Interested in Barre? A Comparison of Five Different Barre Classes/Studios

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I know, I don't usually talk about anything fitness related on the blog. After developing an interest in barre classes, I thought it would be handy for anyone looking to start taking barre classes to see what some of the differences are. I had the opportunity to try out barre after the good people at Classpass gave me a free month to try out. Being a former dancer and someone who doesn't like gyms, I wholeheartedly lapped up the opportunity to do so. Like I said, if you're interested in trying out barre but don't know where to start, I hope this post is useful to you!

Pop Physique (their website is not safe for work FYI)

Pop Physique was the first barre class I tried and it's because I had heard Bren mention going to their classes over winter. I was very pleased with their workout and the overall setup of their studio. I went to their Seal Beach location and I highly recommend Lala or Ashley if you want to try the classes out.

Pros:

• The Seal Beach location provided water (none of the other classes did as far as I know)
• During the classes I took, the instructors made a point to learn names and provided personalized encouragement (a small touch)
• The workout isn't as cardio-based as the other classes so you don't get as sweaty
• There's an even distribution of exercises for your arms, abs, glutes, and overall body
• They incorporate use of weights during the arm workout
• They provide all workout materials including mats and weights
• Sanitizing sprays are situated next to the equipment for easy cleaning
• The workout isn't always the same, it'll differ slightly depending on your instructor.
• The instructors are quick to provide modifications for each exercise so you don't feel singled out if you have to make changes.

Cons:

• Lockers aren't provided but cubbies are provided in a room adjoining the workout area
• If you're looking for an intense cardio workout, this isn't it.
• Not a lot of ballet terminology incorporated in the workout.

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed Pop Physique. This is the class I choose if I don't want to get an intense cardio sweating workout. All the instructors have been so nice and they're all eagle-eyed. They are quick to provide indirect instructions to allow you to self-monitor and adjust your form before they do it for you and they provide modifications as they're instructing you on each exercise. Pop Physique says you can do their workout every day and that's true in my opinion. 

Pure Barre

Pure Barre was the next studio I tried out. I was also pleased with their location in Huntington Beach and with the exercise I got.

Pros:

• The class emphasizes the "tuck" which is tucking your tailbone under during your workout. All barre classes encourage this form but Pure Barre heavily uses the term throughout the class
• As a result, the class works out the lower body heavily though you do incorporate weights for arm workout
• They do provide equipment for the workout 
• There's cardio incorporated so you will sweat in this class but not as much as Cardio Barre and Xtend Barre (which I'll talk about below)
• They provide complementary towels to use
• Sanitizing sprays are situated next to the equipment for easy cleaning
• The workout isn't always the same, it'll differ slightly depending on your instructor.

Cons:

• They don't provide water
• Lockers aren't provided but cubbies are provided in a room adjoining the workout area
• When the classes are smaller, the instructors do try to give personalized encouragement.
• Not a lot of ballet terminology incorporated.

My Thoughts: Pure Barre is the class I recommend if you're looking to work out your lower body. Although they do incorporate an upper body workout, they're very much into working your abs, glutes, and legs. There's cardio incorporated so you will burn calories and get a decent sweat. The instructors were also nice and when the classes are smaller, the instructors try to provide personalized encouragement. When the classes are larger, they're more hands-off.

Cardio Barre

I tried out Cardio Barre next in Costa Mesa. Considering the name, I wasn't surprised to get a sweat building workout.

Pros:

• As the name of the class says, it's a cardio workout and you will sweat in this class
• It's a great all-over workout for your arms, legs, glutes, and abs
• Most of the workout is done at the barre with some on the floor for abs and glutes.
• They provide you with weights to use
• The workout incorporates some ballet movements and terminology

Cons:

• I highly suggest taking their Intro class to learn some of the movements used in class. You may get corrected a lot in the Beginner class if you don't take the intro class.
• The workout is similar across instructors and is a little cookie-cutter compared to other classes
• They don't provide you with water as far as I know.
• They don't tend to provide personalized encouragement, even when the class size is smaller.
• They don't provide you with a mat so bring a beach towel/mat or risk laying on the carpet.

My Thoughts: Cardio Barre is good if you're more experienced with barre or if you want to sweat but it isn't my first choice for a newbie. I highly suggest taking their Intro class to learn the form, even if you may be familiar with barre. Personally, if I'm paying for a class (especially at $17 a pop for the single classes), I think they should provide mats for you to use and it seems a little cheap of them not to in my opinion. I also felt like the workout was a little cookie-cutter/repetitive.

Xtend Barre
The next I tried out was Xtend Barre in Seal Beach. I had heard great things about Xtend Barre and how it utilized ballet-based movements so I was excited to try it.

Pros:

• This workout incorporates the most ballet movements and terminology
• This workout will make you sweat
• The place provides mats, balls, and bands to use
• Sanitizing sprays are situated next to the equipment for easy cleaning
• The workout is great for former dancers due to the structure of the program
• There's a good mix of cardio with a workout for your entire body (including abs)
• They incorporate use of weights during the arm workout
• There's also a good mix of work at the barre and on the floor

Cons:

• They don't tend to provide personalized encouragement
• They don't provide water as far as I know
• Lockers aren't provided but cubbies are provided in the same room
• Specific to the Seal Beach location: parking sucks because it's Downtown and the closest lot is a metered one.

My Thoughts: Xtend Barre is the workout I would choose when I want a more ballet-based workout. I think a lot of studios forget that barre should incorporate some traditional ballet terminology and movements and not just use the barre as a means of support. Hearing words like sous sous during a workout reminds me that Xtend hasn't forgotten about the ballet. I highly recommend this for former dancers and also anyone who wants to get a good cardio-based workout. If you're between Cardio Barre and Xtend Barre, pick Xtend (because you won't have to deal with bringing a towel as your mat!)

The Bar Method

The Bar Method was the last barre class I took before my Classpass ended. 

Pros:

• There's a moderate level of sweating
• The studio has both showers (unlike other places) and lockers
• The overall studio was very clean
• They incorporate weights during the arm workout
• They provide mats, weights, and bands to use in the studio
• They incorporate an overall body workout but there is lots of lower body and leg work
• They were able to provide personalized encouragement

Cons:

• I'm a little concerned about the fact that we were able to put equipment back without cleaning. Maybe they clean them afterwards but I prefer cleaning equipment myself.

My Thoughts: Fair warning, I ended up pulling both of my calves after the workout and was unable to straighten my legs for two days. This was incredibly surprising since I had been doing barre for the month without getting such a focal injury. I also had taken a barre class earlier that week with no injury. I won't be going back as a result. 

Even if it wasn't for that, I was a little weirded out that the students were able to put the equipment back before cleaning it. Like I said, the overall studio was very neat so it doesn't mean that they're not being cleaned but I highly prefer cleaning the equipment right after I use it so I can guarantee it won't be dirty.

I liked the amenities they had at the location such as the lockers and the showers but the injury I got just gives me bad memories plus the fact that I couldn't clean my own equipment afterwards.

OVERALL: Here are my recommendations-

Recommended Barre Class for Former Dancers: Xtend Barre

Recommended Barre Class for a Total Body Workout: Pop Physique and Xtend Barre

Recommended Barre Class for Lower Body Workout: Pure Barre

Recommended Barre Class for Working Up A Sweat: Cardio Barre and Xtend Barre

Recommended Barre Class for Newbies to Barre: Pop Physique

Recommended Barre Class for Veterans to Barre: Pure Barre, Xtend Barre

I hope you find this post useful. Are you into barre? Are there any classes you think I might like?