As much as we love pulsing it out at our neighborhood barre boutique, sometimes poor weather conditions, a sick family member or accidentally hitting the snooze button one too many times prevents us from joining our favorite in-studio class. Fortunately, many barre studios now offer a variety of streaming online classes that enable you to barre anytime and anywhere. And, with very little equipment, you can get in a quality workout right from the comforts of home, the balcony of your resort suite while on vacation (as did this barre enthusiast while overlooking Haystack Rock on the Oregon coast) or from the confines of your hotel room when traveling for business.
With barre’s versatility and portable props, many of which can be found right in your kitchen or suitcase, an internet connection and a bit of empty space and ingenuity, you can effortlessly plié and relevé your way to a studio-quality sweat session. And, don’t worry — you don’t need to own the traditional gear found at your local studio in order to raise the barre. The following bare essentials work just as well as the more expensive equipment:
Space
It doesn’t take a lot of space to do an at-home barre workout. As long as you have enough room to roll out a yoga mat (or one of the yoga mat alternatives found below) and the ability to fully extend your arms and legs, you will be able to execute all of those feel-good barre movements and positions. Barre workouts can be done on carpeted or non-carpeted floors; just be sure that you’re wearing grippy socks if you’re practicing on a slippery surface.
Barre
It’s not necessary to have a mounted or free-standing barre in order to properly perform your leg series or fold over. A sturdy piece of furniture like the back of a couch, chair or bar stool can serve as a sound substitute for a ballet barre. Countertops, windowsills or high top tables will also provide enough stability for that lower body burn.
Light Hand Weights
If you don’t have access to light hand weights (anywhere from one- to five-pounds), check your pantry for a pair of reusable water bottles, wine bottles or soup cans. Alternatively, books, a stack of cutlery tied with a rubber band and resistance bands with handles can be used in place of small dumbbells.
Resistance Loops
Resistance loops are portable and easy-to-store, but if you don’t have any lying around, you can use a pair of leggings tied with a knot, a sports bra, a bathrobe tie or pantyhose. As long as the item can be securely fashioned into a circle and provides you with some resistance, it will up the burn factor.
Sliders
Although they are lightweight and travel well, not many people own a pair of sliders. However, the ab-burning benefits of these deceptively effective little discs can be easily achieved with paper towels, dish towels, socks, furniture gliders or plastic covers from large containers or canisters.
Yoga Ball
Yoga balls are often used in barre classes to target the lower body and core. But, they are not easily transportable. Instead of trying to wedge a 9-inch ball into your suitcase, a small pillow or rolled up bath towel can be used in its place once you get to your final destination. At home, a child’s playground ball is also a fitting fallback.
Yoga Mat
In the absence of a yoga mat, you can use a towel (the thicker, the better), woven blankets, a comforter or even a bath mat. A carpet – be it wall-to-wall or a throw rug – will also work. Whatever you decide to use, be sure that it will provide adequate cushioning for your joints and won’t slip out from beneath you, which could potentially lead to an injury.
Whether time, travel or any other unexpected circumstance presents you with the unique opportunity to barre from wherever life may take you (inside or outside of your home), a thorough and energizing workout is just a quick household scavenger hunt, or shopping spree at the local pharmacy, away. And as this barre fanatic can confirm, you really can barre strong from your oceanside hotel room with just two 16-ounce water bottles, a sparkly pink playground ball and a woven straw beach mat.
See you at the barre (or barstool)!
About the Author
Jennifer is a barre instructor, personal trainer, clinical aromatherapist and author who discovered barre — her soul-mate workout — while training for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As a long-time runner, former bodybuilder and melanoma skin cancer survivor, Jennifer’s recent battle with autoimmune disease has changed her fitness focus to one that incorporates more mindful, purposeful and low-impact movements.
A former communication professor and mother of two daughters, Jennifer is excited to share her thoughts and experiences on ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.
Being a fitness instructor is a rewarding job, whether it’s barre, OrangeTheory or F45. While every instructor has their own unique style, I can say a few things are certain for every fitness instructor: We love our clients, we love, and try to lead, a healthy lifestyle and we always want to be seen as a good barre instructor.
What I’ve learned about being a barre instructor
I have been a barre instructor for four years now. By no means do I think I have it all figured out, because I certainly don’t! However, I’ve learned many lessons about being a good and a bad barre instructor.
Below I use my own experiences to explain my opinions on being a barre instructor at different types of workout facilities. I list pros and cons to the four different facilities I instructed or currently instruct at.
I first started taking barre classes at a boutique barre studio while I was in college. Eventually, I fell in love with the exercise program and was asked if I would like to be an instructor, which of course I accepted the offer! I soon learned how much I enjoyed instructing barre.
Pros of the boutique studio:
Freedom to teach whatever you would like that day.
I would get my workout in as I taught.
It was a beautiful set-up, one of the most beautiful studios I’ve ever seen.
Cons of the boutique studio:
Since I didn’t have a format (such as how many sets of thigh or abdominal work to teach this day), I would sometimes have 20 minutes left of class and not know what to teach next. There wasn’t a balance or structure to the classes so you never knew what exactly you would do more of in a class (legs or arms for example).
