Is barre actually considered strength training?

Here’s what fitness pros have to say, plus other benefits of barre.

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Barreis essentially the trail mix of workout methods.

woman sweating in the gym

certified personal trainer and founder and CEO ofElements Barre Fit

I would say its fantastic atcore strengthand also balance, mobility, and stability.

But when all is said and done, does barre actually count as strength training or cardio conditioning?

Lets break it down.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Does barre count as strength training?

But in most cases, barre isnt necessarily a strength-building workout.

Instead, youll be training your muscular endurance, aka your muscles ability to work for extended periods.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

These moves further test endurance.

The longer you hold that plank, the greater the endurance challenge.

[Muscular endurance] allows you to move with integrity longer.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

certified personal trainer and founder and CEO ofElements Barre Fit

It helps you maintain good form for a longer period of time.

Barre3, for example,offers a strength class, whilePure Barres Define classfocuses on strength and power.

If youre unsure, call the studio before booking to determine if the class syncs with your strength goals.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Building muscular endurance is also essential to being a high-functioning human, Schale-Drake says.

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Does barre count as cardio?

Generally, a barre class will help you make strides toward that goal.

So, whats behind the cardio effect?

Barre workouts are designed to flow seamlessly from one muscle group to the next.

Youll focus on one muscle group or joint movement pattern for a set.

Then, before you hit total fatigue, youll move on to something totally different.

The transitions are quick, too.

Again, every studios offerings are different, so browse through its website before booking.

(you’re free to check out our 10-minutecardio Pilates workout, too.)

Dance-focused barre classes are also a surefire way to get sweaty.

We take it back to old school, like early 90s or 80s music.

Because its alow-impact workout, its often an accessible option for folks recovering from injury, Fornarola says.

All those perks are why Schale-Drake recommends barre as across-trainingmethod.

She uses us as more of her cardio.

Shes actually able to lift heavier because of it.

When youre ready to blend barre into your routine, start small, Schale-Drake says.

Add one or two workouts to your weekly schedule.

Is it bringing you joy?

From there, scale down or, if youre really enjoying the workouts, up.

You dont need big recovery after it, Schale-Drake says.

It really does have that versatility to be flexible and work with what you need.

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