The Barre work out is designed to give you leaner, longer and stronger muscles. It combines ballet, yoga and pilates to improve physical fitness, muscle tone, mental focus and calmness.
Barre was developed by a German Dancer, Lotte Berk, after sustaining a back injury. Lotte Berk combined her remedial therapy with her dancing in order to aid her recovery. The Barre work out was developed back in 1959 in London, and was picked up in the US, where the workout evolved and diversified into different routines to develop muscle tone and strength.
Barre is now one of the most popular work outs, with many gyms adopting the routine and classes available online. The one hour class starts with a warm up and then concentrates on upper body work outs to increase muscle tone in the biceps, triceps, shoulders and in the back and chest also. The upper body work out can involve the use of light free weights, push ups and planks.
After the upper body work out is complete, the work out moves to the ballet barre exercises. This works in strengthening and toning muscles in the thighs. No dance experience is required when carrying out the ballet barre section of the work out.
Floor exercises are next, which concentrates on the core. Many classes involve using an exercise ball in order to develop muscle tone in the abs.
Isometric movements occur when the muscles do not change length when tensing, otherwise known is isometric contraction. This form of exercise was discovered by the famous strong man, Alexander Zass, when he was a prisoner in the first world war. He noticed he was building strength by pushing on the chains and bars of his cell.
The small inch movements, high rep, low weight exercises help to isolate and tone specific muscles. There is also a lower risk of injury with this method of muscle tone as there is no strain being placed on tendons and ligaments. Endurance is also increased with isometric movements, targeting low-twitch muscles, and together with the barre routine can work whole muscle groups at once. Working groups of muscles at once results in an increased heart rate, to burn calories and maintain a healthy heart.
Directing energy on isometric movements can help develop mental focus, in order to obtain a calmer mental state.
Finally, in working on muscle tone by performing isometric holds, results in a positive effect on posture and the connection between mind and body.
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Barre was developed by a German Dancer, Lotte Berk, after sustaining a back injury. Lotte Berk combined her remedial therapy with her dancing in order to aid her recovery. The Barre work out was developed back in 1959 in London, and was picked up in the US, where the workout evolved and diversified into different routines to develop muscle tone and strength.
Barre is now one of the most popular work outs, with many gyms adopting the routine and classes available online. The one hour class starts with a warm up and then concentrates on upper body work outs to increase muscle tone in the biceps, triceps, shoulders and in the back and chest also. The upper body work out can involve the use of light free weights, push ups and planks.
After the upper body work out is complete, the work out moves to the ballet barre exercises. This works in strengthening and toning muscles in the thighs. No dance experience is required when carrying out the ballet barre section of the work out.
Floor exercises are next, which concentrates on the core. Many classes involve using an exercise ball in order to develop muscle tone in the abs.
How does Barre improve muscle tone?
The barre work out comprises of isometric movements.Isometric movements occur when the muscles do not change length when tensing, otherwise known is isometric contraction. This form of exercise was discovered by the famous strong man, Alexander Zass, when he was a prisoner in the first world war. He noticed he was building strength by pushing on the chains and bars of his cell.
The small inch movements, high rep, low weight exercises help to isolate and tone specific muscles. There is also a lower risk of injury with this method of muscle tone as there is no strain being placed on tendons and ligaments. Endurance is also increased with isometric movements, targeting low-twitch muscles, and together with the barre routine can work whole muscle groups at once. Working groups of muscles at once results in an increased heart rate, to burn calories and maintain a healthy heart.
Directing energy on isometric movements can help develop mental focus, in order to obtain a calmer mental state.
Finally, in working on muscle tone by performing isometric holds, results in a positive effect on posture and the connection between mind and body.
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