I taught and took the entire class. Since this is what all the instructors did, I thought this was normal. Personally, I feel when you’re performing the entire workout with the class you can’t focus on your client’s form and correct as needed. Tip: I would definitely demonstrate complex exercise moves but not the entire time.
When you’re a boutique studio, I saw there was a struggle with helping get the word out. Not everyone knew what barre was or what type of exercise studio this facility was.
After I graduated college, I wanted to continue my love for teaching barre so I enrolled in a barre certification class, Barre Intensity. It was informative and had a great format! Once I completed the in-person training, I sent in my video online to complete the certification. Once I was certified, I then taught this method at a country club and yoga studio.
Pros of the country club:
I was paid really well. 40$ a class.
I had a great mentor/supervisor who had been teaching pilates and barre for a long time.
The class times I taught worked great with my schedule.
Cons of the country club:
I never knew who or how many people I would have prior to class. Most studios use MindBody as a way for people to sign up for class. Most country clubs or large gyms do not use this.
Some clients didn’t care about the form. In country clubs and large gyms, people usually want to get their sweat on fast and easy, and that is completely fine but for barre it’s tricky because it takes time to learn the form and moves. There would be times where I would try to correct a client’s form and they would walk out!
Pros of the yoga studio:
I loved the instructors and owners I worked with.
I enjoyed all the classes the studio offered.
I made wonderful relationships.
Cons of the yoga studio:
The clientele wasn’t there for barre so we had a hard time building up a demand for barre classes. Since it was known as a yoga studio, people went there for yoga not barre. Note: I still teach a barre class with one or two clients, but I love having a full class because I feed off of my class’s energy.
I was paid per head. This means that I would get paid a base then for every three to five clients I bring in over a certain amount… I would get paid an extra amount. For example, I was paid a base of 15$ an hour but for every person over 10 people in the class I would get an extra 2$ per head. This was difficult when people weren’t there for barre. Additionally, I feel this creates a competitive nature among instructors instead of a team environment.
After realizing I wanted to instruct solely for a barre studio, I did some research to see what was in my area. I found The Dailey Method Indianapolis, a barre and cycle studio. This studio is a franchise, meaning there is more than one studio. Right away, I was hooked on the workout. I contacted the owners to see if they needed instructors and luckily for me, they were!
I have been a Dailey Method instructor since 2018 and I love everything about it–the workout format, the clients, the instructors and the owners!
If I were to list a con, I would make note that if you do instruct for a franchise such as, The Dailey Method, typically you have to sign a non-compete agreement. Some studios are more strict than others (I don’t think we are strict), but this can limit how many studios you could potentially instruct at.
How to be a good barre instructor
Every instructor cares about their clients (at least I hope so!!). As an instructor, I want to make meaningful relationships with all my clients. I want to learn about their fitness goals, the challenges they face with barre and on a personal level, about their family and life.
From a client and barre instructor perspective, I expect the following from the instructor when taking any fitness class. I feel these make instructors experienced and good at what they do.
Modifications. How can I make an exercise less intense or how can I do this specific exercise in a way that doesn’t hurt an injured body part? Or maybe you are just super sore and need to scale a move back for a few reps. I personally like when instructors begin an exercise as the modification and make the move harder from there.
Motivational. If I had a bad day and don’t think I can push myself at the gym, I want someone else to do that for me. I want to get my money’s worth!
A format/outline. When I try a barre class or any fitness class, as an instructor, I can pick up on the format of the class pretty quickly. While I do love innovation with certain exercise moves, for the most part, I want the workout format I know I signed up for.
Being Human. I think this gets overlooked a lot. I enjoy when my instructor uses her own personal experience to explain a move or uses her humor to correct a word she messed up. For example, I tell my clients often how tight my hamstrings are so there is no one I could do this move I’m about to make them all do. I think it’s important for clients to realize that your instructor is learning and growing in their barre journey just like you. We are human and make mistakes too! The other day I meant to say “lead with your chest..” when I actually said “lead with your breasts!” My clients laughed it off with me.
I would love to hear your feedback! Again, these are my own opinions and thoughts. Everyone is unique and has a different view on what makes an instructor good or bad.
Shake. Burn. Quiver. These are the terms that give barre its edge – terms that make us (literally) feel like those two-pound weights, colorful resistance loops and 9-inch exercise balls are more likely found in a boot camp than on a playground. However, as much as we like to “barre so hard” and “shake in our grippy socks,” many barre enthusiasts are also attracted to the softer side of barre – the side that helps keep our muscles pliable, our minds centered, and most importantly, our immune systems uplifted.
Recent studies have drawn a link between moderate exercise – the type of exercise that you’ll find in your classic barre class – and a healthy immune system. According to David Nieman, Ph.D., of Appalachian State University, when a person engages in moderate training on a regular basis, her or his long-term immune response actually improves.
Nieman’s recent work showed that people who walked for 40-minutes a day at a moderate pace (i.e. walking two miles in 30 minutes), experienced half as many sick days caused by sore throats or colds than those individuals who didn’t exercise at all. And since barre workouts are safe to do every day, those regular trips to the barre are not only strengthening your muscles, but also improving your body’s defenses over time.
