fitnessandfood

Now, I like to think of myself as a fairly fit person.  I run, do yoga and pilates regularly, and am up for just about any outdoor sport no matter how muddy or sweaty.  So when I attended a class based on the Bar Method, I thought I would enjoy it on a stretching/core strengthening level, perhaps as a supplement to more intensive exercise.  An hour later I walked out of the class on jelly legs and actually had to stop in a cafe for a cup of tea to wait for my muscles to stop shaking.

The Bar Method is based on the work of Lotte Berk, a German dancer who designed a programme of fitness based on her dance background and brought it to America in the mid-twentieth century.  Berk’s method tones the core through controlled exercises performed at a ballet barre, which both stretch and strengthen the muscles to promote strength without bulk.  Bar Method classes incorporate the principles of interval training (usually used for high-insensity cardio) with the tiny targeted movements which are characteristic of pilates and yoga and enhance body control and core strength.  The result is truly a whole body workout.

For a taste, try hanging on to a barre or doorknob with both hands, straighten the arms and bend the knees to a ninety-degree angle while raising up on the toes, and then try lowering an inch and then raising and inch for two minutes straight.  Now this is truly “feeling the burn”.  My quads actually felt like they would burst into flame. 

If you want a taste of some of the other exercises, visit the Bar Method website for nine sample moves.  There are studios all over the country, with a fair number in California, and there is a new client special of 30 days of unlimited classes for $100.  If you’re in New York, The Body on Lexington Avenue offers an introductory class free to new clients.  So go out an give it a try!

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