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Studio Spotlight

Aug 20
The exterior of Pure Barre Alexandria, Virginia

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pure Barre

By Barre Crawl, Pure Barre, Studio Spotlight 9 Comments

If you live in a mid-size to large metropolis or its surrounding suburbs in the United States, you’ve surely seen a Pure Barre before. With over 500 locations in North America and an expanding global footprint, more on that later, the world’s biggest barre chain has legions of fans and dare I say it, a cult-like following? Full disclosure, I had an annual membership for a period of time.

Pure Barre is a franchise with a pretty firm set of let’s call them operating procedures. Love it or hate it, like a Holiday Inn or a Subway sandwich restaurant you kind of know what to expect when you walk into any one of their locations. They stick to a template and follow it very closely, so you won’t find a lot of variety between studios other than the type of merch available for sale or the local events they support.

 

Pure Barre Burlington Vermont exteriorPure Barre props in the studio, including weights, resistance bands and balls.

 

Who owns Pure Barre?

Pure Barre is part of the now publicly-traded company Xponential Fitness Inc., which owns boutique fitness brands like CycleBar, Club Pilates, StretchLab, YogaSix, among others. Xponential Fitness acquired the Pure Barre brand in 2018.

Pure Barre operates as a franchise model, with individuals owning mostly single studios, some with multiple locations.

Pure Barre Buffalo Exterior

Who started Pure Barre?

Former Founder and CEO of Pure Barre, Carrie Dorr kicked everything off in 2001 with a small boutique studio in Michigan. Initially, Carrie had no intentions of franchising her business. That is until people started asking if they could open their own locations. She found someone who was a good fit to run a second location and that is when licensing came into the picture.

After launching about a dozen locations along the East Coast, Carrie expanded to the West Coast. At the time she was bootstrapping a lot of the business, without investors or cash. She would open a new location, teach and build up that studio, find someone who was interested in buying that location and then move on to the next. Eventually turning the concept into a franchise model. In 2012 Pure Barre had 71 franchised locations in 23 US states.

Looking for infrastructure and liquidity, Carrie knew it was time to bring in a private equity firm to help grow the business, so the company partnered with WJ Partners. In 2015 L Catterton, a consumer-focused private equity firm was looking to acquire the Pure Barre brand so they hired Arlington Capital Advisors to assist in its acquisition of Pure Barre from WJ Partners.

In October 2018 Xponential Fitness Inc., announced it would be acquiring Pure Barre to add to its growing portfolio of brands.

 

An empty Pure Barre studio

 

What to expect when you take a class at Pure Barre

Many Pure Barre studios have a similar footprint. Upon entering a studio you’ll walk into the reception area, which has a desk, chairs or bench and a retail area featuring a mix of branded and non-branded merch.

Some retail areas are extensive and could be considered a brick and mortar store in and of themselves, depending on how much inventory the studio owner decides to order and sell.

You’ll check in on the iPad if you reserved a spot ahead of time, then make your way to the space just outside the double doors to the studio if another class is in session.

Depending on the layout, washrooms will either be near the front of the building or in the back, so you would need to walk through the studio, to get to the washrooms. A cubby area where you can put your things while you’re taking a class is also provided. Sometimes there will be small change rooms on-site, but many locations I’ve been to don’t have enough space for them.

There’s also a section of a wall dedicated to milestones. These are barres that celebrate client achievements. For every class milestone you hit you get to sign your name on the barre. Starting at 100 classes, followed by 250, 500, 1000, 1500 etc.

Depending on the location and the studio owner, you’ll receive all sorts of rewards for your achievements. From branded grippy socks that say “100 club” to celebratory drinks and photo ops. The greater the achievement, the more effort most owners usually put into rewarding clients.

 

Pure Barre Richmond, Virginia exterior

 

Beyond the double doors lies the actual studio where you take the class. It’s in here you’ll find a carpeted floor, which is said to have antimicrobial fibres to help protect against the growth of odour-causing bacteria. A barre frames the perimeter of the room, and there are usually mirrors on at least two of the walls. Some owners will invest in some fancy statement walls for some added decoration.

You’ll take a seat in the center of the room unless you’re taking a Reform class. If you’re taking a Classic class, you’ll need to grab a ball, double tube and a light pair of hand weights. You have the option of also grabbing a heavier pair. If you are taking an Empower or Reform class, the equipment will already be laid out for you. Hand weights are optional.

The instructor will sometimes come into the studio a few minutes ahead of time and introduce her or himself to new students and ask if anyone has any injuries. This is a great time to speak up if you do require any modifications.

Once the music starts, the teacher will instruct everyone to stand up and then the workout will start. I won’t go into the details of each class format, since you can find those details in the articles on Empower and Reform but if you are taking a Classic class, the format is as follows: Warm-up, arms, thighs, seat, abs, and stretch. In the last five minutes of class, the instructor will dim the lights for the bridgework/back dancing and stretching section. By the end of class, the lights will be completely turned off, which is a nice way to end class.

 

 

The Pure Barre Class Format

 

Types of Classes

Pure Barre’s signature class is called Classic a 50-minute workout rooted in their classic technique. Featuring a combination of low-impact and high-intensity exercises that utilize a double tube, barre, ball and small hand weights.

If you want a hybrid of barre and HIIT, then Empower, their more cardio-focused class might be appealing to you. Using ankle weights and a plyometric platform, this 45-minute class will elevate your heart rate while building strength. Think of it as a mix of barre and interval training while working different muscle groups simultaneously.

