Barre Pilates

Barre Pilates is a workout that combines foundations of classical ballet, Pilates and yoga around the barre, the fixed rail on the wall familiar from ballet studios. The method grew out of London in 1959, when the German dancer Lotte Berk, who had suffered a serious back injury during her dancing career, developed a sequence of exercises to strengthen the spine and core on an orthopaedist's advice. Her classes in a London basement quickly became an international phenomenon, and today Barre is one of the most popular methods in modern fitness.

The class uses the barre as an anchor for focused exercises, with small movements and many repetitions, aimed at the deep muscles that do not always get attention in other workouts. The work combines standing exercises at the barre, floor work inspired by Pilates, and stretches inspired by yoga.

What characterises the class:

• Small isometric movements with many repetitions, building muscular endurance
• Work on the core, pelvis, legs and glutes
• Emphasis on upright posture, muscle tone and coordination
• Flexibility work that lengthens the muscle after the effort
• Rhythmic music throughout the class

The workout suits every level, including people who have never danced. It is particularly kind to the joints, which makes it an excellent option if you want intensity without joint load. No prior ballet knowledge is needed.

Looking for the spring loaded apparatus instead? See Reformer Pilates, or Mat Pilates for body weight work on the floor. You can find Barre classes by day, hour and branch on the timetable, and see the rest of our Pilates classes on the Pilates page.