psst! try my pure barre workout! i did it! honestly, there were times when i just thought about throwing in the towel but i pushed through! obviously, i chose the most ideal time to try this challenge with christmas and new years involved and oh yeah…traveling for several days over the holidays /sarcasm. i thought i’d give a recap of my thoughts, how it went and my progress.

what it is: the challenge is to complete 20 pure barre classes in 30 days. simple enough right?

this does require a significant time commitment as each class is 55 minutes long. i found myself waking up at 5:40am aka pre-butt crack of dawn to attend a 615am class. there were definitely some painful mornings where i wanted to throw up a finger of the middle variety and climb back under my covers.

there was also some gnashing of teeth inside the studio as i was holding poses and my legs were shaking. tiny beads of sweat would form on my brow every.single.class. i kept waiting for a class to get easier but that day never came. the instructors never completely repeat a class so you are constantly challenging muscle groups in different ways every day creating variety.

the class always closes with you laying on your back in a bridge position ‘tucking‘ to a beat. it basically looked like some strange sexual dance but i assure you that my thighs and butt were being lifted and toned while they burned. most days i was focused and present but there were some mornings that i laid there looking at the ceiling feeling ridiculous and tired. i suppose this is to be expected when you are doing this sort of challenge or it wouldn’t be difficult to complete in the first place.

the progress: i’m sorry i didn’t take any measurements before i started or i would have some quantitative data to report. all i can go on is that my pants fit better in the leg even though i know i put on some muscle. my legs are more toned, abs more defined and butt lifted according to nate.

what you need to know & wear: the class is only as difficult as you want to make it. if you are NOT shaking, then know you need to go deeper into the pose. challenge yourself! wear leggings and sticky socks! you won’t be able to enter the studio in bare feet. you can wear shorts but i wouldn’t recommend it unless you want to give your neighbors a peep show since you will be lifting your leg up and getting into some compromising positions

here i am signing the barre, it’s a newer studio so there are probably only a dozen of us who have completed the challenge! (please excuse the grainy cell phone pic, dirty hair & bare face)

have you ever taken a barre class? when was the last time you challenged yourself?