How to get the most out out of your barre class...:)

1. Arrive about 5 minutes early, so you can choose your barre, and prepare for class. It takes about 15-20 minutes for your body to switch from burning blood sugar to burning fat, so if you arrive late, by the time you get to fat burning mode, we are putting the barres away. In addition, if you are going to make the effort to get dressed and get to class, you may as well take advantage of the entire 75 minutes whenever possible! Another note: If you arrive late, you may end up getting the last spot, at the front of the class! If you rather not be up front, you may wish to arrive on time…:)

2. Focus on the purpose of each barre exercise. Each exercise serves a specific purpose, so focusing on that purpose will allow you to get the most benefit. For instance, we perform deep lunges to strengthen the glutes. By focusing on feeling the deep gluteals as you press up, you will be better able to contract them.

3. Focus on correct technique. For instance, by focusing on keeping the knees over and slightly behind the knees in both plies and lunges, you will protect your knees from injury, and you know that we must be nice to our knees! For core work, correct technique means the difference between "pretend core work" and "real core work and the benefits that ensue". Crunches in core work may be easily faked, but abs are not…:)

4. Stretch in between each exercise for the full length of the time between. This makes the most of your 75 minutes, so you are always either strengthening or stretching, never just standing around.

5. That said, drink water in between exercises. If you are creative, you can drink while stretching…:)

6. Constantly test your progress. Try adding weight to your lunges on occasion, take your push ups a little lower, hold your plank a little longer before you modify, lift the shoulder blades a little higher in crunches. If you don't test yourself, how will you ever know you are progressing? Seeing that constant progress is FUN and rewarding…:)

7. Be consistent in your attendance. We all know how hard it is to get back into barre once you are away, even for a week, if you are not convinced ask Terri about her "Post Palm Springs Soreness"…:). Consistent attendance = results = MORE FUN!