(Don't laugh) Chair recommendations for barre and stretching?

Lorelai · 01-22-22, 04:58 PM

Okay, so I don't own any chairs! We have counter height stools and our dining room table has benches. I find myself lacking a sturdy chair that I can use for a barre substitute, as well as for seated workouts and stretching. I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'm not sure if a cheap metal folding chair would be optimal for this purpose? It seems like a more straight backed chair would be preferred. I found this online and it looks pretty good, although it's kind of number that I'd have to buy two. Any thoughts or recommendations? It's a lot easier to use what you have, but I'm not sure which direction to go since I don't have anything that would work, if that makes sense... Oh, and for reference, if it helps with chair back height recommendations, I'm 5'5".

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Stakmore-Se...air/1002871540

BunnyHop · 01-22-22, 05:06 PM

Not laughing! I'm right there with you.

Some years back I bought a stepstool with a handle kinda like this but I've found that it's not really all that great. The basic idea is okay, but the seat is too small to sit on so I've gotta find some other setup for the workouts that need both a barre and a chair to sit on.

Most of the chairs at my house are too antique and flimsy to serve, and somehow I've never found anything that actually works very well.

Watching this thread with interest.

Sollamyn · 01-22-22, 05:23 PM

I didn't have anything suitable, either, so I bought a sturdy wooden chair with kind of a high back at an antique/collectibles/flea market type of shop for $10.00. You might try that, if you don't mind shopping around. I just happened to get lucky at the first shop I stopped in.

I hope you find something suitable.

Donna

star117 · 01-22-22, 06:40 PM

I've been having the same issue. Only have a folding chair from a card table and want something more stable. I found a listing on facebook market that I'm going to look at Monday. Wood Chair for $12. Fingers crossed it's what I have in mind!

Leonana · 01-22-22, 06:56 PM

I use a metal folding chair. Plus is that I can store it behind the door. The minus is that the back is too short. I don’t do barre often so I make do. I’m still able to use it. I’m 5’8”, but I either bend over more, or spread my legs out further.

I’d search Goodwill for a chair, if I were looking for one. I don’t have much wiggle room in the budget. The chairs from Lowes look nice. And it’s always good to have extra seating if you have people over.

AsSweetAsSugar · 01-22-22, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonana

I use a metal folding chair. Plus is that I can store it behind the door.

Same here. I am 5'4", I use it for CS/Essentrics. As Sherry, I don't do barre workouts often either, but it serves in a pinch.

bfit · 01-22-22, 08:00 PM

I also use a metal folding chair, and it works fine. Another inexpensive kind of chair you can buy is the molded plastic chairs meant for outdoor use. They are the kind that you find stacked up in larger hardware stores, the outdoor section of Target, etc. They are heavier than regular aluminum lawn chairs.

Bluebelle · 01-23-22, 06:58 PM

I bought a molded plastic chair for outdoor use like bfit mentions. I got it at Costco for about $20 I think. It looks kind of like the one Jenny uses in her workouts in Essentrics streaming. I use it at work on my lunch breaks. My office chair rolls & that doesn't work too well.

Edit to add here's a link to the Costco chair

https://www.costco.com/lifetime-fold...100475444.html

bzar · 01-23-22, 07:34 PM

i used the couch either backside or the seat side.

in callanetics, they show you how to use a coffee table.

although i own a Fluidity barre, i'm too lazy to set it up, so i use the above.

edited to add - we bought this 2-step indoor ladder with a padded top from Ross stores for $25, and it stays put fairly well for barre work - this one is $49 on Amazon but looks exactly like ours. The cool thing is you can also use it to do supported yoga back bends since there's a nice big opening between the padded top and the top step:
https://www.amazon.com/Brookstone-BK...dDbGljaz10cnVl

DCW · 01-23-22, 07:35 PM

I vote for Goodwill but a friend may have an extra chair to gift you. I use a heavy wood kitchen chair. If it was at Goodwill they would pay you to take it.

