The 2020 Virtual Barre Summit officially got underway on Friday and after the first weekend, the event already has me swirling with ideas.
Although we miss the opportunity to gather in person, the 2020 virtual edition allowed for more people from around the world to participate. I was personally excited to attend for the first time from my home in Toronto, Canada.
There is still more to come! The second weekend of the conference is set to begin on Friday, October 23. There is still time to register, even if you missed the first weekend.
What have I learned so far? Here are just a few of the golden nuggets of wisdom that some of the presenters shared during the first weekend.
Source: barresummit.com
Don’t leave money on the table by offering free classes
You read that right. Incentivizing people with complimentary classes might get people through the doors but KK Hart Bailey explained in her session on Improving Your Barre Studio’s Pricing Structure that free classes don’t convert any better than paid classes. Determine how you can better communicate the value of your membership then sell your customers on it.
Think of your studio like a restaurant
To be fair KK Hart Bailey didn’t explicitly tell people to think of their studio as a restaurant, but she used the restaurant industry as a metaphor in a few different examples.
One tip that stood out was the art of the upsell. When you eat at a restaurant you are often asked if you would like sparkling instead of still water, a dessert or coffee and tea after your meal, something you might not have thought of having when you initially sat down to eat. This is upselling the customer.
Now when it comes to your fitness studio, you have the opportunity to upsell clients through a variety of means. For example, retail at the front of the studio is a great way to upsell people on their way out after class. You can also expand your complimentary services. One example is to offer a nutrition course or similar offering that they may not have thought of purchasing when they stepped inside your studio.
The other nugget of gold that KK used to compare fitness studios to restaurants is when she referred to a menu of membership options. Think about a restaurant that has a 12-page menu with endless options, versus a restaurant that uses a one-page menu with far fewer options to choose from. Which one is going to be easier to digest?
K.I.S.Savvy or Keep It Simple Savvy is the acronym that KK likes to use. Don’t overwhelm your clients with too many options.
Tying to be inclusive and making mistakes along the way is better than not trying at all
“It’s no longer time to try and be inclusive; you must be inclusive,” said Tricia Murphy-Madden during her Barre for the Masses session with Alex McLean. Tricia said that as instructors are trying to be more inclusive, that mistakes will be made and that’s ok.
One suggestion she had was in relation to addressing clients. She referred to a drawing that suggested using language that is more inclusive. Use “hey y’all,” or “hello folks,” instead of addressing gender, such as “ladies and gentlemen” or “guys and gals.”
Source: Tricia Murphy-Madden and Alex McLean.
A barre-less workout helps you access your core muscles even more
During her bootybarre means BOOTY! session, Tracey Mallett explained that when performing core exercises during a barre-less workout in the center of the room, your core has to work even harder to balance, especially as we get older.
A barre-less workout doesn’t mean it has to be a prop-less workout though. Tracey is a huge fan of the latex/elastic resistance band, especially in her bbarreless workouts. Bands can be used as a barre, with the added challenge of needing to use your core to find stability. If you want to work on your mind/body connection, even more, try a barre-less workout.
Source: barresummit.com
The playground ball is a very versatile barre prop
The playground ball might just be my favourite prop for barre class. It’s compact and you can use it in a variety of ways. What I didn’t realize was just how versatile it is. During Tanya Becker’s Crunchless Core for Barre session, the Physique 57 co-founder demonstrated at least 26 different exercises where the ball can be incorporated.
Some exercises looked familiar to me like when the ball is placed under your feet during bridge work. Other exercises appeared unfamiliar, like when the ball is under your back leg during pretzel.
When placed under one hand during a plank series, for example, the ball provides an unstable surface which forces you to recruit more muscles. Using the ball for leverage but not depending on it is a great way to effectively workout.
Drink two glasses of water before a meal
Of all the great science and evidence-based tips that Mindy and Bruce Mylrea shared during their Tips and Tricks for Sustained Weight Loss session, one, in particular, stood out to me. Drink two glasses of water before eating especially when you wake up. Drinking water half-an-hour prior to eating can increase weight loss by up to 44% over a 3-month period.
Drinking water in general is hard for me. This tip was helpful to hear since it seemed like an easy way to incorporate it into your everyday routine.
Source: instagram.com/onedaytowellness
Body language and your clients
Stacey Lei Krauss’ entire lunch and learn reminded me just how powerful our intentions can be and how often the biggest hurdles in the way of professional or personal success are our own limiting beliefs. That aside, I picked out a tip I think can help fitness instructors specifically.
