Pilates has the Pilates Method Alliance and yoga has the Yoga Alliance but up until now, there was no comparable alliance for the barre industry. Introducing the Barre Fitness Alliance.
Since barre went mainstream, anyone using a ballet barre as a prop was describing it as a “barre” class, although methods and choreography could be markedly different from one class to another. There was no oversight committee in the barre industry so anyone could put a certification course together and charge money to “certify” instructors.
It seemed fitting that someone or a collective group of people needed to come along and identify what barre is and isn’t and offer some oversight.
In a nutshell, what is the Barre Fitness Alliance?
The BFA was hatched from a desire to assign a richer standard to barre certifications, classes and instructors.
“Our mission is to bring barre professionals together without bias to any one particular barre training,” says Lara. “We want to uphold the history of Lotte Berk both the human and the Lotte Berk Method studio in New York City and we want to ensure the quality of today’s instructors and really the integrity of the industry now and into the future. We want to ensure barre going forward remains not watered down for years to come.”
If you’re a barre teacher training organization, barre studio, instructor or even an enthusiast, the alliance is meant to be a resource for you.
What does the Barre Fitness Alliance consider to be the gold standard of barre?
If you’re familiar with the rich history of barre, then you know that there was Lotte Berk who famously invented the first iteration of what we know as barre today, and then everything that evolved from her original technique since. Considering barre fitness classes today are wildly different from what Lotte originally taught, there are actually two standards that the BFA uses as their bellwether. They are the teachings that came from the now-shuttered Lotte Berk Method in New York City, and Lotte Berk’s original technique as taught to Esther Fairfax her daughter and subsequently other trainees that carry on her legacy today like Long Beach’s theLONDONmethod.
“We’ve set the barre industry standards going back to the Lotte Berk Method in New York City for our members to uphold. Through these measures, the quality of barre instruction is maintained, which benefits those in our industry and the communities we serve,” says Lara.
A Barre Fitness Alliance Instagram post featuring Lara Foldvari, President of the BFA
What you receive when you become a member.
Members receive access to partner discounts on everything from retail to fitness equipment, certifications, apparel, AV equipment, liability insurance and more.
If you become a BFA-certified instructor, studio or training program, you can display the corresponding virtual badge on your website for everyone to see.
Anyone who visits the BFA website will be able to identify you in the public-facing directory.
You will be able to network with other highly qualified instructors through virtual and in-person workshops and events.
You will have a voice on what future industry standards should look like.
What you’ll get as a founding member.
All of the partner programs offer 20% off their training. There will be more opportunities for continuing education among partner certifications.
Pointe Studio offers product discounts. Vita Barre offers discounts on barres and other fitness equipment. AV Now offers discounts on audio-visual equipment.
An Instagram post from the Barre Fitness Alliance introducing Andrea Isabelle Lucas, VP of the BFA
How to apply to be a founding member.
You can apply on the website. To become a BFA-approved instructor, there is a one-time processing and registration fee of $140. An annual membership (at the time of writing) in subsequent years will cost you $130. To become a BFA-approved teacher training organization, membership and processing fees for the first year cost $599 and the limited founding teacher training organization rate is $549 for the first year.
If you have any questions, send an email to barrefitnessalliance@gmail.com or a direct Instagram message to instagram.com/barrefitnessalliance.
What are the requirements for a certification to become accepted by the BFA?
Certifications must be a minimum of 100 hours in training and cover:
The history of barre
Anatomy
Exercise science
Musicality
How to put a class together
Modifications/variations
Hands-on adjustments
Practice teaching
A written and practical exam
25 of the 28 exercises listed in the syllabus criteria.
A post from Jennifer Maanavi’s Instagram, Treasurer of the BFA
What you receive when you become a BFA-certified teacher training organization.
You’ll be able to display the BFA barre teacher-training badge on your website and be listed as an approved teacher training organization in the BFA directory.
You will have a voice in future industry standard discussions.
You’ll be able to offer discounts on training to other members.
Will in-house training programs from franchises like Pure Barre, The Bar Method or Barre3 be recognized?
Any certification program whether it is public-facing or not is invited to submit an application for review. Barre3, one of the world’s largest and most popular barre franchises for example auditions instructors before they go through their in-house training.
In order for a certification to be properly vetted by the board, the company hosting the training needs to provide a syllabus and training materials for review. Since some franchises are known to keep their training materials close to their chest it is yet to be seen if any of the franchises will be willing to disclose (at least to the board) their proprietary information.
If you’ve been trained through a franchise that isn’t already a BFA education partner, the BFA encourages you to speak with your managers or write to the heads of the company where you were trained to see if they would be interested in applying.
BFA Secretary and Bayou Barre’s Betsy Royster is introduced on the Barre Fitness Alliance’s Instagram account.
What are the requirements to become a BFA-certified studio?
To become a BFA-certified studio, you will need at least two of your instructors to be certified by a BFA-approved Barre Teacher Training Program. If not instructors, then a Director, Owner, Master Trainer or Manager of the studio. Also at least one of those instructors needs to be BFA approved, so they need to show proof of certification in the year they applied and with yearly renewals.
Is it necessary to join the Barre Fitness Alliance?
Like any exercise discipline with a professional association, you are not forced to join it in order to run classes. It all depends on what you’re looking to get out of becoming a barre teacher, opening a studio or offering a certification program. If you’re looking to build credibility among your clientele and peers, joining the alliance is a good way of establishing that.
If you’re a fitness instructor, having a BFA-approved certification behind your name can be an easy way to fast-track job offers, especially when busy studio owners don’t want to spend more time than they need trying to assess your skill level.
