Background:  The Bar Method was founded by Burr Leanard and is one of the first “Barre” studios to hit the market.  Burr worked for Lotte Berk, eventually licensed Berk’s method, and opened Lotte Berk studios.  After changing the method substantially, she sold her other studios and opened her Flagship Bar Method studio in San Francisco.  They began to franchise in 2007 and now have studios throughout the country.

Pros.  I have met Burr and she is a force…in a good way.  Bar Method instructors are very well trained and do not deviate from her specifications.  Instructors will get to know your name and do their best to keep you in proper form.  They have ways to make exercises manageable if you are new or have an injury.  Their standard for both the studios and teachers is excellent.

Within the last couple of years they created Bar Move.  This class has more of a cardio component and mixes up the order of exercises.  It has been a big success for the franchise.

Cons: Can be expensive though prices have come down since the influx of so much competition.  If you like classes that are high impact and make you sweat profusely, it may not be a great fit. Personally, I find the form so specific for each exercise that I am mentally engaged and that keeps me interested.  

DVD and online offerings:  The Bar Method has quite a few workouts available on their website.  They are all well thought out and give you a good workout.  I like the detailed instruction as well.  Burr does not make “Cutesy” workouts so there is no annoying chatter.  The Bar Method always stays in the working zone of the muscle by not utilizing fast movements.  I have found this to be very effective and less harmful to joints.

I rotate workouts a great deal and find Burr to be a wonderful instructor.  This woman knows her stuff.  Marnie Alton is host of the “Dancer’s Body” workout and she is one of my favorite instructors ever! She branched off to create her own studio here in LA.  I always feel my muscles working to fatigue in a class or DVD.

Personal opinion:  I love it! There is something to be said for knowing that The Bar Method will give you the same workout across all the different studios. I’ve been doing the method for close to 15  years and still attend on a regular basis.  It just feels a notch above most other studios. 

Mimi, the owner of the Los Angeles area studios and sister of Burr, told me yesterday that I was student #168.  They now have over 51,000 members.  That speaks for itself.  :)