The Benefits of Barre for Fitness: Improved Flexibility and Strength
Barre workouts have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. This low-impact exercise routine combines elements of ballet, Pilates, and yoga to create a challenging and effective workout. But did you know that barre can also benefit your other fitness endeavour – whether you consider yourself an athlete or amatuer, incorporating barre into your fitness routine, can help improve your flexibility, strength, and overall performance.
What is Barre?
If you’ve been looking to turn up the heat in your workout, and slay your fitness goals, then you really can’t look past the benefits a barre class has to offer. It might be easy to be fooled by the looks of our beautiful and calming Gold Coast Pilates and barre studio, that you might walk into class to some classical music tunes for a few plies and pirouettes. Let us be the first to warn you - this modern-day twist on ballet, Pilates and yoga combined is anything like your regular ballet class. Get yourself prepared for the ultimate booty burn!
This fab workout is a total boss that will keep you on your toes (literally). Mixing up tiny, targeted movements with bigger, dynamic ones, you’ll feel like a superstar as you pulse, squat and clamshell your way along to some mega beats - no classical music here, just fun, upbeat tunes to get the blood and your body moving.
Resistance bands, weights, and other props help take your moves to the next level, ensuring you work up a sweat like never before, all whilst perfecting your posture and form. So let's grab our mats and get ready to shake it like Beyoncé at a barre class!
How can Barre benefit other forms of fitness?
Barre can help improve your other fitness activities in many ways. First up, let's talk flexibility. Barre's small, controlled movements are designed to strengthen muscles that may not be used as much in traditional workouts. This leads to increased overall strength and improved flexibility, which can help prevent injuries and boost your performance in your primary sport or workout activities.
But that's not all! Barre also focuses on increasing your strength through the use of light weights and resistance bands. You might be used to lifting heavier weights at the gym, but let us tell you – you’ve never felt a 2kg weight feel so heavy until you’ve been through a barre class. By incorporating isometric holds and controlled movements, you'll improve your endurance and overall strength. Plus, barre can help you cross-train and work on different muscle groups, leading to improved performance in other fitness activities.
Type of fitness activities and workouts barre can help with
Gym-goers & Crossfit enthusiasts
Barre can benefit gym-goers, helping them improve stability and performance, build endurance and maintain (or improve) flexibility. The high repetition and low-weight exercises movements help build muscle endurance as well as add variety to your workouts, reducing the likelihood of a plateau (and keeps things interesting too!). Barre, just like Pilates and yoga, focuses particularly on core-strength which can help reduce your risk of injury in the gym and improve stability and form during weightlifting exercises. Why not switch one of your 45-minute gym sessions this week and try out a barre class instead. Grab your first 5 classes for just $10 each.
Tennis players
You need to have quick reflexes and be able to move around the court with ease. And there’s only so many shuttle runs one can take in a day!
Barre classes can help to improve balance, coordination, and agility, which can all be beneficial for tennis players. With plenty of movements being performed up on your toes, heels lifted high, you’ll develop ankle strength like never before. Add in some of those tiny-looking weights to develop arm and shoulder strength that can help improve your backhand, volley or forearm.
Cyclists
Cycling can be tough on the hips and lower back. Attending a couple of barre classes each week can help to counteract some of the negative effects of cycling and strengthen the pelvic muscles and hip flexors. Barre classes can also help to improve core strength and flexibility, which can lead to better posture and less strain on the lower back. Why not try out a Barre class on a Monday morning, after your big weekend rides.
Basketball players
Need to work on your jump? Or getting down the court faster? Barre classes can help to improve leg strength, which is essential for jumping and sprinting, as well as improve balance and coordination which is important for being able to change direction on the court quickly. Just remember what you’re there for, and how great it will feel when you shoot that next basket, when you’re on your third set of squats - ouch!
Soccer players
It’s all in the legs for you soccer players. From building ankle strength, to having healthy, happy hamstrings – barre can help develop strong, but flexible legs, enabling you to move around the field quickly, change direction in a snap and kick the ball with power.
Runners
Running can be tough and jarring on the body, and barre classes can help to counteract some of the negative effects of running. Barre classes can help to improve core strength, which can lead to better posture and less strain on the lower back as you kick into high gear throughout your run, whilst also improving flexibility, which can reduce the risk of injury.
Swimmers
Whether you’re training for an ocean swim, a triathlon or just love getting a few laps in for some cardio, including barre in your weekly workout routine can help develop stronger shoulders, back, and core muscles. The improvements in flexibility that come with continual barre workouts can be beneficial in giving you access to a wide range of motion in your shoulders, as you power through each stroke.
How to include barre in your workout routine
If you're ready to give barre a try, start by adding one or two classes per week to your routine. This will give your body time to adjust and prevent overuse injuries. As you become more comfortable, consider increasing the frequency of your barre workouts.
Don't be afraid to challenge yourself by using heavier weights or increasing the length of your holds. With barre, you'll see even greater improvements in your strength and flexibility.
Barre classes can greatly improve your overall fitness and strength. Barre classes target all those areas that you may be missing in your regular workouts and daily routine. Whether you are a full-time gym goer or an occasional cross fitter, barre has something to offer for every type of fitness enthusiast. The exercises teach proper form to help prevent injuries during everyday activities or big events like running a race or playing basketball. You can start including barre in your workout schedule quickly and easily by taking classes at our Gold Coast barre studio or by trying out new barre workouts that you can do at home. However, nothing beats the experience of being in class with the motivating instructor pushing you to try harder, increase your range of motion and challenge yourself past what you thought was possible. Join us for a barre class today, in our beautiful Tugun studio – we’re just a short 5-minute drive from Palm Beach Currumbin, and located in the gorgeous Cornerstone precinct.