Anonymous wrote:Not enough cardio. And frankly not even great for strength training. It’s mostly a place to parade expensive yoga pants and cosmetic surgery.

+1. Have done Pure Barre and Physique 57, and it’s just not that great a workout. You’re using tiny weights and there’s no cardio whatsoever.

Interesting how many barre fans incorporate walking. I used to run but quit because I found it so hard on my joints.

Barre 3-4 times a week is my main workout besides walking my dogs. I’m in my early forties and still rocking a bikini and feel strong. There are versions of barre that incorporate more cardio than others (and depending on which company, advanced/more challenging classes than others, so you can progress as you get stronger).

Every barre class helps you with balance and flexibility - that’s what they are known for.

I’ve been doing barre as my sole thing along with walking and I’m in very good shape. I’m happy with what it has done for me. After two full years I’m starting to plateau and probably need to shake it up, but there are so many benefits to barre that I haven’t gotten from other exercise.

You could do Classpass--lots of barre studios on there plus other fitness activities as well. You need strength training and to work on balance and flexibility as you get older.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not enough cardio. And frankly not even great for strength training. It’s mostly a place to parade expensive yoga pants and cosmetic surgery.

Says the person who has never taken a barre class.

NP, but I have taken barre and also think the strength benefits are minimal compared to other classes. It’s better than nothing, but it’s not that hard (it’s really not).

OP, it’s probably fine for now, but as a PP said, you’ll plateau and there just aren’t that many ways to make it harder once you do.

Anonymous wrote:Not enough cardio. And frankly not even great for strength training. It’s mostly a place to parade expensive yoga pants and cosmetic surgery.

Says the person who has never taken a barre class.

Not enough cardio. And frankly not even great for strength training. It’s mostly a place to parade expensive yoga pants and cosmetic surgery.

I belong to a barre studio and have for 3 years. I’m at the point now where I have to switch up to challenge my body and avoid boredom but it was great for two years. I’ve added weightlifting and occasional cycling classes.

I do it as my only form of exercise, other than walking to and from the Metro during the week. I really enjoy the classes which has keeps me going back. The toning and sculpting benefits are great but I do wonder if I should add more cardio to my routine for fat burn and heart health. But my kid is small right now and I don’t have time to work anything else in so it’s what I’m doing for now.

As long as you're walking at a good pace at least five miles / 10,000 steps a day, barre as your only studio exercise should be fine. I'd be concerned about strength training (the older you get, the more important good musculature becomes), but everyday housework could fill this (for example, carrying a toddler or groceries half a mile). From a general health perspective, long walks + barre is more than like 90% of Americans do.

It’s fine. You’ll get a lot of benefit from it. Eventually, you will plateau and you’ll need to add to add something else - however, that’s probably a long time away. Enjoy the Barre classes!

I do 2-3 barre classes a week and I think it would be fine as a main source of exercise- it's a whole body workout. I do add in other exercises throughout my week, including weight lifting and I've just started added running on the treadmill. But I think you're fine with barre as a main source of workout.

I have an unlimited monthly barre membership and prefer to cross train and add other exercise. I did only barre 3-4x a week for several years though - it was all I could fit into my schedule. Now that kids are a little older I’ve added in peloton workouts and weightlifting.

The older I get, the more I prefer low impact exercise. I need to join a gym or else I won’t be self motivated enough. I used to belong to Sport and Health and took a variety of the classes like cardio, Zumba, barre, Pilates, but I fell off the wagon last summer and eventually cancelled my membership. I am thinking of joining a barre studio but am wary of having only one form of fitness. I do take my dog on a lengthy walk several days a week, and would plan to go to about 3 barre classes per week. For those of you who belong to a studio with a single form of exercise (be it barre, Pilates, cycling, etc.), do you feel it keeps you fit enough from a “whole body” perspective. Thanks!