The Bar Method Hurts
Posted on 02 September 2010
I’m not one of those girls who looks cute at the gym. Off-label track pants, oversized t-shirts and visible panty lines are just a few of my staples.
So to say I felt a little out of place at my new Bar Method class — a sea of capri leggings and perfectly coiffed pony tails — is an understatement.
What’s the Bar Method, you ask? It’s a form of torture that combines yoga, pilates and ballet. I decided to give it a shot after several of my friends swore it changed their whole approach to exercise (and made them skinny).
To get through the hour-long class, you’re expected to hold painful poses for long periods of time. At first, you’re all, “This isn’t so bad. I can totally do this.” But just when it really starts to burn, you realize you’ve got to hold it for five more minutes or “deepen the pose” in a way that you’re sure is physically impossible.
I shook. I panted. At one point, I thought I might throw up.
And then the instructor said she couldn’t see if I was high up enough on my toes. “Not in those pants,” she laughed, lifting up the hemline to double check.
Great workout though.
5 responses to The Bar Method Hurts
my friend begs for me to try it but only if i promise to wear spandex. she say she doesn’t wanna be embarrassed by me.
I’ve definitely been there before (where I was the only one improperly dressed, not the bar class). I realized that I probably should lose some weight so that I could wear what I needed to work out. But I just decided to start working out at home.
I’ll start looking out for that class though. Sounds really good.
I hate feeling like the odd one out in a class like that. At my last gym (that I attended only a handful of times) I hovered outside the doors to the cycling class because they all looked professional! and sweaty! and . . . no real reason! Then I finally did it and it made me sweaty and gross and I just realized that I don’t have a point. I found you off of the Unemploymentality blog post about getting through to EDD and that seekrit number 12117 or something and it worked for me! And I liked your writing style so I clicked over here and you made me laugh. So. Following!
I LOVE the bar method the first couple of times I went. but then it got too expensive. and too far. (what’s up with all of the awesome /bougie gyms being in the Marina? Mexicans and hipsters need to get in shape too!) but yeah, I pretty much SAW results after, oh, 3 classes. I’ll go with you some time.
They have classes downtown (the Embarcadero). No Marina trip Necessary!