5 things I wish I knew about barre sooner

I wish barre came with these disclaimers

✨Barre is a great compliment to strength training but it can’t replace it

Barre focuses on muscular endurance or how long we can perform an exercise with low weight. If you want to focus on building muscle mass or “toning” strength training is going to be a key element to your workout schedule.

✨It’s low impact but not low intensity

Barre typically includes minimal jumping and if there is, typically there are plenty of options to avoid it. Jumping isn’t the only way to raise your heart rate. Barre uses speed and range of motion to drive your heart rate up but keep your feet on the floor.

✨Long, lean muscles aren’t real and therefore barre can’t help you achieve it

Muscles cannot be lengthened (this is not to be confused which stretching muscles which is different) as they have fixed endpoints. Muscle is also inherently lean.

✨You can’t tone with it

Honestly you can’t tone with anything. Toning is a combination of losing fat and gaining muscle which can be achieved with a variety of different workouts and diet changes

✨It’s not a gateway workout

Barre isn’t the first step to a “more intense” workout. Barre is the compliment to other workout formats. Now I’m not saying barre can’t be used as an introduction into fitness. I think it absolutely can be! What I’m saying is it shouldn’t be viewed as level 1 with level 2 being strength training or spin. Each of these exercises have unique benefits to them and I encourage you to cross train and exercise in multiple ways to maximize your benefits.

Let’s make barre a little less toning and little more real ❤️

#barre #barrefitness #barreworkout