The alternate headline for this post is “Inelegance at the barre.” Because, let me tell you, there were some awkward, gangly moments this morning.
Barre exercise — typically done at boutique studios that specialize in a focused workout dedicated to a particular (read: branded) interpretation of leg curls and heels-up-and-touching pliés — is now more than a trend. I’ve attended classes at several different studios and find the workout difficult but not punishing yet also very rewarding. It doesn’t deliver a cardio workout, but not everyone is looking for that all of the time. Those who are can run to the studio of their choice. And what choices we have.
Pure Barre is the largest ballet-inspired fitness chain in the U.S. with more than 300 studios. The Colorado South Carolina-based company expanded to Canada this year, opening its doors for the first time in Toronto in January and tomorrow, officially, on West Fourth Avenue in Kitsilano, two blocks from a Dailey Method studio that recently celebrated its first anniversary in the neighbourhood after more than 10 in Dunbar.
The variety of barre workouts and number of locations continue to grow in the U.S. although many offer minor variations of the same thing. Vancouver also has home-grown Barre Fitness, the workout of choice for many dancers, and Ballet Fit, a wear-your-tutu-with-pride class for novice and intermediate adult dancers. Where studios tend to differ is atmosphere and philosophy. My suggestion is to take at least two classes at several different gyms to find the right fit for you. If you’re like me and just want what’s closest to home, you’re in luck if you live in Gastown or Kitsilano.
Don’t be fooled. Unlike dance, barre-centric classes are not about first position, second position, arabesques and so on. This is a good thing for many of us. The only choreography is flexing in unison. The exercise is built on isometric movement, the tiny contractions that many instructors call “micro-movements” and one founder likens to “hugging your muscle to the bone.”
This brings me to the contradiction at the heart of it all. A fantastic and sexy marketing trick, the barre evokes elegance, grace, strength and the long, lean muscles of prima ballerinas. Despite the effectiveness and enjoyment of these classes, I will never be mistaken for a Bolshoi protégé no matter how many balls I squeeze.
In many classes, the barre is a prop. Sometimes also used to reinforce posture or help with balance. It supports forearms, fingers and feet, not unlike its application in ballet. In the world of “inspired” fitness, other accessories join the barre; these are resistance bands, mats, rubber balls of various sizes and, of course, ankle socks with a braille-like pattern of rubber on the sole.
This morning at Pure Barre, it was no different. We leaned against the wall as much as we gripped the barre. And when we did grab the glossy wood, I had my face smashed into my forearm, bent at the waist trying to leverage more height in my back leg. Not stage-worthy, safe to say. The legs of the women around me were all doing different things: knees bending different ways or not at all, hips raising or not at all, feet flexed or pointed or flat on the floor. There’s really nothing I dislike more in an exercise class than having to look to other participants to know what the hell I’m supposed to be doing. Is my knee bending towards my elbow? Or out to my side? Where do I put my left hand and what muscles am I targeting here? Inevitably, some of us aren’t doing it right if we’re all doing it differently.
I want my workouts to feel like work but not be a puzzle. I want to strengthen muscles, not screw up my face trying to figure it all out. Leg raises are no clean and jerk.
Good cuing is key. Instructors can help by modelling the exercise or adjusting the limbs and posture of participants. (Not everyone likes the hands-on approach, but I certainly do.)
The owner of Vancouver’s new Pure Barre, Tanya Schneider, said it can take three to four classes for most people to find the flow. This is comforting. I found the flow and then it flowed away. Although there were repeated instructions of “tuck” and “bend” and “stretch,” the prompts weren’t clear enough for me. Bend where? Stretch what? What’s she doing beside me? Can’t be that… can it?
An undeniable perk of the class was the loud, fun music. Not only a reason to test-drive this studio for yourself but also an explanation for some cuing confusion. The floor work ended with a low-key cover of Bryan Adam’s “Heaven.” Ahh, so chill of you, Vancouver.
Schneider owns the city’s first Pure Barre and the Ontario-raised yoga and holistic health practitioner lives on the East Side with a rescue mutt named Chloe. She identified Kitsilano – as so many do – as the city’s hotbed for all things low-impact, boutique health, saying various barre classes appeal to different clientele in spite of their similarities.
“We’re unique with different foundational principles,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair to say how we’re different because I’m not trained in the other classes.
“It’s important to find one that speaks to you. You might find something you love from all of us,” said Schneider. “There’s room for everyone.”
Pure Barre hosted media to attend free classes, and I was a guest.
Nutrition needs?
After our studio tour and class at Pure Barre, we heard from a nutritionist from Vancouver’s Beyond Nutrition. I’ve always been desperately bad at feeding myself properly but am convinced the solution lies in effective meal planning.
I wasn’t familiar with Beyond Nutrition but am glad they were invited to speak to us. They specialize in whole foods and build recipes that are free of all the things some people can’t or won’t eat, including meat, dairy, gluten, soy and so on.
They sell cookbooks. These are no off-the-shelf titles. You can build your own and have the recipes and information customized to you and sent by email.
And they also put on workshops, which would probably help a low-barrier-cook like me jazz up her cooking. In April, Beyond Nutrition is also hosing a three-day retreat in Squamish dedicated to meal planning, cooking and discussing eating habits and body image.
Twitter: @MHStewart
