A few months ago, when taking a class at my local barre3 studio, I noticed heavier weights on the shelf. Now this franchise has, since its inception, been offering clients comparatively lighter weights for their signature barre classes. That’s because traditionally, barre classes use lighter weights to help you focus on toning the right muscle groups more precisely. We’re talking about in the two to 5-pound range generally.
Sitting on the shelf were 12 and 15-pound weights, a considerable jump from those lighter sets. I also started noticing specialty mats around the perimeter of the room. The owner announced over the speaker that they are getting ready to roll out a new class format and to stay tuned for more details. I couldn’t help but wonder what it might be.
It turns out that those heavier sets of weights are for a brand new class format called b3 Strength, and the company has been testing out the format through their online platform since 2021. According to the official class description, it is designed to build strength in mind and body while moving slowly and with intention.
Weights sit on a shelf at a barre3 studio.
It’s not just at barre3. Major players in the barre franchise world, like Pure Barre and The Bar Method, have been adopting new class formats that cater to strength, cardio, stretching and other modalities.
Even though fitness franchises like Orange Theory and F45 Training are in different lanes, there are many clients I know who complement their barre activities with an additional modality or two on the side, so it came as no surprise to me when I heard Pure Barre announce earlier this year a new strength-based barre class called Pure Barre Define™ was going to be joining the suite of offerings. Similarly, The Bar Method announced they would be rolling out Bar Strength, which according to their Brand President Stephanie Schon, is an amplification of their signature barre exercises with weight work and circuit training.
For reference, when I refer to signature classes, I’m talking about the classic barre classes. Some franchises like Pure Barre consider their suite of offerings to include 5 signature classes, with their classic barre class being one of them.
Photo credit: Jenn Byrne
The History of Expansion Barre Classes
Let’s dig a little deeper into how these barre brands began to offer more than just signature barre classes.
The Bar Method
The Bar Method has been around since 2001, and so has their signature Bar Method class, followed two years later by Bar Advanced. A decade later, Bar Move was introduced, designed to keep clients moving with larger ranges of motion. In recent years we’ve seen the introduction of Bar Restore (2018), a 30-60-minute Bar Method class followed by a 15-60-minute Restore class and Barre Flow (2022) that incorporates Vinyasa Flow sequences.
That brings us to 2023. After a 10-year run, Bar Move was replaced with Bar Method Cardio earlier in the year. This class is designed to increase your heart rate and calorie burn.
The newest class in The Bar Method family is Bar Strength, a circuit training class with weights. Some classes might consist of exercises like weighted planks, rows, shoulder walks and lat pulls. They let you know when to go with the lighter and heavier set of weights.
barre3
Launched in Portland, Oregon, barre3’s signature class has been their, shall you say, pièce de résistance since the beginning. The signature barre3 class has been combining strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness into a full-body balanced workout since 2008.
barre3 is somewhat unique in that their core product has mostly carried them through its 15-year history, and they haven’t ventured far from the Signature class much, at least in terms of in-studio offerings.
With the recent announcement of b3 Strength and b3 Cardio, we’re seeing a new era of barre3. b3 Strength is intended to focus on slow, intentional movement to help move safely with heavier weights while b3 Cardio is designed to increase cardiovascular endurance while increasing stamina and improving overall heart health.
“We designed this class to be accessible and safe for all, focusing on working in the mid-range heart rate zones where most health benefits are realized,” said barre3’s Subject Matter Expert: Body Mechanics and Training, Lisa Schale-Drake. “In this class we focus on the importance of internal measures of breath vs. technology readouts and how to move safely with impact and speed.”
Photo credit: Jenn Byrne
Pure Barre
Pure Barre launched onto the scene around the same time as The Bar Method with their signature barre class, now simply referred to as Classic™. You can read all about it here.
In 2015 Pure Barre brought out the platform props to offer clients bigger ranges of motion with the added element of cardio. Pure Barre Platform lasted a couple of years before being shelved. It was eventually replaced with a new signature class called Pure Barre Empower™ which is still on the schedule today.
A few years later, Refom came on the scene with the use of sliders and resistance bands. Reform has disappeared from some locations’ schedules as of late, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t return. It’s quite possible we may see their newest offering Pure Barre Define™ take its place since the classes have similar resistance training goals. Pure Barre declined to comment for this article when asked about Pure Barre Define™.
