Top 5 Tips for Your First Barre Fitness Classes

So, you’ve decided to give barre fitness a try – don’t worry, you’re going to love it! Barre fitness is a fantastic full body workout which focuses on small, isometric movements to challenge your muscles without putting strain on your joints. And, contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to have any dance experience. Let’s look at our top tips when going along to your first barre fitness class.

Arrive ten minutes early

If you’re going along to barre for the first time, turn up a few minutes early and let your teacher know that it’s your first class. They’ll be able to explain the format of the session as well as show you some basic moves before class gets started so you feel a bit more confident about joining in. This is also your opportunity to let your teacher know of any issues, such as injuries, that they should be aware of so modifications can be made as necessary.

Wear comfortable clothing

You don’t have to get dressed up to go along to barre fitness – comfortable workout attire is perfect. Remember that you’ll be doing a lot of different movements so wear clothing that isn’t too restrictive. The only prerequisite is that you need to wear socks in class to help you with balance and these days there are barre class specific socks with grips on the bottom which are perfect to aid in stability.

Don’t arrive on an empty stomach

Although the movements may look easy if you’ve never done barre, it’s hard work and really challenges all of your muscle groups. With that in mind, don’t come along to class without giving your body the right fuel – that means no skipping breakfast if you choose a morning session! You can keep it simple with a pre-barre snack such as a banana, oats or nuts so your body has the energy for the workout ahead.

Focus on tiny movements

If you’re used to other classes, such as Pilates or yoga, where a big range of motion is required, barre fitness can take a little getting used to with the focus on tiny muscle contractions. Remember to keep your movements as small as possible when you’re asked to pulse. During each contraction, focus on engaging your muscles properly so you get the most out of your workout. It might feel like you’re not getting a whole lot done but, trust us, you’ll feel it the next day!

K?YA Health Clubs provide barre classes using genuine barre methods which incorporate concepts from classical ballet, Pilates and functional movement for a whole body workout. Our experienced teachers focus on alignment and postural strength while lengthening and strengthening your muscles. We offer barre classes across our two convenient locations in Prahran and the Melbourne

CBD.

For authentic barre classes, contact the team at K?YA today on (03) 9090 1000.

Nathan Aron is a fitness trainer, who writes for many online journals and portals that are related to fitness classes.