Barre, a ballet-based dance workout (named after the barre ballet dancers use), is anything but easy. This type of workout uses movements inspired by dance, Pilates, and yoga to work your muscles—particularly lower-body muscles in your calves and ankles—and challenge your cardiovascular endurance. Plus, using the barre as a tool helps you hone your balance and create proper alignment in your body.

Pilates, yoga and barre all provide an effective workout from which you will see positive physical results. All will help to sculpt and tone your muscles and improve your overall health. Maybe you want to increase your flexibility or cardiovascular endurance, or perhaps you want to tone your muscles without bulking up or you’re favoring a past or present injury. Maybe you want to improve your core strength and posture. An awareness of your present fitness levels and future goals can help you decide which workout method will benefit you the most. All three workout methods provide physical and mental benefits.

The fitness program you ultimately choose is a personal choice and depends upon many factors. Whether it’s yoga, Pilates or barre, knowing the basic methodology of each workout option along with benefits, similarities and differences can help you to decide which one is a good fit for you.

Tone your entire body with our at home barre workouts!
Dancing as a workout is nothing new — whether you’re doing Zumba or just jamming out to a new song, it’s a fun way to break a sweat. And barre workouts truly take dance-inspired exercise to the next level.
From a stronger core to better posture to leaner legs, the benefits are numerous. And as more and more barre studios open across the country, more and more people flock to them, proving that this is one fitness trend that’s not going away any time soon.

Stretching may not be the most exciting part of working out, but doing flexibility work is just as important for a well-rounded fitness routine as strength and cardio work. Incorporating some stretching exercises into your workout schedule will help you improve flexibility, reduce tightness, and ultimately, make your workouts more efficient and safe.

To help you get in on the ballet workout craze on any budget, we created an at-home barre workout routine that will help lift, lengthen, and tone your entire body.