We can’t forget about Pure Barre Foundations™, which sounds like their classic class but is actually an introductory class that was brought in a few years ago to help new clients get familiar with the technique and is offered for free as a way of incentivizing people to try a Pure Barre class.
In the earlier part of 2022, they announced Pure Barre Align™ would be added to the roster. This was after they offered the stretch and restore-type format through special intensives, like pop-up classes. Pure Barre Align™ is an iteration of the Stretch and Restore classes.
That brings us to the latest Pure Barre offering, rolling out in the summer of 2023, Pure Barre Define™. This is their weight-based strength training class. Using heavier weights, clients will move through resistance training exercises using the principle of progressive overload.
What’s Behind the Evolution?
In my opinion, a few factors contribute to the diversity of classes. Firstly, client feedback plays an important part in dictating what gets on the schedule. Listening to clients was part of why you’re seeing new class offerings at barre3.
B3 Strength was an instant hit on our digital platform when it launched in 2021. Clients commented that b3 Strength was not only building their knowledge and confidence in lifting heavy weights but that they were feeling the results in their everyday lives. With excitement to try something new with a brand they trust, we knew that b3 Strength would be a success in the studio and an ideal complement to the barre3 Signature class.
– Lisa Schale-Drake, Subject Matter Expert: Body Mechanics and Training at barre3
The Bar Method was also paying close attention to what clients wanted. “Client feedback suggested that we needed to diversify our class format, so we introduced Bar Method Cardio,” said Brand President Stephanie Schon. “We learned from consumer data that our clients were unaware of the cardio workouts available to them in our barre programs. Despite offering Bar Move, we learned we needed to optimize the cardio class format to change this mindset.”
In my opinion, market trends also play a significant role in what gets rolled out. Stephanie Schon partially attributed market trends to why Bar Strength is now on their schedule. “Our market trend research led to the introduction of Bar Strength,” she said.
Exercise trends come and go; if clients can’t find what they’re looking for at your studio, they’ll go somewhere else. I believe we’re seeing more weight and resistance-training-infused barre classes because there is a lot of demand for those classes. In order to facilitate clients who might turn to other boutique studios for complimentary workouts, barre studios are trying to keep clients within their franchise by offering alternative classes to a straight-up classic barre class.
“Many clients informed us they had workout routines outside of The Bar Method and were looking for more variety in their classes.”
– Stephanie Schon, Brand President, The Bar Method
Photo courtesy of The Bar Method
How Do Signature Barre Classes Fit Into The Mix?
Don’t panic! When I spoke to representatives from The Bar Method and barre3, they assured me that signature classes aren’t going anywhere. After all, it’s their bread and butter. Lisa Schale-Drake had this to say. “While barre3 Signature is a mainstay class offered at every barre3 studio, b3 Strength and b3 Cardio are optional classes for studio owners to add to their schedule as desired by their specific client base.”
She also added that the Signature class is always evolving. “For the past 15 years, we have continued to evolve the Signature class to meet our client’s needs and implement the latest scientific research in body mechanics. Our objective has and will always be to pursue clients’ needs and not fitness trends.”
Stephanie Schon of The Bar Method commented about how important it is to root all their classes in barre. “While we offer a diverse range of class formats at The Bar Method, it’s imperative all our offerings have a foundation in barre. Barre is the basis of everything we do – we not only incorporate real elements of ballet, yoga, and Pilates into our workout techniques, but test our formats to ensure they’re both safe and effective before introducing them to clients.”
Final Impressions
Over the last few years, my observations have shown that the barre landscape is changing. Boutique studios that once had a narrow niche focus on one signature class or modality are branching out. Though we looked at the big three barre franchises in North America, if you look at other barre chains like The Barre Code, Neighborhood Barre and Physique 57, they’ve been offering classes like HIIT, Bootcamp and strength classes for years.
For the most part, these classes still incorporate barre exercises to some degree, maybe some more than others. The Barre Code’s Brawl class is a standalone cardio class that doesn’t have any barre elements in it.
I predict we will continue to see the landscape evolve and react to client feedback and market trends. I don’t believe signature classes are going anywhere. So long as there is demand for barre, studios will continue to offer their signature classes.
Do you think these barre franchises are heading in the right direction with these new class formats or will trying to appeal to everyone’s taste water down the brand? Are there any formats you miss that you wish would return from the barre class graveyard? Let me know in the comments.
