You spent the last few months of your pregnancy dreaming of walking without a waddle or actually being able to physically exert yourself beyond vacuuming and putting on your shoes. You’re ready to get your bikini body back, or your one-piece body back. Whatever it is, you’re ready to lose some of that goo you added during those nine months. I’ve done many things to regain my pre-baby physique after each of my kiddos including running, sweating it out on the elliptical, hitting the free weights, and taking classes like pilates, spin, and body combat. I think they all have their value especially if you’re consistent.
Recently I wanted to try something different and saw Pure Barre go in at University Village. I was intrigued, mostly because you read about a lot of super fit and skinny celebrities going to “barre” classes. I mean who doesn’t want to look like Heidi Klum 48 seconds after giving birth? I do, and since it had been over a year since I gave birth I figured it was time to give it a whirl. Just to be clear, I don’t know if Heidi Klum did Pure Barre, she didn’t mention it the last time we talked (which was precisely never days ago).
I had heard that Pure Barre was a mix of ballet, pilates and yoga and their website claimed it as the fastest way to transform your body. So yes, that’s at least worth a test run. I pictured myself gracefully performing ballet poses and neat yoga tricks but what I encountered was totally different.
They started off with a bang by getting you warmed up quickly doing some high knees and “hundreds” and then moving right into arm work with free weights. I consider myself to be a pretty tough cookie and my arms were on fire within 60 seconds. Lucky for me we moved on pretty quickly. You do a lot of leg and butt work at this class and your core is being engaged at every turn using their “tuck” method. I didn’t really do much graceful ballerina posing but I did do what felt like Cirque du Soleil bending, twisting and lifting…like a million times. I kept sneaking peaks at other people and wondering why no one else looked like they were going to cry and why no one else had to stop and bend over to rest their head on the ballet bar and moan in agony for several seconds.
Everyone was nice enough to pretend not to notice my moaning. I’m still not sure how they get you into these poses but they definitely hit ALL the mommy squishy parts like no workout I’ve ever done. In other words, you will be broken, but in a good way, the type of broken where you realize if you keep hurting where you hurt, one day you’ll be rock solid in those painful places. One day you’ll walk out of there like a fit rock star instead of a cowboy after an hour-long ride on a bucking bull.
I was definitely intimidated to try a workout where I assumed everyone was a former ballerina or yogi but there was certainly a good mix of body types and abilities. The instructors are incredibly nice, encouraging and non-judgmental teachers. They didn’t even mention that I looked like a frog having a seizure, much appreciated. I’d say this class is worth a shot for anyone looking for something new, different and painful in all the right places.
What other workouts have you found that are great for regaining pre-baby physique? We’d love to hear about them!
Pure Barre will lift your seat, tone your thighs, and burn fat and calories in record breaking time. Achieve your healthiest, happiest body! Fun Giveaway- One lucky follower will WIN a free month of unlimited classes! Giveaway ends Wednesday Sept 9th at 1 PM- Winner will be chosen randomly and announced after they have accepted prize– Click Below to Enter-Good Luck!