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01-22-22, 04:58 PM
Lorelai Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Missouri	(Don't laugh) Chair recommendations for barre and stretching? Okay, so I don't own any chairs! We have counter height stools and our dining room table has benches. I find myself lacking a sturdy chair that I can use for a barre substitute, as well as for seated workouts and stretching. I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'm not sure if a cheap metal folding chair would be optimal for this purpose? It seems like a more straight backed chair would be preferred. I found this online and it looks pretty good, although it's kind of number that I'd have to buy two. Any thoughts or recommendations? It's a lot easier to use what you have, but I'm not sure which direction to go since I don't have anything that would work, if that makes sense... Oh, and for reference, if it helps with chair back height recommendations, I'm 5'5". https://www.lowes.com/pd/Stakmore-Se...air/1002871540 __________________ Laura "Practice makes progress." Jessica Smith "There's always an option before we quit." Jessica Smith "You don't have to be a ballerina to feel like one." Ellen Barrett

01-22-22, 05:06 PM
BunnyHop Join Date: Nov 2008	Not laughing! I'm right there with you. Some years back I bought a stepstool with a handle kinda like this but I've found that it's not really all that great. The basic idea is okay, but the seat is too small to sit on so I've gotta find some other setup for the workouts that need both a barre and a chair to sit on. Most of the chairs at my house are too antique and flimsy to serve, and somehow I've never found anything that actually works very well. Watching this thread with interest. __________________ Anna

01-22-22, 05:23 PM
Sollamyn Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: S. Illinois	I didn't have anything suitable, either, so I bought a sturdy wooden chair with kind of a high back at an antique/collectibles/flea market type of shop for $10.00. You might try that, if you don't mind shopping around. I just happened to get lucky at the first shop I stopped in. I hope you find something suitable. Donna __________________ Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world. unknown

01-22-22, 06:40 PM
star117 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Virginia	I've been having the same issue. Only have a folding chair from a card table and want something more stable. I found a listing on facebook market that I'm going to look at Monday. Wood Chair for $12. Fingers crossed it's what I have in mind!

01-22-22, 06:56 PM
Leonana Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Arizona	I use a metal folding chair. Plus is that I can store it behind the door. The minus is that the back is too short. I don’t do barre often so I make do. I’m still able to use it. I’m 5’8”, but I either bend over more, or spread my legs out further. I’d search Goodwill for a chair, if I were looking for one. I don’t have much wiggle room in the budget. The chairs from Lowes look nice. And it’s always good to have extra seating if you have people over. __________________ Sherry

01-22-22, 08:00 PM
bfit Join Date: Nov 2005	I also use a metal folding chair, and it works fine. Another inexpensive kind of chair you can buy is the molded plastic chairs meant for outdoor use. They are the kind that you find stacked up in larger hardware stores, the outdoor section of Target, etc. They are heavier than regular aluminum lawn chairs.

01-23-22, 06:58 PM
Bluebelle Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Virginia	I bought a molded plastic chair for outdoor use like bfit mentions. I got it at Costco for about $20 I think. It looks kind of like the one Jenny uses in her workouts in Essentrics streaming. I use it at work on my lunch breaks. My office chair rolls & that doesn't work too well. Edit to add here's a link to the Costco chair https://www.costco.com/lifetime-fold...100475444.html Last edited by Bluebelle; 01-23-22 at 07:00 PM. Reason: added link

01-23-22, 07:34 PM
bzar Exchange Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: PalmTreeVille	i used the couch either backside or the seat side. in callanetics, they show you how to use a coffee table. although i own a Fluidity barre, i'm too lazy to set it up, so i use the above. edited to add - we bought this 2-step indoor ladder with a padded top from Ross stores for $25, and it stays put fairly well for barre work - this one is $49 on Amazon but looks exactly like ours. The cool thing is you can also use it to do supported yoga back bends since there's a nice big opening between the padded top and the top step: https://www.amazon.com/Brookstone-BK...dDbGljaz10cnVl __________________ ~jeannine Miyagi: Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important. [walks away, still making circular motions with hands] ~ Pat Morita, The Karate Kid, 1984 disclosure: in the years 2002-2004 i had a professional relationship with a distributor of fitness videos; see profile.

01-23-22, 07:35 PM
DCW Registered User Join Date: Dec 2016	I vote for Goodwill but a friend may have an extra chair to gift you. I use a heavy wood kitchen chair. If it was at Goodwill they would pay you to take it.