For more on Empower, read our review of the class.

The interior of the Pure Barre studio in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

 

For resistance training fans, Reform might be the class for you. Using resistance bands, sliders and the barre, this 50-minute total body barre workout merges elements from the classic pure barre technique while challenging your strength, coordination and balance in a resistance-based strength training workout.

For more on Reform, read our review of the class.

If you’re new to Pure Barre, or even barre in general, their introductory class Foundations is a good way to get a solid understanding of their format and learn the basics of the technique. This class is taught at a slower pace and breaks down each movement so you can understand the mechanics. It is only offered to new clients and is not on the schedule as frequently as other classes.

Pure Barre retail area.

A Pure Barre retail area.

 

Virtual Offerings

Throughout the pandemic, many studios pivoted to online class options. Many studios still offer live streaming options for clients who would prefer the virtual experience.

Pure Barre corporate also has its own digital platform called GO. The idea is that you have the ability to enjoy Pure Barre when and where you want so you are not committed to a studio’s schedule. Classes vary in length from 5 to 60 minutes.

Pure Barre GO will provide you with the classes on demand, but there’s something about being in a studio that you can’t replicate at home. Perhaps it’s the hands-on corrections (in a pre-pandemic world) or the camaraderie between instructors and clients or among clients that gives the in-person experience that je ne sais quoi.

Of course, the on-demand option is a great one for anyone who is looking to save some money and wants access to the classes whenever they like. For about $30 per month, this is much more accessible than monthly class memberships in-studio that can run you upwards of $200 a month, depending on the location.

 

A Tuck & Glow class at Pure Barre

A Tuck & Glow class at Pure Barre

 

Other offerings

Pure Barre has a number of events and promotions throughout the year including “Wine down Wednesdays,” “Tuck & Glow,” barre pop-ups in breweries, wineries, retail stores, and just about any other place you can think of.

Platinum Barre and other monthly challenges

Like most boutique barre studios and franchises, Pure Barre loves a friendly competition. Challenges are set up to encourage client retention and incentivize those who need a little more accountability. There are most always prizes involved at the end of each challenge.

Take, for instance, Pure Barre’s Platinum Barre Challenge. Not only do you need to meet a monthly class target of roughly 12-15 classes, depending on your location, but you must meet this target each month for a whole year if you want to be able to sign the coveted platinum barre, that only those who complete this year-long task can sign.

For other monthly barre challenges like Barre Bingo, you are mostly competing with fellow clients but studios also compete against each other for most completions. An advantage that a big brand has over its competitors.

 

What makes this technique and brand different?

The lighting – Have you noticed that Pure Barre studios have carefully controlled lighting that gets dimmer as you go? The studios are usually beyond the reception area where the only natural light that comes in from the double doors is from the street and is quite minimal, so studios have a cozier feeling.

They call out your name in class – This is not unique to Pure Barre, but one thing you’ll find during class is that instructors have the unenviable task of trying to remember every client’s name so they can be called out during class. Don’t worry, only positive reinforcement is heard over the mic.

It’s addictive – Now, of course, you can say this about any competing brand or fitness studio, but in my experience, once you get past the first few classes many people become hooked on the structured experience and find themselves going 3 to 4 or more times per week. It’s hard to label or put a finger on what exactly makes this workout so addictive. Perhaps it’s the structure. Instructors stick with a very specific script and don’t venture far from it.

Maybe it’s the strong class sequencing. While individual exercises in each section generally vary, each class follows a very specific template so you know what to expect. This templated workout is also what people have critiqued Pure Barre for in the past, promoting a one-size-fits-all workout, and cultivating sameness with everyone wearing similar grippy socks, tank tops and leggings.

 

Signage in the window of Pure Barre Queen street west in Toronto.

What I love about Pure Barre

The workout – First and foremost, I love the workout. I do think I get a lot out of every class. It has the right amount of challenge without being overly punishing. Plus working on your mind-body connection and fine-tuning the intricate movements keeps you coming back for more. Choreography changes every quarter, so although you know what the general framework is for class, the individual exercises vary by class and instructor.

The community – For as large of a company as they’ve become, I still do think there is a great community involved at each location. It’s not unusual to see people lingering around the reception area after class, chatting with instructors and fellow clients. It’s one of the things I loved most about Pure Barre.

Consistency – Like I mentioned earlier, for better or worse Pure Barre is a franchise so you’re going to have consistency in the brand from one location to the next. If you’re on vacation and stop into the area’s local Pure Barre, you know approximately where to grab your equipment from and how to navigate your way around the studio.

 

Pure Barre reception area at the Queen Street West location in Toronto.

Criticisms of Pure Barre

For all the die-hard fans and hundreds of thousands of clients, Pure Barre has had its fair share of criticism, especially when Xponential took over, which took away some of that special sauce.

Some have said the forced makeovers of all locations by the parent company have made the studios feel more sterile and corporate. For reference, they used to have a rustic-chic vibe. Others see it as a fresh start and a rejuvenation of the brand.

Profits Over Public Safety

The pandemic has seemed to exacerbate a lot of the issues I’ve had with Xponential. While the case counts were roaring in the summer of 2020, Xponential filed a lawsuit against the government of Arizona for closing gyms and fitness boutiques. We know exercise is good for your physical and mental health, however, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your employees and clients. The lawsuit was thrown out by a federal judge who ruled that the mandated closures of gyms should stand.

