Jog in place

Once you’re situated in the pool, begin jogging in place. Bring your knees as high up as they can go, and pump your arms in the water. Do this for about two minutes straight.

Bicycle

This exercise is great for your abs and shoulders. Rest your arms on the edge of the pool (or on a pool noodle) and make a pedalling motion with your legs. For a more intense core workout lean back further.

Double Leg Lift

Lean on the edge of the pool and bring your legs together. Lower your legs straight down before bringing them back up as high as you can raise them. The resistance of the water makes you focus on controlling your body, adding to the difficulty.

Flutter Kick

Hold onto the ledge of the pool (or paddleboard) with your arms extended, and your stomach facing down. Kick your legs rapidly behind you as fast as you can. This will create quite a splash, but for a better workout focus on keeping your legs underwater.

Noodle Plank

Begin by holding your noodle in front of you, and push your body down until you are in a plank position. Hold this, while trying to keep your body in a straight line. Although you may find this difficult to do on land, when you’re in the pool, the water helps support your weight.

Squat Jumps

Place a wide gap between your feet about hip width apart and squat down. Next, explosively jump out of the water.The deeper the squat the more intense your workout will be.

Neighbors Emergency Center has multiple centers opening in Texas. Be sure to check out our Facebook Page for neighborly news and updates.

What is barre?

Barre has actually been around a while. Begun by Lotte Berk in London, the exercise incorporates all muscles in a variety of stretching, core, and isometric movements. Berk, a former German ballerina, combined her training into a less classical form of ballet training which, yes, includes a barre. The exercise then came stateside in 1971 when Lydia Bach opened a studio in New York City.

What kind of exercise is barre?

Barre focuses on toning and elongating muscles rather than building bulk. So if you want to look more like Arnold Schwarzenegger you may want to skip this class. In other words, this routine incorporates elements of ballet, pilates, and yoga, emphasizing core strength, leg strength, and flexibility throughout.

Desired results are achieved by repetitive movements using limited equipment: a small medicine ball, light hand weights, and a rubber strap to aid with stretching. Length of exercise can vary depending on intensity, but it usually lasts no more than an hour.

Is there barre for men?

Yes. Although many studios don’t expressly forbid men, barre is most popular for women. In fact, many studios host “Bring Your Man” nights. Others say women, in general, benefit more from these types of exercises.

Men’s interest has gained popularity, to the point where there are classes for men only, although these are not as common.

How much does barre cost?

Prices vary widely, depending on the investment. Prices can range from $70 per class to $300 per month. Unless classes are included in a membership, it’s perhaps advisable to try one or two classes before investing.

Can I do barre at home?

Yes and no. While the needed equipment isn’t as expensive as, say, a treadmill, barre does require a bar of sorts for some of the exercises. So unless you’re willing to install a barre and/or floor-to-ceiling mirrors, you may want to stick with a classes at the studio. Plus, it doesn’t hurt having an experienced instructor nearby.