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Raising The Barre

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By: Kristen Turner for Health Beauty Life

Looking for flat abs, toned arms, thinner thighs or a lifted seat? Yes, please! The Pure Barre method has raised the barre for the fitness industry with a ballet-inspired, sweat-inducing total body workout that has developed a cult-like following. Believe the hype. This workout has been described as the most effective, fastest (and safest) way to transform your body, bar none.

Pure Barre Beginnings

Looking for flat abs, toned arms, thinner thighs or a lifted seat? Yes, please! The Pure Barre method has raised the barre for the fitness industry with a ballet-inspired, sweat-inducing total body workout that has developed a cult-like following. Believe the hype. This workout has been described as the most effective, fastest (and safest) way to transform your body, bar none. Started in 2001 in the basement of an office building in Birmingham, MI, Pure Barre has come a long way since its very modest beginnings. Founded by dancer/choreographer/fitness buff Carrie Rezabek Dorr with zero clients, marketing or even a bathroom, Carrie was determined to bring light to the innovative and effective new workout  technique. The first studio quickly grew to a new location with a staff of 30 and a loyal (and rapidly growing) client base. Fast-forward to 2006, Pure Barre began expanding and is now offered in studios nationwide.

“Pure Barre is making waves all over the nation because it is changing women’s bodies in rapid time. There is no other workout that is so safe for your body yet so incredibly effective at transforming the problem areas and keeping you in the best shape of your life,” Pure Barre Newport Beach and Mission Viejo owner, Monica Pommier explains.

Lift. Tone. Burn.

Not all workout programs can deliver results in just 10 classes. But, then again, Pure Barre is not most workout programs. Utilizing the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements, Pure Barre is a total body workout that lifts your seat, tones your thighs and burns fat in record-breaking time. “Pure Barre is unique to other workout programs because we use tiny icometric movements to fatigue the muscle to the point of exhaustion and almost breakdown, then push it a little more, then stretch to produce the long lean muscles all women strive to have,” Monica shares.

Described as intelligent exercise, the technique protects your joints by remaining low-impact throughout the class. But don’t confuse low-impact with low-sweat levels. Students work each muscle group to fatigue (in other words, until you are shaking, wobbling and trembling). Luckily, each strength section is followed by stretching in order to create long, lean muscle without bulk. From abs and arms to thighs and seat, Pure Barre leaves no trouble zone unturned. The result? The start of a leaner, tighter, fitter physique in just one hour.

“Pure Barre contains elements of yoga, ballet and Pilates so we do various types of choreography. No two classes will be the same; however, each class begins with a warm up (think plank, moderate abs and low impact cardio). Then we go into three sets of thigh exercises (working the inner and outer thigh as well as upper thigh area) followed by a stretch, then a set of seat exercises that lifts the seat and tapers in from the side. Again this is followed by a stretch. The class concludes with abdominal work and again stretching to produce that long lean muscle,” Monica describes.

‘‘Pure Barre contains elements of yoga, ballet and Pilates.‘‘

‘‘Pure Barre is such an incredible workout that you can even purchase the DVD and bring it with you while you travel.  All you need is something sturdy to lean against like a chair, a light set of weights and a small rubber ball to help use for tension.‘‘

Set To Sweat

Due to popular demand, Pure Barre has locations in 21 states throughout the country with many more on their way. Can’t find a location near you? No sweat! Pure Barre also offers DVDs and podcasts so you can lift, tone and burn at home or on the road. Purchase Pure Barre gear or get class schedules and pricing information at: www.purebarre.com.

Monica and her team welcome everyone at any fitness level and promise to help their clients achieve their goals and get amazing results in no time! Just come in and try a class!

Monica Pommier
Owner, Pure Barre Newport Beach and Mission Viejo

Q&A

A graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, Monica received her degree in Exercise Physiology. She worked in orthopedic surgery and research at Scripps in San Diego, California learning about the types of exercise that lead to joint breakdown due to the impact that people place on them through weight and exercise. Her education and vast experience in the medical profession make her a valuable asset to the Pure Barre team. Monica has a minor in nutrition and was studying to be an orthopedic surgeon before Pure Barre changed the course of her life. In college, she played Division 1 water polo and has always excelled in sports. Born and raised in sunny Southern California, Monica enjoys staying active outdoors year round. Her passion for exercise and energetic, positive, youthful attitude will help any female achieve an enriching Pure Barre body.

Who should practice Pure Barre?
Everyone can. All ages shapes and sizes are welcome due to the lack of pressure that the exercise puts on your joints. People with injuries can take class and use specific modifications at any time. My oldest client is 72 and my youngest is 16 and they can all be in the same room together along with pregnant women!

What can I expect of my first class?
Your first class, you should expect to find a fun, friendly, warm environment and be ready to listen to the instructor. The instructors are highly trained to give you the tools you need to understand this  technique. Each movement has a purpose to target-train your body. When you understand the technique, the results you get are truly impressive. You will see results in as little as 10 classes!

Do you need any special clothing/equipment?
You will need to wear socks and a long pair of pants and any top of your choosing. We sell socks with tiny grips on them that make it easier to make it through certain parts of the class without slipping, but it is not required. We also wear the long pants to keep your muscles warm and working at their max during class.

What is the best part about your job?
Watching people change. It is truly amazing to see how fast this changes peoples’ bodies and when women feel good about themselves, they exude this energy and confidence that makes my job so  rewarding. I have always wanted to help people achieve better health. Now I am doing it in a preventative way, and I am honored to work with such an amazing team of women who share the same values as me as well as my clients who work so hard to challenge themselves every day in this class. I love my job.

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