For any company about to go public you want to pad the business as best you can so you put it in the best possible light to potential investors. However, the optics of doing this in the middle of a pandemic while owners are barely scraping by didn’t quite sit well with me.

I’ll just leave it at this, with a statement from the company’s prospectus as reported in MarketWatch recently. “A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from royalty fees and other fees and commissions generated from activities associated with franchisees and equipment sales to franchisees.” Enough said!

Staff receive little pay for a tonne of work

Anecdotally, I’ve seen a lot of turnover at my Pure Barre location. The owner will hire new instructors every year, while the veterans who stay on for maybe two years tops eventually move on.

Part of the reason could be that instructors devote quite a bit of their time to the studio. From teaching weekly classes, taking obligatory classes on their own time to further their practice albeit don’t have to pay for to learning new choreography and sticking around after class to answer questions, you really have to love the brand and believe in the Pure Barre experience.

It’s a badly kept secret that instructors are not paid a huge sum of money for their efforts paid or otherwise. There’s a lot of unpaid prep work that goes into creating a class and like a school teacher who is expected to grade assignments outside of regular hours, instructors are not compensated for this extracurricular work that comes with the gig.

They are also not compensated for bringing in sales via their social media word-of-mouth marketing or leads that they happen to drum up from chatting to clients. Employees receive no benefits or sick pay, so most instructors do this gig on the side with another source of income.

If you’re looking for a part-time job that helps you build confidence and gives you experience in commanding a room, while enjoying a workout that you would be doing anyway, you might appreciate working here.

Training

While each studio owner decides if the prospective instructor should pay out of pocket or get a subsidy for their training, there has been some criticism about how Pure Barre expects applicants to pay for their training upfront before they are hired, even if some of the money might come back to you after an active year of teaching. According to this LA Times article from May 2021, new recruits may be expected to pay about $1,800 USD out of pocket before they are even considered for the job.

When you are tapped by a studio owner as a potential candidate for instructing, you have to go to a training course. There they will teach you the Pure Barre way and you will be expected to familiarize yourself with their format. Unlike a universal certificate program that allows you to teach barre anywhere, you will only be able to teach Pure Barre. Instructors are subject to a non-compete, preventing them from teaching for another brand.

Is it ethical to have your job applicants pay for training, without any guarantee of a job? The jury is out.

 

Some things I’m on the fence about

Zero tolerance late policy – This one I kind of get. You’ve most likely been to a boutique fitness class where a client walks in late. Despite their best efforts to sneak in quietly, it’s always distracting. I understand why they lock the doors once class starts, but it can be a little frustrating when you are literally 30 seconds late and you just hauled your body downtown to get to a class 30 minutes away.

The dress code – When I first started taking classes, I thought it was absurd that they had a rule about not showing your midriff or having to wear leggings that were at least 3/4 length. The rationale I was given was that in order to keep your body warm throughout the workout, covering up helped do that. Another good reason is to protect your skin from some serious rug burn on the carpets! They may be good for your grippy socks to gain some traction but can also feel very uncomfortable on your bare skin.

 

On the Pure Barre carpet in first position

 

International Expansion

Xponential Fitness Inc. has some serious growth plans for the Pure Barre brand. There are already nearly 550 locations in North America, and the parent company has set their sights on international expansion for 2021 and beyond.

The brand has partnered with LifeFit Group, to bring the boutique fitness concept to Germany and Austria. Their plan is to open the first studio in Germany in 2021.

Elsewhere, deals are in the works for the middle east and Asia.

 

In Conclusion

Pure Barre is popular for a reason. They wouldn’t have accumulated so much success over the last two decades if they had been a run of the mill boutique fitness brand.

Have you tried a Pure 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.

Jul 29
Jillian Carter of Sidebarre

Sidebarre’s Founder on Representation in the Barre Industry and Building Community While Promoting Inclusivity

By Studio Spotlight, The Founders Series No Comments

When you visit Sidebarre’s website, three words will capture your attention from the jump – Strong. Active. Graceful. My conversation with Founder, Jillian Carter, embodied those three words and more.  Jillian reminded me that true visionaries still exist.

What do I mean by “true visionaries?” Visionaries are willing to get out of the box because they already know what they see is going to manifest. Visionaries who are prepared and positioned. Sounds just like barre, right? You come prepared and you get in position.  

Known for their popular Barre Cardio, Barre Classic and Barre Stretch classes, Sidebarre offers high-intensity, yet low-impact full-body workouts. The instructors are professionally trained but no dance experience is required to participate in classes. Sidebarre’s classes are fun and effective. They are truly for everyone!

I could have told Sidebarre’s story in my own words, but I’m just so fascinated by Jillian’s and I knew you would be too. Her passion, drive, and vision require that you hear her “why.”

 

Sidebarre founder Jillian

Source: instagram.com/sidebarredc

 

I’m curious, why barre? What led you to barre?

I am a classically trained ballerina. I think I might have started dance classes when I was five or six. Ballet has always been a part of my life more than it has not been a part of my life. Once I stopped dancing, went to college, and then graduated, I needed to figure out how to stay active. I tried to go to the gym, tried other various boutique fitness classes like spinning and Pilates for a little bit. It just wasn’t really my thing.

Someone suggested barre so I joined a boutique fitness studio and really enjoyed the workout. But every time I went there, I was the only Black girl. I grew up and danced with other Black ballerinas and didn’t see us represented in barre. I took a barre certification class which helped with the technicalities of the body and movement. Because of my past love of ballet dance, barre just flowed and Sidebarre was created.  

