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Barre Workout for Beginners: 6 tips For Your Best Barre Experience
December 19, 2024
Stepping into a barre studio for the first time can be intimidating, but our classes are designed to leave you feeling powerful, confident, and strong — inside and out. Led by expert instructors, our classes are perfect for every fitness level and ability. There are just a few things you need to know to prepare for your first Bar Method workout. We’ll cover:
- How barre workouts transform your body
- What to wear to barre class
- What to bring to barre class
- 6 tips to get the most out of your first barre workout
Taking a new workout class can be intimidating! When you enter a Bar Method studio, we want you to feel confident, welcome, and ready to have a first-class experience. Whether you’re brand new to the world of barre or haven’t taken a class in a while, it’s important to go into your barre class prepared and ready to get the best possible workout in. We’ve compiled our most important tips that will help you have the most successful class.
What is a barre workout?
Barre workouts perfectly balance elements of yoga, Pilates, strength training, and dance to methodically shape your physique and target your arms, legs, back, glutes, and core. The results: total-body definition, increased flexibility, higher endurance, better overall fitness and health, and most importantly, a killer confidence boost.
After all, it’s a workout unlike any other.
How often should a beginner do barre workouts?
The Bar Method is a great barre workout for beginners, because every movement can be modified to fit (and challenge) students at any skill level.
Over time, a regular barre routine maximizes the results of your workouts — from a leaner physique to toned arms and a strong back. We recommend starting with 2 to 3 workouts per week until you’re ready to do more frequent training — but if you’re down to come 5 times a week right away, that’s encouraged, too! Pay attention to how your body feels before, during, and after each workout, and attend the number of classes that feels best for you.
What to wear to barre class
During a barre workout, you’re going to work hard and get stronger — and you may get sweaty doing it. Because Bar Method studios are carpeted, socks are required in class. While we encourage fitted clothing to allow your instructors to see and adjust your form, wearing breathable clothes that you feel comfortable moving in is most important. Many Bar Method members prefer to wear:
- Fitted tops and tanks
- Relaxed t-shirts
- Sports bras
- Yoga pants
- Leggings
- Bike shorts
Secret hack: Grippy socks help you hold poses longer to maximize your results.
What to bring to barre class
Breathable clothes and grippy socks will help you look the part, but there are a few other items that can help you make the most of your barre workout:
- Water bottle: Hydration is key
- Towel: Get ready to sweat
- Fitness watch: Track your progress
You can leave your shoes at the door and your exercise mat at home — all the equipment you’ll need during class is provided in the studio, including weights, sliders, exercise balls, and stretching bands. Most beginner barre exercises use your bodyweight, but you may use basic equipment to target and shape specific areas of your body, like your arms, glutes, or back.
Barre workout for beginners: 6 tips your first class
With your gym bag packed and your workout gear on, you’ll be prepared to ace your first barre workout. Use these 6 tips to prepare your body and mind for class.
1. Show up to early to class
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the start of your class to get set up. When you arrive, you’ll fill out a new client form, tour the studio, and talk to your instructor about your needs and health goals — including injuries and other special circumstances — so your instructor can offer the right modifications to give you the most effective workout.
2. Be patient with yourself
It takes time to learn barre lingo and the workout will challenge muscles you didn’t even know you had. Give your body time to adjust and embrace the challenge — it’s what makes you grow. You’ll see physical changes in just a few weeks, but you’ll feel the inward transformation start right away.
3. Trust your barre instructor
Bar Method instructors go through a rigorous training process to give you verbal and hands-on adjustments during class. Our methods also draw on guidance from physical therapists to make classes suitable and effective for all abilities and skill levels.
Your instructor will also walk you through the reps, offering beginner barre exercises and modifications as you get more comfortable with the movements.
4. Embrace the burn
Barre isn’t meant to be easy, but that’s not why you’re here. In fact, some of the exercises may leave your muscles shaking — that’s how you know the workout is training your muscles and transforming your body.
Embrace the burn and you’ll see results like:
- Toned arms, legs, and back
- Tight core
- Rounded glute shape
- Improved functional mobility and posture
- Increased flexibility
- Improved balance and stability
- Better endurance
- More self-confidence
5. Bring a friend
Barre is better with a friend. Bring your bestie and cheer each other on — your instructor will be cheering for you, too. Exercising with friends is not only more fun, but it can also:
- Strengthen your relationship
- Push you to work harder and complete more reps during the class
- Keep you committed to your workout routine
- Increase your likelihood of achieving fitness goals
6. Have fun
Finally, and most importantly, have fun. It may sound cliché, but we’re here to remind you not to take yourself too seriously. Every class is different, and you may make mistakes — that’s okay. Laugh it off, try again, and keep pushing yourself. It’s all part of the journey.
Barre for beginners: More tips to boost your barre experience
Hitting the studio and getting reps in is just one piece of the fitness puzzle. Check out these tips to help improve your barre workout experience, your mental health, and your overall fitness.
- How to Recover After a Barre Workout
- How to Practice Mindfulness During Barre Class
- How to Fuel Your Bar Method Workout
Whether you need a barre workout for beginners or a new way to shake up your training routine, our variety of class formats offer something for every body and every ability. Find your studio to get started.