A new year brings a new class format to Pure Barre’s roster of signature classes. Pure Barre Align™, the stretch and restore-based class, is now a permanent fixture–or at least added indefinitely to the schedules of Pure Barre locations across North America heading into 2023.
The new class format is based on a pilot project class called Stretch and Restore that made waves in 2022. After a warm client reception, Pure Barre developed a more permanent version of the class to add to its lineup of signature class formats, which include the classic Pure Barre class, Reform, Empower and an introductory class called Foundations.
What is Pure Barre Align™?
The 50-minute class will employ elements of a classic Pure Barre class that focus on strength-building while delivering a restorative experience with flexibility and balance. The low-impact, full-body workout is designed to be accessible so that anyone, regardless of their fitness ability, will be able to join.
“We are thrilled to offer this one-of-a-kind workout experience that focuses on the restorative needs of our clients,” said Regan Stokes, President of Pure Barre. “This balances out our programming perfectly, providing a class format for everyone.”
If you think this will be a casual 50 minutes of stretching with light exercises, think again. When I took the Stretch and Restore class back in May 2022, I wrote about how it was no walk in the park. Despite the description, there is still a fair amount of strength training exercises that clients would recognize in a classic Pure Barre class. Some Reddit users have referred to the class as the inverse of a classic class.
Image courtesy of Pure Barre
Is Pure Barre Align™ a Rebrand of Stretch and Restore?
For those who enjoyed Stretch and Restore, representatives from Pure Barre confirmed that Align is a rebrand of the former class, so you can expect to see a near-identical version of a Stretch and Restore class.
How Pure Barre Align™ Fits With Other Classes
The addition of a stretch-based class is not surprising. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before Pure Barre would add such a class to its roster, as restorative classes have been a growing gym trend for years.
I think having a moderate-intensity class that focuses on mobility, balance, and a mind-body connection is an excellent complement to the higher-intensity Empower class or the strength-based Reform class. Boutique studios have been branching out into hybrid classes that feature a mix of cardio and barre or yoga and barre for a few years now as more clients look to complement traditional barre classes with combination ones.
When will Pure Barre Align™ be available at my Pure Barre location?
Franchisees can begin offering the class as early as the first week of January, and most locations across North America have already added it to their schedule. The remaining studios will add it in the near future.
Get ready for more stretching and alignment in 2023! Have you tried the new Pure Barre Align™ yet? What do you think of it? Leave a comment below.
There’s no doubt that stretch and restore classes are rising in popularity as clients look for ways to recover from active workouts.
Pure Barre, the largest barre franchise on the globe has introduced a new class format. Though not technically an official class format just yet, the class is being added to some schedules as an intensive. Intensive classes are occasional classes that focus on one area of the body like the seat, thighs, arms etc. It’s still uncertain if this will remain an occasional intensive or join the list of permanent class offerings including Classic, Reform, Empower and Foundations.
I wanted more insight so I went right to the source. According to Pure Barre‘s VP of Training & Technique, Katelyn DiGiorgio, they have received “incredible feedback from members on the new format” and “studios will continue to grow the availability of the offering.”
Photo courtesy of Pure Barre.
What is Stretch and Restore in a Nutshell?
Pure Barre’s new intensive offering is held every month among a variety of intensives in addition to their core class formats – Classic, Reform, Empower and Foundations. It will be held a few times each month in studio. When I tried it, I did the virtual livestream option.
Despite the class name, this class is no walk in the park. Described as a class that combines sequences of flexibility and strength training, this intensive is meant to both stretch and engage the muscles in a full-body flow. Similar to other Pure Barre class formats, Stretch and Restore will have you testing your balance while improving your strength.
Why did Pure Barre start offering this class? According to Katelyn, “our Intensive offerings allow us to get creative and narrow the intention of a workout, so we decided to create an Intensive offering with a heavier focus on stretching to help clients work on flexibility in a varied and additional way at our studios.”
What to Expect in a Stretch and Restore Class?
Before taking this class, I thought maybe it would be an extended version of the nice stretching sections that are part of the Classic class. I didn’t expect there to be a significant amount of core work and for the class to move at a quick pace. It was a nice complement to other Pure Barre class formats.
