Good Sweat
Room at the barre? Another Lotte Berk-inspired megastudio opens in SoHo
Kristin Kelleher (left) and Amy Duffey
The growing cadre of workouts at the ballet barre—often referred to by the shorthand “barre workouts”—recently got a major new player with the Spring opening of the Bar Method in SoHo’s solar plexus (Spring and West Broadway).
For the uninitiated, popular NYC bar workouts include Physique 57, Core Fusion, the Nalini Method, the Body, and Fluidity. They all share the same common ancestor, Lotte Berk, a German dancer who fled the Nazis in the 1930s and settled in London where she combined ballet bar routines with rehabilitative therapy to create an exercise system.
Now they all share the same customer—women (and a few men) looking for improved flexibility and a toned, taut body, but who can happily do without the spirituality of yoga.
One of the SoHo Bar Method's three studios
Into this seemly saturated market, the three co-owners, Amy Duffey, Kristin Kelleher, and Timothy Kelleher (Kristin’s husband), have opened a Colosseum-sized studio just a few blocks from Physique 57, the current market leader. Imagine Jean Georges opening a restaurant next to Daniel Boulud and you get the idea.
But the Bar Method ended up in Physique 57′s back yard quite by accident. “We looked at over 100 spaces all over the city,” explains Kristin Kelleher. “We wanted three column-free studios with window high ceilings. Not being New Yorkers, we didn’t realize what a ridiculous requirement that was.”
Despite the number of big-deal barre workout studios in New York, the owners of the Bar Method’s NYC franchise don’t seem a bit worried about market saturation. “A lot of New Yorkers have experienced the Bar Method in other cities and were waiting for one to come to New York City,”says Duffey. “We moved into a market with a lot of pent up demand.” Indeed the Bar Method’s luxurious and huge new home seems built to accommodate a stampede. The 8,000-square-foot space houses three studios, a lounge for socializing, and spacious locker rooms. This kind of real estate translates into a serious price tag. A single class is $35, but luxe digs aside, this is the going rate for bar-style workouts. A single class of Core Fusion is also $35 and, ditto, at Physique 57. Why these workouts, which don’t require any more equipment than a yoga class, cost nearly $20 more is a topic for another post.
The spacious lobby with a tea bar make for a perfect post-workout hangout
At a recent weekday lunchtime class taught by Duffey, the studio was impressively full with a mixture of beginners and advanced students. As someone who’s spent many years studying Pilates, I appreciated how subtle the Bar Method exercises were. The few times that something didn’t feel uber-challenging, I knew it was because I wasn’t doing the exercise correctly. The squat plies had my quads on fire, and the floorwork for the core was relentless, particularly the pretzels (which counteract the eating of the aforementioned). I would have liked more upper body work, and a drop more cardio would have been nice too.
But the workout seems to be working for Duffey. She looks like a ripped ballerina and told me she does the Bar Method 5-6 times a week, but doesn’t do cardio or skip doughy carbs. Ditto for Kristin Kelleher. The Bar Method’s promise is to quite literally change the shape of your body by “carving away the fat” using super-targeted exercises. With a pitch like that, this is a barre that New York City women apparently are glad to saddle up to. —Alexia Brue
The Bar Method, 155 Spring Street, Second Floor, 212-431-5720, soho.barmethod.com
I was excited about a new player in town and when I went to class I was very disappointed. Compared with Core Fusion’s Open level class, this one was way too easy. We also didn’t do any planks, which I believe is essential in core strenghtening classes. The arm weights section had no variety, we only did three exercises. My friend who took it with me went back to give them one more shot and said it was still just as easy.
I think anyone unfamiliar with Lotte Berk spinoffs will find this challenging, but anyone who has taken class at any of the competitors will not find it worth the high price.
I respectfully disagree with Dori’s comments.
I have been doing the Bar Method since the studio opened in April and find it to be one of the most challenging workouts. As some background, I am familiar with Lotter Berk and have done Physique 57 for 1.5 years before that and also took a bunch of Core Fusion classes. P57 is without question challenging as well, but the instructors are not as hands on (in general).
Bar Method classes are not easy. In fact, they become more and more challenging if you stick with it and perfect the ‘tuck’, which is a feat onto itself. There certainly are planks in the classes and the arm exercises, if done properly, are extremely intense. In addition, their ab exercises are FAR superior to that of P57 or core fusion. When I do ab exercises here, I am able to get into the underlying muscles and feel my abdomen work, instead of my lower back.
Above all, I have seen wonderful changes in my body. My shoulders have become defined, my abs are coming in quite nicely, my legs are more tone and my seat has lifted, which I thought was impossible given that I’m in my late 30s! My posture has also naturally improved – I feel that I am naturally able to carry myself more upright without even thinking about it :)
Dori’s comment regarding price is completely false. The Bar Method is more cost effective than P57 or Core Fusion, so that statement is just plain wrong.
Any workout is all about how much of yourself you put into it – if you stick with bar method, you will be pleased. Plus, the staff that works there are such a delight – they make a tough workout a much more pleasant experience :)
If you’re looking for a new workout or to change things up, give the bar method a shot. Don’t allow online postings to dissuade or persuade you. All I can say is that after 3 months and sticking to it, it’s working for me:)
AND, the DVD’s are working for me and I am 61! Incredible workouts this Bar Method!
I Love the Bar Method and have been a client at the NYC studio for over 6 months now going monday-friday at the same time each day. Unfortunately the owners of this studio do not have any client loyalty as I have been bumped from classes for newer students, if they don’t start offering more classes in the morning I’m going to be taking my business elsewhere.
Dori’s comment is utterly ridiculous. It’s like someone who says “yeah, i trained for the marathon, but it wasn’t hard because I WALKED”–give me a break! The essence of any class, particularly body sculpting is form. This is the true emphasis and true challenge. When one has the proper form and engages properly in each exercise, the exercises are challenging.
I’ve been taking class at THE BAR METHOD for about five months and the transformation of my body is nothing short of miraculous. Having exercised my entire life (and yes, i did train and run in a marathon), I can say that I have never been able to shape my body–in fact my rather stocky body had become even more stocky over the years in spite of a good diet and exercise regime–I guess you could say that this body type runs in my family. So, when I started at BAR i was pretty skeptical that anything would come of it. However, after attending classes regularly (about 4-5 times per week), my body has transformed into nothing that I’ve ever experienced before. It’s becoming elongated and elegant.
The point is not to just “do” the exercise, the point is to challenge yourself at every juncture. People who just “do” it, obviously don’t get it and they probably won’t see any results. If you make it a point to challenge yourself, you’ll feel and see the difference over time.
Yes, it’s true, the classes are becoming more crowded, but the owners plan to add more classes soon. They have become pretty successful in the short time that the studio has opened and all the regular students know that taking the classes pays off in real dividends.
If you’re ever uncertain about how to do a move properly, the instructors are always there to help and guide you.
All the best to everyone!
I respectfully disagree with Dori and BN.
The Bar Method is extremely challenging and hasn’t become less challenging over time. The more you do it, the harder it becomes somehow (explain that to me please!)
I have never been bumped around because of new students, and they have been extremely good to do business with.
My one gripe however is the exercises – while effective, do tend to become monotonous. I try to get around that by mixing it up with yoga and zumba. I would love it if they reduced their prices though – coz I don’t see myself wanting to leave it anytime soon!
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