Barre-fit - BS or best thing since sliced bread?

[exse24Londoner]

my gym has just started offering barre-fit class. The description says it will give me long lean limbs which strikes we as optimistic - at 5ft 1 & age 60 I think it is improbable that my limbs will get longer!

So..... what does it do in real life??? has anyone done these classes for any length of time?

Found them incredibly dull and ineffective.
But then I'm more into running and lifting, and yoga. I think it's probably better suited to people who like pilates etc.

I really like them and have done them since 2019 semi-regularly but I combine them with lifting weights, and the peloton. I like the ballet and Pilates kinds of moves and it does seem to have helped my flexibility and core/posture a lot.

Ugh, the exercises are AWFUL. They misalign the body & pretend you're going to get the "look" of the dancer.

Just go to a proper ballet class, or an aerobics class. The "barre" exercises are all wrong and you won't get that "ballet body" - you need to do actual ballet for that. They teach for the effect, not for the deep muscle control, co-ordination & strength that actual ballet gies you.

Better off doing Pilates or yoga,. or you know, actual ballet. There are loads of studios offering classes for adults, and there's a thriving adult ballet community with weekend courses, performances, and classes every day of the week.

thank you all. Interesting if disappointing!! the one locally is run by a ballet teacher but am now rethinking - I was expecting positive reactions!!

I like barre classes. I'm not trying for a dancer body, but it feels good. .

I did these in the US before I got fat

They were very good over there, but it's some kind of branded fitness class I think.

I really enjoyed it, and I certainly never felt anyone was encouraging me to move into wrong or unnatural posture.

I am losing weight now, so I might try some online ones. It's like everything I suppose it depends on the instructor

I had one particularly brilliant Pilates instructor more than 20 years ago. Never had somebody that brilliant after.

@exse24Londoner sorry I haven't really answered your question

I was very slim at that point, so I wasn't really thinking about if things were elongated 😂 but it was a really fun way to exercise.

Could you just learn proper ballet? It really is a work out in a good class.

In a proper ballet class, you start at the barre. You have to learn about finding and holding your turnout from the hips, which requires you to learn how to access glute strength and make your glutes, hip flexors and psoas work. You need to develop a strong core, a straight spinal alignment, and do a lot of standing on one leg, so you get balance, as well as mobility.

In the centre, you learn about how to move your body gracefully in three-dimensional space, you learn to turn, which is great for balance, and you jump, which is good for bones & conditioning.

that was my original intention but I can't find one locally so barre-fit at a large corporate gym is the only option

There are ballet studios teaching actual ballet all over the country. If you're within commuting or spitting distance of London, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol Leeds or Birmingham, you'll find really excellent adult ballet classes. I've even been taught by current or retired soloists from the Royal Ballet in adult classes!

no, I am about an hour from London so thats a bit far for a class. Lucky you for having such expertise close by.

There really is nothing for adults locally - honest....... I'm not making it up!! I've looked extensively before posting my question

Try asking in the "Doing Dance" section of BalletCoUk

https://www.balletcoforum.com/

Lots of adult dancers across the UK.

I do a lot of barre classes via my peloton subscription.

I don't have a clue how they compare with a barre fit class but I always feel like I've had a full body workout afterwards, especially in the glutes and lower body.

If the barre fit class is run by an actual bona fide qualified ballet teacher, it will be fine.

I do adult ballet in a village hall - a lot of local recreational dance schools all over the country squeeze an adult ballet class into their timetable somewhere. Just search all your local dance schools online and look at their timetables to see what they offer. Another thing to search for is 'Silver Swans' which is a scheme run by some dance teachers with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the classes are specifically designed for those aged 50+. There are a few round here, but they are in the daytime when I'm at work so I can't do those.

Why not try a couple of times and see what you think

i went once, I’d rather do Zumba tbh as it hasn’t had the life sucked out of it imo

yes - I think I will give it a go........ what's the worst that can happen!

I love it - mine is taught by an amazing Pilates teacher at my local studio, and isn’t part of a specific franchise.

It’s greatly improved my posture, balance, and foot, ankle and calf strength.

I think you need a strong core to make sure you don’t hold yourself in a way that’s risky for your lower back, and also need to be careful of your knees. Quality of the teacher is key I should think. Have fun!

If it's run by an ex ballet dancer I'd expect it's great. I'm a former baller dancer (I'm a PT) and I've often thought of running a ballet barre for type class, simply because ballet is amazing for fitness but 'full' ballet is a different concept and has a lot of regulations and an appeal not usually popular to general exercisers. So if it's a former ballet dancer I'd say yes. She probably has great technique.

She's probably saying all that stuff about longer limbs as it's the usual marketing stuff you say but it's a good shorthand for better posture, a more supple, flexible, elegant body, etc.

thank you @MikeRafone , @MenoCoach @RescueMeFromThisSilliness @SisterTeatime ! I've done a couple of classes & if you remember Dawn French sketch with Darcy Bussell, then that is me!!

I am not sure how much good it is going to do me but it is an additional hour of movement each week & great fun. The class is really popular & always full with people who have been going for ages which suggests will, at least, continue to be fun!

That's fab, well done! It will do you loads of good, particularly balance and your core strength. Keep it up.🙂

I do it. It's fun. I was thrown out of several ballet classes as a child for being crap. It's been very empowering!

love this!

I love barre- I always come out feeling like I’ve had a decent workout . It feels similar to a Pilates class to me and particularly works the core and glutes.

My gym offers this and I enjoy it. I love all the stretches towards the end.