Bar Method recently invited me to celebrate their Sweet 16. I went to a one-hour mixed level barre class at their SoHo studio.
The Workout:
Bar Method is a difficult but rewarding barre workout. The Bar Method workout targets the muscles in your arms, thighs, seat, and abs. The class includes muscle-defining arm exercises, intense thigh and seat sequences, waist-chiseling ab moves, and fluid stretches.
Every Bar Method class starts with a warm-up, upper-body exercises, and push-ups followed by a sequence of leg and seat work at the barre and ab exercises on the floor. The class mainly uses body weight for resistance, and the only props are mats, weights, and a ball. The class incorporates isometric exercises to work the muscles and dynamic and static stretching to lengthen and tone the muscles.
If you can’t make it to one of the studios, they have Bar Online, online classes you can do from anywhere. It’s a great option if you’re traveling or don’t live near a studio. Don’t have a barre at home? No worries! They have prop suggestions like using a chair instead of a barre.
What to Wear and Bring:
Wear clothes that you’d wear to yoga and a pair of sticky socks. Right now, I’m loving Old Navy’s cute and inexpensive workout clothes. Bring a bottle of water so you can stay hydrated throughout class. They have fully stocked showers and lockers.
What to Expect:
Expect to be challenged and sore the next day. Your muscles will shake—but that’s a good thing because it means it’s working. If you incorporate Bar Method into your workout routine, the result is a graceful, strong body, including sculpted arms, flat abs, a lifted seat, and elongated thighs, and improved posture and body alignment, according to their site. (Yes, please!)