If you’ve ever taken a Vinyasa Yoga class before, you know that you move through sequences at a fast pace. In Stretch and Restore there were a few fluid sections where we would flow through a series of exercises to test our balance and coordination while working on strengthening and toning muscles. Think downward dog into a hover plank and back to a downward dog again.
As far as equipment goes, you will typically be given a double tube, Reform tubes, and one of their Pilates balls. Equipment might vary by class.
Workout Breakdown
The class began with a nice easy warmup with hands to the ceiling and light stretching. This is far different than a Classic class which has an active start with marching on the spot, which is intended to raise your heart rate. A nice calm start is welcome on occasion, so I appreciated that we weren’t jumping into the deep end right away.
This was followed up with active stretching. Soon we were already in a plank position doing pushups and mountain climbers on the floor.
We used the tube for added resistance as we flowed through some standing stretches. This section was very yoga-influenced.
After this series of stretches, we headed to the barre. The barre assisted us in quad stretching as we pulled off the barre to stretch and flowed through some additional active stretches.
Near the end of class, the tube was brought out to assist in some floor stretching including a nice happy baby moment. The class concluded by lying on our backs with our eyes closed. A nice way to cool down at the end of the workout.
Photo courtesy of Pure Barre
My Impressions
If you’re worried that the class is going to be too slow or easy, don’t be! This is a very active class and despite the title, you will be working hard throughout the class. Though other class formats have stretching incorporated into the class, Stretch and Restore is designed to take the stretching component of class to a deeper level.
Developing your flexibility is an important part of a holistic workout, so if you’re going to deepen your barre practice, it’s important to stretch and recover.
If this becomes a more permanent staple on the schedule, it would be a great addition to the Pure Barre mix and one that I’m sure would be a welcome class in the rotation.
Have you tried the class before? What did you think? Leave a comment below.
Haven’t tried it yet? Pure Barre is offering readers of The Barre Blog a Free Barre Intro Class at participating studios. Visit this link for more details.
If you live in a mid-size to large metropolis or its surrounding suburbs in the United States, you’ve surely seen a Pure Barre before. With over 500 locations in North America and an expanding global footprint, more on that later, the world’s biggest barre chain has legions of fans and dare I say it, a cult-like following? Full disclosure, I had an annual membership for a period of time.
Pure Barre is a franchise with a pretty firm set of let’s call them operating procedures. Love it or hate it, like a Holiday Inn or a Subway sandwich restaurant you kind of know what to expect when you walk into any one of their locations. They stick to a template and follow it very closely, so you won’t find a lot of variety between studios other than the type of merch available for sale or the local events they support.
Who owns Pure Barre?
Pure Barre is part of the now publicly-traded company Xponential Fitness Inc., which owns boutique fitness brands like CycleBar, Club Pilates, StretchLab, YogaSix, among others. Xponential Fitness acquired the Pure Barre brand in 2018.
Pure Barre operates as a franchise model, with individuals owning mostly single studios, some with multiple locations.
Who started Pure Barre?
Former Founder and CEO of Pure Barre, Carrie Dorr kicked everything off in 2001 with a small boutique studio in Michigan. Initially, Carrie had no intentions of franchising her business. That is until people started asking if they could open their own locations. She found someone who was a good fit to run a second location and that is when licensing came into the picture.
After launching about a dozen locations along the East Coast, Carrie expanded to the West Coast. At the time she was bootstrapping a lot of the business, without investors or cash. She would open a new location, teach and build up that studio, find someone who was interested in buying that location and then move on to the next. Eventually turning the concept into a franchise model. In 2012 Pure Barre had 71 franchised locations in 23 US states.
Looking for infrastructure and liquidity, Carrie knew it was time to bring in a private equity firm to help grow the business, so the company partnered with WJ Partners. In 2015 L Catterton, a consumer-focused private equity firm was looking to acquire the Pure Barre brand so they hired Arlington Capital Advisors to assist in its acquisition of Pure Barre from WJ Partners.
In October 2018 Xponential Fitness Inc., announced it would be acquiring Pure Barre to add to its growing portfolio of brands.
What to expect when you take a class at Pure Barre
Many Pure Barre studios have a similar footprint. Upon entering a studio you’ll walk into the reception area, which has a desk, chairs or bench and a retail area featuring a mix of branded and non-branded merch.