Unlike exercise that taxes your immune system (think heavy weight lifting, strenuous running and boot camp classes), moderate exercise encourages our bodies to produce and circulate more bacteria-fighting cells during those 60-minute bouts at the barre and for several hours after class.
Elise Joan, creator of Barre Blend, Beachbody’s new barre program, states that, “Barre Blend is designed to support and enhance your body’s immunity, rather than overworking or depleting your system. In addition to fire results, this program is designed to elevate lymphatic health, respiratory health, pulmonary health, cardiac health and digestion.”
Source: teambeachbody.com
Furthermore, the mind-muscle connection found in most barre classes helps to alleviate stress levels, which can encourage even greater immune system response gains. Instead of focusing on what you need to do after you leave your barre class, try to consciously connect to the work taking place in your glutes and hamstrings during your Pretzel. You’ll not only see the results, but will also feel more grounded both inside and outside of class.
As demonstrated by Elise, programs, like Barre Blend, “promote hopefulness, self-confidence and a focus on the many things we can control about our health — internally, externally, emotionally and mentally.”
So, the next time you step up to the barre, adjust your grippy socks and ready yourself for another epic workout, remember that those relevés and pliés will lead to more than just leaner legs and a stronger core. Your immune system will also embrace each and every tuck, pulse and hold.
About the Author
Jennifer is a barre instructor, personal trainer, clinical aromatherapist and author who discovered barre — her soul-mate workout — while training for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As a long-time runner, former bodybuilder and melanoma skin cancer survivor, Jennifer’s recent battle with autoimmune disease has changed her fitness focus to one that incorporates more mindful, purposeful and low-impact movements.
A former communication professor and mother of two daughters, Jennifer is excited to share her thoughts and experiences on ways to create and maintain a strong connection between the mind and body through barre.
The workout DVD, compared to live streaming workouts seems like an ancient artifact that is collecting more dust than dollars for studios these days. Like every industry that has been impacted by the digital revolution, the fitness industry is indeed not immune to disruption. Though the DVD is undoubtedly still being promoted in studios and online, it is slowly being pushed aside to make way for the more popular monthly subscription-based model and streaming workouts.
On-demand workouts are a dime a dozen these days, as many barre studios are wising up to the idea that their clients for many reasons can’t always make it to a live workout.
Why online barre?
Whether you are travelling for business, on vacation, a new mom, or just would prefer to workout in the comfort of your living room, there a many advantages to remote classes.
For one, all you need is an internet connection, a reasonable amount of floor space and some comfortable clothes to workout in. You decide when your workout begins, so you are not at the mercy of the studio schedule.
On the flip side, it takes a lot of discipline to commit to at-home fitness classes. For me, I find I don’t push myself as much when I don’t have an instructor in front of me to go through the workout together with.
Use the list below to find an online-based workout that is right for you.
Also, a heads up that there are one or two affiliate links on the page, so if you do happen to make a purchase after clicking on them, I will make a small commission from the sale. It helps pay for the cost to run the site and is not necessarily an endorsement for the product(s).
What: Über popular franchise Pure Barre has recently updated and rebranded their online portal from Pure Barre On Demand to Pure Barre GO. They have online workouts for diehards who can’t make it to any of their over 500 locations across North America. The videos are packaged in several different increments, from 10 minutes to a full hour with live classes streaming throughout the month. They also have pre/postnatal workouts.
You can sign up through your local Pure Barre, or through the corporate site, just search Pure Barre GO in the locations section. If you’re a Pure Lifestyle member, Pure Barre GO will replace your Pure Barre On Demand access and remain as a grandfathered perk of your membership.
Price: Contact your local studio for membership options.
What:The Bar Method offers an alternative to their popular in-studio workouts with a vast collection of videos to choose from. A number of their top instructors lead various workouts, so you can stick to your favourite class or mix things up with creative and challenging sequences. Class lengths vary from 20 to 60 minutes. Take advantage of their 14-day trial before committing to a monthly subscription plan.
What: The Dailey Method‘s subscription service offers clients an ever-expanding library in a variety of lengths and Dailey class formats with new content being added weekly. From Dailey Barre to interval workouts and restorative classes, there’s something for every speed. For more on The Dailey Method, you can read my interview with Jill Dailey. Price: $20.00 month allows you to select from pre-recorded or live classes, depending on your preference. There’s a free 14-day trial if you would like to sample the workouts before you commit.
What: Entrepreneur Michelle DuVall’s impressive library of at-home workout videos appeals to both students and barre instructors. You can purchase a monthly subscription or rent the workouts of your choice à la carte. New videos are added monthly, plus workshops to further your knowledge and training are scheduled regularly.
What: No equipment is necessary for Physique 57‘s 80+ videos and programs that come in various intervals of 10, 15, 30, 45 and 57 minutes. Browse workouts in their library based on your goals and create playlists for different exercises.
Price: $29.95/month but the price comes down to $19.95/month if you commit to a multi-month plan.
Physique 57’s On Demand service surveys people when they sign up so they can be matched with videos that meet their workout goals.
What: Yoga-inspired barre brand, Barre3 has a vast collection of classes as part of their on-demand service. New videos are uploaded every week, so the content remains current and fresh. Their video library may be large, but it comes with a steeper price tag. Barre3’s on-demand service is also one of the most expensive on the list. Take advantage of their 15-day trial before committing to a subscription.
