It’s more about posture than pirouettes. Here’s how to use Plié for physical and mental strength
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Barre has grown in popularity over the past decade and helps women build strength and get into fantastic shape – it also has a surprisingly erotic history. It originated in the 1960s with the Lotte Berk technique and was largely supported by the promise of improving sexual performance.
“Barre attracted all the movers and shakers of the time, including Britt Ekland, Barbra Streisand and Joan Collins,” says Vicki Anstey, Britain’s leading barre expert and founder of Barreworks in London. “The barre movement has gained tremendous traction since the days of Lotte Berk and has evolved and modernized.”
What is Barre?
Barre has its roots in ballet and encourages the repetition of dynamic, low-impact, isometric movements. Some moves are easy, others are difficult to master, but there is a routine for every skill level. “We have seen a particular increase in popularity since the Covid-19 lockdown,” says Anstey. “Probably because it is such a versatile method and can be done anywhere with very limited (or no) space or equipment.”
The benefits
Like yoga, barre strengthens every area of the body and, like other forms of strength training, increases bone density – which is especially important for women. “The movements are controlled and precise, and the emphasis is on the important stabilizers in the body that support the core, shoulders and hips,” says Anstey.
“Given the origins of ballet, it is not surprising that posture is a key component, testing functional movement patterns and revealing weaknesses and imbalances.” “We regularly train professional rugby players, cyclists, runners and rowers, and invariably they discover something, that can be improved, and muscles they didn’t even know they had.”
Aside from being a great mindfulness practice, there are also many cognitive benefits. “Music is a central part of training, and barre is a great way to improve your sequencing and timing,” says Anstey.
“You need to change the training stimulus as much as possible to load key body parts to build strength, support better alignment and improve posture,” adds Anstey. And better posture can reduce lower back pain, reduce the risk of injury and improve balance.
Which kit is needed?
While barre refers to the long bar installed in studios that is used to support the body, you don’t need any equipment to take it up – but you can make it easier (or more difficult) with a few items. “There are many customization options for your home to create your very own barre studio,” says Anstey. “But if you have a chair (used as a bar), light dumbbells, a resistance band, and a soft Pilates ball, you’re good to go! “We see our customers doing live online workouts using radiators, doors, sugar packets, old tights and garden railings.”
Normal workout clothes are fine. You can practice barefoot, but you may prefer non-slip socks, especially on hard floors.
Learn barre online
Would you like to get started, but courses are not an option? Try these online resources:
• Buy a single pass to Barreworks online workouts for £7.99 or £49 for an unlimited weekly pass at barreworks.co.uk
• Barrecore offers your first month free of its online courses at barrecore.com
• Pilates Any Time offers a 15-day trial of Pilates barre classes (an energetic mix of both) at pilatesanytime.com
You can buy Vicki’s Barre Home Workout Pack for £55 plus shipping from barreworks.co.uk
Summary
Item name
Start with barre
Description
This ballet-inspired workout is more about posture than pirouettes. It is said to strengthen physical and mental strength. But what is barre?
author
Tom Rowley
Publisher name
Healthy Magazine
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