Try These 5 Barre Exercises at Home to Maintain Strength

We know there are days when getting into the barre studio just isn’t an option, from busy work schedules to vacation plans to caring for kids. But there’s good news: being away from your Bar Method community doesn’t mean you have to skip out on your barre burn (or your strength goals). Enter: at-home barre workouts. Doing barre exercises at home is your ticket to full-body muscle-building and toning no matter your schedule.

We’ll cover: 

• Why barre workouts at home are effective for strength and toning
• Five go-to at-home barre exercises
• Tips for getting the most out of barre exercises at home

Can I do barre at home?

The short answer: Yes! You don’t even need a personal studio — many at-home barre exercises use only your body weight for resistance. And if you don’t have equipment, you can do barre workouts at home with common household items. Common swaps include:

• Exercise mat → Towel, blanket, or pillow
• Stretching band → Rolled-up towel, leash, or robe belt
• Barre → Stable chair, dresser, or table
• Dumbbell → Milk jug or water bottle

Get to know Bar Online

Did you know you can get 24/7 access to the expert guidance of our barre instructors from anywhere? It’s true! Bar Online offers unlimited access to hundreds of on-demand barre classes designed with our science-backed Method.

The best part? You can do these barre workouts at home with little to no equipment — so when we say anywhere, at any time, we mean it. Each class and exercise is intentionally planned to give you the best workout possible in an efficient format, and you can choose from various class lengths (45 or 60 minutes) to make working out work for you.

What makes at-home barre workouts effective?

Doing barre exercises at home is an effective workout, especially if your fitness goals include getting stronger, building muscle definition, and improving your flexibility and mind-body connection. Here are five reasons to love barre workouts at home:

• You can do them anywhere (and at any time!). Barre workouts at home require little to no equipment — all you have to do is show up and be ready to challenge yourself. Think: one more rep, one more pulse, holding a pose for just a few more seconds.
• Barre works every muscle group. Barre fuses strength training, Pilates, ballet, yoga, and cardio to target every area of your body. The result: more strength, better endurance, and results you can see and feel.
• They’re low-impact. Barre is a low-impact workout, so it’s easy on the joints (and apartment-friendly!). Plus, our Method is designed alongside a team of kinesiologists and physical therapists to be safe enough to do every day while getting the results you want.
• At-home barre exercises can be modified for your needs. Not only are barre workouts safe enough to do every day, but our instructors are also trained to provide variations and modifications for every fitness level and ability, whether you’re recovering from injury, pregnant, or looking for an added challenge.
• Doing barre at home is time-efficient. This is because barre targets every muscle group. Our Method also relies on isometric holds and pulses that keep your muscles constantly working — so every second (and every rep) counts toward your strength and fitness goals.

Reminder: Any time you can take for yourself to move your body is time well spent. And with consistent practice, you’ll notice toned muscles, improved endurance, better posture, and a renewed sense of self-confidence. (Basically, it just keeps getting better.)

How to make the most of your barre workouts at home

By doing barre at home, you’re showing up for yourself — and that alone is rewarding! But to take your workout (and your results) to the next level, our technique team has three pro tips.

• Set yourself up with the right equipment. At-home barre workouts can be done with no equipment, but having a few tools around can make your workout even more effective. For example: Use a folded towel or pillow (or a small mat) for cushion during thigh or curl work. Grippy socks can help you hold positions longer while stretching straps boost the flexibility benefits of your workout.
• Use a mirror. Being able to see your position and alignment during each exercise can help maximize the muscle engagement and strength gains of each position. (Bonus: It can even boost your self-esteem.)
• Turn on “do not disturb.” At-home barre workouts are a chance to unplug and get a little “me time.” Put your phone out of reach or face down to limit the temptation to check it during your workout. Not only will this help you stay present, but it will also help you get the most strength, toning, and mood-boosting benefits from your workout.

Barre exercises at home: 5 go-to moves to try

When going to the barre studio just isn’t an option, save these at-home barre exercises to keep up with your routine, get an energy boost, or simply add some movement to your day. If you’re new to barre or just preparing for your next in-studio class, you can also use this barre workout at home to get started!

Push-ups

Love them or love to hate them, push-ups will make a regular appearance during your Bar Method class! Push-ups activate your entire body, making them the perfect exercise to warm up with.

How to:

1. Lie flat on the floor and place your hands below your shoulders with your feet hip-width apart.
2. Raise your hips in line with your ribs, grip your glutes, and pull in your abs. (Imagine there is a string connecting your belly button to your spine.)
3. Bend your elbows diagonally toward your waist to perform the push-up. Slowly lower your body to the ground.
4. Push away from the floor to slowly return to the starting position.

If you have music playing in the background, play around the tempo of your push-ups. We recommend 10 to 20 push-ups in a two-count tempo for a great burn. 

Pro tip: You can also modify your push-ups by doing them on your knees.

Second position thigh

Second position thigh strengthens and shapes both your thighs and glutes while stretching and elongating your inner thighs and upper legs. After push-ups, move into second position thigh to warm up your lower body.

How to:

1. Gently hold onto your barre or other support and walk your feet out to a wide stance.
2. Bend your knees to come down to a challenging depth. Keep the insteps of your feet directly below your knees.
3. Grip your glutes tightly and pull your shoulders down.
4. Move down an inch and up an inch for about two minutes.

Pro tip: For an added challenge, hold one heel up at a time or alternate heel lifts slowly.

Leg lifts

Get ready to feel the burn! Leg lifts target your upper quad muscles and work your standing-side glutes.

How to:

1. Stand on profile (parallel) to a sturdy chair or countertop and gently hold it with one hand. Place your other hand on your waist.
2. Place your feet hip-width apart and soften your knees.
3. Extend one leg in front of you and point your other foot, resting it lightly on the floor.
4. Raise your extended leg as high as you can without raising your hip.
5. Slightly bend and stretch your leg for about one minute before switching sides. 

Pro tip: For this exercise, your form is more important than the height of your leg. Work with your leg lower if it allows you to feel your quad and maintain your posture. For more challenge, you can work with your lifted leg less bent or even straight.

Pretzel

You’ll love our version of pretzel just as much as you love the snack. Pretzel targets the gluteus medius, which lifts and sculpts your seat. This exercise also strengthens and firms your oblique muscles, so don’t be surprised if you feel the burn in your sides, too!

How to:

1. Sit on the floor and sweep your right leg in front of you with the other leg behind you to create two 90-degree angles.
2. Slide your left knee back until it’s in line with your left hip. Place your right hand on the floor next to your front knee and your other hand in front of your shin.
3. Lean your torso diagonally to the right and slightly forward. Position your right hand below your shoulder.
4. Lift your left foot off the floor and press your left hip forward.
5. Use the side of your glutes to lift your left knee one inch off the floor.
6. Begin to lift your leg up one inch, then down an inch for two to three minutes. 
7. Follow the same steps on the opposite side.

Pro tip: If you can’t get your back leg up, reposition your hand until you find a position that allows you to do so.

Straight-leg clam

Wrap your at-home barre workout by lighting up your abs with straight leg clam. Straight leg clam is effective for toning and adding definition in your core (specifically, your six-pack muscles).