Crescent Lunge. Carousel Horse. Upright Seated Chair. Narrow Athletic V.
At first read, you might think these terms sound like a mixture of children’s toys and TikTok dares. Think again—these are just a few of the many positions an instructor might guide you through in a typical barre3 class.
If this sounds intimidating—it's not. In fact, barre3 is a total body workout that integrates strength training, cardio and mindfulness in a way that is approachable to every body and meets you at every level.
To open your eyes (and mind) to barre3 classes and how they can help you get stronger and become less injury-prone, we turned to Suzanne Breckenridge, owner of the Montgomery barre3 location.
From Client to Owner
Suzanne began her barre3 journey in the spring of 2018 when an instructor invited her to a free friends-and-family class. “I was hooked from the first class,” she says. “I had been looking for a new workout routine—and I loved the friendly atmosphere and the full-body, low-impact workout that had an emphasis on modifications.”
Two years of barre3 workouts later, the studio franchise became available for sale. “The previous owner asked if I would be interested in purchasing the studio from her,” Suzanne explains. “Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, my gut reaction was ‘I can do this.’ My husband, Andrew, and I discussed it for a while ... and then decided to go for it.”
As an owner, Suzanne’s goals include sharing the barre3 experience far and wide throughout the community. “I want to help introduce barre3 to more people, as I really believe in all that barre3 stands for—body positivity and helping people be balanced in their body ... empowered from within.”
Balance and Strengthen through Movement
During a 45- or 60-minute barre3 class, instructors will prompt you to listen to your body ... to honor what it needs in the moment.
And, while the general class structure is the same, each session will feel different—because instructors regularly change their classes using a wide variety of postures, movements, props and music.
There is no competitive aspect to any class, and, despite the word “barre” in the name, there’s actually no dancing involved either. “While we do move to very energizing music, it’s not a dance class ... in some classes you barely touch the barre,” Suzanne says. “The class works all major muscle groups, with a focus on functional movements to help strengthen the muscles that you need and use in everyday life.”
Barre3 classes are low-impact, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a walk in the park—Suzanne says that for just about every person who comes through the door worried that they won’t sweat or burn enough calories ... they all come back to report they really felt the muscles they worked the next day, and that they felt really good both during and after the workout.
In addition to impacting the body, barre3 offers perks for the mind, too. “Whether it’s simply changing how you think about why you exercise, learning to breathe more deeply, or just appreciating what your body does for you ... these benefits are just as important as stronger muscles.”
Barre3.com/Studio-Locations/Cincinnati-Montgomery | 9600 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati | 513.792.9333
5 Great Barre Moves with Modifications
At barre3, modifications are not only offered, but encouraged. The instructors want you to do what feels right for your body at that time, as there are postures that may feel great one day but not the next, Suzanne explains. Try these five moves at home—then stop by a class to see how transformative barre3 can be.
1. Plank: Used as the first big push of class after the warmup, it targets abs while also engaging shoulders, middle back and lats.
Modification: For shoulder or wrist issues, or if plank is not accessible, modify by taking it up to the barre.
2. Narrow Athletic V: A posture used in leg work and combo work, it targets glutes and outer thighs, while also igniting quads and calves.
Modification: For knee discomfort, try working higher, or if lifting the heels is inaccessible, modify this posture by taking it to Horse Pose (wider legs).
3. Upright Seated Chair: Used in leg work at the barre, it targets quads while also engaging lats and middle back muscles by pulling the barre.
Modification: For tension in lower back or knees, working higher is encouraged. If there’s tension in wrists or shoulders, modify by taking it in Reverse Seated Chair.
4. All Fours: Used in B3 Core, it targets glutes while also engaging hamstrings and abs.
Modification: For tension in wrists or shoulders, or if all fours is not accessible, this posture can be modified by taking it standing at the barre.
5. Crescent Lunge: Used in warmup, it’s meant to stretch the back leg’s hip flexor and activate the front leg’s glutes.
Modification: For tension in hips or lower back, clients work higher by bringing the back leg in closer. For tension in shoulders, bring hands to heart center.