It’s no secret that barre fitness workouts have exploded in popularity over the past couple years, with hundreds of boutique studios slated to open in 2016 alone. In Miami, two-and-a-half-year-old Barre Motion was a trendsetter in the movement, attracting locals and tourists alike to its pristine, award-winning space.We wanted to find out more about the South Beach studio’s rise to success, so we asked owner Dr. Julie Jacko to explain her technique – and in the process, found out that not all barre classes are created equal.Barre Motion’s proprietary formula, created by Jacko herself, is rooted in classical ballet and characterized by its unique sequence structure and progression. Don’t let this fool you however, there is no dancing involved. Jacko’s full-body, precision workouts involve a series of micro-movements that utilize body weight and resistance training techniques, giving students muscle definition without bulking.Her tried-and-true method is both intense and effective, but moreover designed to be safe. Jacko believes it is “the single best way to sculpt and tone our bodies quickly,” and there are countless testimonials from students who agree.Still not convinced barre is for you? Here are five reasons why Barre Motion classes should be part of any athlete’s workout regimen:
- Reduce Chronic Joint Pain
Barre Motion offers safe, low-impact workouts. There is no jumping or leaping involved, which means there is no joint or back compression. By integrating an emphasis on breathing, the practice increases movement quality and reduces tension. It also strengthens the muscles surrounding major joints, like knees and elbows, which can improve power and technique in other sports (tennis, golf, etc.) without impacting the range of motion or flexibility.
- Improve Your Posture
Every Barre Motion exercise begins with proper spinal alignment and placement in order to achieve a lifted posture. There is an emphasis on precision and form that is carried throughout the entire practice. This focus inevitably leaves students standing taller and more confidently. It’s even been proven to help alleviate back pain by decompressing the vertebrae.
- Increase Balance and Flexibility
Every major exertion in Barre Motion is followed immediately by stretching. Muscles are exerted and stretched in sequences, enabling dramatic improvements in balance and flexibility over a short period of time. Due to its ballerina-inspired footwork, it also builds strength and flexibility in your feet, which leads to improved stability. This makes barre a great supplemental fitness option for cyclists who rarely engage feet muscles when clipped into shoes.
- Whittle Your Waistline
Because balance and stability in class comes from steadying and engaging your core and elongating the core muscles, students can see shape changes, including a narrower waistline, quickly. Barre Motion’s interval-based programs also spike then drop your heart rate throughout the class. Interval workouts have been proven time and time again to be a more effective way of challenging the cardiovascular system, increasing fat burning and maximizing caloric burn.
- Sculpt and Tone Without Bulking
Jacko’s primary goal in creating Barre Motion was to tone and sculpt her body. A former distance runner, she wasn’t getting the body shape she wanted, and dreamed of having a long, lean physique and sporting muscles that were as aesthetically desirable as physically strong. “Because Barre Motion’s fundamental principles stem from classical ballet, clients gain a long, lean ballerina-esque type figure,” Jacko explains. With fluid, body weight and resistance-based isometric movements that originate deep in the muscles, the method is designed to contract then extend muscles to create strength without bulking. Essentially, the unique combination of exert/stretch sequences fatigues muscles to the point of failure, then uses stretches to elongate and reshape them immediately. The results leave clients with pronounced definition and highly sculpted, lean figures.Barre Motion offers private instruction and group classes seven days per week and is located at 1560 Lenox Ave., Suite 103A, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Call the studio (305 534 8087) or check out their website to learn more.