Some retail areas are extensive and could be considered a brick and mortar store in and of themselves, depending on how much inventory the studio owner decides to order and sell.
You’ll check in on the iPad if you reserved a spot ahead of time, then make your way to the space just outside the double doors to the studio if another class is in session.
Depending on the layout, washrooms will either be near the front of the building or in the back, so you would need to walk through the studio, to get to the washrooms. A cubby area where you can put your things while you’re taking a class is also provided. Sometimes there will be small change rooms on-site, but many locations I’ve been to don’t have enough space for them.
There’s also a section of a wall dedicated to milestones. These are barres that celebrate client achievements. For every class milestone you hit you get to sign your name on the barre. Starting at 100 classes, followed by 250, 500, 1000, 1500 etc.
Depending on the location and the studio owner, you’ll receive all sorts of rewards for your achievements. From branded grippy socks that say “100 club” to celebratory drinks and photo ops. The greater the achievement, the more effort most owners usually put into rewarding clients.
Beyond the double doors lies the actual studio where you take the class. It’s in here you’ll find a carpeted floor, which is said to have antimicrobial fibres to help protect against the growth of odour-causing bacteria. A barre frames the perimeter of the room, and there are usually mirrors on at least two of the walls. Some owners will invest in some fancy statement walls for some added decoration.
You’ll take a seat in the center of the room unless you’re taking a Reform class. If you’re taking a Classic class, you’ll need to grab a ball, double tube and a light pair of hand weights. You have the option of also grabbing a heavier pair. If you are taking an Empower or Reform class, the equipment will already be laid out for you. Hand weights are optional.
The instructor will sometimes come into the studio a few minutes ahead of time and introduce her or himself to new students and ask if anyone has any injuries. This is a great time to speak up if you do require any modifications.
Once the music starts, the teacher will instruct everyone to stand up and then the workout will start. I won’t go into the details of each class format, since you can find those details in the articles on Empower and Reform but if you are taking a Classic class, the format is as follows: Warm-up, arms, thighs, seat, abs, and stretch. In the last five minutes of class, the instructor will dim the lights for the bridgework/back dancing and stretching section. By the end of class, the lights will be completely turned off, which is a nice way to end class.
The Pure Barre Class Format
Types of Classes
Pure Barre’s signature class is called Classic a 50-minute workout rooted in their classic technique. Featuring a combination of low-impact and high-intensity exercises that utilize a double tube, barre, ball and small hand weights.
If you want a hybrid of barre and HIIT, then Empower, their more cardio-focused class might be appealing to you. Using ankle weights and a plyometric platform, this 45-minute class will elevate your heart rate while building strength. Think of it as a mix of barre and interval training while working different muscle groups simultaneously.
For more on Empower, read our review of the class.
For resistance training fans, Reform might be the class for you. Using resistance bands, sliders and the barre, this 50-minute total body barre workout merges elements from the classic pure barre technique while challenging your strength, coordination and balance in a resistance-based strength training workout.
If you’re new to Pure Barre, or even barre in general, their introductory class Foundations is a good way to get a solid understanding of their format and learn the basics of the technique. This class is taught at a slower pace and breaks down each movement so you can understand the mechanics. It is only offered to new clients and is not on the schedule as frequently as other classes.
A Pure Barre retail area.
Virtual Offerings
Throughout the pandemic, many studios pivoted to online class options. Many studios still offer live streaming options for clients who would prefer the virtual experience.
Pure Barre corporate also has its own digital platform called GO. The idea is that you have the ability to enjoy Pure Barre when and where you want so you are not committed to a studio’s schedule. Classes vary in length from 5 to 60 minutes.
Pure Barre GO will provide you with the classes on demand, but there’s something about being in a studio that you can’t replicate at home. Perhaps it’s the hands-on corrections (in a pre-pandemic world) or the camaraderie between instructors and clients or among clients that gives the in-person experience that je ne sais quoi.
Of course, the on-demand option is a great one for anyone who is looking to save some money and wants access to the classes whenever they like. For about $30 per month, this is much more accessible than monthly class memberships in-studio that can run you upwards of $200 a month, depending on the location.
A Tuck & Glow class at Pure Barre
Other offerings
Pure Barre has a number of events and promotions throughout the year including “Wine down Wednesdays,” “Tuck & Glow,” barre pop-ups in breweries, wineries, retail stores, and just about any other place you can think of.
