This morning has been a go, go, go kind of morning. I am currently blogging from the Jacksonville airport as I wait to board my flight to Denver where I’ll have a brief layover en route to Salt Lake City. Once I land, I’ll meet up with my new blogging buddies and join the rest of the Columbia Omniten gang in Park City. I’m ready for the fun to begin!
Now let’s rewind a bit to yesterday evening…
Pure Barre
Last night, after I arrived in Jacksonville, my sister and I met up for a 6 p.m. workout at Pure Barre in Jacksonville Beach. We really wanted to take a class together over Christmas but never got the chance, so we made it a point to finally sneak in a class while I was in town yesterday.
We were both first-timers and though I knew enough to expect lots of small, isometric movements, I wasn’t really sure how the class would go. I figured it would be very similar to Physique 57 which I love.
The class began with a warm up that incorporated a lot of core work. We then moved on to work our arms and grabbed three-pound weights. This may not sound heavy, but after pulsing my arms in front of my body, to the side and around in circles, my shoulders were on fire. The class put me through a workout that is totally different from the workouts I usually do and I definitely felt like an amateur!
Pure Barre wasn’t hard to follow, so I never felt lost, but I definitely felt challenged!
By the time the 55-minute class was over, we worked our entire body. My sister and I had to try not to laugh when our legs started shaking like crazy during the portion of the class that targeted our thighs. And we really had to hold in our laughter when we were stretching and the instructor said, “And now you may slide into a split, if you like.” We looked around and noticed everyone stretching low to the ground while we looked like two inflexible lumps curled over our legs, trying to get as close to the ground as possible. Natural flexibility is clearly not something either of us possess!
When we left the class, we thanked our instructor and had fun chatting to some of the other women who took the class. I really loved the experience and the way the class worked my whole body in a new way. I’d love to take Pure Barre classes regularly if they were available in Ocala. (I also think they’d be really fun to teach as long as the class didn’t mind an instructor who wasn’t incredibly flexible!)
If you’re looking for a low-impact class that makes your whole body burn, Pure Barre is worth a shot. It was a great workout! (FYI, for my Jacksonville friends, the Pure Barre in Jacksonville Beach is currently offering a buy one class, get one free promotion that I took advantage of while I was there.)
Workout + Breakfast
This morning, I set the alarm for 5 a.m. so I could get in a short at home workout before a day of traveling. Since I know I’ll be sitting on a plane or in an airport for most of the day, I wanted to work up a sweat before I’m stuck sitting for hours.
Once my workout was done, I quickly showered, packed up my bags and made a quick breakfast to eat in the car on the way to the airport.
I microwaved oatmeal, almond milk, cinnamon and egg whites in a mug and stirred the mixture every 30 seconds or so until it was fully cooked. I then added chopped walnuts and stirred everything again before tossing in a small handful of blueberries.
It doesn’t look very appetizing, but it was quite delicious and easy to eat on the go.
After I arrived at the airport, I made it through security in no time at all and now I’m waiting to board my first flight of the day.
See you guys from Denver!
Question of the Morning
- Have you ever taken a barre class? What did you think?
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Ahhh! I am so glad you posted this! The Pure Barre studio in Dallas offered to let me try a class this Friday and review it on my blog, but I have NO idea what to expect, so this gives me a better idea. It looks like so much fun!
How cool! You should definitely go. It was awesome!
I love taking barre classes…wish they weren’t so expensive! I did them for a month after a groupon and first timers special.
Perfect! I needed something at home to do today. its WAY too cold for me to run outside. Thank you 🙂
I haven’t yet, but I really want to try Barre!
I did a Barre class right before the holidays and I was super awkward. I hate the first time I do a class because I don’t know how hard to push. I am always afraid I’ll be useless for the 2nd half! Once I know a routine I know how hard to push and still be able to get through the class with good form.
I didn’t love barre… it burned but just wasn’t my cup of tea!
I have never taken a Barre class, but I have done a barre workout at home and I have barre workout dvd’s! They really work your whole body and I love them!! Don’t worry about not being too flexible, I am a dance and even my flexibilty sucks! I know, that seems like an oxymoron (an inflexible dancer) but it can happen!! I really have to make a conscious effort to work on my flexiblity! I love that you try different workouts and not afraid to try different things. It really inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and try different workouts that I am not use to! Enjoy Salt Lake!
