One of the most overwhelming parts of trying a workout for the first time is the vocabulary! Whether it’s CrossFit, Orange Theory, Burn Bootcamp, etc. the terminology can be one of the hardest things to pick up on. In my opinion, because it is so different than most workouts, barre terminology can be some of the toughest to feel comfortable with! Follow along for an explanation of the major basic barre terms so that you can feel comfortable in your first or next class!
Tuck
This term is hands down the most use word in barre. It doesn’t matter if you’re at Neighborhood Barre, Pure Barre, or any other studio, you will hear the word “tuck” constantly. Any time I have a new client join us for class, I make it a point to explain this word. When you hear a barre instructor say “tuck”, they are asking you to do a couple of things. The idea is to use your lower abs to pull your hips under your body and in line with your tailbone so that your back is flat. This keeps your core engaged, allows your spine to stay aligned, and keeps the fatigue out of your lower back. In my tightest “tucked” form, it can feel hard to breath in the same way as when you’re flexing your abs.
Pulse
This may seem like an obvious one, but in barre a pulse is one of the toughest movements we do. A barre pulse is an extremely controlled movement. This is the tiniest pulse you’ll ever see! In fact, you might not feel like you can see it at all. We will ask that you pull your belly button into your spine so that your full body is turned on. The tiny lift and lower is designed as a final burnout move, and will take the last few seconds of any series to the next level!
Working Zone
In barre, we are transitioning through different body postures to keep the heat moving for the entire class. That transition involves full range movement, along with small isolated movement. So, we will queue throughout class when we want clients to be in their “working zone”. That means we’re not standing tall, and we’re not in the bottom of a move. It’s that sweet middle spot where your muscles are shaking and feel fatigued, but you’re still able to push through to finish! The best part is, everyone’s working zone is different because we’re all built differently. Finding your working zone and fighting to stay there is one of the toughest parts both physically and mentally with barre!
Shake
You will hear instructors and clients talk about the barre “shake” during and after class constantly! It might seem weird at first, but barre is designed to fatigue your muscles literally to the point of shaking. It is a small shake, and not dangerous at all! Instead, it is those tiny muscles working to get stronger and pushing to the limit. The first time the shake happens, it can be surprising! But, like anything, you learn that it’s part of the workout you are working towards. Not to mention, the results after working hard and fighting through that shake are amazing!
The Positions
There are a ton of positions in barre, so I won’t go into all of them here. But, there are a couple of building blocks that are used as positions themselves, and starting points to move into more challenging positions. These are the handful of positioning terms are that good to know heading into a barre class.
Parallel
The parallel position is one of my favorite basics! It is designed to target the tops of the thighs as priority, and can also work the inner thighs. Parallel is set up with both feet positioned underneath your body, hips width distance apart. You will then tuck your hips by engaging your lower abs, press up into your toes to lift your heels, and then sink down in your legs until you feel that muscle activation.
Wide Second
Again, a big favorite of mine! Wide second is essentially a very wide, turned out squat. We ask clients to walk there feet out much wider than their hips, and turn out their toes to the 11 and 1 o’clock position. This turnout provides an even stronger base than a wide squat set up. The biggest difference between wide second and a squat is the tuck of the hips. With those hips tucked this position targets the tops and outer portion of your thighs.
Back Dancing
The “big box” gym term that is most relatable to back dancing is a glute bridge. You start by lying on your back with knees bent, feet positioned under your knees and heels pulled towards your butt. We will then instruct you to press through your heels to lift your hips up towards the ceiling and engage your core. Another key element for this move is to have that weight stay rocked into your heels where your toes can wiggle off the floor. This one sounds basic, but it will burn up those glutes and hamstrings!
Pretzel
A final position we build on constantly is called “pretzel”. To set up, you will start with your feet in a narrow V. Then, you will cross one ankle back behind the other, tuck those hips again, and squeeze to lift that crossed leg behind you until there is a catch under your cheek. Of course, we want hips tucked forward to keep the core engaged. This move targets the center and outer glute, along with the underside of the cheek.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this post will help easy any anxiety you might have about all the terminology you hear in a barre class! At the end of the day, it’s not about understanding all of the language. It’s about enjoying the workout and feeling challenged while doing it! If you every have any questions, regardless of which barre studio you’re in or what class you’re taking, I encourage you to talk to the instructor! We are there to be a resource for clients, so please don’t hesitate to ask questions. Any time you want to join a Neighborhood Barre class, you can find the schedule for your nearest studio here!