Barre is a ballet-inspired exercise that incorporates different elements from ballet, yoga, and Pilates. This popular form of exercise is known for its use of the horizontal ballet barre and its low impact exercises. Barre classes are excellent beginner-friendly workouts. If you are looking to effectively improve your range of motion and increase strength and flexibility, starting a barre class is just for you.
Concentrating mainly on core and lower body muscles, barre engages participants with isometric movements targeting specific muscles using small, repetitive, and pulsing movements.
Barre is beneficial in providing better posture, increased flexibility and muscle definition, weight loss and reduced stress.
A twelve week study observed participants who completed barre exercises for 50 minutes. During this time, researchers noted a significant improvement in head, shoulder, and pelvic postures. The barre workouts had strengthened the muscles in the shoulders and chest making it easier to hold the body more upright creating a better posture.
Due to the amount of stretching and muscle engagement, people noticed increased flexibility and muscle definition with further use of barre exercises. Additionally, the workout intensity combined with consistency lead to further weight loss, creating a toned and leaner physique. Exercise is also another great way to relieve stress. These workouts allow you to be in the present by staying focused during the exercises and releasing stress hormones.
Check out Caravan’s Full Body Barre program designed to help you find your balance and tone your entire body with ballet-inspired exercises.
References:
Chae, J., & Kim, H. (2020, June). Korean Society of Integrative Medicine. Effects of Ballet Bar and Elastic Band Exercise on Body Composition, Physical Fitness and Postural Correction in Middle-Aged Women, 8(2), 109 – 119. https://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO202018436566306.page
Lim, E. J., & Park, J. E. (2019). The effects of Pilates and yoga participant’s on engagement in functional movement and individual health level. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 15(4), 553-559. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6732550/