Early last fall, as barre3 was training its amazing instructors and excitedly planning for the opening of the studio, I fell in love with the barre3 workout. After taking just one class, I was hooked. I could feel myself working all of my muscles, many of which I hadn't used in a while. The soundtrack, including a little bit of Britney Spears, as well as the knowledgeable staff, kept me motivated through the intense workout. After each class, I left with a tightened tummy and a sense of better posture. Luckily, the studio has recently opened and is located very close to campus, so you can try barre3 for yourself! To learn more about my favorite workout, check out my interview with Patti Steinhauer, a UW alumna and barre3 Madison's owner and instructor.
Courtney Pelot: Why did you decide to open barre3?
Patti Steinhauer: I started doing barre workouts five years ago when I lived in New York, and I fell in love with it. It became part of my lifestyle and an excellent way to start my day. I decided to move back to the Midwest to be closer to family and was inspired to open my own barre3 studio. For two years, I researched various barre techniques and decided to join the barre3 family, which originally started in Portland, Oregon. Barre3 is not only an amazing workout; it cultivates the feeling of community, which is a great fit for the culture already in Madison. Trying a new method of working out can be intimidating, but we strive to make the barre3 experience welcoming and inviting.
CP: What exactly is barre3 and its workouts?
PS: Barre3 is a fusion of yoga and Pilates using the ballet barre as a prop. These workouts are set to an upbeat soundtrack and follows a vigorous pace moving through a sequence of postures designed to shape and lift the entire body.
CP: How is the barre3 workout different from other workouts?
PS: Barre3 is different from any other workout because it has a unique three-step sequence that creates the strength of an athlete with the long, lean, graceful lines of a dancer. Throughout our workout, we focus on isometric holds and small-range motions, which align and strengthen the muscles, low impact dynamic movements to energize and elevate the heart rate and recovery stretches to elongate the muscles.
CP: How can college students incorporate barre3 into their own lives?
PS: The great thing about barre3 is that you can do it anywhere. We don't fuss with heavy equipment and you don't need crazy weights to get a great body. Barre3 teaches people how to use their own body weight to tone and elongate muscles. Life gets crazy, especially as a college student, so while you're waiting in line for Badger games or waiting for your laundry to finish, you can do simple barre3 movements focusing on target muscles.
Grab your workout clothes and hurry to the studio! The barre3 family is offering a special for Daily Cardinal readers. Bring in this article and receive a complimentary class.
