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Why I Love Pure Barre

Aug 21

lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee and blush adidas
Happy Monday!

I hope all of you had very productive and relaxing weekends. Justin and I got quite a lot done during ours and it’s great to start the week feeling accomplished. We even had dinner two nights in a row with friends AND went out Friday night! We were so proud of ourselves because usually, we are such homebodies haha. I’ve been receiving a lot of questions lately about my workout routine and how I stay in shape so I thought I’d talk a little bit about it today. In addition, to what I typically do and do not eat.

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lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee and blush adidas
lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee
lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee and blush adidas
lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee and blush adidas
lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee
lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee and blush adidas
lululemon align pant II with lush clothing white tee and blush adidas
blush adidas
blush adidas
White Tee // Navy Leggings (my fav!) // Blush Sneakers // Sunglasses // Earrings // Necklace 1, 2 & 3
This post is probably going to sound sponsored because I’m going to rant and rave but I promise that it’s not! I’m just very passionate about my workout routine of choice… and that’s Pure Barre. A little backstory: I was a ballet dancer for sixteen years, all throughout grade school and high school. It was a catalyst for a fit lifestyle but after I finished dancing I wasn’t quite sure how to stay in shape. I visited the usual gym on campus during college, often walking on the treadmill, using the elliptical, and occasionally lifting light weights… in addition to push ups, crunches, and sit ups (my fav!). But I didn’t feel like I saw worthwhile results. Luckily, my junior year I heard about Pure Barre and decided to give it a try with my friends while they were offering an awesome local Groupon deal. 

My first class was such a challenge! I wasn’t used to struggling through a workout or being challenged by a class after my years of rigorous ballet training. But this really gave my body a run for its money. And all I wanted to do was conquer the movements. I never felt defeated, only motivated to push myself harder (something I love about PB). I couldn’t believe that after only a couple classes, I saw results! I’ve never experienced a workout that tones the body the way Pure Barre does. My behind and thighs were definitely tighter – areas I’d been trying to tone for years. It was like everything sucked up into all the right places!

I encourage anyone and everyone to try Pure Barre. And I encourage you to give it at least three classes before you make a judgment call. It’s a mix of ballet, yoga, and pilates, so if you’ve never done movements from these workout genres, it will probably seem pretty foreign at first… but don’t give up! Pure Barre is a 55-minute full body workout that uses a ballet barre, several pieces of equipment, light weights, and is a workout that is ever evolving so you never get bored. The routines have a steady pattern (i.e. floor, arms, barre, stretch, abs, etc.) but the exercises always change.

A lot of people ask me if Pure Barre is cardio or hard on the joints and the answer is “No (BUT they did just unveil Pure Empower which is a cross training class that does get the heart pumping).” I actually used to take classes on my lunch break at work and could change right back into my office clothes after. Now, there are definitely some days you sweat (and this is person specific) but it’s not cardio intensive so it’s great for all ages and abilities. Pure Barre exercises are made up of small repetitive movements that exhaust the muscles to the point of change. One of their slogans is “embrace the shake” and boy is it true! There are so many times my legs were shaking like a leaf and that’s how you know you’re really making progress, changing and toning. You absolutely have to take a class to see what I mean!

Another amazing aspect of Pure Barre is that you can modify any of the exercises for injuries or pregnancy. The instructors are super knowledgeable (and encouraging) and can help you to work around these things while still getting a fabulous workout. For example, I had a shoulder injury and I was taught to do pushups on an incline at the barre to take the pressure off my muscles. And I have an old back injury so I always do crunches or ab intensive exercises with a soft workout ball behind my lower back. All you have to do is talk with your instructor and they will help to find what works best. It’s all about challenging yourself to do your best, not competing with others.

I actually used to teach Pure Barre in Virginia before I moved and it was such a fulfilling experience! And it really made me appreciate PB and what is has to offer the body and the mind. The 55-minutes I spent exercising in the studio were always my “me time” and my way to decompress after a long day at work. It’s a way for me to de-stress and to completely zone out… forgetting my troubles and my long to-do list. Full disclosure: I’ve been out of the workout game for a couple weeks now. Ever since my full-time contract position ended I’ve been trying to save money so my workout classes had to go (sadly). BUT Pure Barre just started online classes called Pure Barre On Demand so now for an affordable subscription, you can work out from home or on the go. And they offer work outs of all different time lengths. FYI I highly encourage you to take an in-person PB class first or an instructional/informational Breaking Down the Barre Class (offered at most studios) so that you understand the movements. 

I also get a lot of questions about what I eat and I truly believe diet goes hand in hand with exercise. For example, I still feel in shape even after weeks of not working out because I eat healthy meals and watch my sugar intake. Don’t get me wrong, Justin and I both have a huge sweet tooth and enjoy indulging but we do it in moderation. I learned a long time ago I can’t deprive myself completely so I eat what I want when I want… again, in moderation. I’m also milk-free (due to a lactose intolerance) which sounds horrible, but it’s actually made me so much healthier because there are so many junk foods I can no longer eat. I’ve been milk-free for over a year now and have never felt better! My daily meals consist of coffee, cereal or a waffle with peanut butter for breakfast, a salad or sandwich for lunch, lean turkey or chicken for dinner, and lots of water! 

At the end of the day, genetics do play a role in the way our bodies age and respond to exercise. So you can’t compare yourself to someone else. It’s always good to have goals but you have to learn to appreciate your own body first. Everyone excels in different ways and at different things and Pure Barre is no different. You might kill the abs section and struggle with flexibility, or vice versa. But look at it as a challenge and not a flaw! Compete with yourself to be your best self, whatever that may be. Pure Barre is inclusive, encouraging, positive, uplifting, effective, and some would even say life-changing. And did I mention you’ll make lots of amazing barre friends?!

Have a fantastic Monday and have an extra cup of coffee for me! 


Oh, btw, if you have any questions about Pure Barre feel free to comment, email, or direct message me on Instagram!

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XO Amanda
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