Fitness Friday #51: My first Pure Barre Experience

I had my first Pure Barre experience!

While in Austin, Texas, for work, I looked up a local Pure Barre class and found an early bird 6 a.m. class that suited my schedule.

What is Pure Barre? It’s absolutely an experience. The class runs about 55 minutes, and this class is taught in a carpeted studio.

You start with a warm-up, then move to arms, legs/thighs, seat/bum, abs, and then a cool down. From what I’ve gathered, all PB classes follow this same formula, but the exercises and the music will change.

Pure Barre follows this special technique that promotes small, controlled movements. You might move an inch up and down, and most of the moves have some kind of resistance added. There’s a lot of stress placed on tucking the hips with all of the movements, too.

What to expect: Your legs will shake. It’s NOT a ballet class. You will sweat. If you don’t wear the special sticky socks, your feet will slide. The floor is carpeted. You use the barre for balance and resistance. And, sometimes, you BARELY touch the barre. The instructor will likely match the music volume and the lights in the studio during class, so be prepared for dimming lights and softer music at some points.

I hope this is a shared experience at Pure Barre studios – my instructor was super friendly, and when she learned I was new to the class, she personally took me around the studio to show me all the equipment needed and gave me two tips:

1. She will tell the class to grab two different size hand weights, but new people should only grab one. REALLY. Do this.
2. If possible, grab a space by the mirror. As a new person, it’s helpful to see your form with the movements.

I knew I was going to take a Pure Barre class during my Texas trip, so I purchased these socks in advance (via Amazon, like I do). They were great! The instructor seemed surprised that I brought my own…

I found this “New to Pure Barre” page super helpful before attending a class. The movement descriptions were nice, and the ‘wear snug but breathable clothing’ warning was good, too. Also, arrive EARLY so you can get a good spot and so the instructor can do a quick run-down of what to expect with you.

Pure Barre uses special equipment, which was available for use at the studio where I took my class. There are a few sizes of hand weights, double bands and single bands, a ball, and a mat.

This class was like nothing else I’ve ever taken or taught. The movements are small, focused, and the class moves at a pretty fast pace.

Like ANY class you might take, remember that YOU are in control and can modify movements as you need. BUT the best thing about group fitness is the atmosphere, the encouragement to push just a little harder, hold just a little longer, move just a little faster is real. And I love that.

I practiced a few moves for fun at a local park after I took the class. This was one of my favorites–there was a slight tucking of the hips and a small movement of the elevated foot.

My tips: Aside from what I’ve mentioned already (get there early, use the smallest weights for the first class, wear the socks, wear snug but breathable clothing), I’d mostly recommend keeping an open mind. Not every fitness class is about high-cardio, high-impact, burn ALL the calories, jump all the things.

Pure Barre is more of a focused fitness class, and more about the technique than the crazy high heart rate or calorie-burning. You’ll move in ways that maybe you haven’t before, and feel soreness all over the body the next day.

If you’re thinking even a little bit about attending a barre class, I highly recommend it! It was a fun experience and I think I’d enjoy trying another studio, or even looking into basic barre classes, not necessarily just the Pure Barre method.