What: Mind/body company Exhale Spa has Exhale On Demand, which features new barre, yoga and cardio workouts each week. They have a generous 30-day free trial, so you can test out their service. Price: $26.45/month or $264.64/year
What:Xtend Barre has successfully franchised their business from London, England to Sydney, Australia and has been part of the at-home workout game for many years now. Their videos are more compact, with videos ranging from 10 to 20 minutes, so if you feel like you just need smaller cardio bursts, this might be the right subscription for you.
What: East Coast barre brand Forme Barre Fitness just launched its own virtual studio featuring a mixture of on-demand and live-streaming classes after having teamed up with NEOU in the past. Now you can take a variety of their alignment-focused classes including their full-length, 60-minute Forme Method classes, their Forme Focus classes, which are shorter in length and focus on specific body parts, and their Forme Blend classes which feature a combination of ballet and cardio. New content is added multiple times per week. Price: $49.99 per month, with a free 7-day trial.
What: Online-based video streaming service Barre Where You Are will make you feel like your instructor is right there with you! A subscription includes access to signature (full-length) and express classes, plus modification options, a breakdown of barre form and terminology and a mixture of different yoga classes. New classes are added monthly. Price: A monthly subscription is $14.99 and a yearly subscription goes for $164.99. BWYA has a free 7-day trial so you can test out the workouts before committing to a subscription.
What: If you’re craving a full-body barre workout that has more of a cardio lean, then Silhouette by Alexis gives members access to over 50 hours of workouts with new content posted weekly. The Silhouette Slick Library includes videos organized by arms, legs, abs, planks, dance cardio, and back strengthening workouts. The Silhouette Signature Library consists of full 40-minute classes. Your subscription allows you to also receive access to meditations, and soon-to-be-released pre and postnatal classes and information. Members can access video content anytime and on multiple devices, as the workouts are optimized for any laptop or phone.
Need a little guidance? Alexis releases her personal schedule each week, so if you need some inspiration, take a page out of her playbook and follow her suggested routine, which usually consists of a combination of low impact and high-intensity workouts.
Price: The monthly price is $9.99 or if you opt for the yearly subscription of $95.00, you’ll shave off a bit of money. A 7-day free trial at both the monthly and yearly level is available if you would like to try before you buy.
What: London-based Barrecore has lots of video content via their on-demand service. Options available include: BarreSIGNATURE, BarreASANA, BarreFORM, BarreEXPRESS and BarreSWEAT among others. You’ll find workouts in various lengths from 5 minutes to a full hour.
Price: £25/month. There’s a 2-week free trial available.
What: The ladies of theLONDONmethod are champions of Lotte Berk and her method, which was really the catalyst for many Americanized barre methods you know and love today. Having been taught by Lotte’s daughter Esther Fairfax directly, they are on a mission to pass on all they know and love about this original technique.
They have two online options. The first is TLM TV. This is an online subscription service where you can get access to pre-recorded videos. It’s also a great way to get a history lesson on the original method.
Price: Prices will range, depending on whether you want to pay for TLM TV or their live-streaming classes. TLM TV goes for $29.99/month or $330.00 for the year. If you’d like to get access to their live classes, membership options range from a $50 2-week unlimited “tourist” option to an unlimited autopay option for $175/month, with other options at varying levels of commitment in between.
What: Y2B Fit has a number of online options available for purchase. Most are time-based, so you can decide how long you would like access to the content. Options available include yoga and barre, postnatal barre and core, a live streaming option and an online fitness coaching option among other products.
Price: Prices range from $2.99 for one day of access to a 90-day option at $119.99.
What: NYC and LA-based adult ballet fitness studio, The Ballet Spot is now completely online with a mix of live-streaming and on-demand options. They offer 30 weekly interactive live stream classes over Zoom ranging from Cardio Ballet to Total Body Barre, Ballet Stretch, Ballet Sculpt, and more, all taught by knowledgeable and experienced professional dancers. No prior dance or barre experience is needed for any of their classes.
Price: New clients can try two live stream classes for the price of one – $5/class, $10 total, or three days of unlimited live streams for only $21. On-demand rentals of class recordings are also available for $5/class or $25/week for unlimited access to over 40 classes.
What: California-based Studio Barre just launched its on-demand service. Workouts vary in length from 25-minute “quickie” workouts to 60-minute full-length workouts. Memberships come with access to their private Facebook group.
Price: $29 for the month, with a pay-as-you-go membership or pay $299 for the year outright and save the equivalent of 2 months worth of fees. For anyone who wants to try it out first, there’s a 7-day free trial.
What: Touted as “your virtual barre studio” barreALLEY is always updating its online library. Notably, they delete their older content after a few days to ensure the content is always fresh. There are 7 programs to choose from, depending on your level of commitment. Access to the private Facebook group is complimentary with all packages.
Price: Prices will range, depending on whether you want to pay a one-time fee, or sign up for a monthly subscription. The basic product is a one-time fee of $20.00 for one month of access, all the way to a yearly subscription which costs $40/month or an annual fee of $480. For anyone who wants to try it out first, there’s a 7-day free trial.