 

The Sidebarre team

Source: instagram.com/sidebarredc

 

 

How did you come up with the name Sidebarre?

So, it’s funny you ask. I was at work one day and I mean, I’m very impulsive. I think about something and I immediately want to move on it like there’s no wasting time for me. My grandparents happened to be in town and so all of my cousins were over. I thought this is the perfect time to pitch the idea to them. And I was like, OK, now I just need a name. Any ideas? My cousin, he just blurted out Sidebarre. And that was the end of that.

 

I love that your family was included in selecting the name!

We’re a very small, very close family. 

 

What influences you to get out of the box? Sometimes as a visionary, it can be scary because you can see what others can’t see.

I think it’s the opposite for me. I feel like I’ve always positioned myself to be prepared for opportunities to come so that when they do come, I’m ready for it. All the partnerships and everything that we’ve had, I never reached out to them. They always came to us. And I felt like it’s because I always had the mindset of believing in Sidebarre’s mission. I’m passionate about it. I know that it’ll be as big as I want it to be.

You have to position yourself for that so that when it is your time, when it is your moment, you’re not caught up in trying to get all of your ducks in a row. You’re already ready and prepared for it. 

I’ve been that way since we started. There are times when we maybe had two people in our classes, but I always held classes to a certain standard. Then when we had those sold-out classes, it wasn’t like we needed to change anything to prepare for it because we were already preparing for it. 

The ladies of Sidebarre

Source: instagram.com/sidebarredc

 

It sounds like you don’t have to make many changes because you already had the people in place, on your team, to get things rolling. Who is on your team and what are their roles in Sidebarre?

Maya Dennis teaches cardio classes and she’s my Chief Data Officer.  She created a dashboard that provides analytics to tell me exactly what I need to know about our classes. If I ask her to give me analytics for a Sunday class held at 11am, compared to a Saturday class at 10am, she can do that.

Then we have Alexis Miller who is my cousin. I like to call her our Creative Director because she’s danced longer than all of us. She went to the University of the Arts for college to pursue dance. She has total creative direction where she has an idea and sees something that she thinks will be artistically beautiful. I want her to run with it.

I manage website creation, marketing, Instagram posting, recording, editing videos, and anything you can think of within the business. 

 

What do you feel like Sidebarre has brought to your community? What type of impact do you believe you’ve brought to the community?

I feel like health and wellness isn’t as big with Black women as it should be because we’re so busy helping everybody else that we rarely make time for ourselves. It might not be a workout class. It might be like a glass of wine with our girlfriends, which I would consider to be wellness too. So when it comes to community, I feel like Sidebarre and myself, like I have done my job.

If someone even shows up for class and gives it their all and breaks a sweat, the cherry on top is when they say they are coming back and bringing friends. They tell people about it. They want to interview us.  

Alexis has a company called Confi.DANCE. We, Sidebarre and Confi.DANCE, work with D.C. Parks and Recreation to teach ballet to the youth. We want them to have access to the arts. We didn’t see many Black ballerinas growing up. So, we are focused on serving underserved communities to make sure they have access to the arts. In those communities, where people might not have money for leotards and tights or even ballet classes, we offer them free of charge. We want them to see Black ballerinas. We want a little Black girl to know ballet is for her too. 

 

Sidebarre and Smirnoff Meet Me at the Barre Promotion on Zoom with Laverne Cox.

Sidebarre teamed up with Smirnoff for an experiential “Meet Me at the Bar(re)” virtual promotion, featuring a series of barre workouts and mixology classes hosted by notable celebs like Laverne Cox and Megan Rapinoe.

 

What do you want the barre community to know about Sidebarre? What do you want your community to know about Sidebarre?

We are here for Black women, as a lot of other companies might not be. We are here to strengthen our community. Whether we are talking about health, wellness, in conversations or all the above. For me personally, what keeps me going is our community. I think about it so frequently and realize that the reason why we are still Sidebarre DC is because of our community. So, if there’s anything that I’m proud of when it comes to Sidebarre, it’s our community because they are the reason that we are still here. 

 

Find out more about Sidebarre and Confi.DANCE as they continue to grow and thrive in the community they love!

Sidebarre’s website: https://www.sidebarredc.com/

Sidebarre’s IG: @sidebarredc

Confi.DANCE’s website: https://lexmilli.com/

Confi.DANCE’s IG: @confi.dance_dc

 

Want to know more about other black-owned barre businesses and influencers? You can read this.

 

About the Author

Keocha LaFleur-AndersKeocha LaFleur-Anders is a wife, mom of 5, writer, and a total foodie who moved from Baton Rouge, LA to Austin, TX almost 13 years ago. After 10 years of juggling football practices, family businesses, and corporate America, she decided to return to her first love which is writing. Keocha believes that her gift of writing is to be used to offer encouragement and motivation to women who need to hit their wellness reset button.  As a Certified Wellness Coach, Mind-Body Fitness Coach, and Barre Instructor, her mission is to be an inspiration for women to invest in their self-care and in each other.  You can learn more about Keocha by following her blog, Reset with K.

Jun 02
An empty Studio Barre studio before class with mats and balls on the floor.

A Complete Overview and Review of Studio Barre

By Barre Crawl, Studio Barre, Studio Spotlight 2 Comments

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.

 

The exterior of two Studio Barre locations, one in Alexandria, Virginia and the other in Charleston, South Carolina.

The exterior of two Studio Barre locations, one in Alexandria, Virginia and the other in Charleston, South Carolina.

