The Workout: Want To Work Hard? Head To The Barre

Ballet was never my thing. I discovered that in first grade when I headed to the local ballet school, clad in my pink leotard, with my friend Greer. Greer was good at ballet, probably because she was tall, willowy, flexible and graceful. I, alas, was none of those things. Greer soon moved to the advanced group, while I languished in the remedial group with all the other short and stocky six-year-olds. Eventually, my tutu dreams got tossed. It seemed that I wasn't meant to be a ballerina.

So it was with some trepidation that I stepped into  in Hubbard Woods to try a Barre Fusion class. Ballet-type barre-based studios have become increasingly popular recently, and I've heard friends rave about the workouts. “Small movements, but really hard,” someone warned me. It didn't seem like my cup of tea, but the payout sounded great: better posture, a leaner and more toned body. I looked on the Pilates Barre website and found a class that was deemed suitable for all levels, including beginners like me, so I decided to give it a try.

I explained to the woman who greeted me, Joanna, that I was new and she helpfully told me a little bit about the studio. She then directed me upstairs to where Gretchen, my instructor for the morning, would be leading our class. Perhaps because of the word Pilates in the studio's name, I was expecting something subdued and quiet. I was wrong. There was dance music blasting, and when I say dance music, think nightclub, not ballet.

I grabbed a spot in the corner, trying to hide myself in the back. Unfortunately, the studio was sun-filled and lined with mirrors. Hiding didn't seem to be an option. Gretchen told us what equipment to grab and informed us that we'd be moving quickly from one sequence to another. I looked around at the other participants. In front of me was a woman who seemed to be a regular customer. She had perfect form, and a perfect body. I vowed I'd come every day if I could look like her.

Our first sequence was simple enough, featuring some light weight work and push-ups. Not quite what I'd expected, but manageable. Then we “went to the barre,” not to be confused with “went to a bar,” which is completely different. No, this was a ballet barre, and it was there that I came to appreciate the nature of the workout.

We stood at the barre on our tip-toes. We were instructed to sink down, bending our knees. Then back up, then down again, all the while keeping our backs straight, our heads lifted and our shoulders down. Easier said than done. Then Gretchen said “Now, sink three inches lower.” What? I could barely hold on where we were.  I looked at myself in the mirror and saw little beads of sweat rolling down my face. I started shaking, feeling my muscles begging for mercy. Fortunately, I noticed the woman next to me was shaking, too. At least I wasn't the only one.

I was amazed. It looked as if we were just standing there doing nothing, like we were standing in line at Starbucks.  And yet, the muscles were working. Really working. We continued with our work at the barre until I thought I couldn't do any more, then we moved back to our mats for some more leg work. Then we segued into an upper body sequence and ended with an abdominal series.

After class, I chatted with the woman next to me, who proclaimed she was hooked. She told me it takes a good ten visits before you're really able to do all the moves, which made me feel better. She conceded it was hard, but touted the benefits: improved strength, flexibility and posture. What's not to like about that?

The next day, from the moment I got out of bed, my soreness was a reminder of my Barre Fusion class experience. It was a good kind of sore - more muscle fatigue then pain – but it was in strange places: the center of my back around my shoulder blades, the outsides of my calves, the insides of my upper legs. Without question, it was a good complement to my other workouts. So even if I'll never be a ballerina, I think I'll try to spend more time at the barre. Tutu optional.