Platinum Barre and other monthly challenges
Like most boutique barre studios and franchises, Pure Barre loves a friendly competition. Challenges are set up to encourage client retention and incentivize those who need a little more accountability. There are most always prizes involved at the end of each challenge.
Take, for instance, Pure Barre’s Platinum Barre Challenge. Not only do you need to meet a monthly class target of roughly 12-15 classes, depending on your location, but you must meet this target each month for a whole year if you want to be able to sign the coveted platinum barre, that only those who complete this year-long task can sign.
For other monthly barre challenges like Barre Bingo, you are mostly competing with fellow clients but studios also compete against each other for most completions. An advantage that a big brand has over its competitors.
What makes this technique and brand different?
The lighting – Have you noticed that Pure Barre studios have carefully controlled lighting that gets dimmer as you go? The studios are usually beyond the reception area where the only natural light that comes in from the double doors is from the street and is quite minimal, so studios have a cozier feeling.
They call out your name in class – This is not unique to Pure Barre, but one thing you’ll find during class is that instructors have the unenviable task of trying to remember every client’s name so they can be called out during class. Don’t worry, only positive reinforcement is heard over the mic.
It’s addictive – Now, of course, you can say this about any competing brand or fitness studio, but in my experience, once you get past the first few classes many people become hooked on the structured experience and find themselves going 3 to 4 or more times per week. It’s hard to label or put a finger on what exactly makes this workout so addictive. Perhaps it’s the structure. Instructors stick with a very specific script and don’t venture far from it.
Maybe it’s the strong class sequencing. While individual exercises in each section generally vary, each class follows a very specific template so you know what to expect. This templated workout is also what people have critiqued Pure Barre for in the past, promoting a one-size-fits-all workout, and cultivating sameness with everyone wearing similar grippy socks, tank tops and leggings.
What I love about Pure Barre
The workout – First and foremost, I love the workout. I do think I get a lot out of every class. It has the right amount of challenge without being overly punishing. Plus working on your mind-body connection and fine-tuning the intricate movements keeps you coming back for more. Choreography changes every quarter, so although you know what the general framework is for class, the individual exercises vary by class and instructor.
The community – For as large of a company as they’ve become, I still do think there is a great community involved at each location. It’s not unusual to see people lingering around the reception area after class, chatting with instructors and fellow clients. It’s one of the things I loved most about Pure Barre.
Consistency – Like I mentioned earlier, for better or worse Pure Barre is a franchise so you’re going to have consistency in the brand from one location to the next. If you’re on vacation and stop into the area’s local Pure Barre, you know approximately where to grab your equipment from and how to navigate your way around the studio.
Criticisms of Pure Barre
For all the die-hard fans and hundreds of thousands of clients, Pure Barre has had its fair share of criticism, especially when Xponential took over, which took away some of that special sauce.
Some have said the forced makeovers of all locations by the parent company have made the studios feel more sterile and corporate. For reference, they used to have a rustic-chic vibe. Others see it as a fresh start and a rejuvenation of the brand.
Profits Over Public Safety
The pandemic has seemed to exacerbate a lot of the issues I’ve had with Xponential. While the case counts were roaring in the summer of 2020, Xponential filed a lawsuit against the government of Arizona for closing gyms and fitness boutiques. We know exercise is good for your physical and mental health, however, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your employees and clients. The lawsuit was thrown out by a federal judge who ruled that the mandated closures of gyms should stand.
For any company about to go public you want to pad the business as best you can so you put it in the best possible light to potential investors. However, the optics of doing this in the middle of a pandemic while owners are barely scraping by didn’t quite sit well with me.
I’ll just leave it at this, with a statement from the company’s prospectus as reported in MarketWatch recently. “A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from royalty fees and other fees and commissions generated from activities associated with franchisees and equipment sales to franchisees.” Enough said!
Staff receive little pay for a tonne of work
Anecdotally, I’ve seen a lot of turnover at my Pure Barre location. The owner will hire new instructors every year, while the veterans who stay on for maybe two years tops eventually move on.
Part of the reason could be that instructors devote quite a bit of their time to the studio. From teaching weekly classes, taking obligatory classes on their own time to further their practice albeit don’t have to pay for to learning new choreography and sticking around after class to answer questions, you really have to love the brand and believe in the Pure Barre experience.
