I Took A Barre Class In The Middle Of The Office. Here’s How My Body Reacted

Have you heard of "barre"? Also known as barre class, barre workout, and barre method, this style of workout class has recently become all the rage with celebrities and around the country.

From Kelly Ripa to Drew Barrymore, famous women all over the world have started doing barre workout classes and posting about them on their social media accounts.

But if you've come across one of these posts and wondered, "What is barre?" you're definitely not alone.

Barre workouts have become more popular over the past few years, but there's still a lot of confusion among the general public about what exactly the definition of barre is.

Well, we here at LittleThings are always up for a new experience, so we brought in a professional barre teacher and did a barre workout class right here in our office!

Some of us had done barre method classes before, but others were doing a barre class for the very first time.

Find out more about our experience below!

What Is Barre Class?

DSC_1646.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

After taking the barre class, I spoke with our instructor, Lauren Chiarello of Chi Chi Life, about the workout.

Lauren explained that, traditionally, barre classes are done at a ballet barre, so the class she taught us was really a barre-fusion class: barre mixed with Pilates and yoga.

Many barre classes combine ballet-inspired moves with more weight training, resistance training, and cardio.

Barre uses your entire body and demands not only strength and endurance, but also balance, form, and stretching.

What Are The Benefits Of Barre Class?

DSC_1605.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

Lauren explained that your body will experience a variety of benefits from doing a barre class. She said:

At Exhale, the exercises we teach in Core Fusion Barre are low-impact, so your joints are super happy.  

The movements we teach vary from small, range of motion and isometric holds, which literally changes the shape of your muscles.

When you feel a burning sensation in your muscles, that’s the magic happening!  

We teach to the beat of the music, so it’s fun to let the music carry you away while you’re moving through each section of class.

Lastly, the method connects the mind and the body through movement and breath. The present is a present.

Because barre is a workout class, many people wonder about the direct health benefits of taking a barre class.

Lauren explained that in each barre class, you will probably burn around 300 calories.

She also said, "Barre classes focus more on toning and sculpting the muscles — which, over time, you can lose inches around your body."

DSC_1591.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

Lauren also explained how often you should take barre classes and how long it takes to see results:

Attending Core Fusion Barre classes 2-3 times a week will literally change your body. I have lived it myself. I have seen the changes in my students.

The movements lengthen, strengthen and tone your legs, arms, glutes and abdominals.

Consistency is key! It can be tough to maintain a regular schedule, but find a teacher you love and keep a routine. 

You can also expect to develop increased core strength and spinal flexibility.

When we talk about “core strength” — it’s your belly, back, your whole trunk. Core work is integrated throughout the entire class.

My posture also drastically improved. I didn’t grow up dancing, so bringing my attention to how I was carrying myself was a game-changer.

I finally had the awareness and the core strength to support my whole body.

Everyone's body is different and results also rely on diet.

That said, if you take class 2-3 times a week for six weeks you will likely see results of a leaner body and increased flexibility and mobility of your muscles/joints.

What Should You Wear To A Barre Class?

DSC_1599.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

When preparing for your first barre class, you'll probably wonder what you should wear — after all, it's unlike any other workout class, right?

Dressing for a barre class is easy, and you should typically aim for form-fitting workout clothes — like those you'd wear to a yoga or Pilates class.

A good basic outfit for barre is leggings, a sports bra, and a tank top.

Some barre classes are taught on carpet, while others are taught on wood floors — depending on the studio, you may be allowed to go barefoot, but many require that you wear socks.

Most studios recommend grippy socks for barre class, and they're definitely worth it.

Barre socks will allow you to work out without worrying about your feet sweating or sliding all over the place.

If you're still unsure about what to wear, call the studio ahead of time and ask what they recommend!

What To Expect Taking A Barre Class For The First Time

DSC_1632.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

There's no easy way to put it: Your first barre class will be hard.

