locations offer clients a retail discount of 25% off.

OpenBarre
Location: College Park, MD
They offer 25% off of one retail item for 30 days following your birthday.

Pink Barre
Locations: Various locations in Atlanta and Gainesville, Georgia
They offer 20% off a retail item or 10% off a class package and also let you bring friends to class on your birthday for free.

Pop Physique
Locations: Various locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Toronto
All Pop Physique studios offer a 10% discount on one purchase during your birthday month. This could be for a class package, membership, socks, apparel, etc.

Project Barre Studio
Location: Regina, SK
Clients receive a special email and an account credit for one free class.

Pure Barre
Locations: Throughout North America

Pure Barre clients receive 15% off one full price retail item of your choice (excluding socks). Offer is only valid at the location that sent you the email. You must bring the email to the studio within 30 days of receipt to receive the discount.

Re-Barre Studio
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Re-Barre clients are offered a free class and 10% off any package or retail purchase.

Smart Barre
Locations: Fort Worth and San Antonio, TX
Smart Barre clients are offered 20% off a class pack or unlimited monthly package. This would work at any of their three locations in San Antonio.

Soundbarre
Location: Asheville, NC
If you’re an existing client, you’ll receive a free class on the week of your birthday. All you have to do is print the email you’ll receive with the details and bring it with you to the studio.

Studio 7 Pilates + Barre
Location: Prairie Village, KS
Clients are offered a $10 credit toward any retail item – gripper socks, tanks, or tees for the month of their birthday.

Studio Barre
Locations: California, Indiana, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, New Jersey

They offer a free class to clients and 15% off in the boutique. The discount varies per studio but the free class stands across the nation.

The Ballet Physique
Locations: Littleton and Lone Tree, CO
Clients receive two special offers: a complimentary class on their birthday, plus a 30% discount on any retail item in the boutique. The discount is valid for up to one week after the client’s birthday.

The Barre Code
Locations: 30+ locations in the US
The Barre Code offers a discount on a retail item (20-25% off depending on the location) for client birthdays.

The Barre Fitness Studio
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Existing clients are the recipients of one of the more unique gifts – an individualized “Happy Birthday [insert name here]” cookie. The studio works with neighboring business Cookies by Design to present clients with a cookie at the end of class. Also worth noting is that when someone has a baby or is sick, the studio will send a cookie bouquet to the client’s home. How lovely!

Whole Body Barre
Location: Denver, CO
Current clients receive a free class within two weeks of their birthday.

ZoYoga Barre & Fitness
Location: Hamel, MN
Clients will receive an email on their birthday with a free class that doesn’t expire for a month.

Do you go to barre class on your birthday? Leave a comment below if you make exercise a part of your big day.

Did we miss a good deal? Fill out the feedback form below to send us a suggestion.

Error: Contact form not found.

Where to Find Barre-Inspired Onesies for Your Baby Online

By Barre-inspired fashion, Barre3 No Comments

What’s cuter than barre merch? Barre merch for a baby! It may seem a little over-the-top to also outfit your baby in barre onesies but because we’re close to Mother’s Day and just for kicks, I’ve decided it would be fun to list the places where you can find branded and non-branded baby barre merch online.

It’s hard to resist cute onesies, especially when they come from your favourite barre franchise or online store.

 

Barre Goods Co.

Member of the Little Tuck Crew onesie

 

Item: Little Tuck Crew onesies
Colours: Pink, grey, red
Sizes available: Newborn – 18 months
Price: $25 CDN/$19 USD

 

Xtend Barre
An image of a baby onesie you can purchase from XtendBarre.

 

Item: Baby Onesie with Xtend Barre Logo
Colours: White
Sizes available: Up to 6 months
Price: $22

The Barre Code

An image of baby onesies in multiple colours from The Barre Code.

Item: Barre Baby Onesie
Colours: Black, Pink, or Yellow
Sizes available: N/A
Price: $17

 

Barre3


Barre3 has a number of branded onesies that pair nicely with the adult merch available through their online store, if matching your baby is your thing.