It’s a badly kept secret that instructors are not paid a huge sum of money for their efforts paid or otherwise. There’s a lot of unpaid prep work that goes into creating a class and like a school teacher who is expected to grade assignments outside of regular hours, instructors are not compensated for this extracurricular work that comes with the gig.
They are also not compensated for bringing in sales via their social media word-of-mouth marketing or leads that they happen to drum up from chatting to clients. Employees receive no benefits or sick pay, so most instructors do this gig on the side with another source of income.
If you’re looking for a part-time job that helps you build confidence and gives you experience in commanding a room, while enjoying a workout that you would be doing anyway, you might appreciate working here.
Training
While each studio owner decides if the prospective instructor should pay out of pocket or get a subsidy for their training, there has been some criticism about how Pure Barre expects applicants to pay for their training upfront before they are hired, even if some of the money might come back to you after an active year of teaching. According to this LA Times article from May 2021, new recruits may be expected to pay about $1,800 USD out of pocket before they are even considered for the job.
When you are tapped by a studio owner as a potential candidate for instructing, you have to go to a training course. There they will teach you the Pure Barre way and you will be expected to familiarize yourself with their format. Unlike a universal certificate program that allows you to teach barre anywhere, you will only be able to teach Pure Barre. Instructors are subject to a non-compete, preventing them from teaching for another brand.
Is it ethical to have your job applicants pay for training, without any guarantee of a job? The jury is out.
Some things I’m on the fence about
Zero tolerance late policy – This one I kind of get. You’ve most likely been to a boutique fitness class where a client walks in late. Despite their best efforts to sneak in quietly, it’s always distracting. I understand why they lock the doors once class starts, but it can be a little frustrating when you are literally 30 seconds late and you just hauled your body downtown to get to a class 30 minutes away.
The dress code – When I first started taking classes, I thought it was absurd that they had a rule about not showing your midriff or having to wear leggings that were at least 3/4 length. The rationale I was given was that in order to keep your body warm throughout the workout, covering up helped do that. Another good reason is to protect your skin from some serious rug burn on the carpets! They may be good for your grippy socks to gain some traction but can also feel very uncomfortable on your bare skin.
International Expansion
Xponential Fitness Inc. has some serious growth plans for the Pure Barre brand. There are already nearly 550 locations in North America, and the parent company has set their sights on international expansion for 2021 and beyond.
The brand has partnered with LifeFit Group, to bring the boutique fitness concept to Germany and Austria. Their plan is to open the first studio in Germany in 2021.
Elsewhere, deals are in the works for the middle east and Asia.
In Conclusion
Pure Barre is popular for a reason. They wouldn’t have accumulated so much success over the last two decades if they had been a run of the mill boutique fitness brand.
Have you tried a Pure Barre class or are you a regular at one of their studios? What do you like or not like about their classes and the overall brand experience? Leave a comment below.
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.
In my experience, it’s rare to see men in barre classes for the majority. From what I’ve witnessed, I’d say 95% of the time classes are attended by women. Recently, however, I began noticing more men coming to class. Not in huge droves but on occasion there would be one or two in the same class.
This is no coincidence. If you’ve visited Pure Barre’s website lately, you’ll see their updated promotional video includes men, which is a reflection of their attempt to build upon their relationship with male clients.
Barre has never been a female-only workout. Yes, some studios are limited to women, and most clients, instructors and studio owners are women, but men have always been part of the growing barre trend. Fred DeVito of Exhale, for example, has been at the forefront of the barre workout for over 3o years.
I wanted to explore the relationship between men and the barre, so in an effort to learn more I spoke with some male instructors and clients who love barre, to ask them about their experiences, how they got interested in the workout and how it feels to be outnumbered in this space.
Photo credit: Instagram.com/masonrglennofficial
What Initially Drives Men to the Barre?
There are roughly a dozen male clients who regularly frequent the barre studio I go to most often. Almost all of them were invited by a female client, who is either a friend or spouse.
For Mason R. Glenn, a Bar Method instructor and National Trainer he sees a lot of male clients coming with their spouses. “A lot of young women bring their husbands with them because they find they like to work out together.”
Mason discovered his love of barre almost by accident. Within a year of managing a Bar Method location, he was asked if he wanted to be an instructor. “I should probably learn what the basis of this method is if I’m managing this company,” he said. “They said you have a pretty good personality. I feel like you could probably do it. I wanted to be a little bit more healthy and I wanted to work out more, so I said ‘why not.'”