When referencing Dr. Amy Cuddy’s research on power postures, she spoke about how body language determines how people view you. As an instructor standing at the front of the room, you can tell from body language who is ready to be pushed more and who is ready to give up. Is the student’s body hunched and appearing small or are they in a “superhero” pose with an expanded appearance?
Feet are an important part of your overall health
In the therapeutic and relaxing Sole Rejuvination session with Stacey Lei Krauss, she reminded us just how connected our feet are to the rest of the body. With a network of over 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles and over 1000 sensory receptors in each foot, the body is mapped anatomically onto our feet.
Your feet shouldn’t be an afterthought during a workout
Speaking of feet, FEET-NESS™ founder and CEO Ilaria Cavagna believes in posture from the ground up. It was no surprise then that she had us focusing on our feet during the FEET-NESS™ and the Pilates Mat workout. One thing she had us do was to point and flex our feet during 100s and Bicycle exercises and really think about engaging them as opposed to it being an afterthought. Thinking about feet as the foundation helps you get the most out of your workout.
“[Your feet] deserve to move as much as your biceps and your abs!” Cavagna once said in an interview. By doing a few simple exercises after a night in heels, we can increase circulation and improve the entire body’s function among other benefits.
Source: barresummit.com
Test your balance at the beginning and end of class
In one of the first sessions of the day, BeyondBarre founder Colleen Ketchum had us test our balance at the end of class as well as the beginning. She asked us to observe if we noticed a difference. I thought this was a nice way to begin and end a class. Even in a 45-minute workout, there are ways to track your progress.
Source: instagram.com/beyondbarremethod
Did you attend the first weekend of the event? Which sessions did you attend and did you pick up any new tips that you would like to share? Write a comment below!
If you’re a fan of The Bachelor franchise like I am, you’ll definitely appreciate that a new season of The Bachelorette is set to hit the air on October 13. It’s no secret that most people who appear on the show are toned, so I wondered if any of them do barre workouts to stay in shape.
As I found out there were quite a few. Here are some of the women who consider barre a part of their fitness routine and what they like about it.
Tenley Leopold
Tenley Leopold (Molzahn at the time of filming) has made a few appearances on The Bachelor franchise throughout the years including on Jake Pavelka’s season of The Bachelor when she was the runner-up. She also appeared on the first season of Bachelor Pad and the second season of Bachelor in Paradise.
Tenley, a lifelong dancer calls barre “one of her favorite activities” and says “being at the barre feels like home.” From her Instagram account, we know that she has been attending Studio Barre Encinitas since at least 2016 and taught there for a period of time.
Source: instagram.com/tenleymolzahn
Source: instagram.com/tenleymolzahn
Photo source: instagram.com/tenleymolzahn
Here’s what she told us about why she loves barre just before she had her baby.
“As a former professional dancer, Barre is a favorite workout of mine. I love how it targets different muscle groups, but keeps your body lean and strong like that dancers body! I especially love my Studio Barre workouts, I actually taught for quite awhile! The format of the class gets you straight to work, and still helps you reach cardio goals! Anybody can do it from home now too, with Studio Barre on Demand and every single class has so much energy and leaves you feeling it! I also love that Barre workouts are great for pregnancy, and can easily be modified for the season of life you’re in. I’m currently pregnant and cannot wait to be back to Barre full force!”
Amanda Stanton
Amanda appeared on Ben Higgins’ season of The Bachelor as well as Bachelor in Paradise twice. She’s an ambassador for Openfit which includes an at-home barre program led by Xtend Barre’s Andrea Rogers.
Source: instagram.com/amanda_stantonn
I love that they have Pilates and barre and it’s a celebrity trainer. These workouts are only 30 minutes long so they’re super quick but really effective and I love that you can do everything at home so you don’t really need any equipment. It’s literally like having a personal trainer and nutritionist at home.
Sydney Lotuaco
Sydney is a Bachelor in Paradise alum was a contestant on Colton’s season of The Bachelor. The former New York Knicks dancer was also most recently a Physique 57 teacher in New York City. She was often featured in their marketing materials and in their video content.
Source: instagram.com/sydneylotuaco
Source: instagram.com/sydneylotuaco
Photo source: instagram.com/sydneylotuaco
I was a Senior trainer at Physique 57, teaching both in-studio and for our online platform. I love barre classes, but also love to incorporate all types of fitness in order to cross-train my body. Ultimately, I think it’s just best to move with efficiency while maintaining form and the easiest way to do that is when you love and are having fun while you’re doing it.
