Barre Fitness is a ballet-based fitness class. It is well structured, progressive whole-body workout, targeting each muscle in a very specific way, with ballet and/or adapted postures, and small movements with an increased number of repetitions, using the tools like small weights, resistance bend, and small balls.
Definitions, and quotes:
Ballet (noun):
an artistic dance form performed to music, using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful movements and the use of pointe shoes with reinforced toes.
Barre (noun):
1. a horizontal bar at waist level on which ballet dancers rest a hand for support during certain exercises.
2. denoting a chord on a guitar or similar instrument in which one finger is laid across all the strings at a particular fret.
Fitness (noun):
1. the condition of being physically fit and healthy.
2. the quality of being suitable to fulfill a particular role or task.
Fitness class (definition):
fitness class means a structured form of exercise or sport instruction, conducted in a class environment under the direction of an instructor, including, but not limited to, aerobics, gymnastics, circuit training, boot camp, aqua fitness, cardio, flexibility, stretching and abdominal exercises (including yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi), step, dance- exercise (including hip-hop and Zumba), cycling and spinning, strength, toning and resistance exercise, boxing, combat and martial arts activities, age, lifestyle and specialty exercise classes, and swimming and skating lessons; (« cours de conditionnement physique »
fitness class means an organized meeting led by an instructor involving exercises designed to improve a participant’s fitness level.
I come from a dance background (ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance), athletics, gymnastics, and foremost aerobics. As already a child I have fallen in love with an aerobics class, and the magic of a group fitness class. Doing exercises on music. Later on, I have become an aerobics instructor, then a pilates instructor, and it just kept rolling. The first thing was always I liked how it looked. I liked aerobics, because they looked so damn good, and happy, and doing it felt so damn good and happy. Pilates is the same, it just looks so beautiful in the eye. All the postures, long legs, and arms, flexible spine, strong core. And yoga? Shall I tell you about yoga? That's beauty and peace, looking at it. That flexibility, and strength, make you wonder where it comes from.
So first it looks well. So I could say love at first sight. Then when performing, and doing sports and exercises, then there is the feeling of freedom and happiness, and like the world stops for one hour to spin. It also makes life easier because we transfer all the mental pain into physical suffering during the exercises...hihi, and at the end, the endorphins kick in, and we just feel like we have climbed Everest, and nothing in the world can stop us to feel good.
My experiences and my body taught me, that for the best benefit of strengthening my muscles, I need absolute focus during the class, perfecting from the unperfect. When I connect, that is where I am getting the best of it. And that is where I am getting it in Barre Class. It is basically the ballet precision principle in a fitness class, and that makes me, and my muscles absolutely happy. It is 100% focused on, there is no other way. There is no room for wandering the mind elsewhere but your posture. And the results are just amazing! I love how graceful ballet dancers look in their postures, I love barre fitness because it makes me and my body feel graceful too, and make my muscles strong and lean, and makes me feel strong without lifting heavy weights, because surprisingly it is very demanding class, and get through is a delightful experience worthy of climbing Everest... haha.
I could hear, yeah, but have you seen ballet, and how they are flexible? I am not flexible enough, or other excuses. Stop! It is a fitness class, which means in its definition as said above: an organized meeting led by an instructor involving exercises designed to improve a participant’s fitness level.
We come to a fitness class to improve it! Posture, flexibility, strength, endurance, and mood! Period.
Each barre fitness exercise is set up in a precise starting posture, or adapted to everybody's needs and level, meaning safe execution of exercise afterward. The range of movements is small and controlled. It is for all ages and all levels. And no worries, not only débutant but even an experienced athlete or dancer will find a great challenge and a great way of conditioning training for better performance. And it is fun!
Personally, I find the most fun, when I and my muscles find a great challenge in exercises, and the moment I feel my muscles are getting what they need, I start to laugh! Total happiness! I love it! And I am not alone!
Testimonial from Sally:
And here is an article from GQ, a man's perspective on barre class:
So what do you say? Will you give it a try and see and feel for yourself?
When: Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 (we start again on the 6th of September)
Where: Accordance Studio, Av. Georges Henri 448, Woluwe Saint Lambert, Brussels
What do you need: a towel, demi-pointe shoes or socks, a bottle of water, and determination
If you want get your tutu too!
Price: for newcomers: 10 €/class with DISCOVERY BUNDLE (2 classes, only 1 time),
after 20 € DROP IN, or pay less with a pricing plan
See you there!
xoxo
Anna
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