Why I’m Sticking with Bar Method As My Main Workout (For Now)

As I mentioned in last Friday’s post I’ve been going to Bar Method in Williamsburg a lot lately thanks to their $99/unlimited classes intro package. Pretty sweet deal by NYC fitness standards.

I’ve always been iffy on barre classes. Sometimes I like barre classes, other times I hate them. Bar Method, though, I’ve grown to really love over the last two years.

[Read my full review here. Sadly the Soho studio has since closed]

My intro package ends this week and the studio offers a discount on unlimited membership if you sign up before your package ends. After going back and forth I decided to continue with my Bar Method membership. At least for the time being.

I won’t exclusively be doing Bar Method as the only way I move my body, I’ll still be hitting up sculpt at CorePower Yoga fairly often and taking advantage of being an instructor at Y7. My plan is to continue to take barre classes at least three times a week.

I don’t think I’ll be a Bar Method member forever. For starters the L train is going to get shutdown soon making Williamsburg almost impossible to get to. But for now it’s the workout and studio that works for me.

 

Why I’m Sticking to Bar Method (for now)

It’s low intensity

As much as I love teaching Yoga Sculpt, it’s a demanding class to teach. I’m talking constantly sans mic for an hour demoing squats, burpees and push-ups — all in a room that’s 90 degrees.

I like that barre is the polar opposite of Sculpt in that it’s low impact and lower intensity. I can hype myself to take a class after teaching because I know it’s not going to further drain me, but I’ll still leave feeling like I got a total body workout.

 

It’s not super sweaty

I have nothing against sweating, I swear. But it’s kind of nice to be able to squeeze in a barre class whenever I need to and not have to worry about taking a full shower after. Trust me, I take like three showers a day as is with teaching in a heated room and breaking a sweat every time I go outside in the summer.

Today for example I legit got lazy when I came home from teaching class this morning. I was already in the zone answering emails and didn’t want to waste more time by doing my whole shower routine. I don’t even feel gross about it because I wasn’t drenched in sweat after class. That’s a win in my book.

 

Hands on adjustments

Bar Method is known for giving LOTS of hands on and verbal adjustments. If you’re doing something wrong, you will be called out. This can be intimidating for newbies, but I love it and think it’s what sets Bar Method apart from other barre studios. I always feel safe in the various positions knowing that if my form was off I’d be corrected.

Getting lots of verbal adjustments also means the instructors learn your name and will give you a shout out when you’re rocking it in push-ups. Side note: I don’t know how they manage to memorize EVERYONES name. It’s magical.

 

It works for my schedule

Okay my schedule is a bit of a hot mess right now. I have my set schedule at CorePower. I’ll soon have a set schedule with Y7. But because it’s summer I will be going on a subbing spree the last two weeks of August. Like legit I will be subbing ALL the classes and I cannot wait to teach ALL the yoga.

I’ve found Bar Method works for my schedule. Or at least my schedule at the moment. On days I’m not teaching in the morning I like to sleep in and take the 9:30AM class. I usually hate working out at night but actually enjoyed going to a night class last week.

 

It’s the workout I love right now.

I’ve always been a strong believer that the best workout for you is the one you want to do. If you love to dance your heart out, cardio dance is the best workout for you. If you’re super competitive, maybe CrossFit works well for you.

For me barre is what I crave these days. Really for the last three years now lower intensity workouts have been my friend. I look forward to taking class. After class I feel good. So for now I’m going with it, while I can afford it, and while the L train is still running…

 

Your turn: What’s your favorite workout these days?