Ballet Barre For Fitness

4 CommentsSunday • February 20, 2011 • by Imei

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While the prima ballerina body type isn’t exactly the healthiest one for the majority of women, none can argue that the ballet barre and ballet conditioning help lengthen and tone muscle, which get smaller and weaker with age unless they get a workout. If you are an indoor person who likes music, firm instruction without humiliation, dance movement, and a great core workout, you’ll want to check out the ballet barre method for fitness.

Not your idea of comfy shoes, but you like the long legs? Try barre fitness.

My friend @GeraldineLily on Twitter visited Barre 3 with me in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle (it was her suggestion). The place has the feel of a yoga studio in terms of quiet colors and lighting, sound equipment, and wood floors, but also a sturdy ballet barre slightly lower than the typical ones found in a traditional dance studio. The barre is used as a prop for a portion of the class, and the practice is a combination of ballet barre, yoga, and pilates. Instead of bulking up with weight lifting in a more athletic training program, your muscles are lengthened like that of dancer, just without all the diva behavior, hours of practice, and smelly feet of the ballet experience.

Lengthen, tone, and strengthen muscles at Barre 3 in Seattle.

We met Caroline Weiner, manager and master trainer at Barre 3, and she gave us the tour of the studio. Single classes run $20, 5 for $95, and 10 for $180. Not sure you want jump in? Try these specials: three classes for $30, or if you just know you’ll love it, how about unlimited classes for $100? [editor's note: that's like getting your car tires rotated and a lube and oil job, except for your body. Now THAT's a deal! Can you say "better than Groupon?"]

And finally, if you don’t want to try these classes in a studio because you’re a little intimidated in public spaces, you can try a non-barre version DVD with similar benefits, such as The Lotte Berk Method. Of course, there is no replacement for live instruction, but hey, just moving and taking care of your body in the privacy of your own home is a step in the right direction.

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Posted in: dance, exercise, fitness, health

Tagged with: ballet, ballet barre, Seattle, training

4 Responses to “Ballet Barre For Fitness”

1. 

   Melinda

   02.21.2011

   This article is inaccurate in it’s depiction of ballet dancers. You should perhaps become more educated on dancers before making generalizations about their body types and diva attitudes. Barre method classes are insulting enough to professional dancers and now to hear these remarks?

   Reply
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     Imei

     02.21.2011

     Thanks for taking the time to comment. Would you like to say more about how you feel about how the barre method is insulting to professional dancers? Better yet, is there anything you’d like to say to those who aren’t going to be professional dancers, but wish to use the barre method for their fitness training (the emphasis of the blog post)?

     Reply
2. 

   Glenn

   02.22.2011

   I don’t think Ballet Barre is trying to be anything but a fitness centre. Of course, no self-respecting, budding ballerina would seek out BB for their training. However, many of the exercises, philosophies, and methods of BB, which are based upon elementary Ballet training, could and should benefit many, many folks. I have no illusions about learning ballet at my age, but I would certainly give BB a go for my general fitness. I’d even don tights and a dance belt to boot!

   Can my Odette be close on the horizon?

   Reply
3. 

   Mark

   03.03.2011

   All these dance based exercise regimes have really brought the focus back onto having fun while you’re exercising so that you keep it up! Most of us aren’t up for pre dawn jog and doing something that’s enjoyable is going to make it much more likely that we’ll stick to it.

   Any time we get more active is great, whatever it is and however it’s done!

   Reply