What: Situated in Canmore, Alberta in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, WildHeart Canmore is a yoga and barre studio that offers over 100 on-demand classes, with new content being added each week. Clients receive access to a variety of yoga and barre classes that vary in length from 5 – 60 minutes, with options ranging from upper and lower body workouts to cardio-based classes and stretch and restore, among others.
Price: $24.99 per month. There is a 7-day free trial available.
What: Fast-growing fitness brand The Barre Code is extending its offering by taking its popular classes online, including their Barre, HIIT, Strength and Restorative workouts.
Classes are available via SweatWorking, a third-party app that will house their workouts that vary in length from 5 to 55 minutes. Price: $9.99 to $19.99/month + tax (depending on location) for non-members to access 80+ digital workouts with new content being added each month.
What: The Southern Ontario fitness studio offers clients 24/7 access to a variety of workouts including Barre Fusion, Mat Pilates, Classic Barre and Sculpt & Barre. There’s no trial, but there’s a 22-minute preview that you can watch to get a feel for the type of workouts they offer. Price: $29.99 CAD/month
What: Mesa, Arizona’s Vibe Barre hadn’t even had a chance to open before the state shut down again, but that hasn’t stopped Victoria and the team from offering live stream options to her new clientele. Class options include Barre Burn, Barre Control and High Fitness, a cardio-infused, high-intensity workout.
Price: Any packages purchased during the shutdown can be used for in-studio classes once they open up. Prices range from a single drop-in at $18 to $139/month for unlimited classes ($119 autopay). Check out their newbie 3 classes for $20 special. Your first class is also complimentary.
The Vibe Barre crew pose for a photo during a pre-opening celebration. Source: instagram.com/vibe_barre
What: A combination of on-demand and live streaming options are now available from Naples, Florida-based TriTone Triple Barre, who are best known for their Triple Barre Toning System and aquamarine and silver colour scheme. On-demand options include full 60-minute classes and 20-minute sculpts. Alternatively, if you are into live-streaming workouts, you can join their in-studio classes virtually, 6 days a week.
Price: Access to the virtual on-demand platform goes for $39 per month or $339 annually. Live-streaming classes can be purchased separately. Single classes go for $25 each. Other class package options are available. There’s a 7-day free trial for anyone who wants to test before they buy.
What: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Leah Sarag has over 300 workouts in Ballet Body® and Iron Barre® available to stream. Subscribers also receive access to new workouts and training plans, designed for all levels.
What: Touted as the only studio-quality barre workout for the home, this on-demand service is part of the larger Fluidity program that was launched by Michelle Austin. The online workouts are intended to be used alongside their Fluidity Barre product, which is comprised of a barre made of wood and a cushioned mat that is upheld by double beams. The on-demand service can be purchased as part of their full suite product offering (barre + mat, ball, pump, DVDs, bands, and healthy eating guide), or on its own.
What:The Ballet Physique may just have a one-room barre studio in Littleton, Colorado but they have quite a comprehensive library of content through their online streaming service. Subscribe to their on-demand service and you’ll receive unlimited access to over 100 workouts, with new content added each Monday.
You can choose from a variety of lengths depending on whether you want to fit in a quickie workout or a full-length studio class. Their content can be streamed from your platform of choice, computer, tablet, smartphone, or tv streaming device.
Price: $19.99 – $24.99 per month, depending on your level of commitment. There is a free 14-day trial for newcomers.
What: The West Virginia-based studio has ramped up their online video efforts, and are providing clients with various subscription-based options.
Price: Online memberships are available to view their virtual classes at several price points. $70 for one month, or $60/month for 6 months, or $50/month for one year of access.
What: Don’t be intimidated by the name, Killed By Kiki is a warm and inviting online option hosted by Kyra (Kiki) Christopher, a New York City-based fitness instructor whose CV includes time spent teaching at Exhale and Pop Physique among other places.
A self-professed purveyor of bad jokes, Kiki will have you smiling during class which may or may not help you forget just how hard she is working you.
Price: Rates vary depending on your commitment, from $15 for a drop-in class to $135 for a 10-class pack. Both group and private classes are available.
What: Calgary, Alberta’s Barre Body Studio offers on-demand classes through their online site. Classes range from low-impact to high-intensity and are available at varying lengths from quick 10-minute workouts to full 60-minute classes. Membership comes with access to their Facebook group for additional support and motivation. A sample 15-minute workout is available on their site.
Price: 19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. A 7-day free trial is available.
What: This fun, energetic workout was created to break down barriers, and make ballet fitness accessible to everyone. Their online subscription service offers unlimited access to video content that consists of 30-40 minute Ballet Beats® videos, 20-25 minute cardio videos, and “in-studio” workouts which are refreshed monthly. Specialty classes and ongoing technique videos are occasionally added.
Price: Online memberships are $24.99 per month or $250.00 per year. You can try out their service for free, for 7 days. They are also currently offering 50% off your first month with the code: FEELGOODATHOME
What: Designed for instructors but open to everybody, the online portal houses pre-recorded and live-streaming options. New choreography and Spotify playlists are released each week and are intended to help inspire moves and format options for your own workouts. In addition to the video content, notes, tips, modifications, and online support are available if you need assistance with designing classes.
