Barre-Lovers Unite: Our Honest Review of Peloton's Barre Classes
Alex McRae- 9 Min To Read
- 20 Sep, 2023
Are you familiar with the Peloton barre classes? Did you know that Peloton had barre classes?
Let me tell you everything you need about barre classes. I will also let you know which Peloton instructors teach barre.
This blog post will cover:
- Peloton barre classes where can I find them?
- What equipment is required to hold a barre class
- Wear the best clothes to a Peloton barre class
- How long have Peloton barre classes been going on?
- Peloton instructors can teach barre
These classes are so much more than that, I even wrote a review.
When did Peloton begin offering barre classes?
Peloton introduced barre classes in the second half 2020. You’ll find the first barre class in September 2020. This is a 10-minute introduction with Hannah Corbin to barre.
Peloton has been adding barre classes since September 2020. Nearly 100 barre classes are available as of the writing of this article.
What is barre?
You might be curious about what a barre class looks like. Is it similar to ballet? As someone who has taken dance classes for many years in her youth, the answer to that question is yes and no.
Barre is similar to ballet in that you will need to be familiar with basic terms of ballet. This mostly has to do with the position of your feet.
Positions in Ballet
An instructor might instruct you to place yourself in the first, second, or third position. This will help you understand what it means.
The instructor may also ask you to plie. It’s similar to doing a squat, but your feet are different.
There are also arm positions but most instructors will be focusing on your feet.
Not necessary to have extensive ballet knowledge
You can also pick up the basics quickly because it isn’t a ballet class. I guarantee that you will understand the terminology by the end your first class.
You can also watch the instructor demonstrate it. It is a good idea to start your Peloton barre journey by taking the 10-minute intro class.
Here are some facts about the Peloton barre classes
First, you must know where to find Peloton barre classes in the Peloton ecosystem. You can access any Peloton class using the hardware that you have, such as the Tread or bike. This includes barre.
You can also find them on the Peloton website or digital app, or on Smart TVs like Roku.
Where can I find the Peloton barre classes?
You might be wondering where the barre classes are on Peloton. They’ll be listed under strength.
They would have been under cardio, according to me. Since I began taking Pilates before I took barre, it was where I found those classes.
The Peloton App, the Peloton Website, and the Peloton Barre classes can be accessed on smart TVs like my Roku TV or on the Peloton Bike, Bike Plus, and the Tread.
How to locate the barre classes on Peloton
These are the steps that you would follow on the Peloton app in order to locate barre classes
- The app is open
- Take classes
- Choose strength
- Select the filter
- Select a Class Type
- Scroll down until you see Barre
- Tap Barre
- Show classes
What is a barre exercise?
Barre classes are not ballet-like, but can look a lot like it. You’ll be using the same basic moves as you would in a ballet class, except that you will be standing against the wall at the barre. Peloton barre classes don’t have to be done standing up.
You will soon realize how varied your barre classes on Peloton can be. You might find yourself standing up and repeating leg movements like in a dance class. Sometimes you may be on your knees or in a tabletop position, doing a dokey-kick movement similar to what you did during 1980s Jane Fonda classes.
Peloton barre vs Pilates
I mentioned earlier that I began taking Peloton Pilates classes prior to getting into barre. The Hardcore On the Floor Facebook group and its monthly workout hardcore calendar are the ones that introduced me to barre.
My opinion is that Pilates on the mat (rather than on a reformer machine), and barre classes are very similar. Each class focuses on micro-movements to target muscles that you may not be targeting (consciously) in other strength-training classes.
However, it could be how you use your feet that makes the difference. Peloton barre classes are more like a Pilates class in that I spend more time pointing and flexing my toes, then moving.
But the burn is real. Both barre and Pilates are intense. Although you may not sweat much, it is still a lot of work.
Who are the Peloton bar instructors?
There are currently only two Peloton barre instructors. These are Hannah Corbin, and Ally Love.
As I mentioned, there are almost 100 barre classes currently. They’re evenly divided between Hannah and Ally.
These classes are taught by Hannah and Ally. Both have professional dance experience.
Instructors Cody Rigsby and Emma Lovewell were professional dancers, so it’s not surprising that they would end up teaching barre classes. They were fantastic in the Dance Cardio classes Peloton introduced for 2020.
FYI: Ally Love and Hannah Corbin also offer Pilates classes via the Peloton app. This is in addition to:
- Anna Greenberg
- Rebecca Kennedy
- Jess King
- Kristin McGee
- Emma Lovewell
- Kendall Toole
- Aditi Shah
- Sam Yo
This is my Peloton Pilates review.
Ballet arms class
Sam Yo offers “ballet arms” Arms, and Lightweight classes. This is a great way for upper body ballet training.
