Keeping engaged during virtual barre classes has become increasingly challenging. We are inundated with an enormous amount of content online. The number of people in our homes during the day has increased due to working remotely and/or homeschooling—not to mention you’re probably juggling everyone’s schedules plus your own personal and professional life.
Making time for an entire class (especially a live class and not the replay) without having your attention pulled in 1000 directions has become maybe the most challenging part of the workout! Well, perhaps not the most challenging part since we all know how barre can be! Joking aside, here are my tips for keeping engaged both mentally and physically in your online barre classes.
1. Choose a shorter class
Do you find yourself drifting off thinking of all the things you need to do halfway through the class, then turning your camera off while pretending you’re still “there,” and starting to tick off items on your to-do list? If this is you, then it’s time to choose a shorter barre class. You don’t have to take a 60-minute class to get results or to feel accomplished. Try taking maybe a 45 or 30-minute class instead. If you’re watching the replay of the class you signed up for, do half the class one day and the other half the next. Find that sweet spot that allows you to stay focused, which will leave you feeling way better neatly than forcing yourself to do more than is best for you at that time.
2. Kick everyone out
Has your family (pets included) taken over your house with school, remote working, playtime, and all of their activities? This is a yes for a lot of people at the moment. It’s hard to stay focused when a lot is going on and other people around distracting you from what you’d like to be doing.
It doesn’t matter if it’s one roommate, four kids, or the whole quarantine pod; it’s too many people all of the time to be sharing the same space without a break. Something that has been helping me is to schedule an hour to have the place to myself (and this can also be just one floor of a home) to exercise. I kick out my husband and baby, so I can have one hour distraction-free.
After everyone is back, I feel even more energized by not feeling pulled in every direction. I also recommend doing a shorter class so you can take the rest of the time to do something else that needs your full attention, like taking a bath with a facial mask on!
3. Turn up the volume
If the first two tips are not possible, I recommend getting a pair of wireless headphones and turning up the sound. If you are determined to get your hour-long barre class in and everyone in your house is buzzing around, this will get the job done. Try noise-cancelling headphones, and it’ll be like your own private silent disco!
4. Go for a walk instead
If you’re feeling completely burnt out, it’s time to take a break. Breaking up our routine is a great way to feel refreshed. We are spending a lot of time in front of our screens these days. Take some time to get outside and go for a walk instead of taking an online class. If you want to increase the intensity a little, bring a pair of small hand-weights or wrist weights.
You can still get your barre arms while walking around, and your brain can rest from the overstimulation. It’s ok to take a break, so when you come back to the barre, you feel more energized and excited to be there!
About the Author
Michelle DuVall is the creator of Barre Variations, a compressive method and manual with an expanded syllabus of choreography and technique. She is also a passionate motivator who creates inclusive experiences for her community through movement sessions, wellness events and retreats.
