The last class I sampled in my research was a Pure Barre class in Newton Ctr. Pure Barre is a form of exercise based on concepts from ballet training and Pilates. Pure Barre boasts creating the fastest most effective method for changing your body. The workout focuses on toning your "seat" (grownup word for Bum) hips, thighs, abs an arms. The Pure Barre franchise has 200 locations in the US and is the fastest growing ballet inspired workout franchise. Locations in the Boston area include affluent suburbs such as Newton, Wellesley, Hingham and Lynnfield. Locations are owned via a franchise agreement with some franchisee's owning multiple locations. Like Soul cycle there is a portion of the studio that is dedicated to retail; primarily apparel. Pure Barre, like Zumba, also has a robust online retail presence that sells apparel, DVD's and equipment. Pure Barre sets itself apart in the retail section by offering podcasts enabling seasoned puree bar students to practice this method anywhere in the world only needing the assistance of their pure barre workout towel.
Classes can be scheduled online through the official pure barre website or via phone at your local studio. I called to schedule my first appointment and felt welcomed in starting my new experience. The introduction to the class was swift and painless. An instructor demonstrated to me that it would be important that I learn the "tuck" movement for class and showed me to an open carpeted area with mirrors and a barre lining the wall, much like a ballet studio of my childhood. Equipment needed for the class was minimal and included a small rubber ball, three point weights and a rubber band for stretching. Once class began the instructor was featured at the center of the room calling out positions and demonstrating movements. Each routine was broken drown by area worked and included a stretch after each section. Upbeat songs played throughout the session in the background. Inspirational messages were displayed throughout the retail areas of the studio however the instructors did not provide the affirmations that are peppered throughout the soul cycle routine. The workouts are hard! Not in an intense cardio way but in an intense isometric exercise kind of way. I really enjoyed the class and the instructor was very helpful in confirming that I was positioning myself correctly. This is definitely a class where you can not let your mind wander; I had to focus on remaining present and listening to the instructor in order to ensure my form was correct and that I was following along on the positions.
At the end of the class I learned I was eligible to purchase one month of unlimited classes for $100 and that my class fee of $23 would be credited to the amount. The only additional item I needed to purchase were special grip socks that cost about $12. I enjoyed the class and bought into their body changing concept ("30 classes to a transformed Body"). My goal is to attend 30 classes in the 30 day timeframe and document the transformation. Many exercise programs today guarantee that you will experience a significant level of change within a short time frame and I want to understand how this process works. A constant theme throughout all three of the programs I have evaluated (spinning, Zumba and Pure Barre) is that they are all selling change. All promise a change in you physically and some talk about the mental aspects of change; Soul Cycle seems to do the best job with talking about and executing on a change in mentality. I will update this particular blog after my 30 day challenge; stay tuned for further findings!