An empty Studio Barre studio before class, with mats and playground balls assigned for each client.

 

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 retail area in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Studio Barre retail area in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

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.

 

A barre class doing core work on the floor.

Source: instagram.com/studiobarrehighlandsranch

Women doing arm exercises during a barre class.

Source: instagram.com/highlandsranch

 

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.

 

A barre studio celebrates a client taking 1000 classes with balloon and decorations.

Photo credit: instagram.com/studiobarrecarmelvalley

A woman poses in front of a yellow statement wall with a Studio barre playground ball in her hands.

 

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.

 

Women at a barre class doing Back Dancing exercises.

Source: instagram.com/highlandsranch

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.

Sep 23
Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp at the Lotte Berk Method studio in New York City

What It Was Like to Train and Teach at the Iconic Lotte Berk Method

By Barre Culture, Lotte Berk, Studio Spotlight One Comment

It’s the early 1970s. The Lotte Berk Method has opened on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and will soon garner a following among the who’s who of New York’s elite. This is the studio that back in 1984 The New York Times called the fanciest accommodations in town and one of the most rigorous workouts for women in New York. This is where Burr Leonard of The Bar Method trained, where a slew of celebrities from Julia Roberts to Caroline Kennedy to Bianca Jagger used to take classes on a regular basis, and where you could argue barre started in America.

Long before boutique barre studios went mainstream, The Lotte Berk Method built a cult-like following and would produce some of the most beloved barre brands in the world today.

The unassuming five-story brownstone on East 67th Street that housed the flagship studio is where you would find women (it began as a women’s only fitness studio) file into any one of the classrooms across three floors of the townhouse at all hours throughout the day.

 

 

Although I can try to imagine what it would have been like to do some knee dancing on the deep rose-coloured carpet of this iconic studio, I thought there is no greater pair of people to speak with about their time there than Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp to really understand the brand’s lasting impact on the barre community.

Not only were the pair instrumental in the success of the business (Elisabeth and Fred expanded the teacher training program) but were there almost every day, teaching 6 classes a day, 6 days a week, managing the studio and even lived above the studio for a period of time.

 

Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito at the Lotte Berk Method Studio on the Upper East Side of Manhattan

Fred and Elisabeth in the Bridgehampton barn in the early ’90s. Source: Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito

How The Lotte Berk Method Came to Be

Lydia Bach travelled to London to study Lotte’s technique and eventually purchased the North American rights to her name. Elisabeth explained that she named it after Lotte because she had great respect for what Lotte had started, and so she called her business The Lotte Berk Method Ltd. in her honour.

“Lydia furthered it in many ways, you know with pushups and planks and added a balance of strength and stretching to it as well,” explained Elisabeth on the changes Lydia made to the original technique which included making it into an hour-long class.

In the early days, Lydia was heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. Elisabeth credits Lydia for working one on one with everyone to develop what she considered to be the first barre studio in the United States. “We were really lucky to have her at that point,” said Elisabeth.

 

Discovering The Lotte Berk Method

Elisabeth was first introduced to the method via an ad in the classified section of the New York Times.

I was a dancer coming from the Hartford Ballet, auditioning in New York and teaching ballet. My audition class was with a teacher who was actually visiting from London, from The Lotte Berk studio there. I was in bed after 9:00 am when I got a call from The Lotte Berk Method. They said they were interested in hiring me and I almost said ‘Are you sure?’ because I couldn’t move. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done.

Fred’s background was in physical education. Having taught in the public school system as well as having been a coach and personal trainer, he credits his experience in teaching to making the transition to The Lotte Berk Method an easy one. “I saw what Lis was doing with The Lotte Berk Method and I said ‘oh my god,’ I need to teach people how to do this.” Fred also happened to be the studio’s first male barre teacher.

 

Immersion was the best way to learn

A year after being hired, Elisabeth started to run the studio. “I managed the studio, I teacher trained. I taught 6 classes a day, 6 days a week. Pretty much immersed myself.”

At that point, there was no manual. “Our training really was classroom teaching. You take 4 classes a day, 6 days a week and then you teach,” said Elisabeth.

 

 

 

Original help wanted ad in the New York Times for The Lotte Berk Method

The original help wanted ad in The New York Times that Elisabeth answered.

 

 

The who’s who of New York and beyond flocked to the studio

Thanks to prominent locations in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Hamptons and Los Angeles, The Lotte Berk Method attracted many notable people over the years. From Julia Roberts to Melanie Griffith, to Brooke Shields, there are just too many to name but as you can imagine, having studios located in premium markets helped to bring in a high-end clientele.

When I asked if they could recall any great stories, Elisabeth had this to say: “I really have to jog my mind to think about those special people who came because they were such a part of the group that they don’t stand out unless I really think about it. We never put them on a pedestal and I think they really appreciated that.”

In our Hamptons studio, we would have up to 6 or 7 high-profile celebrities in one class. Actresses, actors, directors, artists. In NYC we would have Julia Roberts coming every day, you know dress down, no makeup, in her sweats. She would be hanging out before class just like… People would have to do a double-take, isn’t that Julia Roberts? One time someone asked, “Are you, Julia Roberts? You look just like her.” It was so cute, she laughed and said “I am.”

On teaching notable clients, Fred recalled some advice that Lydia passed down to them. “Treat celebrities like you treat everybody else. They need something from you. They need the workout, they have injuries that need to be taken care of, they’re coming to you for your expertise. Don’t be starstruck by it all.”

