This past summer, I felt like I needed to switch up my conditioning and endeavor something new. One of the local Pure Barre studios was running a special for 1 week free and and then the post-obit month for $79. After my first week, I decided to sign up for the 1-month special, since I felt similar I needed time to evaluate if it was the correct fit for me.

me on a mat in a plank pose

When I signed upwardly for my first class, I felt like I sort of knew what to expect since I'd tried other barre classes earlier. I think information technology would accept been improve if I had gone in knowing I didn't know what I was doing. I ended upwardly taking about 12 classes over the grade of 5 weeks, so I wasn't going every mean solar day, but I went pretty regularly. It was enough time for me to get a sense of what Pure Barre is all most and decide if it's right for me. So if y'all've been considering it, hither are my thoughts.

Pros of Pure Barre

  • All of the teachers were super friendly. In my kickoff class, the teacher introduced herself and introduced me to 2 other teachers that were taking the class. They invited me to sit adjacent to them then it was easier for me to follow along. I really appreciated that!
  • The classes are jam-packed into 55 minutes. We don't spend tons of time stretching (although all the moves stretch you out!) and so you're truly working out for every single minute. They're also great most sticking to the clock so you know you'll get out on time!
  • The studio, as I imagine near Pure Barre studios would exist, was super clean and all the equipment was in great shape.
  • Although it seemed like every form was different, it does follow a similar format. The workouts might not experience easier, but it definitely made it easier to know what was coming next. I felt more confident later I'd taken 3 or 4 classes.

Cons of Pure Barre

  • It tin can be difficult to see the teachers. They perform the moves about one/iii of the time, and the rest of the time they're moving around the room correcting form and offering pointers. I really appreciated this, considering I definitely needed assistance on my class, peculiarly in those first few classes. Just information technology also meant that I spent a lot of time looking at other people (which can get a piddling awkward) and you don't really know if the person next to y'all is doing things correct either.
  • I got a discount since it was my first month, but the regular prices aren't cheap. The most cost-effective choice is to sign up for a twelvemonth-long membership but I like to switch up my workouts and the drop-in classes are pretty expensive. If you're interested in just taking a couple of classes a calendar week, it tin can add up quickly.
  • Sometimes the classes I was hoping to have were full, so I'd go waitlisted and cross my fingers that I'd go in. This really isn't a con, it just ways the classes are actually popular! Obviously, every studio is unlike. I found that getting on the waitlist ordinarily meant I'd get into the class, it was only a trivial harder to program my day effectually it.

stretching on a yoga mat

Photos via Alexa Marie Photography

Exercise I really demand barre socks?

Ok, ok. I'm cheap. I thought I could skip the grippy sock thing but permit me tell y'all, you need them! Planks on the carpet without grippy socks are about impossible. My feet kept sliding out from under me! They practice sell socks at the studio only they're pretty expensive. I just bought this 2-pack on Amazon (<–affiliate link) and they worked perfectly. Plus if we're being totally honest, I just felt out of place beingness the only person wearing white socks! Whatever yous decide to do, just make sure you bring socks because you can't be barefoot in the studio!

Who should take Pure Barre?

While I practice think it's an effective workout for nearly people it could exist a little intimidating if you lot've never done any sort of group fitness class before. You certainly don't need to be a fitness expert, simply I constitute that most people in the class were pretty defended to their Pure Barre practice, so it tin can experience a little scary if you've never washed information technology earlier. That said, they offering a Pure Barre Foundations class for beginners, where they spend a little more time explaining the moves. I too plant that the teachers were so helpful if you ever had a question or weren't certain how to practice something correctly. So don't expect until you feel 100% ready, just get requite it a try!

Is Pure Barre a good cardio workout?

I didn't do a lot of other workouts while I was doing my unlimited calendar month at Pure Barre, although I did do a lot of walking. (I mean, that'southward what my treadmill desk is for!) And so I did experience like I was missing out on that "high-intensity-sweaty" kind of workout. Not that I really similar those workouts only I do feel like I need them from fourth dimension to time! It was funny timing because every bit I was finishing my month of Pure Barre, they launched Pure Barre Empower!

I had a chance to take one of the classes and it's basically a more cardio-axial class. It'south a faster pace and you wear mitt weights and talocrural joint weights which definitely increases the fire. I liked that it was still a pretty low impact workout, but I was much sweatier at the end! So if you're looking for something to get your heart pumping harder, it's nice that they accept that choice, too.

me stretching

Then what's side by side?

I'g taking a niggling Pure Barre interruption for now. I actually enjoyed the classes but I know myself and I get bored hands. I like taking different classes and switching up my workouts, and so I knew a year-long membership wouldn't make sense for me. For at present, I'thou planning to buy a pack of classes and driblet in when I can!

I also bought a couple of Pure Barre DVDs and I've been enjoying using those when I desire to do an at-home workout. I wouldn't recommend doing only the at-domicile workout, though. I recall it'southward meliorate when yous've gone to a studio for a while, to make sure y'all take the bones techniques downwardly. Simply I'm glad I have the choice to practice it at home when I'm peckish a piffling elevator, tone, burn!

Looking for a great an at-domicile workout? Check out my review of Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guides.

me sitting with a water bottle

What's your current favorite workout?