The Method

What to Expect in Your First Month of Barre

May 21, 2018
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It’s well-known fact that body transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, commitment, and consistency to make changes and see long-lasting results. However, when it comes to barre, The Bar Method’s technique is designed so intelligently, results are often accelerated. We often hear from our clients that they see a difference in their bodies after just a few classes. This doesn’t come as a surprise to us considering the design of The Bar Method technique and the attention to detail that’s given to each muscle group in every class.

So, what can you expect from your first month of barre? Results vary however, the majority of barre devotees will agree on these six results:

Postural Changes

Your core muscles are engaged throughout the entire class as either the primary group working or the stabilizer. Fortunately, they never get a break in barre. Throughout class, you will continually be reminded to pull in your abs, press your shoulders down and lift your head. These helpful cues from your instructor will cumulate into postural changes in a matter of just a few classes. Soon, you will find yourself naturally sitting straighter and standing taller with more body awareness outside of the studio. Don’t be surprised if your friends ask you how you grew an inch as they glance down at your feet to see if you’re wearing heels.

A Deeper Mind-Body Connection

One of the reasons new students are so impressed with The Bar Method after taking just a few classes is the focus on the mind-body connection. The instructors keep you accountable by teaching you how to breathe deeply, focus your energy, and target your movement to get the most out of your workout. Students leave feeling centered and in touch with their inner personal strength. Your mind-body connection will get deeper with each class and turn into a foundational practice for your healthier life.

A Difference in the Way Your Clothes Fit

Occasionally, new clients will tell us they feel their jeans are getting tighter soon after they start taking barre classes. If you’re new to strength training, you might notice bulk up before you slim down. In barre, you are activating many smaller muscles that you’re not accustomed to working in other forms of exercises. As a result, you experience muscle hypertrophy growth – thereby firming your muscles. When muscles are underworked, and therefore soft, it’s easy to squeeze them into a pair of jeans. When your muscles are shapely, they fight back against the clothing because they’re defined rather than malleable. In addition, your muscles are retaining water as they strengthen resulting in swelling that will eventually subside as your muscles become more dense and stronger. How do you get there? Take more classes! Click here to read our blog post on why you might bulk up before you slim down. 

More Definition in Your Upper Body

The Bar Method technique was designed to affect change to the muscles that are most responsible for changing the look of your body. We use weights in the beginning of each class to sculpt your biceps, triceps and shoulders. However, there are several other opportunities in class to engage your upper body, making it one of the areas of your body that changes first. Take three to five classes per week and listen carefully to the instructor’s cues during the warm-up to ensure you are in proper form and using the right amount of weight for your level. Not only will you feel stronger in your first month, you will look stronger too.

Tapered Thighs

Your quadriceps are your biggest muscle group and therefore the most difficult to change. The Bar Method thigh work trains you to hold sustained positions such as plies, extensions, and balances for minutes at a time, forcing every possible muscle fiber to fire, thereby exhausting the muscles through and through. Most new students haven’t experienced this before in other fitness classes, and therefore will begin to see their upper thighs taper within the first month of regular classes. Stick with it, let it shake, and learn to love your new dancer’s body.

A Sense of Accomplishment

By the end of your first month, you will begin to understand what The Bar Method is all about. You will start to see some of the physical benefits and changes in your body, as well as experience that burning desire for more. You’ll be hooked on the sense of accomplishment, power, and poise you feel after each class. The self-confidence you cultivate in barre class will become the reason you can’t stay away!

After your first class, be sure to drink plenty of water so your muscles stay hydrated as they recover. You may be sore but stick with it as your body adjusts and gets stronger.
Book your next class! Barre takes several classes to get the hang of, so be patient and give yourself time to learn the exercises and technique. We recommend taking class three to five times per week to get the best results. Our instructors are here to help you get the most out of each class so be sure to talk with them before or after class if you have any questions.