Even for people who consider themselves exercise enthusiasts, barre is usually a challenge — and it's supposed to be.

You should expect to do a full-body workout that targets all the muscles throughout your body. From your neck to your forearms, you'll feel the burn.

Barre classes are typically taught to upbeat pop music that will keep you motivated — plus, they give you a strong beat to count along to.

Barre classes are dynamic, and you'll be moving the entire time, so expect to sweat. A lot.

Our Experiences Experience #1: Becca

DSC_16001.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

I'm not a complete novice to barre. I tried it a couple of times when I first moved to New York, but I quickly discovered that it kicked my less-than-muscular butt. My interest faded.

Now, years later, I'm a semi-regular yoga and Pilates person, so I felt more prepared going in. I even wore my 'workout' gear!

I may have been a little overconfident though, because once again, I totally underestimated just how intense it can get.

Barre is all about tiny little exercises that move very specific muscle groups. The first one is easy, but the 15th is torture.

Our sweet and peppy instructor had us making constant little movements, each one so disproportionately tough that I started to wonder if she was out to get me.

By the time I left, I was sweaty and my muscles were exhausted. I flopped back into my chair, feeling so boneless that I worried I might slide right onto the floor.

The next day I was one giant ache, especially the tops of my thighs.

And the day after that? I signed up for another barre class, outside of work this time.

Experience #2: Sophie

DSC_16061.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

I’m far from the kind of person who takes classes like Pilates or yoga.

I’m a runner, so I prefer high-intensity activities that send my heart racing a million miles a minute, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see what all the fuss about barre classes was about.

I got to the class eager to try something new, and the first few exercises seemed easy enough.

As part of my running routine, I perform strength exercises regularly, so my body was already familiar and comfortable with movements like squats and lunges.

But when I came down to poses that required balance, I was surprised that I actually broke a sweat.

I already knew that my sense of balance was terrible, but I didn’t know how terrible until my first barre class. I guess now I know how to fix that!

I think I’ll definitely do it again, but likely in addition to my current training program.

There was a brief moment when my body felt a little bored and restless, but I think this kind of exercise can only be beneficial in the long run!

Experience #3: Laura

DSC_16011.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

I'd never taken a barre class before and so really didn't know what to expect; my knowledge of anything involving a barre stopped with the ballet lessons I took when I was 8. So I went in totally cold.

It was a great workout, though. Because of where we were, there was not a physical barre, so most of the exercises were more like Pilates.

It was pretty tough, but doable. I'll admit, though, I was sore the next day!

If you're going to try a barre class, be sure to stretch plenty afterwards to avoid stiffness and soreness.

And definitely use a mat for the floor exercises — your tailbone will thank you.

Experience #4: Ileana

DSC_16661.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

This was far from my first barre class, but it was the first one I ever did at work. (So that counts for something, right?)

After signing up for a workout pass in January 2017, I quickly fell in love with barre.

I was a competitive gymnast in high school, then moved onto circus arts when I got injured. In college, I dabbled in ballet and Pilates, and I generally try to exercise regularly.

Despite my efforts to stay fit and in-shape, barre kicks my butt every single time. I get genuinely excited to put on my workout clothes and grippy socks now.

Even though I go pretty regularly (every other week or so), I still leave with jelly-legs and wake up the next day feeling sore.

Barre is great because it targets all the muscles you forget you have, so you leave the barre class with your muscles feeling completely exhausted — but not in the same areas as you'd feel it if you were, say, going for a jog or lifting weights.

Conclusions

DSC_1662.jpg
Johanna Silver for LittleThings

Although we all had different experiences during this barre class, we could all agree that it was definitely a good workout.

We felt energized afterwards, even though our muscles were exhausted.

Barre class probably isn't for everyone, but it's definitely worth giving it a try! You never know what you're going to love until you try it out.

If you're interested in barre classes and other kinds of workouts, please SHARE this article with your friends and family!