Barre3 Standing Slim

Title: Barre3 Standing Slim
Instructor: Sadie Lincoln
Time: 30 Minutes
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
DVD menu: Play workout, chapter selections (if I recall)
Production quality: moderately high (not polished but not distractingly low quality)
Equipment used: barre, optional light weights (it looks like Sadie uses 1# each hand, I used 3#), optional playground ball

I am a more advanced exerciser (Tonique/Dream Body/Horizontal Conditioning are my mainstays) and several months ago I was inspired to incorporate more barre workouts into my routine. I am loving the lower body results when paired with Tonique. What I love about barre is that it gets more challenging the more that you do it. I would consider there to be two sub-genres of barre, the faster/larger range of motion (Booty Barre, P57), and the more traditional acute pulses/smaller range of motion (Pure Barre, Barre Method, Ballet Physique, Ballet Body). I would place Barre3 in the more traditional category. The workouts don’t look that hard, but those tiny movements are very effective.

This is a bit of an express workout in that it is only 30 minutes. It is somewhat unusual from other barre workouts in that it combines upper and lower body, and is all standing. The light weights aren’t used for the entire series, maybe interspersed in the first 15 minutes. Work the legs in a series of ballet squats while incorporating the upper body to gently target the shoulders, triceps, biceps, and back. Then use the ball held behind the knee for glute work, and in the hands for some deep sumo squats. The core is engaged throughout the workout (there is no isoldated ab work). There are stretches after each set throughout the workout to help lengthen the muscles after toning.

I wasn’t crazy about the first Barre3 workout I tried (Studio Shape), it just seemed very easy and really not challenging enough even for a light day. But whether my muscle engagement in barre workouts has improved, or this workout was just a little more challenging, I really enjoyed this and my legs were even shaking a bit during the workout. It was for a shorter, lower intensity day, and it felt “just right” for that purpose. It went by fast and was very fun. Jury is still out on whether I feel the purchase of the Barre3 5-DVD set is worth it, but at least I feel like this workout is redeemable.

Instructor Comments:
Sadie is very warm and enthusiastic about her method, and has great form instructions. She is a little bubbly and reminds me of Ellen Barrett a bit.

Emily B.