Upon leaving Physique 57 after 5 years of sculpting bodies and changing lives, she thanked the brand for making her stronger, giving her a voice and for those who trusted her with their own journey in fitness.
Tia Booth
The Bachelor in Paradise and Bachelor Season 22 contestant, is known to dabble in barre. Tia uses the Openfit app to take classes on occasion.
Source: instagram.com/tiarachel91
“I can’t go to the gym right now and this is something for me that is doable,” says Tia, who uses the Openfit app to take barre and Pilates classes.
Molly Mesnick
Bellevue-based Molly Mesnick was the runner-up and then eventual fiancé and wife of Bachelor Jason Mesnick on his season of The Bachelor. She counts barre as a go-to workout among an assortment of other fitness modalities. She’s been known to make an appearance at Pure Barre Bellevue.
Source: instagram.com/mollymesnick
Source: instagram.com/mollymesnick
Molly credits barre with helping her get toned while also being a nice compliment to other cardio workouts she likes doing, like SoulCycle.
The former Miss Texas USA was a contestant on Peter Weber’s season of The Bachelor. Though she doesn’t go anymore, she was known to frequent Pure Barre in Huebner Commons, before competing in Miss America.
Source: instagram.com/alayahbenavidez
I don’t go to Barre anymore but I did love it when I would go. It was a great low impact workout that was always super challenging and worked muscles that I wouldn’t normally think to target while helping me get leaner and stronger! I loved it.
Desiree Siegfried
The Bachelorette from Season 9 has been doing barre for years. When she lived in Seattle she would frequent the now-shuttered Bar Method – Eastside location, especially in the lead up to her wedding to contestant Chris Siegfried. Since the lockdown, she has been doing more online classes, and Barre3’s online program is part of her fitness routine.
Working with a trainer to get wedding-ready pushed her to lift heavier weights and to go longer on workouts she has said.
Former Bachelor contestants Lindzi Cox (left) and Desiree Siegfried (center) at The Bar Method in Seattle back in 2014. Photo by Andria Lindquist
Source: instagram.com/desireesiegfried
Annaliese Puccini
The two-time Bachelor in Paradise contestant was on Arie’s season of The Bachelor. On several occasions, she was spotted with her mom at Barre3 San Mateo.
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.
Studio name:Physique 57 Locations: New York City, Hamptons, Beverly Hills, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok Cost per single class: Varies by the city but starts at $33 USD in Beverly Hills and can go for as much as $37 in Manhattan and around $38 in Dubai.
Considered to be one of the more posh barre franchises, Physique 57 is a favourite go-to workout for celebs like Kelly Ripa, Hilaria Baldwin and Chrissy Teigen.
During a recent trip to Manhattan, I had the pleasure of trying my first Physique 57 class. I had been eager to take a class at the franchise that has been endlessly referenced in pop culture. During an episode of Girls, Allison Williams’ character Marnie uses it as an excuse to get out of helping Ray sort through his fallen friend’s belongings. “Oh, you know what I just realized? I have Physique 57 in an hour in Manhattan,” she says.
About Physique 57
Founders Tanya Becker and Jennifer Maanavi were longtime fans of the Lotte Berk technique. After their beloved Lotte Berk Method studio closed, the two partnered to form Physique 57, a now famous franchise with locations all over the globe. It’s in New York where they put down roots though and grew a large following of dedicated fans who flock to classes at any of their four Manhattan locations. I decided to check out their new SoHo digs.
First Impressions
Upon first sight, I was impressed with the size of the place. The first thought that popped into my head was how the rent for this ground floor, two-studio space must be astronomical. No wonder they charge $37 for a single class. Despite my shock of the sticker price, I learned that this is becoming the norm for Manhattan boutique fitness classes. Maybe I’ve just been spoiled back home with $25 classes.
They had a lovely retail space that featured both branded Physique 57 wear and other go-to favourites among clientele like Spiritual Gangster, Alo Yoga and Terez.
The Workout
I once watched a livestream of a class taught by Tanya Becker and was exhausted from just listening to it, so I took that as a sign that I should start with a beginner class.