What equipment do you need to teach barre classes in Peloton?
The best part about Peloton barre classes is that you don’t need any equipment. You don’t need any expensive equipment for barre classes at home.
A mat is a must, as you will be spending a lot of time on the ground during barre. You can still use the same yoga mat if you are already taking Peloton yoga classes. If you’re looking for a yoga mat, I have some suggestions.
Peloton Yoga Basics: Towels and Mats
Peloton Yoga Basics: Towels and Mats
Grippy Yoga Mat Towel
Yoga Mat Towel
Towel for Active Dry Yoga Mat
Amazon Manduka
Manduka PROLite Yoga&Pilates Mat, Indulge - 71"
Manduka PROLite Yoga&Pilates Mat, Indulge - 71"
Manduka PRO Yoga mat - Premium 6mm thick mat, eco-friendly, Oeko-Tex certified and free of all chemicals. High Performance Grip, Ultra-Dense Cushioning, for support and stability in yoga, Pilates, gym, and other general fitness activities.
Use a chair as your makeshift barre
A chair is also a must. Hannah Corbin and Ally Love use the backs of chairs as a bar for class.
However, you should never be seated on the chair. The back is used for balance. However, if you have a ballet barre that is legal, feel free to use it for these classes.
A few barre classes also include light weight barbells or hand weights. These are the same weights that you would have on your Peloton bike if you own it. These would be either one, two, or three-pound weights.
What length are barre classes?
There are currently many Peloton barre classes of all lengths. Start with the shortest and move up. My longest barre class was 30 minutes. After that, I couldn’t walk.
These are the lengths of Peloton’s barre classes:
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 20 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 45 minutes
FYI: The five-minute classes are only warm up/cool down classes.
Classes on the theme of barre
Barre offers classes with musical or event themes, just like the other classes offered by Peloton. These themes include:
- Country
- Hip hop
- Spice Girls
- Pop music
- Women’s History Month
Ally Love was married before she started teaching barre classes. She wore a short white dress, similar to tennis whites, and wore a veil. It was a 20-minute class that totally kicked my arse.
What to wear to class with barre accessories
You should dress the same way you would for a barre class as you would for a Peloton yoga class. Leggings or shorts are the best choice, as is a loose-fitting top. A sleeveless shirt is best for you if your arms are used a lot.
This is a link that will take you to the Nordstrom website for barre clothing.
Peloton barre socks
Your footwear is the only thing that distinguishes yoga clothing from barre clothing. You should practice yoga barefoot. Barre can be done barefoot. However, gripper socks are recommended. These socks can be worn during Pilates.
This article is about the best Peloton workout socks.
Wet feet and hands
My feet sweat just as much as my body. Gripper socks are essential when I am taking a class with no shoes or sneakers.
My hands and feet slip in yoga classes, for example. Even though yoga mats are supposed to be sticky, my hands and feet get so sweaty that they don’t stick enough. Gripper socks or gloves are great for this.
To get your barre clothes, subscribe to a subscription box
To get new clothes for my barre class, I recently partnered with Wantable Subscription Box. I requested an Active Edit-which Wantable refers to a box that contains only activewear, athleisure, and workout clothes.
Today’s box arrived; tomorrow, I will be doing an Instagram Live for my unboxing. After that broadcast is complete, I will come back to you and tell you what I got, what I kept, and what I sent back (if any).
This is my review of the Wantable subscription.
Why spin and Peloton barre classes should be combined
Is it logical to add barre to your spin class? You absolutely can. Running enthusiasts should take up barre and Pilates classes.
This is how you should think about it. You’re only moving in one direction when you run or cycle. Your legs move in one direction, i.e. they are moving forward and back, up and down. They don’t move side-to-side. Your lower body has many muscles that aren’t being activated, used, or strengthened.
Running and cycling can be made easier by taking barre and Pilates classes
You are also using your lower body muscles for barre and Pilates. You might not have known you had them, or that you could use. Then you’ll be sore for a few days. I have never felt my inner thighs so angry after barre classes.
You know what? I’m stronger now because of all the strength training, including barre, Pilates, and good old-fashioned strength classes (aka Squats), that I have done.
This is my review of the Peloton strength training classes.
Will Peloton offer more barre classes?
Peloton has added 19 barre classes since the start of this year. Hannah Corbin, Ally Love and Ally Love are the only teachers of barre at Peloton.
These newer barre classes include themed classes such as Latin barre or soul barre.
Final thoughts on the Peloton barre classes
Have I convinced you to take one of the Peloton barre classes, or at least to give it a try? You don’t even need any special equipment for them.
Start with the Introduction to Barre, a 10-minute class that I took the first time. Hannah Corbin, your instructor, will be kind to you. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
