Yelp’s Fit Club is offering a free barre classes this weekend. In case you’ve been under an exercise rock for the past few years, barre is a combination of ballet, yoga and pilates. It’s the one-stop-shop for isometric exercises, which are repeated, small movements that work muscles just enough to get them warm and elastic but not enough to rip them.
With barre, the exercises usually incorporate your own body weight or some small weights. You’ll use a ballet bar to do planks, pushups and low-level cardio. The key to barre is moving your body deliberately and slightly, mere inches, for several repetitions. You’ll repeat and hold poses to build strength and work on balance. Because you’ll be so focused on the minutiae, make sure you wear comfortable exercise clothes. You can show up barefoot, but grippy socks are recommended for more controlled movement.
While barre was invented by former ballerina Lotte Berk, you don’t need dancing skills to participate in this exercise routine. Nor do you need any yoga or pilates background! The best part about barre is that—no matter what shape or size—if you can grab a bar, you can start working your way to a healthier you.
The event takes place on Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m. at the Barre3 studio on 14th St. If you’re metro-ing, the closest stop is the U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro Station. From there, open your umbrella and walk a few blocks south. The studio is just beyond the Trader Joe’s and right before you get to Ted’s Bulletin and the Black Cat. Before heading out into the rainy afternoon, make sure to sign up for the class online and secure a spot. The club asks you to arrive 15 minutes early to sign in and fill out your waiver. Afterward, there will be treats from Kate Bakes, Gouter, and Oh-Mazing Granola. Space is limited so get moving!
Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato is a freelance science, health, and environment reporter based in Washington, DC, whose work has appeared in National Geographic, NPR, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Newsweek, and Nature.