Price: For $12.95/month or $119.95 for an annual subscription, you’ll receive unlimited access to their entire library. They also currently have a great founders rate of $9.95/month, or $99.95/year.
What: California’s CarmelBarre has a subscription-based video service that allows users to workout along with live and pre-recorded videos. Multiple classes are added weekly.
Price: Access to their online library is $20/month. There is a complimentary 7-day trial, and you can cancel anytime.
What: If you’re looking for a workout with more of a traditional ballet focus, then Toronto’s Barre Beautiful‘s newly-launched online service might be right for you.
Price: Their video subscription is currently priced at $40/month, and the drop-in rate is only $5/class.
What: German-based fitness brand Youpila has YOUPILA® WORKOUTS ON DEMAND that includes barre, Pilates, yoga, stretching and pre and post-natal classes to choose from. Classes are taught in German, FYI, however if you’re not fluent in the language, it’s still easy to follow along with their fun classes.
Price: Rates are based on the length of subscription you commit to. One month is €59, 3 months is €49 per month, and 6 months is €39 per month.
What: The popular Canadian brand Barre Belle that has taken Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto by storm, has an equally sweat-friendly version of their workouts online through their on-demand service. Expect a bit of dance-infused barre and interval training-based workouts to get your heart rate up and your body toned.
Price: Access to their online library starts at $20.00/month with a free 7-day trial.
Fitness trainer Michelle Carrillo has an assortment of workouts in varying lengths on her YouTube channel.
Additional Resources
Not necessarily paid and not necessarily free, this is where I’m listing additional resources and content that has become available to consume as part of the response to COVID-19.
Based out of Arvada, Colorado, the independent studio has been producing online classes for anyone to participate in. Book through Mindbody via their website. There’s also complimentary live-streaming workouts on their Instagram profile.
There are many certifications out there, both in-person and online, but not all barre certifications are made equal. This guide is intended to give you an overview of all known certifications that are open to everyone, who they are hosted by and what you will get for your hard-earned money and time. What’s not included in this list are certifications that are provided by barre franchises that require you to teach their specific method once you are certified. For instance, if you are trained by Pure Barre, it’s assumed that you will be teaching at Pure Barre.
Have you done any of the certifications below and want to weigh in on who offers the best training? Leave a comment below. Full disclosure, there are a couple affiliate links on this page. It helps keep this website’s lights on.
Online with occasional in-person workshops. Most offline events are conducted in and around Toronto and Montreal, Canada.
Cost:
CAD $1195 per person. They occasionally offer early bird savings for their training program, so be on the lookout for discounts.
The Claim:
They offer immersive and effective training from instructors who have more than a couple decades of experience combined. I used to go to Barreworks classes in Toronto when they had two studio locations, so I can personally vouch that their classes are safe and effective.
I was given access to their training program for a week to see what it was all about. The course was very comprehensive, especially regarding anatomy and exercise science. I appreciated that they focused on safety and modifications for each exercise.
Also, they regularly offer a BIPOC scholarship, awarding $1000 to the successful recipient. This will go toward the full tuition fee for an in-studio Barre Certified by Barreworks course. The recipient’s investment is $395 + hst. Go to their website for more details.
Studios around the globe from Denver Colorado to Dubai, UAE. There is an online certification option as well.
Cost:
One Day training is $349/participant and a Two Day training workshop will cost $449/participant. There is an additional video test out cost ranging from $25 – $90 depending on your prior barre training experience.
The Claim:
Their goal is to provide you with the foundations and support necessary to teach barre fitness wherever you go. Barre Intensity® combines attributes of Pilates, dance, and functional fitness training.
Prerequisites?
Anyone can attend one of the training sessions regardless of their background. Those who have a background in dance, Pilates, yoga, or group fitness instruction will have an easier time fully understanding the information during the training but the manual is created in such a way that all material reviewed during the training can be revisited afterwards. Those attending the Essentials training will need prior barre training experience or extensive group fitness experience coupled with being a barre class student. Set up and execution of the basic barre exercise repertoire are not covered in Essentials training.
This is one of the more intensive of any instructor training programs out there. The in person option includes 40 hours of hands-on training with two master trainers. This explains why the cost of the training is steeper than other workshops.
Location:
Various locations in the United States including New York, Boston and Los Angeles
Cost:
$1,995.
The Claim:
Quality instruction at 3X the industry standard that was developed by fitness legends, Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp.
They will help you master the small movements and controlled principles that differentiate barre from ballet.
Qualifications:
You will be required to hold a current CPR or Group Fitness Certification or plan to do so in the future in order to obtain continuing education units.
The training provides teachers with the foundation they’ll need to teach barre, develop skills to ensure their classes are never boring and be able to find their teaching voice. You’ll be able to develop a unique, effective, creative and challenging barre class with the Barre Variations method.
Various locations across North America, UK and beyond
Cost:
$230
The Claim:
Participants will be taught the foundation of barre and how to construct a high-quality and safe class. Exercises will be broken down to ensure students have a thorough understanding of how to execute each movement. The workshop also provides modifications and corrections so instructors will be able to understand how to provide different options to their clients that are safe yet effective. Musicality and transitions will also be taught. Participation is available to anyone with or without a fitness background.
New York and select cities across the United States with plans to offer online certification beginning in early 2019.
