I have been practicing barre classes every morning for over a year now, and it is the only discipline that has really gotten me hooked. The reasons? The results obtained so far beyond aesthetics and/or toning. It is rather a compendium of good news that makes me feel much better in all aspects because, among other things, it has completely changed my body posture and my state of mind. My encounter with this discipline - which I practice at home following the virtual classes of the British Nathalie Errandonea, alma mater of NRG barrebody- was quite casual. As a self-declared member of the 5 a.m. club who exercises at home at ungodly hours, I had a long pilgrimage to find a low-impact and apartment friendly discipline that would do interesting strength work. This mixture of classical ballet movements, fitness exercises, yoga and Pilates has everything I need at age (40 years old): it works on toning and stretching the whole body - although the core and legs are the strong points- and works intensely on body posture.
Improving body posture has many benefits
Walking upright and maintaining the correct posture have been one of my greatest challenges since I was a teenager. A good posture slims the figure for aesthetic benefits, while working on preventing back and neck pain. Postural re-education is not easy, but the barre is undoubtedly one exercise that works on body awareness and the importance of good posture inherent to its practice. "Having the correct posture throughout the class helps to correct bad posture in the long run, making you much more aware of the correct positions to take care of the body, strengthening it," explains Georgina Morán, co-founder of Barré House. The reality is that after a year of practicing these classes - in my case they are 30-minute sessions that I take 4 or 5 times a week - I have noticed an improvement in my body position and, best of all, an automatic learning process when it comes to taking care of the postures I adopt in my day to day life. In addition, it helps with stability and coordination.
Tones and protects the pelvic floor
The barre phenomenon is much more understandable when you know the wide range of benefits it has. The wellness platform EPCO WELLNESS insists that this discipline based on isometric exercises especially affects buttocks, abdomen and legs, but also improves flexibility and endurance while it "helps burn fat almost without you noticing. It is low-impact, high-intensity exercises that protect the pelvic floor". It is true that after a barre class, you don't end up sweating as if you had done an hour of cardio training, but you notice the effort in the muscles and that feeling of a job well done.
Improves mood (and gives energy)
Exercise is always good for mental health because of the release of endorphins it produces, but if we focus on the practice of barre, Moran insists that it also helps reduce stress and increase self-esteem because of the self-satisfaction of achieving goals. If I focus on my experience, it's the practice that has the perfect intermediate point of muscular and postural work that does not leave you breathless but with which you have the feeling of working intensely. In addition, since I have been practicing it, I have less tendency to suffer from colds. The reasons? Physical exercise reduces the risk of infections and strengthens the immune system.
This article first appeared on vogue.es
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