Pure Barre: A Safe and Effective Workout for Those Over 40

As we age, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly important. Exercise helps preserve mobility, strength, and overall well-being. If you're over 40 and looking for a workout that's both safe and effective, Pure Barre might be the perfect addition to your fitness routine. Our full-body workout is low-impact, making it suitable for all fitness levels and ages. Let's delve into what Pure Barre is and why it’s a fantastic choice for older adults.

What is Pure Barre?

Pure Barre is a low-impact, accessible full-body workout for all that combines the best of the best: the core strength of Pilates, the mindfulness of yoga, the high intensity of fitness-typical strength workouts, the high energy beats of a dance party… all mixed into a jam-packed 50 minutes of positivity and strength-building! With four unique total body class formats, the Pure Barre workout focuses on small, isometric movements designed to build strength, improve flexibility, and enhance endurance. Our teachers go through a comprehensive training to deliver a safe, guided experience and plenty of modification options. 

All that said, Pure Barre offers more than group fitness classes - it is an inspiring & supportive community! Because our workout is so accessible by all, we have members from all walks of life coming together in the studio. Our incredible member community is known for their welcoming spirit,  positive attitude, and dedication to being the best versions of themselves. Our teachers always make it a point to shout you out over the mic during class and recognize your progress.

Truth be told, anybody and every body can benefit from taking Pure Barre, but it is an especially great workout for older adults. 

Benefits of Pure Barre for Older Adults

There are several reasons why Pure Barre is the perfect workout to help you age with strength & grace. 

Pure Barre is low impact

Pure Barre is a low impact workout, which means it minimizes stress on your joints because one of your feet is always on the ground during class. Jumping, running, or higher impact movements are not necessary to achieve substantial and sustainable fitness results. For older populations, this means that Pure Barre is a workout that can be done consistently, leading to better management of common ailments and diagnoses associated with aging, all in an environment that prioritizes community, longevity, overall health, and FUN. 

Pure Barre helps maintain & rebuild bone density

With a focus on both bodyweight and light-moderate weight resistance training, all crafted in a low impact program, Pure Barre’s proprietary workout can help stave off diagnoses such as osteoporosis and osteopenia. Our technique has also been shown to rebuild bone density over time. 

Pure Barre improves your balance, coordination, and overall body awareness

Not a dancer? No problem! Barre is the most accessible way to improve your coordination and body awareness, leading to better posture and overall more stability as you move through everyday life. Barre builds strength through isometric holds: positions in which your muscles are constantly contracted. Think of a forearm plank—your core/thighs/glutes are actively engaged in this position. As you flow through class, you target all major movers of your body (arms, thighs, seat, abdominals, and posterior chain) with an emphasis on building your core strength as a foundation. A strong core is vital for balance and stability, both of which are essential as we age.

Pure Barre classes also include dedicated stretching and balance exercises. These elements improve overall flexibility and coordination, helping to prevent falls and enhance mobility.

Positions may look “easy”—but once you feel the muscular “shake” set in (an indicator that you are reaching fatigue, which is a good thing!), you may reconsider. Ultimately, mental and physical connection is the goal of every class—how can you better attend to your body’s cues and needs in a way that helps you go one inch deeper than you did yesterday?

Pure Barre offers full-body training

Every class is dedicated to the full body, meaning that you will engage all major muscle groups, rather than focusing on one area of the body per day or session. This provides a level of consistency in training that some populations may miss, including older adults, and more specifically older women, who are less likely to strength train overall. Our guided workouts  target all major muscles and include joint mobility exercises that promote increased control and strength. This means our members are gaining functional strength and maintaining muscle mass, the latter of which naturally declines with age.

Pure Barre helps boost your metabolism

Our strength building technique is designed to keep your muscles engaged throughout the entire workout. This means that you will continue to reap benefits, including maintaining a higher basal metabolic rate, even after class is over. This metabolism boost can help you manage your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall health, particularly as you age.

Why Pure Barre is the Best Workout for Older Adults

As we age, our bodies change, as does our threshold for intensity. The low-impact nature of Pure Barre workouts ensures that your joints are protected, which is especially important as you get older if you are dealing with arthritis or other joint issues. Here are some other reasons why Pure Barre is a safe choice for older clients looking to start a new fitness routine.

Scalable Intensity

All Pure Barre exercises can be modified to suit your fitness level and how your body feels that day. Our teachers offer variations for each exercise, allowing you to choose the level of intensity that is right for you. This is especially helpful for older adults who are just getting into fitness or navigating new guidelines for their age.

Qualified Teachers

Pure Barre classes are led by certified teachers who are trained to ensure that exercises are performed correctly. They provide guidance and corrections to prevent injuries and help you feel the movement in the right places. Our team works hard to understand your fitness goals and design a routine that will help you get there.

Supportive Community 

The Pure Barre studio environment fosters a sense of community and support. This can be particularly motivating and reassuring if you feel apprehensive about starting a new workout routine. When you walk into our studios, you will be greeted by name by our front desk staff and cheered on through class by our teachers & your fellow members. It’s a truly the place where you belong!

Barre Exercises for those 40+

Firstly, ALL exercises at Pure Barre can be for any body, and truly at ANY age! With expertly trained teachers helping you navigate modifications, paired with the low impact foundation of every workout, all movements are intended to be safe, easy to follow, and effective. With that, check out a few examples of common exercises you will see at a barre class that provide myriad benefits for both physical and mental fitness:

Hundreds

Targets: Abs 

How To: Take a seat, then roll back, chin to chest, shoulder blades hover the floor. Bend your knees, feet flat on the floor, or option to extend your legs straight on the 45 degree diagonal for more of a challenge. Zip them together. Reach your arms forward. 

Movement:  Pump the arms 4x as you breathe in, then pump 4x as you breathe out

Planks

Any variety of forearm, straight arm, side arm will target the full core and build overall endurance. 

Modification option: come to knees, or find a wall or support (back of a chair, couch, countertop, or a barre) to perform elevated plank holds

Wide 2nd

Targets: Quadriceps, hamstrings, improves balance 

How To: Walk your feet out wider than your hips and turn your toes out slightly. Make sure your shoulders are stacked over the hips. Hands on your hips or straight out in front of you for balance.

Movement: Lower down (seat toward your knee line) then lift back up

Can add speed and/or a hold at the bottom of the position.

Pure Barre is a safe and effective full-body workout that offers numerous benefits for those over 40. Its low-impact nature, focus on strength training, and emphasis on core stability make it an ideal choice for older adults looking to enhance their fitness levels. Whether you're new to exercise or looking to complement your existing routine, Pure Barre provides a supportive and welcoming environment to help you achieve your fitness goals. So why wait? Visit a Pure Barre fitness studio today and discover how this innovative workout can help you stay strong, flexible, and healthy well into your golden years. Fill out the form below to try a complimentary barre intro class at your local studio!