Cost:
$300 for the in-person training. Trainees will also receive access to the online Barre Vida manual with videos and choreography options with playlists.
The Claim:
Beyond preparing you to teach barre, you will be able to get ongoing feedback if you want it.
The tuition is €1785, including taxes. A reduced rate of €1547 applies if you register in advance.
The Claim:
In partnership with BECYCLE – a German-based fitness brand, the 120-hour program focuses on alignment, intelligent sequencing, and body-neutral, inclusive, precise cueing. It also features a standalone 15-hour anatomy course. Their high-repetition, endurance-based approach is designed to be accessible to all. They also have a scholarship program.
Requirements of Qualification:
This course is appropriate for anyone with an interest in movement and a sense of curiosity. In case you’re wondering, the course is entirely taught in English.
$325 for the Total Barre™ Foundation course and $55 per hour for additional training workshops such as pre and post-natal modifications.
The Claim:
Gain the knowledge and confidence to design and teach highly evolved barre classes in any setting.
Requirements of Qualification:
This course is intended for those already working in the fields of fitness or movement who hold a related certification and/or degree, however, all those interested in this material are encouraged to participate.
Related workshops on pre and post-natal modifications and choreographing workouts to music can also be taken for additional training.
Plainville, MA at The Barre + Yoga Experience, located at 84 Taunton St.
Cost:
Flexible payment options are available, starting at $1395 for one whole payment, or pay in 3 ($1470) or 6 ($1549) equal parts.
The Claim: This intensive course will not only show you the tips and tricks on how to wow your students in the studio and at home but goes beyond the foundational stuff to also teach you about the business of barre. Whether you’re just embarking on your barre journey or you are an experienced teacher looking to diversify your offerings, this training is NASM™, ACE®, and AFAA™ approved and will fully prepare you to teach the method that’s won Best of RI – three years in a row.
$1497 but an early bird discount is usually offered at $997.
The Claim:
Backed by the authentic Lotte Berk-based barre training, the Barre Guild Academy will cover everything you need to know about designing your own classes, the anatomy of the human body, and modifications but will also go into the business of barre. That means that you’ll be able to learn how to market yourself as an instructor once you’re ready to teach.
Gain the knowledge and skills to confidently and comfortably teach barre anywhere.
After becoming an ABT certified barre instructor, participants can pursue advanced training through their Level 2 (Advanced) Instructor and Level 3 (Master) Instructor and Certified Barre Trainer Certification Courses.
$250-349. Price varies based on location and how early you register.
The Claim:
In this basic 9-hour combination training you’ll learn the SoulBody Barre and SoulBody Unhitched signature method which will allow you to teach both of these classes after passing the practical exam. Note that in order to be “certified,” trainees must subscribe to the quarterly choreography. After receiving your certificate of completion, you’ll be able to register for other SoulBody programs, such as SoulBody Power.
Balanced Body Barre® takes the best of the original Lotte Berk method and updates it with Balanced Body Movement Principles to create the ideal complement to a Pilates practice.
Qualifications:
To receive your certificate of completion participants are required to complete a practical exam.
Learn at your own pace within a four-month period.
Location:
Online
Cost:
$1495 USD
The Claim:
You might recognize one-half of the husband and wife duo from Alo Moves. Adrienne from @barrewithadrienne on Instagram and her husband Eric have over 7,000 in-class hours with students, and at least 1,000 hours facilitating training material.
Beyond the foundational stuff that comes along with most barre training programs like sequencing, cueing and effective teaching techniques Barre Eclipse promises to go above and beyond with additional content and opportunities to learn.
You’ll learn how to build your own playlists. There’s even an entire section dedicated to memorization and practice teaching. Plus they’ve peppered in assessments throughout the entire course so you can retain what you have learned.
Self-paced but you must submit a video of yourself teaching a 60 minute Zen Barre® class within 90 days of course completion.
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Location:
Online
Cost:
$295
The Claim:
The purpose of The Zen Barre® Instructor training is to provide a fun, motivating, and inspiring way for men and women to get in shape.
Franchise-specific Training
I should also mention that larger brands like Pure Barre, Barre3 and The Bar Method all have their own training. I didn’t include them in the list because unlike many of the universal certifications mentioned above that would allow you to teach anywhere, the franchise-specific certifications are technically not accessible to the public. The assumption is that if you are being taught their technique then you would be teaching it after you “test out” as they say.
You’ll be taught their specific program and would most likely be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Pure Barre, for example, asks for instructor manuals back once an instructor has decided that they would no longer like to teach at a Pure Barre location.
Do you know of any courses or workshops that should be included? Leave a comment below.
In my experience, it’s rare to see men in barre classes for the majority. From what I’ve witnessed, I’d say 95% of the time classes are attended by women. Recently, however, I began noticing more men coming to class. Not in huge droves but on occasion there would be one or two in the same class.
This is no coincidence. If you’ve visited Pure Barre’s website lately, you’ll see their updated promotional video includes men, which is a reflection of their attempt to build upon their relationship with male clients.
Barre has never been a female-only workout. Yes, some studios are limited to women, and most clients, instructors and studio owners are women, but men have always been part of the growing barre trend. Fred DeVito of Exhale, for example, has been at the forefront of the barre workout for over 3o years.