Both the Pilates Method Alliance and the Yoga Alliance weren’t built overnight. It will take time for the credibility of the BFA to grow and not everyone in the industry will be on board with this particular group of people deciding what should and should not count as barre. In my opinion, this is a remarkable who’s who of the industry. You have some of the most sought-after owners, teachers and business people on the board, and I believe they know what they’re talking about.
The Dailey Method’s Jill Dailey is introduced as BFA Director on their Instagram.
What does the future of the BFA look like?
In a Zoom call with members back in early August, the board of directors was pressed on whether certification criteria might evolve in the future to reflect the changing barre landscape. In response to that question, BFA Vice President Andrea Isabelle Lucas had this to say. “Yeah absolutely. We should all admit that we’ve all evolved the method. It will be a challenging and really productive exercise for us to start to evaluate more trainings that are maybe a little bit less similar.”
When speaking with Lara Foldvari in a separate follow-up call she seemed optimistic yet realistic about what the future could hold. She has hopes of growing the BFA base to rival industry counterparts like the yoga and Pilates alliances, while also knowing that the Yoga Alliance has 100,000 certified instructors in their base and barre does not have as much mainstream influence as yoga or Pilates. “We know how barre has evolved, we anticipate barre industry standards to evolve and grow as we do,” says Lara.
The BFA plans to host a mixture of in-person and virtual events throughout the year with the hopes of hosting at least one in-person event annually. I for one can’t wait to see what’s in store for the alliance and all involved.
Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito of Core Barre Fit are Supporting Partners of the BFA.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Locations: New York City, Hamptons, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Bermuda, Boston, Chicago, Stamford, Miami, Atlantic City, Turks + Caicos.
Cost per single class: Varies by the city but starts at $25 in cities like Stamford, Atlanta and Boston and can go for as much as $37 USD in New York and $40 in the Hamptons.
I had always wanted to try an exhale Barre class after I discovered this brand a few years ago. I was immediately impressed with the sleekness of their site, the appearance of their seemingly posh interiors, their connection with luxury hoteliers, and the list goes on.
Knowing I was going to be in New York for a short trip, I immediately looked up the schedule of classes offered at all of their New York City locations.
Timing wise, I found a class at 11:00 am on a Monday morning near the location of our lunch reservation. Coincidentally and fortunately for me, the class was going to be taught by none other than exhale Barre co-creator and exhale co-founder Fred DeVito!
Exhale and Its Interesting Past
Fred got his start in fitness at an early age but it wasn’t until his wife started teaching at the famed Lotte Berk Method in New York that Fred would be introduced to the barre workout and the many physical benefits it had on clientele.
He became the first male instructor at the studio and has been instrumental in making sure the Lotte Berk Method legacy lives on. The doors to the popular studio eventually closed and left many students and teachers wondering where they were going to practice barre next.
This created opportunity for some followers of the method. In fact, that studio produced a number of familiar franchises we now know and love today. You might be familiar with Tanya Becker and Jennifer Maanavi. They were also followers of the Lotte Berk Method and would go on to create Physique 57. Meanwhile, after spending 16 years teaching the Lottel Ber Method in New York, Fred, along with his partner and two other colleagues went on to create the mind/body/spa company exhale.
Exhale in its Current Form
Exhale is unique in that it is part fitness studio, part spa, offering both boutique fitness classes and spa therapies at any of their 21 locations around the United States and the Carribean. They’re now known as just exhale, (they dropped ‘spa’ from their name recently). Side note: they’ve also recently partnered with World of Hyatt to offer guests a reward program.
First Impressions
I must say, the studio is among the nicest I’ve ever stepped into. It didn’t hurt that the location I went to had a glamorous Central Park South address. Upon entering, there was an entire retail shop to pass through featuring both exhale branded and non-branded merch.
I was greeted by a friendly face at the front desk who directed me to the studio. Though I didn’t get to explore the entire facility because I wasn’t there for any spa treatments, I could smell the delightful scents from the treatment room and yoga studio as I walked down the hallway.
The washroom and changing areas were first class. It is a spa after all. Among the usual staples like showers, lockers and bathrooms were vanities outfitted with top-notch products to help you freshen up.
The studio was a beautiful, naturally-lit, carpeted room with ample space for everyone to comfortably work out. I actually couldn’t believe I got to take a class in that nice of a setting. I can only imagine what it would be like to have it as your regular spot.
The Workout
There was some familiarity with the exercises during class, such as knee lifts, reverse push-ups, forearm and sidearm planks etc., but there was much to discover with this exhale Barre format. For one, I considered it to be one of the most challenging classes I have ever taken. That’s a good thing!
Fred had us working our tails off for the entire hour, with little rest, but just enough time to stretch out after certain sections of the class.
Here’s how an exhale Barre class is typically formatted:
Warm-up
Planks and push-ups
Upper body (arms)
Thighs
Seat
Abs and core
Prone and pelvic tilt (back and thigh dancing)
Final stretch (savasana)
The Final Verdict
If I lived in New York or any other city with an exhale, I could see myself going regularly. I loved the class format, the pace, the attention Fred was giving to all of the students in the room and the general ambiance of the place.
Though it was a tough workout, I felt accomplished (and completely exhausted) when class finished. I consider that to be a good thing.
If you’re interested in learning more about exhale or their exhale Barre class specifically, they have a brand new subscription-based streaming service so you can take classes on demand.
Posing for a photo with exhale co-founder and exhale Barre co-creator, Fred DeVito.
Have you ever tried an exhale Barre class? What did you think? Leave a comment below.
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