If you’re thinking about trying a new workout but don’t want to break the bank on equipment, then you should try out our Barre workout series with dozens of easy 5-minute videos! These Barre workouts for women over 50 help with posture, pain and mobility. No, you don’t have to have been a ballerina in a former life. You don’t even need to be very flexible!
This low-impact workout has been getting a lot of attention over the years, and for good reason. It doesn’t require expensive equipment, and people of all ages can do it. We partnered with Barre instructor Karen Fortune to create a variety of simple 5-minute Barre workouts for women over 50. There’s everything from stretching, to cardio and strength training. Karen walks you through every exercise, and each video unlocks new benefits including better balance, flexibility, toned muscles, less back pain, and even a sharper mind!
What is Barre?
Barre is derived from ballet movements and other positions drawn from yoga and pilates. The classes usually involve small pulsing movements with an emphasis on form, alignment, and core engagement. These small movements seem easy at first, but you’ll quickly realize it’s more difficult than it looks.
This form of physical exercise was created in 1959 by London-based ballerina Lotte Berk. After injuring her back, Berk combined her ballet barre routines with her physical therapy to form the exercise system. She opened her own studio, The Lotte Berk Studio, in her West End home. The exercises quickly caught on, with celebrities like Joan Collins and Barbra Streisand joining her.
Benefits of Barre Workouts for Women Over 50
Everyone can enjoy the benefits of attending Barre class, but post-menopausal women are especially at an advantage of trying this low-impact workout. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of Barre workouts for women over 50:
1. Low Impact Workout
Did you know that many physical therapists recommend Barre to those anxious to return to exercising? The small range of motion makes it a great option for the joints and those that have a limited range of movement. There are also modifications to each exercise that allow for a greater sense of stability.
2. Keep Your Balance
Many Barre exercises are done standing on one leg, with the fingers lighting resting on –not gripping — the barre. This allows our balance skills to be constantly tested and works to improve our stability. This can reduce your fall risk later in life.
3. Build Endurance
Barre trains your muscles in a variety of ways — a range of motion, varying tempos during reps, and time under tension. So keep up with your pliés, relevés, and squats, and you’ll notice improved strength and endurance. This workout even helps runners improve speed and distance!
4. Increase Flexibility
You don’t have to be a bendy ballerina to enjoy Barre, but it will make you more flexible over time. Each class involves lots of stretching to reduce your risk of injury. As a result, you’ll be able to get through your day with less tension and tightness in your muscles.
5. Stay Sharp
Barre doesn’t just exercise our bodies — it also works our brains! This workout keeps our cognitive skills sharp with new exercises, quickly changing directions, and following fast instructions.
6. Improve Posture: Relieve Back Pain
Dealing with general back pain? If you sit at a computer all day, it could be the result of a weaker core. In Barre, your core muscles will be engaged for the duration of the class. As you keep going, you’ll notice that you’ll be able to sit longer and stand taller with less stress and tension.
7. Build a Community.
We can all agree that it’s easier to work out when you’re also going to see your friends. After all, it’s good for your health and your mood! You may have bonded with your friends in other workouts, but there’s no bond stronger than that of a group of women whose thighs are about to fall off. Some fitness centers and dance studios offer free Barre classes, so there’s nothing stopping you from getting fit and making new friends.
Common Questions About Barre
Is it Good for Losing Weight?
There isn’t a lot of barre-specific research to support weight loss. However, barre can improve strength. After 50, muscle is one of the most important factors in strengthening your metabolism, helping you burn calories even at rest. Strength training also encourages your body to continue building new bone, lowering your risk of osteoporosis. Karen’s cardio-focused barre workouts can help you build muscle and burn calories. Just make sure you stick with it!
Will Barre make me bulky?
No, Barre won’t make you too bulky or muscular. That would require more intensive strength training, and even then, it can be difficult for women to put on as much muscle as men — especially after menopause. In fact, women actually need more strength training to keep our muscles and bones strong after 50. Read more about why it’s important for women to lift heavy weights.
Is it okay to do Barre every day?
We may all be excited and ready to get our bodies moving during quarantine, but skip the every day Barre classes. Whether it’s your first week or not, your muscles will need time to recover from any strengthening exercises. However, if you’d like to treat your tired muscles to a stretching class or yoga session, go for it! You could also alternate your days to include HIIT training or cardio. Think of Barre as a complementary workout, not a replacement for everything else you’re doing.
Try Our Prime Women 5-Minute Barre Workout Series!
Barre instructor and fitness expert Karen Fortune partnered with Prime Women as part of our 30-day fitness challenge. She put together a 5-minute Barre workout series with two dozen videos to challenge and inspire you! You can try out a couple workouts each week to get started. All you need is five minutes. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get a new video every week.
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