Have you heard about one of the hottest trends that has hit the UK? Celebrities around the world are using it to balance, strengthen and tone their bodies? It’s called ballet barre, a bespoke and elite fitness class that incorporates moves from ballet, pilates and yoga. The classes are focuses on small movements which use the whole body along with small hand weights and stability balls to add more resistance and help you tone and develop a lean body.
Where did it start?
Barre originated with Lotte Berk, a German dancer in the 1930s. She developed this technique after suffering an injury and began working with an osteopath to create a style of ballet that included therapeutic exercises with a focus on strength and flexibility training. In 1971 Lynda Bach bought the rights to this technique, opened the first studio in Manhattan and it has grown ever since, worldwide.
What are the benefits of a Barre Fit Class?
1. Improves mind and body concentration
Barre classes help activate underused muscles in and outside of class to complement strength-demanding daily tasks and keep us moving functionally.
2. Strengthens your core
The core is not just about your abs or doing crunches. The core is actually a complex group of muscles that works to stabilise the body. All of the muscles you use in a barre class will help to engage your core which will help to improve posture and strength.
3. Develops a balanced physique
Many fitness classes, activities and sports can result in muscular imbalances which can lead to injuries, pain and poor posture. When we do the same type of training over and over we can overwork the front of the body while neglecting the other muscles that keep us in balance. A barre class will incorporate full body exercises to help balance the body and all it’s muscles.
4. It improves flexibility
Many of us fail to work on our flexibility which becomes very important as we age. Barre classes help to keep you bendy with many different types of stretches and ballet, pilates and yoga focused moves.
5. It’s low-impact
This is a great class for those who need a lower impact class offering plenty of variety of exercises while also providing the strength and balance we need for long term fitness and functional daily movements.
Source: Draxe.com
Join us this September for our bespoke and elite Barre classes.
Mondays – 12:30pm
Thursdays – 9:30am