Our instructor Leah Tubbs told us to grab a set of 5-pound weights. Normally I wouldn’t use that heavy a set, even for bicep work, but I grabbed a pair of 5’s and a pair of 2’s for good measure. I thought if it’s standard to grab 5-pound weights, then either everyone in here is Wonder Woman or we are going to be skipping over tricep work altoghether.
Despite the title of the class, the intro to Physique 57 was no walk in the park. Our cardio-focused class had very few breaks and we were moving throw the exercises at a vigorous pace.
Our warmup began with some high knee lifts, then we were soon picking up those heavy weights for arm work. This is where those 5-pound weights came in. I understood why it was suggested to pick up a heavier set of weights, since the arm exercises weren’t overly tiring and we didn’t focus too much on the triceps, which tend to tire easily.
Following our warmup we moved through several barre and floor exercises that targeted all the usual muscle groups.
Leah was helpful in her adjustments and made sure to come around to correct my form a few times. If I looked confused, she would make sure to adjust me into the correct position, until my alignment was just right.
The Final Verdict
I must say I had very high expectations for Physique 57 before I came in. Did it live up to expectations? I would say it did. Was the choreography as ground-breaking as their marketing suggests? No, I wouldn’t say the exercises stood out more than any other class I’ve been to before. I thought the class had a great flow and didn’t waste any time between exercises. The class is designed to push your limits and I would say it accomplished that.
You may have heard of The Lotte Berk Technique but who is the woman behind the workout? Lotte Berk, born Liselotte Heymansohn in Cologne, Germany is considered to be the originator of barre. She was a renowned European ballet dancer until she suffered a severe spinal injury.
After the accident, Lotte began working with an orthopedic surgeon. It was during her recovery that she designed a series of exercises to strengthen the spine and core to assist. After making a full recovery, Lotte Berk began sharing her method with others.
Why might Lotte Berk be considered the founder of barre?
Even though Lotte trained as a modern dancer, her exercises are specially designed for non-dancers. She also incorporated use of floor and bar work into her routines.
Lotte Berk’s influence on modern barre
In the early 70s, a woman named Lydia Bach opened The Lotte Berk Method in New York. Inspired by Lotte’s workout, Lydia purchased the rights to use her name in North America and opened studios in her name, first in Manhatten, followed by Bridgehampton, Los Angeles and eventually via franchise locations throughout Connecticut.
Burr Leonard was a student and eventual owner of those franchise locations throughout Connecticut. After a decade of teaching the Lotte Berk Method, she and her partner decided that the technique they were teaching had diverged so much from the original that they decided to branch out on their own and hence The Bar Method opened their flagship studio in 2000 in San Francisco.
Physique 57’s Jennifer Vaughan Maanavi and Tanya Becker were a teacher and student duo that met while Tanya was teaching at The Lotte Berk Method’s New York City studio. Saddened by the sudden closure of the studio, the pair decided to go into business together. Today you’ll see Lotte’s influence in Tanya’s choreography, which is set to energetic and motivating music. Tanya incorporated cardio, strength training and soothing stretches to the routine, which build off of the Lotte Berk technique she once taught.
The cover of Lydia Bach’s 1971 book about The Lotte Berk Method.
In some way or another, every modern barre class today has either been directly or indirectly influenced by Ms. Berk’s technique. The results that studios hope their clients achieve are really just the same as they were a few decades ago. The goal of a Lotte Berk class is to firm, lengthen and shape the muscles to their optimal form. Today’s classes use the foundation that Lotte created, with a few more gimmicks. Equipment like step-up platforms, straps and balls were never part of the original technique.
You’ll see Lotte’s influence manifest in many different forms in today’s classes. For instance, many franchises including Pure Barre do not allow their clients to wear midriff-baring tops. Exposed skin to cool air make the muscles more prone to injury. Lotte Berk was a big advocate for injury prevention since her methods were created to facilitate her own recovery.
Speaking of injury prevention, the popular “tuck” that we hear so often referred to in class, was simply a pelvic tilt in the early days. It was an exercise based on dance that was meant to protect the spine.
Interested in taking a true Lotte Berk Technique class?
If you want the authentic experience, head to a studio that offers the closest thing to the original technique. If you find yourself in Hungerford, England, you can take a class at the studio owned by Lotte’s daughter, Esther Fairfax. If you happen to find yourself in Switzerland, take a class with Tina Graf, if you’re in the UK stop into Disco Barre Studio or if you’re in the United States, theLONDONmethod in California, LONDON BARRE in New York or Barre Bayou in Louisiana. The Good Barre also offers online classes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
