Even if you love your workouts, doing the same types of exercises repeatedly eventually causes them to lose their effectiveness. Furthermore, you’re likely to lose the motivation to work out if you become bored with your routine.
Is it time to move beyond your regular Pilates training routine and try a new class?
Over the past few years, the Barre workout has swept the East and West coasts, and now it has been appearing more frequently in Pilates and yoga studios throughout the middle of the country, as well.
As this New York Times article points out, many studios have been introducing new classes that combine traditional Pilates or yoga exercises with a Barre workout. While Pilates focuses on core strength, a Barre class incorporates ballet components, concentrating primarily on strengthening your legs and increasing your balance.
You might be picturing tutus and classical music in this class, but it’s not a typical ballet lesson. Since it emphasizes stretching and flexibility, you’ll probably want to dress in comfortable clothing and work out in your bare feet. As for the music, that’s up to the instructor, but he or she might choose something more upbeat to get that body moving and shaking, literally. That is, those muscles that you haven’t used lately might actually start shaking when worked to exhaustion.
According to some instructors, this type of workout features small, isometric exercises and can burn up to 500 calories an hour. And a Barre workout is not just for dancers! The focus on muscle strengthening and flexibility is great for golfers and runners, too. It tones and stretches the legs and a number of other muscles, even working the hips and abs in ways that other kinds of exercises might not.
If you’re looking for better results from your Pilates training, think about the strength and flexibility you can gain, not to mention a slimmed-down physique, from trying a new Barre class. Contact us today to learn more about our current class offerings.
