I’m passionate about barre because it provides a full-body workout that focuses on strength, flexibility, and balance, all while being low-impact, making it accessible to various fitness levels. When it comes to form, it’s really important to keep a neutral spine to protect your joints and improve posture. With core engagement, it helps to focus on having a heavy tailbone, closing the ribs, and keeping the spine long. I want to show how easy it is to get a quality barre workout with little to no equipment.”
Straight Leg Lifts
Straight leg lifts are great for core engagement, hip mobility, and strengthening hips and thighs. Think of pulling up your kneecap and squeezing your thigh as you do this movement. To add variation, you can do a pointed or flexed foot, little lifts, or circles. Make sure to keep the hips and shoulders squared.
Full Body Prone Lift (Superwoman)
This full body prone lift (Superwoman), along with a variation of skydiver moves, targets everything backside and core, and also improves posture and enhances overall stability and coordination. Make sure to keep the neck long, feet flexed, and think of peeling your thighs and chest away from the ground while squeezing up to your highest point. Once you are reaching long at the top, pull your elbows into your back pockets, squeeze your shoulder blades together, keep your chin down, and then pull your heels together while keeping the knees wide. Then, return to the original position.
Seesaw With Reverse Fly
With a straight back leg, hinge from the hips, keeping a straight line from the crown of your head down to your toes. Do not allow the spine to cave out or the hips to roll open. Once you get to your lowest point, feeling the back of your hamstrings open, lateral reach the arm wide, squeezing the back of your shoulder. Keep the chin down and feel the shoulder blade squeeze in towards your spine. Then, return to the original position.
Side Plank With Oblique Crunch
The side plank with the oblique crunch is a perfect addition to your routine. Side planks work not only the obliques but also the arms, legs, glutes, and shoulders, providing a comprehensive workout for your core and upper body. To start, you will reach in a straight line from your fingers all the way down to your foot, keeping your hips up at your highest point. Then, as your hips descend down to the ground, draw your elbow to your knee, touching for an oblique crunch. Then, return to the original position.
Bicep Curls With Bicycle Legs
Alternating bicep curls with bicycle legs is the best of all worlds, targeting arms, core, and legs. Be aware of not arching the back and straining the neck. Keep the core engaged as you reach one leg in and one leg out, alternating. Holding the crunch position, press your chin and heart towards the sky and hold. Extend one arm at a time, alternating the legs, and create tension in your biceps with the movement.