We got into this routine and habit of not being starstruck and just talking to people no matter who they were, we would talk to everybody the same way, no matter whether you were a housekeeper or a babysitter for somebody coming in or you were a high-profile celebrity, we just treated everybody the same, so that made it really easy for people to all be in the same class together. And a lot of celebrities felt very comfortable.

 

The other locations

The Lotte Berk Method’s Bridgehampton location (where SoulCycle is now) was a 1600 square foot potato barn that Lydia renovated into a “very open, airy space” studio according to Elisabeth. “It had all sliding glass doors on one side of the studio that overlooked (back then) farm fields.”

Clients were vocal about wanting a studio in the Hamptons since that’s where they summered. “She decided Bridgehampton because it’s centrally located between South and East Hampton,” recalled Elisabeth. “We limited it to 12 people per class but by the time we left, we had 3 classes going on and there were over 60 people on the hour coming through.”

 

Ads for The Lotte Berk Method Bridgehampton location from the 1970s, 80s and 90s

Ads for The Lotte Berk Method Bridgehampton location from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.

 

In 1983 The Lotte Berk Method opened at Sunset Plaza and West Hollywood in Los Angeles. The pair moved to LA. before being called back to New York at the end of ’83 when the Master Teacher-Trainer left the Manhatten location.

 

A day in the life

A typical day according to Elisabeth and Fred was a busy one. With multiple studios available, they could have three different classes taking place at one time. “We had classes going on every floor, three classes on the hour. At 7:00, 7:15, 7:30 am and continued all day long until 8:00 pm at night,” Elisabeth explained. “We would teach 3 classes in the morning and 3 classes in the evening, take a break in the afternoon, do any other work like teacher training, or client relationship things, shooting for articles etc.”

[Classes] were all by appointment before computers… it was all hand-written check-in. We had little cards that we would just mark and check people off when they came in.

Fred explained that most of the morning classes were filled with the same women every day. The same women in the same class every morning meant that they got to know each other very well. The “zoo-ey” nature as Fred described was part of the reason why they wanted to make classes more mindful. “It was like pulling teeth, you could not get these women into a mindful place,” Fred recalled.

People would walk into the room and then they would start talking before class started. It was like a school cafeteria, very loud talking about their kids and where they went and the restaurants and their social life and whatever… We came in with a policy and we said, look when you walk into the classroom, we’d like to treat it more like a sanctuary, like sit on the carpet, close your eyes, breathe, meditate, just be alone with yourself for a while. If you wanted to chitchat just do that out in the hallway.

 

Impacting the barre landscape

At one point during my interview, I wondered if there was anyone who hadn’t gotten their start there. You can trace so many barre brands back to this one method. Instructors and clients who have gone on to build some of the biggest franchises, studios and methods out there today. From Carrie Dorr at Pure Barre, to Burr Leonard of The Bar Method, Tanya Becker and Jennifer Maanavi of Physique 57, and of course Fred and Lis who would go onto create Exhale and then CoreBarreFit, and the list goes on and on and on.

“Bar Method was actually our first and only license,” says Elisabeth, explaining that before Burr Leonard went on to open The Bar Method, Burr opened up a Lotte Berk Method in Greenwich Connecticut followed by three more locations in the state. For a decade she ran those studios before deciding not to renew the license after the 10-year agreement was up.

We trained her as a teacher to open up her license of The Lotte Berk Method. She is probably the closest to The Lotte Berk Method besides Fred and me, even though everything continues to evolve.

 

How one business could make such a lasting impact on the barre industry

Wondering if there was something in the water since so many notable brands can be traced back to this one method, I asked Fred and Lis if they could pinpoint anything specifically.

I think Fred and I created a really thorough teacher training program. We cared about everyone who came in. We were hands-on teaching all those classes each week and hands-on with our teachers. I think it was that care and camaraderie, that inspired a lot of teachers to become who they are.

Fred also pointed out that the exercises themselves helped their word of mouth efforts. “I think one of the hooks is that it works,” said Fred. “When people see results it’s like wildfire. Their friends see their bodies changing and want to know what they’re doing.”

We got more business from word of mouth referral than any other way. There were more people wanting to take the class than there was actual space. It was just like one of those great restaurants that you can’t get in, we were that. Even in Bridgehampton, we were the only exercise studio in Bridgehampton back in the late ’80s, ’90s and up to 2000s. There was no competition so people would flock there.

“We became real disciples of the work because of the results that we saw and the benefits that people would have from it and that’s why it became so popular,” said Elisabeth.

At the time boutique fitness wasn’t what it is today. It was somewhat novel, especially in the early 1970s for women to go to a fitness studio to exercise. Elisabeth remembered when a female client asked “What are these droplets on my arm?” Lydia told her, “that’s sweat, my dear.”

 

What happened to the Lotte Berk Method?

Lydia preferred to keep her operation small, despite numerous opportunities to expand. So why didn’t she? For one, “Lydia was an absentee owner,” Elisabeth explains. “It was pretty much just Fred and I.” Near the end of the studio’s run, she was living in India for half the year. “Lydia was never there except maybe 2 months out of the year.”

Fred and Elisabeth departed The Lotte Berk Method and opened Exhale [Exhale Spa at the time], which was successful in its own right with the pair at the helm for two decades. “That’s another reason we wanted to move on to Exhale,” said Elisabeth. “It could have been expanded globally. When we left she closed a few years later because we did pretty much everything. She was left with no teacher training procedures or a team to help develop a training program. That’s one of the reasons it didn’t go beyond Lydia Bach.”

