Flybarre, the new barre class from the creators of trendy spinning chain Flywheel, is taking a louder approach to the ballet-inspired workout.
Barre classes rely on tiny movements to isolate groups of muscles and work them to exhaustion, which Flybarre combines into a choreographed workout set to loud dance music. At times, you can focus on the movements like you would a dance, though the struggle of your muscles will quickly remind you you’re actually working out.
The class spends time on your abs, arms, thighs and glutes, though with many of the movements a braced core is necessary, so your abs are working almost the whole time. Flybarre is pretty relentless — when you focus on one section of your body, there’s no break between movements. Each series is the length of a song, with continuous work until it ends and you get a few seconds off. The whole class is really a series of isometric holds, made more complicated by slight, pulsing movements.
You’ll use some free weights, resistance bands and a ball during the class. If you lift weights, it can be pretty humbling to try a barre class — no weight heavier than about 5 pounds is recommended, but two- and three-pound weights are really challenging. You might do some crunches on the ball, or wedge it between your legs. One exercise had us holding the band, stretched taut, while doing other movements for an entire song.
Instructors are told to change their playlists and routines for every class they teach, according to Flybarre instructor April Torneby. The order of the class changes, too: Sometimes you’ll work one muscle group first, other times another.
There’s definitely a technique to the movements, Torneby said, but a few visits can help you understand how to hold your body to get the most out of the movements. The studio is small, so teachers can come around and correct you as you learn.
Barre-type workouts are pretty exhausting to muscles, even though they don’t look so tough from the outside. It’s strength training that is totally different than lifting weights — long holds, low impact, very high numbers of reps.
You can’t do that final push through your last two reps like you might with weight lifting, because you’re going to move straight into another exercise that works the same muscles immediately. Flybarre is definitely an exercise in mental toughness.
