Our Kate, from Good Morning Spain is always trying new sports, this week’s was Barre! If you want a low- impact and full body workout this might just be the perfect sport to take up.
Barre is a sport becoming increasingly popular. It is a mix between yoga stretching, pilates and the elegance of ballet, all while attached to the barre. It is a full-body conditioning workout, especially good for your core. It doesn’t involve jumping around or heavy movements, making it the perfect low-impact sport, without stressing your joints. However, low-impact does not mean low- intensity because it is quite the opposite. It helps with posture, muscle growth, flexibility and looking like a ballerina while you do it. Can it get any better?
According to the Rockstar Academy here are some basic barre techniques to get you started:
- Turnout. Bring your heels together and push your feet outwards. Keep your feet, legs and knees aligned.
- Placement of leg and toes.Lift your legs and point your toes, activating all of your leg and hip muscles.
- Plié. A classic ballet move! In your turnout position, heels together with feet outwards. Bend your knees to go into a plie, keep your heels and feet on the ground. Make sure you feel your muscles slowly as you do it.
- Relevé. With your feet in turnout position, raise your heels off the ground onto your tip toes slowly. After doing this a few times slowly and concentrating on your muscles you will definitely feel it the next day.
Here are some steps you can try at home holding onto the side of your mantelpiece. Like lots of things, it looks easy but it is a lot harder than expected. If you are worried about your back or joints and have avoided the gym, maybe you should look into barre classes.
Let us know if you have done this sport and what you think of it. Watch Kate tell us about her experience in our latest episode of Good Morning Spain.