She was a genius when she was at her best. The barre fitness world would not be where it is today if it were not for her. Lotte, yes, Lotte was the seed in London but Lydia is really who brought it to the forefront. She was a challenging individual but we learned so much from her.

 

Successful as the business was, it was not without controversy

Did Lotte have regret signing away those North American rights? In her 2020 memoir How to Live and Die, Lotte’s daughter Esther Fairfax had this to say about the decision.

In America, Lotte Berk had a truly huge presence. Only no one was teaching it as authentically as Mother had–and because of a foolish decision she’d made to sign away the American rights years ago, she had not been able to set the record straight by training or publishing books there. Her hands had been tied, truly handcuffed, and no matter how hard the lawyers tried they could not break the contract. Sadly, no one could use the name Lotte Berk in the States unless they were licensed by the one person who had taken it from Mother so cunningly all those years ago. My mother just had to watch as her technique was misinterpreted and mistaught.

 

The legacy lives on

The Lotte Berk Method was one of the most successful fitness brands of the 20th century. When exercise fads come and go, it’s no easy feat to sustain interest over more than three decades.

“I’m just tickled pink to see where barre is at today from that little studio at 23 East 67th Street,” said Elisabeth. “What is amazing is that we still teach a lot of the same clients we had back then and their children and some even their grandchildren. It’s just so wonderful to continue the journey with so many people after all these years.”

The Lenox Hill brownstone where the Lotte Berk Method housed their operation in New York is now the site of luxury apartments, art galleries and high-end retail.

 

Want to know more?

Fred and Elisabeth are going to dive into the history of barre during their lunch and learn session of the same name during this year’s Virtual Barre Summit. You don’t want to miss it! This year’s summit takes place online over two weekends beginning October 16. Visit barresummit.com for more details and to purchase tickets. The Barre Blog is proud to be the event’s Media Partner. Look out for more complimentary content in the weeks to come!

Aug 09
A Bar Method instructor stands behind the reception desk at the Rittenhouse location.

A Complete Overview and Review of The Bar Method

By Barre Crawl, The Bar Method No Comments

Overview

Since 2001, when Burr Leonard and her then-husband Carl Diehl opened the first studio in San Francisco, The Bar Method has expanded to become one of the most popular franchises around. With 100+ locations across the United States and Canada, this Lotte Berk Method-rooted brand is a favourite of mine. Although there are no studios anywhere near where I live, I always try to visit one when I’m in the United States. International expansion might be on the horizon for this brand, now that The Bar Method has been acquired by Anytime Fitness’ parent company Self Esteem Brands.

 

The Bar Method Charleston exterior

Students at The Bar Method's Wayne, PA location exercising.

 

What to expect

Upon entering a Bar Method you immediately notice the clean, modern and spa-like setting. There is a sophisticated air to each location I’ve ever walked into. From the reception area to the locker room and cabinets for your belongings to the studio itself. Most, if not all have at least one or more showers available for clients to use. It’s a small detail but one that is a nice option to have, especially since it’s not as common among other barre studios to have.

Each studio has a generous footprint. Studio sizes range from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, which gives many, if not all locations the ability to have space for kids’ clubs so you can drop your kiddos off before taking a class.

 

The Bar Method Dr. Phillips location in Orlando

Students at The Bar Method's Rittenhouse location exercising.

Students at The Bar Method's Rittenhouse location exercising.

 

The Class Format

Upon entering the studio, you’ll grab your equipment, which usually consists of free weights, mats and a ball. Every class begins with a warm-up in the center of the room, which involves upper-body exercises and pushups. You’ll work the biggest muscles first.

After your muscles are warm, you’ll make your way to the barre for a leg sequence and core exercises on the floor. The method predominantly uses your own body weight as resistance along with a few basic props.

Students are continually challenged with endless variations of each exercise timed to the beat of the music, which happens to count in “tens” as opposed to “eights,” so that each class feels unique. Students of all levels work within their individual limits while receiving encouragement to continually push forward.

You will work the biggest muscles first, then abs and a final burst of bonus seat work. Equipment may include thick foam mats (different than yoga mats), light dumbbells, balls, straps and foam.

Beyond their signature class, The Bar Method has 6 other class types. Bar Move is their cardio-based class, that moves through sequences at a faster pace. Bar Advanced is for experienced clients who are looking for an extra challenge, with deeper thigh and seat work. Bar Restore incorporates more stretching into the workout, Bar Express is their condensed 45-minute workout, Bar Prenatal is a modified version of their signature class, for expecting and new moms and Bar Basics is, you guessed it, their foundational class for Bar Method beginners.

 

The Bar Method ball on the barre

 

Students at The Bar Method's Rittenhouse location exercising.

 

 

What makes this technique different?

There’s a lot of focus on comfort at The Bar Method. It’s not uncommon for clients to grab one to three 1 1/2″ thick foam mats for sections of the class, especially those that focus on the core.

 

What I love about The Bar Method

The carpets are so plush and comfortable on your feet. I know not everyone likes a carpet in a barre studio, but for me, I love the softness and generally prefer to workout on a carpeted surface. Every Bar Method studio has a 3/4″ gymnastics pad underneath, which adds to the cushion and in turn protects your feet and minimizes the pressure on your joints as you go through the exercises.

