Studio Barre

Studio Barre’s yellow and grey aesthetic is unmistakable. It’s noticeable across all of their branding, from the distinct yellow statement wallpaper that partially covers the walls to the yellow tutu that clients wear when they hit a class milestone.

Don’t think for a second that the vibrant atmosphere and their liberal use of a barre pun will make for a walk-in-the-park workout. The California-based company is sassy but their classes pack a punch. It’s partly why they are one of the fastest-growing barre franchises in the United States. At the time of publishing, they have 15 operational locations with a high concentration of them in California. Unfortunately, a few locations closed during the pandemic.

Take it from me. The first time I tried a class at their Alexandria, Virginia location, the workout kicked my bootie. Thanks to the quick pace of the class, you’re flowing through the exercises while targeting each muscle group.

One disclaimer before we start. There is an affiliate link below for their On Demand service. If you purchase a subscription after clicking on the link, I get a percentage of the sale, which helps to keep the lights on, on the site.

 

 

What to expect when you take a class at Studio Barre

Upon entering a Studio Barre you immediately notice the retail section. Some locations have such an extensive selection they could pass for their own boutique stores. More on that later.

The vibrant energy of their brand is felt right away. As soon as you walk through the doors, you’ll see pops of yellow everywhere. When you walk into the studio, you’ll immediately notice their statement yellow wallpaper that partially grace the interior walls. Some studios use more of it than others.

All studios use hardwood, and not carpet as Studio Barre founder Shannon Higgins explains in a blog post. The studio footprint is on the smaller side for a franchise. I’d compare it to a Pure Barre studio which is roughly 1,500 square feet on average.

Their roster of classes is quite simple. You have the regular barre classes that are one hour in length, while a Quick Tuck Barre Class is 45 minutes. There’s also the occasional workshop on the schedule.

 

 

The Studio Barre Class Format

When entering the studio, you’ll grab your equipment, which usually consists of free weights, a mat, a ball and a resistance band. Sometimes the mat and ball are already set up for you. Places are set up around the perimeter of the studio, so everyone has a place at the barre.

Once class begins and you hear the boom of the music coming through the speakers, the instructor will direct everyone to the center of the room for the warmup. Marching at the beginning of the workout sets the tone for the rest of the class.

Soon after, you’ll pick up a pair of weights for some arm work followed by some core work on the floor. Planks and pushups also make an appearance in the warmup, which lasts about 13 to 14 minutes and is designed to get the heart rate up before you move on to the next section of the class.

Once the warmup is complete and you’ve taken a nice arm stretch, you move into the thigh section for about the next 12 minutes. Typically these exercises are done at the barre but sometimes continue on the floor after the warmup.

The seat section of the class, can either be done on the floor or at the barre and targets the inner and outer seat. Usually, at the midway point between seat exercises, they’ll break for a cardio burst, or cardio snack as they like to say.

Not to be forgotten is the core, which is completed toward the end of the class. Typical exercises in this section include C Curve and Reverse Curl. There is stretching between each section of the class and at the end but not before dancing it out on the floor with some Back Dancing.

If you can’t make it to class, they have Studio Barre On Demand

For those who can’t make it to one of their locations, Studio Barre launched Studio Barre On Demand. Their online subscription brings the flavour of the studio experience to your home. Ranging in length from 10 minutes to one full hour, there are a variety of options to choose from with new content being added all the time.

 

 

What makes this technique and brand different?

• What sets Studio Barre apart from other boutique studios is the fast-paced nature of the class. You’re never stationary for very long.
• There is also generally a more lively atmosphere in class with high-energy instructors cracking jokes and dishing out puns all while guiding you through the exercises.

 

What I love about Studio Barre

Going to class should be fun. Yes, you still have to put in the work during class but if you can groove along to the playlist and walk into a fun atmosphere then your experience will be that much better.

The great retail area

I love how each of their studios has a great retail section for some pre or post-workout shopping. In them, you’ll find the usual tanks, leggings, socks and hats, but some also carry jewelry, candles and other affiliated accessories.

How they celebrate milestones

Studio Barre has a Centurion club. If you couldn’t guess from the title it means they celebrate client milestones, such as 100, 300, 500, 750, 1000 classes, etc.

Not only do they love celebrating client achievements, but they also have fun while doing it. If you follow a Studio Barre location on Instagram you’ll surely see evidence of the celebrations, with some studios having their clients don a yellow tutu or decorate their spot at the barre. They also get to sign a special barre designated for Centurion members.

 

 

Criticisms

There is not much I have to critique about the Studio Barre brand or their classes. The one thing I will point out is that their language caters to a female-identifying audience. You’ll hear or see language like “So this girl walks into the barre…” or “A girl loves a big ol’ diamond [exercise].” Though they don’t exclude men or non-binary clientele, there is a lot of non-inclusive language in their marketing.

 

In Conclusion

There is a lot to love about Studio Barre. Life’s too short not to have fun during your workouts and that’s what I think I like most about their classes. They’re not afraid to make an adult joke during class or laugh at themselves. It’s not about following a militant formula to a tee but being playful with their exercises.

Have you tried a Studio Barre class or are you a regular at one of their studios? What do you like or not like about their classes and the overall brand experience? Leave a comment below.