What You Need to Know About Barre Workouts
In a previous article, we’ve introduced barre workouts as one of the best exercises you can do at home. What we didn’t talk about is what you need to buy, wear, and expect for classes in an actual studio. Here they are and let’s dive into them!
1. What to wear
You don’t necessarily need leotards or leggings for a barre workout session. However, you’ll need to wear barre socks. These special socks will help in preventing you from sliding as you do your routines and sets.
There are also some barre studios that strictly enforce dress codes. If you have enrolled in a physical or online barre class, it’s best to ask your instructor first what the dress codes are so you can buy and wear the proper uniform.
2. Equipment to buy and bring
Barre workouts require a lot of props and the most common equipment are mats, balls, mats, resistance bands, and weights. Luckily, barre studios have all these pieces of equipment. So all you need to bring are your fitness gear and a bottle of water. But if you’re having a barre class online or self-studying, you’ll really need to buy your own props.
3. Preparation before classes
You should arrive 10-15 minutes early before classes start. This is for you to stretch and warm yourself up to avoid cramps because some instructors will immediately start the class on a presumption that all students had already done their preparations.
As your first time entering the class, you should also ask your classmates for tips on how to properly execute barre workouts. Be sure to inform your instructor as well if you’re a beginner. Once an instructor knows it’s your first time, they will focus on teaching you the proper execution techniques.
4. What you should expect during class
Barre is a full-body workout and each class is divided into exercises targeting each part of your body. Only then you can move on to the next exercise once you have worked a part of your body. For example, if you start to feel at your limits doing core exercises, you then move on to glute exercises.
The movements in barre are also fast. Beginners like you will likely be confused and would find it hard to keep up with your classmates and instructor. But that’s okay because as you keep on coming back, you’ll eventually get the pacing.
A lot of beginners say that they experience leg shaking. This is a good sign that exercises were done properly because the muscles in the legs have been overworked to the point of shaking. Just be careful that when you start shaking, you prevent yourself from falling.
Another thing that beginners get confused about is the term “tuck”. It doesn’t mean to curl yourself into a ball. It means to tilt your pelvis forward and draw your abdomen in. This is to protect your lower back as you exercise.
5. What to expect after class
You’ll be extremely tired, your muscles will shake and feel sore the day after. So remember to drink a lot of water and massage your fatigued muscles to boost blood flow for recovery. Follow these tips to soothe muscle sores and speed up recovery as well.
6. What happens to your body if you do barre workouts
By doing barre workouts, you’ll increase flexibility due to the stretching and focusing on posture improvement. Not only that but you’ll also strengthen your glutes and tone stomach muscles - two signs of fitness.
On audition day or the next squad performance, you’ll be able to confidently stride with good posture and a firm body.
Don’t just do barre workouts when you’re in the studio. Learn to do them at home as well for self-study. When you’ve hit your plateau, just increase the difficulty and add more reps. But first, you must create your own dance studio at home. Keep practicing until you achieve noticeable physical results!
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