A Pure Barre studio just opened up in our neighborhood and I’ve been debating trying it. They do offer the first class for free, so that’s a good incentive. It sounds like it was fun though and worth giving a shot.
I love barre classes! We have them at Flywheel here in Seattle! There are two Flywheel studios in FL. One in Miami and one in Boca Raton. They both have Flybarre I believe! You should check it out…and your first class is free! You cannot go wrong with that.
I take a barre class at my gym in Chicago that is a favorite. Glad to hear all the good comments about Pure Barre – one opened up a couple of blocks away from home and I hope to try it soon.
We were doing a particularly difficult move yesterday in barre class and the instructor remarked that a number of us were making faces (I was one of them). I had no energy left to put a smile on my face at that point – ha! I’ve definitely noticed a change in my shape since taking the class.
Thanks for posting about this! I took a barre3 class in New England over a year ago and have been meaning to track one down in Tampa forever. Now I just signed up for a Pure Barre class this weekend!
I am a PB teacher- so excited to see it on your blog! It is so tough to hang through the shake- it’s such an uncomfortable feeling at first. You’re right it is incredibly fun to teach- split or no split. 🙂 I love pb for so many reasons but a big one is that it is so humbling. It doesn’t matter what your athletic ability is, it’s tough for anyone because it is so different and ever changing!
I am completely addicted to pure barre! I love it, and it has seriously changed my body in a very short time period (I started in October). So much tone!!! And it’s crazy how heavy 3 pound weights can feel after 5 minutes of arm work…
I’ve been wanting to take a barre class, thanks for your thoughts. I am also not naturally flexible and it takes a ton of work for me to get a little bendy!
I looooove Pure Barre! 🙂 I like that it’s relatively the same class (sequence wise, they switch up the exercises) because you can SEE yourself getting stronger. I remember my first class and the plank series in the warm-up was near impossible. Now I can hold it with ease. I really love their instructors too. I am also not one of the flexible ones… I always blame my tight runner’s hamstrings as an excuse!
I’d love to try it! Haven’t come across anywhere doing it here in Ireland yet!
Man, I am naturally so inflexible! I’ve gotten a lot better, but even still, yoga is a bit embarrassing!
Theres a purebarre right down the street from me but I havent tried it yet. Ive been to physique 57 once and pop physique a few times and they are seriously not easy!
I’ve never done a Barre class, but I’d love to try it sometime! It sounds like a great workout!
I frequently take classes as barre3 and they never disappoint. Gotta love those shakes and quakes! 🙂 I find that it really helps with my running.
I take Barre classes at Barre Bee Fit in Chicago all the time. They are some of my favorite kinds of workouts and I always feel great afterwards. It definitely took a while to get used to being so sore after though!
oh.my.god. Like you, I first thought “3lb weights?” I quickly shut up after I was shaking like crazy from all the fast reps. I can honestly say I have never been so sore in my life the next day. I’ll be curious if you’re super sore too! Loved the burn.
Off-topic — Are other people getting an ad in the upper right that seems to focus primarily on women’s boobs and ends with “Play Now”? I know blogs need advertisers and sponsors, but this is not an ad I enjoy seeing and it doesn’t make me feel healthy/empowered which I think is usually one of the goals of the blog.
I haven’t taken one yet, but it’s next on my list after Flywheel. I’m trying to do one new fitness experience a month!
Julie, I can’t thank you enough for this blog about Pure Barre. One is opening within 2 blocks of my place, next week!!!!!!! I’m 3 months pregnant (my first) and have been struggling to find something to keep me active/motivated. I just signed up for their pre-opening special (5 weeks for $99!!) and can’t wait. You’ve just turned my whole mood around! Don’t ever stop blogging, PLEASE : )
Yay you went to Pure Barre!! I have been doing it for over a year and love it! It really is a great work out 🙂 It is very odd when you shake like crazy the first class but “shaking means you’re making changes!” Loved this post!! (well all of your posts really 🙂
I’ve been hearing about Pure Barre in the blogging world and found one 20 minutes from my house. After reading your post, I signed up for a class this morning. Hope I can still walk tomorrow! LOL. (Actually, I really mean that…)
I’ve only done the videos but would love to try a class!
I teach barre and I’m not flexible…although more so than when I first started. You should go for it!