I worked at The Lotte Berk Method in New York City as a barre teacher. This handout was one I was given and asked to put in my notebook (which we were all required to have, which is a huge foundational piece of my barre teacher trainings. Learning the Lotte Berk Method was the coolest way I had ever taken a teacher training...
I started teaching Walking Pilates years ago after the Bounce classes became popular. Many clients wanted to try the rebounding class but were struggling with lower body joint issues or injuries that prevented jumping. Walking Pilates takes most of the impact away. The class starts standing with a isolation warm up and moves into more expressive movements. Coordination and challenge is added in a stacking fashion so you are able to bring the workout up or down to the level you are at that day! Check out this excerpt from class This class is proving to be loads of fun for clients at...
How often should I take class? Seems like a simple question...
The abdominal and cool down sections are the last 15 to 20 minutes of class. Anyone who has ever taken a Pilates Mat class knows how much mental attention to detail is needed to keep abdominal muscles doing the work when all the other parts of the body are also being instructed to move. This is one benefit to starting with Barre over Pilates. Coordination in a barre class is minimal. YES! I know you don't believe me, but it is true. One does not need to be a dancer, or have a strong hold on their right vs left....
Under The Barre is the middle of the BarSculpt Barre class and similarly it can be the part of the class that is the hardest to perform have you ever wondered why? Much of the Under The Barre removal from many studios and barre programs I believe must come from this section being misunderstood. As discussed we always start with a warm up and then fatigue the thighs and seat but why don't we save the hateful under the barre section for after abdominals? Why can it not come before? Why on earth do we do it at all?. The why is...
Do you still think Pilates and Yoga are the same? I have been teaching Pilates for 19 years. At every large gathering where distant relatives or friends of friends are around I always get recognized as "Leslie the Yoga teacher". Now those who know me well, know that nothing would bother me more. It is not that I hate yoga. I have done my fair share of yoga however it does not speak to me the same way Pilates does, and there may be many reasons for this...
Do you schedule your workouts for the week? Or are you like me and just wait for your Apple Watch to tell you "You can still do it!" The days I wait for my watch for reminders are the days that quickly got away from me. If I do not move enough, my sleep is impacted and my family will even notice I am more on edge. With the pandemic I have realized I have anxiety. This worsened on the days I do not move. With a pulled muscle injury all summer, mixed with not going to a studio to...
Can you skip a level of my BarSculpt Barre Teacher Training. The quick answer is Yes! I would prefer that each BarSculpt Barre trained instructor do the entire course as a BarSculpt Barre training. But I also know that time and money is valuable and sometimes it's important to meet the teacher in the spot they need to grow from. If you have are a trained barre teacher and would like to test out of level one to join the level two course, please email me. As I would happily allow this! Testing fee is $25 and 100% accuracy on the...
I'm hoping you were able to barre with me, at least once this week, using the two full length classes I shared with you. However doing the class does not always completely explain WHAT the class is and does, but it is a fabulous start! BarSculpt is the oldest established barre class in Maine. I created, and trademarked it, after I opened my studio in 2006. Each class has 6 sections and is 55 minutes long. The first section is the warm-up (I'm sure that is not shocking) which uses light weight work and calisthenic exercises to prepare the muscles for...
Hello, Yesterday I shared with you a full length BarreLess barre class. I hope you were able to review it to see how BarSculpt may be different than the classes you are used to taking! BarSculpt Barre is a class that constantly challenges and consistency invigorates the body and mind to achieve ones goals. You do not need to be an athlete, dancer or "fit" to do it! Inspired by the Lotte Berk Method, BarSculpt barre classes are best described as a full body reset! After 55 minutes you will find more ease in movement, coordination and flexibility. BarSculpt brings together the disciplines...