I wanted to explore the relationship between men and the barre, so in an effort to learn more I spoke with some male instructors and clients who love barre, to ask them about their experiences, how they got interested in the workout and how it feels to be outnumbered in this space.
Photo credit: Instagram.com/masonrglennofficial
What Initially Drives Men to the Barre?
There are roughly a dozen male clients who regularly frequent the barre studio I go to most often. Almost all of them were invited by a female client, who is either a friend or spouse.
For Mason R. Glenn, a Bar Method instructor and National Trainer he sees a lot of male clients coming with their spouses. “A lot of young women bring their husbands with them because they find they like to work out together.”
Mason discovered his love of barre almost by accident. Within a year of managing a Bar Method location, he was asked if he wanted to be an instructor. “I should probably learn what the basis of this method is if I’m managing this company,” he said. “They said you have a pretty good personality. I feel like you could probably do it. I wanted to be a little bit more healthy and I wanted to work out more, so I said ‘why not.'”
A Bring on the Men event is how Matthew Henninger, now an instructor at Pure Barre Buffalo discovered barre.” I was introduced to Pure Barre by one of my friends who lived in New York City. She said you need to try this out, it’s called Pure Barre. They’re doing a Bring on the Men event, so will you be my date and give it a try? I said sure, no problem, I’m open to giving it a shot, and so I went into one of their studios in the city and I couldn’t walk for three days afterward.”
Joel Cardenas, a Pure Barre teacher in San Antonio, TX, says he sees some men come with their significant others on occasion, but hasn’t seen a big spike in men coming to the barre.
Photo credit: Instagram.com/lifeasjoe_l
What do you think prevents men from trying a barre class?
For Matthew, he says a lot of the men he has interacted with don’t know what to expect from it. “They either are into sports or they go to the gym or they do CrossFit,” says Matthew. “They think it’s either too easy for them or they’re not sure what it’s going to look like and they think it’s all dancing, it involves ballet and that’s not something they’re comfortable with. In reality, we do incorporate some ballet dance aspects into our workout and it might be based on dance but it’s not dancing.”
For Joel, he felt like a guy that infiltrated a tough secret women’s organization. “I have more of an appreciation for women in the corporate world or who have to work in male-dominated industries, where they only see men. It was really humbling for me.”
At the end of the day, Mason believes it has a lot to do with visual media. “If we see a girl in an arabesque position, we think that’s not what we can achieve. What I think can help is to include more neutral positions in class that men can achieve. A lot of men do yoga, and there are a lot of positions that The Bar Method has that are yoga friendly.”
Are there male-specific modifications?
“Men are tighter and typically taller too,” says Mason. “There are certain things a 5’4″ woman can do that a 6’0” man can’t do. They have longer torsos, they have longer arms. They’re used to doing a bigger range of motion, they’re not used to stretching, their hips are typically tighter, they have tighter hamstrings so they typically have lower back pain.
Mason continues, “my best interest as an instructor is to make them feel that they can be successful. Placing a male at the tallest barre in the room is probably not a good idea, we don’t want them to feel like a failure. We want them to take a lower barre where they can be more successful.”
Instagram.com/purebarrebuffalo
What do you think would attract more men to the barre?
One of Matthew’s goals is to try to get more men involved. “If they see a male instructor..there’s kind of this notion that okay men can do this, and it’s not just for women, it’s built for anybody, all body types, all abilities, that’s something that we really try to emphasize.”
Joel thinks more male representation in advertising would help. “If men could see themselves in marketing campaigns that would make a difference. Men usually want the body-builder type so barre doesn’t really cater to that body type.”
Mason thinks that hosting events when they encourage men to come to the barre help draw more male clients. “Having other guys in class and having this collective event really draws them in,” says Mason, referring to when studios host events like bring your bae to the barre or barre and beer, which are created to encourage more men to attend.
While events that encourage you to bring a man to the barre certainly help to attract more male clients, some studios are even going so far as to host male-only workshops, like Seattle’s Barre Rev. Their Men’s Only Barre Bootcamp is designed to target those stabilizing muscles that may get overlooked during a power and strength training session.
Photo credit: Instagram.com/barrerevstudio
Why should men try barre?
“Give it a shot,” says Mason. “It’s something I thought I would never do, and if I can do it, anybody can do it. What it’s really taught me is mind-body awareness. It’s prevented injuries. I wasn’t able to do much, but I was able to do The Bar Method and I felt successful. I felt like I could still have a little bit of a sweat and a burn in my muscle.”
For Joel, he suggests to embrace it as a fitness concept that is results-driven and don’t focus on the fact that it might appear girly or feminine.
“Speaking from our studio perspective there are a lot of pop up events at our studio, we do a lot of date nights, and our last date night was very popular in getting more men involved,” says Matthew. “Whether or not they want to come more frequently… it’s more about seeing what it’s actually like and even if they can go out into their communities and talk about this thing… I gave this a shot and this is something I think you should try.”
Final thoughts
In conclusion, yes, the barre community is dominated by women but a group of strong women indeed who are comfortable with welcoming anyone through those doors. That’s what I love so much about the community and it would be great to see more men attend classes in the future.
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