 

Merch at The Bar Method Denver-Stapleton

Criticisms

One striking difference that I picked up on when I first started going to their classes is that rather than correcting clients individually by going around the room and adjusting them discreetly, it’s common practice for Bar Method instructors to announce corrections over the mic for everyone to hear. For instance, they will say, “Melissa, move your left foot out a few more inches.”

Historically I’ve appreciated the tactile feedback I receive when an instructor comes around and puts my body into the correct position, so I can understand exactly where it’s supposed to be. Being called out for everyone to hear is not intended to shame you, but it gave me some serious reminders of being back in high school again when you were called upon by the teacher. Eeek.

At first, I thought it was just an inexperienced instructor who didn’t know that they weren’t supposed to announce corrections on the mic but soon realized that this happens at every class I’ve been to since.

However, in COVID times, hands-off corrections are needed anyway.

 

Students at The Bar Method's Rittenhouse location exercising.

 

Students at The Bar Method's Wayne, PA location exercising.

 

In Conclusion

The Bar Method has a loyal following for a reason. It’s a great workout, has nice surroundings, and is accompanied by friendly staff and a welcoming community. If I had one in my town, I’d be there in a heartbeat.

Jul 27

Studio Spotlight: Barre Fitness – Western Canada’s Largest Barre Brand

By Studio Spotlight One Comment

Studio:

Barre Fitness

Location:

1038 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4

City:

Vancouver

Cost:

$25/class – also available on ClassPass (6+ credits)

Amenities:

Mats, lockers, towels, hair and skincare products

 

History/Background:

Founded by Ella Jotie and Michele Murgel, Barre Fitness opened in 2010 as Canada’s first barre-based studio. Since then, Barre Fitness has expanded across the Lower Mainland (Vancouver and the surrounding area) with studios in the North Shore, Surrey, and North Delta. Recently, Jotie was named one of British Columbia’s Top Fitness Instructors in 2019 by Impact Magazine.

 

 

About the Workout:

I attended Barre Fitness’ signature “Barre Fitness” class, taught by Jade Flemming. Jade is an instructor and the corporate general manager at Barre Fitness. The class itself fused elements of ballet, pilates, strength, and flexibility training using a ballet barre. The music here included a mix of acoustic and pop Top 40 tracks, which I preferred over the EDM that plays at other studios (ie. Pure Barre). I appreciated the instructor’s energy and enthusiasm for movement.

The class opened with a light and gentle warmup. We did plies, squats, and wrist rolls to get the body moving.

Weights are always my favourite part of a barre class – this was no exception. We toned our triceps with our lighter set of weights and biceps with our heavier set while working our backs with both. There was a good balance between fatiguing our muscles and pushing us to our mental limits. Jade was very encouraging and upbeat, which made the last 8 counts of each exercise feel less challenging than they actually were.

The thigh series consisted of many plies and demi-plies in 4th position for the classic barre burn. We worked on our soles and our toes so that we could strengthen our ankles. Jade also led us in a series of leg raises, which I found challenging since my hip flexors are extremely tight.

There was a lot of planking (isometric, hip dips, side planks) in the core section of class but Jade offered modifications (forearms, knees, at the barre) to cater to everyone in the room. I loved how everyone listened to their body and wasn’t afraid to modify as needed. I find that it is so important to work at our own pace/level to find what matches us… and to prevent injuries! 

The remainder of the class consisted of single-leg raises in flat back to work the seat. I found that the sequence length was appropriate – it wasn’t so long that it felt repetitive, but wasn’t so short that I didn’t feel the burn. To tone the abs, we used one lighter weight to do some curls, bicycle crunches, and tricep dips. In our last working section of the class, we did a glute bridge sequence with pulses, side dips, and taps (3x) to burn the booty!

Class ended with a nice stretch and cool down! 

 

Inside one of Barre Fitness's studios in Vancouver.

 

Overall Impressions:

Overall, I loved how warm and welcoming the studio felt, especially with the natural light shining in. The girls at the front desk were cheery and happy to answer any questions that clients had. Barre Fitness also provides towel service and lockers for you to store your belongings. Additionally, the studio also provides cotton hand towels for you to use in the bathroom. I previously worked at a fitness studio and was surprised by the number of paper towels that we went through on a daily basis; it is so great to see Barre Fitness minimizing their use of single-use paper towels!

 

Inside the washroom of a Barre Fitness studio in Vancouver

 

My only issue was with the black exercise mats, which felt extremely stiff against my back. When I stood on my mat, my feet sank in random places. Upon touching the mats, I noticed that the material was uneven/clumpy (maybe a sign of age?), so the mats weren’t as comfortable as I would have liked. 

The bathrooms were clean and stocked with various products, but there were only two available. If you are coming to class in the morning or after work, I’d recommend changing at home or before you leave the office so that you don’t have to wait in a line for the bathroom, as there are no changing stalls available. 

 

The mirror inside the washroom of a Barre Fitness studio in Vancouver.

 

I really enjoyed my class at Barre Fitness and I can’t wait to come back to try some other classes, such as Barre HIIT and Barre Power. I love the variety that this studio offers!

—

About the Author

Dorothy Ng is a consultant, project manager, and group fitness enthusiast. She loves being surrounded by a supportive community of people who push her to do one more rep, to hold that plank for a few more seconds, or to embrace that shake. She took dance lessons as a young girl and recently re-discovered her love of movement through barre, pilates, HIIT, and spin. When she’s not working, you can often find Dorothy trying a new restaurant in town, relaxing with a novel, or on Wikitravel planning her next adventure.

 

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