Barre3 onesie in yellow from Barre3

Item: B3 Onesie
Colours: Dijon, Cosmic Blue
Sizes available: 3-6 months, 6-12 months
Price: $20

 


B Logo Onesie from Barre3 in navy blue

Item: B Logo Onesie
Colours: Navy
Sizes available: 3-6 months, 6-12 months
Price: $22

 

 

I Heart B3 Onesie from Barre3Item: I Heart B3 Onesie
Colours: Black
Sizes available: 3-6 months, 6-12 months
Price: $22

 

HUMAN

Barre Belle Onesie from HUMAN in Heathered Light Gray

 

Item: Barre Belle Onesie
Colours: Heathered Light Gray, Light Pink, Light Blue
Sizes available: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Price: $23

 

kateandkale (Etsy)

An image of the "I Can't My Mommy Has Barre tutu onesie from the Etsy shop kateandkale.

 

Item: I Can’t My Mommy Has Barre Tutu Onesie
Colours: Pink
Sizes available: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Price: $28.38

 

Cafe Press

Barre Chick Infant Bodysuit from cafepress

 

Item: Baby Chick Infant Bodysuit
Colours: Cloud White, Petal Pink, Sky Blue, Kiwi, Natural, Heather Grey
Sizes available: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months
Price: $19.99

Have you outfitted your baby in a barre onesie before? Let us know if you have in the comments section below.

Are you currently pregnant and still doing barre classes but need some tips on modifying to accommodate for your growing bump? Check out Tucking for Two: A Pregnant Woman’s Guide to the Barre for some inspiration.

How to Make 6:30AM Barre Workouts a Regular Thing

By Exercises No Comments

An image of an alarm set for 5:41AM to make it to a 6:30AM barre class and a reminder to get a workout in so you can have pizza later.

It’s 5:00AM and your alarm goes off. There’s just enough time to roll out of bed, brush your teeth, shower, throw on some clothes and head out to the 6:30AM barre class you booked the night before. You may now be starting to question your ambitious decision you made just 12 hours ago, but don’t! You’re doing a good thing.

If you’re like me, the thought of leaving the comfort of your cozy bed to go work out takes army-like discipline. This can be especially hard in the winter when it’s cold out and being snug under the duvet sounds much more appealing.

Despite not being an early bird, there are days when I have the motivation to be one of those people that gets it done before work. From the few classes I have taken at 6:30AM, there is no better feeling than knowing you just got a class in and the sun hasn’t even come up yet. If you want to accomplish this and make it a regular occurrence, then follow these tips to successfully ease into a regular early morning routine.

An image of the Pure Barre studio early in the morning before the first barre class of the day at 6:30AM.

Outside of the Pure Barre studio when it first opened at 6:15 in the morning.

Tip # 1: Put your clothes out the night before.

The less you can do in the morning, the better. I know from my experience that the task of getting out of bed doesn’t seem so daunting if I limit my morning routine to the absolute essentials, such as: showering, brushing teeth, putting on some makeup (or packing it in my bag to apply later), putting my workout clothes on and then heading out the door.

If you plan on heading straight to work from the studio, pack your work clothes in a bag, so that you don’t have to think about what to wear.

I also like to pack a breakfast the night before so I can eat it quickly in the morning or save it until I get to work. The former is more ideal though.

An image of workout gear layed out on the floor for a 6:30AM barre workout.

Tip # 2: Start your 6:30AM classes in the spring or summer.

Hearing your alarm go off at 5:00, 5:30 or maybe even 6:00 in the morning might not seem so rough if the sun is shining. Starting this early morning routine when we have more daylight during the longest days of the year can act as motivation to serve you throughout the rest of the year. If you try to start conditioning yourself in the middle of winter, you might find it harder to get out of your cozy bed, especially during those cold winter days when your warm bed is calling and the thought of hauling your body out of bed is physically painful.

Use the momentum you have from going regularly during the spring and summer, into the fall and winter.

Tip # 3: Start by doing one 6:30AM class per month.

Treat your early morning routine as something you will need to condition yourself for. By taking baby steps you are more likely to commit to going regularly. My approach would be to start with one early morning class per month, then working up to one early morning class per week, and eventually to multiple times per week.

Tip # 4: Start with mid-morning classes to work up to a 6:30AM class.

