Of all the hard workouts I've been sweating through, I have to say Pure Barre is at the top of the list. I took barre classes a few years ago, but it wasn't until I downloaded the Pure Barre app that I fully remembered that this brand's low-impact workouts were labeled "high-intensity" for a reason.
Inspired by Pilates, barre, and yoga, Pure Barre takes all the best (and most grueling) elements of each movement style and combines them into a tough, full-body workout. These classes are designed to help you build strength and improve flexibility through targeted movements, stretches, and other ballerina-like moves—all designed to make your muscles feel like jelly.
While memberships to physical Pure Barre studios start at $79 per month for four classes, the app (rebranded in 2020 to include an on-demand option called Pure Barre Go) costs $79 per month after a free trial $29.99. Once you become a virtual member, you gain access to their entire catalog of courses that can be taken from home. I tried a few different options and... let's just say I'm still recovering. Below is my experience with the Pure Barre app.
What Pure Barre Go can do for you
You can use the Pure Barre app to sign up for in-person classes, track your goals and progress, and attend live classes. But you'll need to switch to Pure Barre Go to find on-demand videos. Once you become a member, you'll have access to a seemingly endless supply of pre-recorded Pure Barre classes, making you feel like you're right there, even if you're actually curtsying alone in your living room.
Each workout lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and the instructor encourages you to push yourself. Check out the "What's New on PBGO" section to find brand new videos, or scroll through the "Courses" tab to find more specific content. In the latter, you'll find options like full-body workouts that include weights and other tools, as well as other sections like "Strengthen," where you can zero in on a certain muscle group. There's also an "Empowerment" section with more cardio workouts, and "Basics" classes where you learn the basics.
Go's Programs section offers resistance-training-focused reform classes, as well as a Collections tab where you can choose workouts from your favorite trainers. And, for those craving a more real-life feel, the app also offers live lessons that you listen to at specific times.
Take pure Barre Go lessons at home
While the instructors come equipped with a barre barre, mats, lightweight dumbbells, double barrels , and balls, the cool thing about Pure Barre is that you don’t need any equipment to take the class at home. I only had a mat and a chair and I was able to make the most of it.
What really stood out to me was a 30-minute course called “New On PBGO”. Thigh-strengthening workouts with trainer Shantani Moore. I clicked on it and thought, "Well, 30 minutes... I can totally handle that." But two minutes in, I wanted to lie on the floor and never get up.
The class started with a quick warm-up, including leg raises and planks to get the heart rate up, which made me wonder, "Wait, this is a warm-up ?!" After that, we did bicep curls and push-ups, followed by a series of 10-counts of lunges, side extensions, and other barre exercises. To make each exercise more challenging, Moore recommends standing on your tiptoes for the last 10 reps.
Every move in a Pure Barre class is small yet intense. You can isolate certain muscle groups by pulsing: Think of lifting one leg back behind you, then lowering it up and down before touching the floor. Moore motivated me to keep going, saying, "How do you want to feel after your workout?" Because I wanted to feel accomplished, I pushed myself, even though it was burning . By the end, my muscles were visibly shaking. But you know what? I do feel a sense of accomplishment.
As someone who leans toward jogging and spinning classes, it's cool to build a whole new set of muscles through a different type of exercise. The top of my thigh? My hips? The middle of my back? These areas feel perfect for the barre. In fact, it's a great way to stretch, too, and I can totally see myself using these classes to round out my daily workout routine.
Should you get the Pure Barre Go app?
If you're looking for a tough at-home barre workout, the Pure Barre Go has you covered. For less than the cost of a single audited course, you get dozens of videos on your phone that you can watch again and again. If you're still unsure, a 7-day free trial is an ideal way to test Barre before committing. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you have a foam roller handy.