A Bring on the Men event is how Matthew Henninger, now an instructor at Pure Barre Buffalo discovered barre.” I was introduced to Pure Barre by one of my friends who lived in New York City. She said you need to try this out, it’s called Pure Barre. They’re doing a Bring on the Men event, so will you be my date and give it a try? I said sure, no problem, I’m open to giving it a shot, and so I went into one of their studios in the city and I couldn’t walk for three days afterward.”
Joel Cardenas, a Pure Barre teacher in San Antonio, TX, says he sees some men come with their significant others on occasion, but hasn’t seen a big spike in men coming to the barre.
Photo credit: Instagram.com/lifeasjoe_l
What do you think prevents men from trying a barre class?
For Matthew, he says a lot of the men he has interacted with don’t know what to expect from it. “They either are into sports or they go to the gym or they do CrossFit,” says Matthew. “They think it’s either too easy for them or they’re not sure what it’s going to look like and they think it’s all dancing, it involves ballet and that’s not something they’re comfortable with. In reality, we do incorporate some ballet dance aspects into our workout and it might be based on dance but it’s not dancing.”
For Joel, he felt like a guy that infiltrated a tough secret women’s organization. “I have more of an appreciation for women in the corporate world or who have to work in male-dominated industries, where they only see men. It was really humbling for me.”
At the end of the day, Mason believes it has a lot to do with visual media. “If we see a girl in an arabesque position, we think that’s not what we can achieve. What I think can help is to include more neutral positions in class that men can achieve. A lot of men do yoga, and there are a lot of positions that The Bar Method has that are yoga friendly.”
Are there male-specific modifications?
“Men are tighter and typically taller too,” says Mason. “There are certain things a 5’4″ woman can do that a 6’0” man can’t do. They have longer torsos, they have longer arms. They’re used to doing a bigger range of motion, they’re not used to stretching, their hips are typically tighter, they have tighter hamstrings so they typically have lower back pain.
Mason continues, “my best interest as an instructor is to make them feel that they can be successful. Placing a male at the tallest barre in the room is probably not a good idea, we don’t want them to feel like a failure. We want them to take a lower barre where they can be more successful.”
Instagram.com/purebarrebuffalo
What do you think would attract more men to the barre?
One of Matthew’s goals is to try to get more men involved. “If they see a male instructor..there’s kind of this notion that okay men can do this, and it’s not just for women, it’s built for anybody, all body types, all abilities, that’s something that we really try to emphasize.”
Joel thinks more male representation in advertising would help. “If men could see themselves in marketing campaigns that would make a difference. Men usually want the body-builder type so barre doesn’t really cater to that body type.”
Mason thinks that hosting events when they encourage men to come to the barre help draw more male clients. “Having other guys in class and having this collective event really draws them in,” says Mason, referring to when studios host events like bring your bae to the barre or barre and beer, which are created to encourage more men to attend.
While events that encourage you to bring a man to the barre certainly help to attract more male clients, some studios are even going so far as to host male-only workshops, like Seattle’s Barre Rev. Their Men’s Only Barre Bootcamp is designed to target those stabilizing muscles that may get overlooked during a power and strength training session.
Photo credit: Instagram.com/barrerevstudio
Why should men try barre?
“Give it a shot,” says Mason. “It’s something I thought I would never do, and if I can do it, anybody can do it. What it’s really taught me is mind-body awareness. It’s prevented injuries. I wasn’t able to do much, but I was able to do The Bar Method and I felt successful. I felt like I could still have a little bit of a sweat and a burn in my muscle.”
For Joel, he suggests to embrace it as a fitness concept that is results-driven and don’t focus on the fact that it might appear girly or feminine.
“Speaking from our studio perspective there are a lot of pop up events at our studio, we do a lot of date nights, and our last date night was very popular in getting more men involved,” says Matthew. “Whether or not they want to come more frequently… it’s more about seeing what it’s actually like and even if they can go out into their communities and talk about this thing… I gave this a shot and this is something I think you should try.”
Final thoughts
In conclusion, yes, the barre community is dominated by women but a group of strong women indeed who are comfortable with welcoming anyone through those doors. That’s what I love so much about the community and it would be great to see more men attend classes in the future.
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