Passion4Pole started this discussion ·
Any polers ever taken a Pure Barre class? Was it hard...how did it compare to pole in the fitness aspect? I've never taken one, but it can't be harder than pole...can it? 🙂
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I have and it was. If you have taken a pilates class you may be fine, but it is nothing like pole. I will also state that I was not impressed, but it probably had more to do with my instructor than the actual class. The feeling in the room was SOOOOO not like a pole class. I walked out of there and promptly texted a few of my pole girls saying I wanted to have a bunch of us in class in booty shorts talking like we do in a pole class and just freak everyone out.
I've done various Barre classes and they can be challenging from a muscle isolation and high repitition aspect... but they are NOTHING like pole. Personally I have found pole much harder considering all of the strength/stamina/flexibility that is required.
It depends on what you are looking to do. If you are hoping to cross train for pole, and strengthen, then barre is NOT the right way to go. If you are hoping to "lean out" and "lengthen" then it's important that you realize that exercise will not CHANGE the length of your muscles. I've taken barre classes (physique 57, based on Lotte Berk method) and was not impressed at all. I also wasn't into the teaching philosophy. I've gotten pretty damn strong from pole, and this class was not difficult... but it was painful, and boring (for me). They have you do high repetitions of low weights to the point of muscle failure. Sure, if I lift a 2 lb weight 100 times, or do 100 leg lifts, and take this class every day I will be tired, and I will maybe be sore. But will I be stronger? No. Will I be really good at doing a barre class? Yes. Will it be applicable to pole? Absolutely not. That being said, if you are just looking to try new stuff, explore different fitness modalities-- go for it!
I've taken FlyBarre, Bar Method, and barre at OCPF, my old pole studio. FlyBarre & Bar Method were tough and I'd poop out sometimes not finishing the reps, but I never went home sore or became sore after the normal 2 days. I didn't feel like the classes did more than pole did at these 2 studios. The barre classes at my old pole studio left my glutes more sore than anything. I find pole to be the more challenging and funnerest of the 2.
Not all Barre classes are created equal. I personally think that Pure Barre can be hard on some body types. The positions they put you in are not the best for your joints. So if you cant tolerate the "tweaked" position you might get injured. Try one and see if it suits you. I would suggest try taking a Pilates class too at qualified studio. That being said....many fitness facility's have jumped on the "Barre" bandwagon to generate more income without adequate training. They send an instructor out to take some classes and them become an "expert" in themselves. It's too bad that you have to be a smart consumer and weed through the good and bad. Fitness is not a regulated industry. Buyer beware.
The studio I attended practiced the Lotte Berk Method and I will say there were quite a few positions that I was put in that were not comfortable for my body. Pole has taught me the limitations of my body type and also to respect those limitations. Granted some of the positions were uncomfortable because of my tight hamstrings, but others just plain had me in bad alignment.
Also the place only has one evening class a week (it really caters to the doctors wives that live near the studio) and is hella expensive. Single classes are $25 and one month unlimited is $225 (for having only one evening class). Not a single pole studio in town is charging $25 a class!!
I have some barre DVDs at home. I like them for off pole days. I just hold onto my pole instead of a chair or a barre. To make my body feel tight and they're not as difficult as a pole class. So I like the balance of the two together.
Also try taking an adult ballet class! I danced up through high school, then got back into it as an adult. Its fun and challenging and will transition to pole because of the similarities in the dancey/fluidity side of pole, plus flexibility :)
I agree with AliciaPolerina. Try an adult ballet class. I've never taken a class that was just barre - I could see how that would get repetitive and boring quickly. But a real, full ballet class that incorporates barre and center of the floor work can be fun and challenging. I took ballet through college and the balance, flow and awareness of body placement have all been useful in pole.