If you really love get that extra hour of sleep, especially on the weekends, try an 8:00AM or 9:00AM class first, if it fits your schedule. If you get used to going at that hour, an earlier class might not seem as daunting.

Tip # 5: Use knowledge to motivate yourself.

Know that you are actually doing something good for your body by getting it done early in the day.

Though it is a preference for some to complete a workout first thing in the morning, there are also many benefits to doing your workout in the morning.

Here are just a few of the lovely side effects:

  • Increased energy throughout the day.
  • Greater weight loss and more likely to burn more calories than working out later in the day.
  • Improved mental alertness during the day
  • Helps you sleep better at night.
  • Better mood.

Have I convinced you to start working out in the morning? You can make this a habit with dedication and persistence, but know that the absolute best time to work out is always going to be whenever works best for you. Exercise at any time of the day is better than no exercise at all.

Keep with it and let me know if this helped you to make 6:30AM classes a regular thing.

 

Tucking for Two: A Pregnant Woman’s Guide to the Barre

By Exercises No Comments

The featured image used in the blog post: Tucking for Two: A Pregnant Woman's Guide to the Bar

Before I got pregnant I always admired the women who were well into their third trimester, giving it their all and making it look so easy.

I figured that if I was ever in that position that I could do most exercises well into the final days of my pregnancy, without having to modify that much.

I now know that is not the case. It was a bit of a shocker to learn just how much you need to modify, to accommodate for the growing baby.

“No twisting,” “no sit-ups” and “limit the time you spend on your back” were all things I was told by instructors. “Really?” I thought. How bad could it really be to twist your body? I had to learn this lesson the hard way, as my OB/GYN let me know toward the end of the second trimester that my ab muscles had separated.

Knowing that I had to start taking these modifications seriously, I’ll share with you some of the adjustments I had to make and what worked for me.

Things for Pregnant Women to Avoid

 

No twisting!

If there is a segment in class where you need to twist your body (and there usually is), avoid swiveling your body and instead lift the ball straight up and down or you can do fake twists or mini twists, which I sometimes do, so you are not rotating completely to the left or right. I know this won’t really be working my obliques but sometimes you want to be able to work on the same movements as everyone else in class.

Obviously avoid anything on your stomach, after the first trimester.

If the class is doing back work that requires you to lie flat on your stomach, obviously the bump is going to start getting in the way after the first trimester. Luckily there are some great exercises you can do as an alternative, that will still work the same muscle groups.

For one, you can start by coming down to the floor on your hands and knees, so you are on all fours. Your shoulders should be square with your hands and head. Start extending your arm and opposite leg at the same time. Switch to the other leg, while the rest of class is about halfway through their exercise.

Leg lifts, lifting the leg with the opposite arm.

Some Easy Modifications

Modified plank or pushups.

If you need to, come down to your knees and don’t feel guilty about it!

Place a ball behind your back for any ab work on the floor.

For extra support, especially when you’re doing ab work on the floor, place a ball behind your lower back, which will prop you up a bit more so you aren’t putting as much strain on your abdominal muscles.

Speaking of ab work on the floor. Start by sitting up and then work your way down.

What I mean by this, is that if you are in class and they start doing ab work that involves moving from flat on your back into a “V” shape or upward position, this is probably putting a lot of pressure on your ab muscles. To avoid this, start by sitting up with your feet planted on the floor and then work your way back, until you need to stop. Think of it as the inverse of starting from the floor and working your way up.

Listen to your body.

It might be tempting to try to keep up with everyone else in the class but remember that you are growing a human, so you are already a superstar for showing up to class. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

No need to prove anything to anyone. Your body is working extra hard these days, so don’t push yourself more than you think you can handle.

 

Exercises that you can still rock without modifications

  • Plank (however, you might prefer to come down to your knees).
  • Pushups (same thing, you might want to be on your knees if you don’t want to be in full pushup mode).
  • Arm exercises – just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean your arms get a break.
  • Calf raises.
  • Tricep dips.
  • Most thigh and seat exercises at the barre. Just make sure your shoulders are relaxed.
  • Bridge lifts (see video tutorial below).

 

 

Do you have any other helpful suggestions? Leave a comment below.