I recently received the Barre3 Total Body Lift Workout DVD.
You can see a one minute sneak peak here.
Or check out the 3 minute video on their site
The Barre3 style of workout combines three disciplines: ballet barre work, yoga, and Pilates.
The promised results include long lean muscles, postural benefits, and an overall shaping and lifting of the entire body.
My overall verdict: I liked it a lot!
After being a yoga teacher for a decade, being a student in many Pilates classes, as well as trying so many different types of workouts and fitness regimes over the years, it’s always fun to try something new and unique.
The pros: nice music, the ease of working out at home when it’s convenient for you, and the method focuses on slower-paced movements which really made me focus on what I was doing. I could really “feel the burn” as my muscles were being worked more slowly and controlled, rather than just plowing through things with poor form, too rapidly, or on autopilot.
And of course, yoga is and has been a huge part of my life and life path and so anything that incorporates yoga is a winner for me.
The cons: Obviously this workout was fine and fun, but of course, I need to do other things, too. We all need to mix it up, right! So it’s not really a con specific to Barre3, but I would never box myself into just one style of workout, or one type of DVD, forever.
I need to mix up my workouts. Plus, I love the feeling of just running.
I will always love running, simply for the sake of running, while being outside in the fresh air.
Where I can run past flowers on the way to festivals.
And I can observe all of nature’s glory on my path.
Where ever that running path may be.
I will always prefer fresh air workouts to indoor workouts.
Hot, humid, freezing cold, snowing, raining, I don’t care. I would still rather run outside than be inside! But that’s just me. Call me crazy. And some have when I used to run in freezing cold midwest winters! Or scorching heat. I just love working out outside.
Switching gears a bit…I want to thank everyone, again, who wished me a happy birthday over the past few days. Either on my last post, on my personal Facebook page, my blog Facebook Page, on Twitter, in text messages, in voicemails, and on email. Whew. I was blown away by the love, support, and friendship I felt. You all made my day. Not kidding! And thank you!
And thank you for your concern for me being sick. On my birthday no less. Ugh. The razor blades in my throat and fever continue but there is not time to just lay around. I have work to do, Skylar to watch, and Vegan Fudge to eat.
It’s no-bake, vegan, gluten free, does not taste “healthy”, and in 10 mintues, you can get your fudge on.
Questions:
1. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?
I had a fun day at the farmer’s market taking pictures! Thanks for the compliments on the images I posted so far, but I have tons more I am going to post.
And eating No Bake Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting was the best thing I ate, hands down.
2. Have you tried any workout DVD’s or new-to-you style of workouts lately? Thoughts on them? Or have you changed what kind of workouts you’ve been doing?
I recently reviewed 3 Yoga DVD’s here
And have posted about how I Quit The Gym
I’ve mentioned that I’ve streamlined my daily workouts to be 20 minutes of Cardio + 20 minutes of at home yoga/Pilates/weightlifting moves = 40 mins daily
I also posted about Fitness Experiments – What I’ve Tried, What’s Worked, What Next which details my fitness show/competition, yoga, running, weightlifting, core work, and how I balance what I do.
3. Would you like to try the Barre3 workout? Or have you? Any other workouts that pique your interest?
I never jumped on the Insanity, TurboFire, P90X, or Zumba bandwagons. But I’ve been tempted!
Have a great start to your week and if you’re just catching up on posts, here are mine since Friday:
- Birthday Girl
- Nutella & Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting
- Aruba Vacation Highlights
- Health & Beauty Mall Trip
- A First Time For Everything
- Rising Food & Grocery Prices
- Eating the Rainbow Recipes
I’m a little behind… but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (Maybe I should make that fudge in your honor?!)
Best thing I ate all weekend was actually devoured this morning – zucchini oatmeal!!
I’ve been hearing so many good things about Barre 3 via blog world but haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet. I have jumped on the Zumba bandwagon though. My gym offers a Zumba Plus class which is basically regular Zumba with weights too! I love it! :-D
That Barre 3 tape looks soooo cool. I’m so unmotivated to do tapes on my own. Do you know if there will be any Barre 3 classes in San Diego? I just started back with adult ballet classes and LOVE it. :)
not sure of their plans here in S.D.
I don’t know about Barre3, but there are a LOT of Pure Barre studios that offer a very similar workout. Hillcrest just opened up, but there is also one in La Costa, one in Solana Beach, and one in La Jolla. I think one in 4s Ranch just opened up, but I’d HIGHLY recommend La Jolla:)
Happy Belated Birthday Averie!
Hi Jenny! There is a barre3 studio opening in the UTC/La Jolla area in 2 months! Here is their fb page!
https://www.facebook.com/barre3utclajolla
I’ve seen things like pure barre and the like around, and I’d really love to try it. Zumba stole my heart after trying it once, but I got rid of a gym membership and miss it! I just started working out again, and I want to be a runner. I’m not very good at it, and usually stick to walking, but I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone. I want to get back into yoga again, too. I used to do it EVERY day but haven’t done consistently in over a year!!
I have been using the Physique 57 DVDs for the past two months. I like the thigh and seat work but am not sure the upper body strength or the ab work is doing me much good. I might try the Barre 3 just for a change. I have so many DVDs and have trouble getting into a routine of switching them. I always have to have my outdoor walk, year round even in the snow and ice of winter in the midwest. Have been taking a Jazzercise class for about a year and a half but I’m kind of bored with it and thinking I want a break for the summer – just feel really guilty about giving up any part of my workout.
You look so pretty in that birthday picture with your daughter. Hope you feel better asap.
My weekend was spent at a wine festival. It was outstanding. :)
Thanks for the review! I tried this for the first time last night (on Exercise TV) and my legs LITERALLY felt like they were on fire. Fire!
I am sorry your still sick! And we will have to hit up the farmers market together sometime!
Best thing I did this weekend was spend time with my little family :)
YES! would love to!!! If you’re ever planning a trip down to Hillcrest one weekend, lmk! I’m an afternoon, i.e. straggler, market go’er. No early a.m.’s for me :)
I’ve heard of barre3 from another blog but still don’t know much about it! Ill have to look more into it since it’s catching more popularity. Your birthday dessert bars look AWESOME. I’ll have to bookmark them for a treat day.
I tried some new workouts when I went to Cali, but nothing new on the home front. Maybe I’ll try one of my new workout DVDs soon, but I’m waiting for a rainy day. As for weekend eats, I had a great bbq burger and fries. Healthy? No. Delicious? Heck yes!
Interesting… I’ve never heard of those DVDs! I’m not a workout at home person. I force myself to the gym. Once I get there, I love it… but it’s the getting there part. If I did it at home, I’d never, ever do anything!
I am an instructor at the barre3 studio in Oklahoma City! If you are ever in town, come by and see us! We are right next door to the Matthew Kenney OKC (formerly 105degrees) restaurant location which would be perfect for you!! (Heck, just to eat at Matthew Kenney is reason enough to come to OKC! The food is truly amazing) Before barre3, I grew up a dancer and then have been practicing yoga for 11 years. Barre3 has been the perfect compliment to my practice and the best total body workout for me. I have gained so much strength throughout my entire body and have been able to go deeper in poses than ever before. I am so happy you tried it and liked it! Switching it up and throwing our bodies for a loop is always a great physically and mentally, isnt it!? PS: Classes in our studios are 60 minutes long (DVD is 45) and THEY ARE A BLAST! Always different, challenging and fun music. Seriously, COME SEE US!
It’s not like I am “in your area” since I live in San Diego….to OKC. I think you should come see me! CA has better beaches than OK :) haha!
But thanks for your gracious offer and if I ever find myself in Oklahoma, I’d look you up :)
I would DEFINITELY try the Barre 3 workout- I’m a dancer and anything dance/ pilates/ yoga related usually makes me feel good! :)
I’m actually trying out a Burlesque Bootcamp class tonight- will blog about it afterwards!
Working out outside is not even in the same category as inside. When I am outside, even sweating, it doesn’t feel like working out. It feels like FUN!
I don’t know if I have the patience for Barre3. I’m a little too high strung, I think. :)
Happy belated Birthday! You do look great in the picture from yesterday – not sick at all :) tan and smiling :)
I’m addicted to BodyPump!
Best thing I did this weekend? Supported my little sister in a dance recital!