The Barre Tech

I love BarreTech! I started back in September with the 3 Month Unliminted Bridal Packagae which was a great value! I’m continuing class 2 – 3 times/​week leading up to my wedding. It’s a great workout. Running had been my only form of exercise for the past few years so getting back into the flexibility and body control type workouts from my old high school/​college cheerleading days has been really great. i can see a huge improvement in my flexibility and toning. All the insturctors are so nice and friendly and I love the smell of peppermint as soon as you walk in the stairs. Highly recommend!

Great class, very challenging, and the staff is friendly. I tried the studio next door and the people were not friendly. I always get a great work out!

Love this studio! Amy, the owner, is fantastic. She gives good corrections, always has a new playlist, and keeps the classes challenging and fun. :)

I decided to try barre tech with a friend after buying the 3 class intro pass. Barre tech is also on class pass which I LOVE and highly recommend.
I’m a Pure barre addict so I may be a bit biased here. The instructors I’ve tried were very friendly and nice, however I personally felt like Pure Barre was more challenging and more my speed. The owner Amy was nice in helping me extend my 3 classes since I was not able to use them within the first month but I didn’t end up using them all.
I much prefer both the Pure Barre studios in Arlington/​Alexandria over the Barre Tech locations which were smaller and more cramped. The staff was all great so I just think it’s a matter of personal preference because a good friend of mine loves it.

Just wanted to give an update since I took a hiatus from Barre for about a year (due to moving, trying to save some money, and knowing I have little self restraint from going to Cheesetique afterwards), and went back to BarreTech the first time in dire need to lose some lbs.
I gave it 5 stars before, and I just want to say it is still an awesome studio, if not improved! I tried out Pure Barre & Xtend Barre with a ClassPass trial and just to compare it to the other nearby Alexandria studios:
1. The Barre instructors really are good at explaining how to do the moves and areas you need to work out– and essentially does it along with you while correcting your technique from the mirror reflection. (Xtend Barre does something similar, which I appreciated. Pure Barre instructors show you the move twice while talking quickly and then ‘walks around to correct technique’ as I try and half the class tries to figure it out while flailing around or doing it in the opposite direction).
2. It’s a smaller studio and they don’t use a microphone to enhance their instruction, but they are still very loud and clear (Xtend and Pure uses headsets with mic).
3. They are the most eco-​friendly — I love that they now have the pepperminty towels not just for your face to cool down, but to wipe the mats. In the past, they had paper towels with Ms. Myers products. Pure and Xtend have a jumbo sized container of Clorox wipes. They are the most community oriented.
4. They don’t have logos on their equipment — which I like to think that they studio spends their money on providing other services and not on fancy labels.
5. You can use your spafinder gift cards here. Which is a big plus for me since I sometimes pick a few up at costco.
6. All in all, while all these boutique studio workouts can be pretty pricey, I feel like I get the best workout instruction for my money at BarreTech (and please keep it that way!). Also, all the studios sell grippy socks with their logo on it, but BarreTech has it for $ 10, Xtend for $ 13, and Pure Barre for $ 12.
The only thing I didn’t like about my last class was the instructor waited 10min past the start time for a few late stragglers before starting. Perhaps I’d appreciate it if I was that late straggler, but I prefer starting on time.

This is a great studio (talented instructors, great about helping new students with form, and the owner, Amy, is fantastic), but lately, most of the classes I’ve gone to have started late for various reasons, which has gotten really frustrating. Instructors have delayed class because they’re having lengthy conversations with new students (of course this is great, but needs to happen ahead of the time class is supposed to start); because they’re having long, drawn out conversations with people about injuries (again, fine, but needs to happen ahead of time); because they’re making everyone move their mats around because the class is over-​crowded; or because they are starting class late because they’re waiting for late students to arrive (um, what??? how is that respectful of everyone else’s time?!) I have experienced all of these at Barre Tech in Del Ray over the last few months, and each time, it is very frustrating. The classes are fantastic, but the studio needs to be more mindful of their students’ time and schedules by starting (and ending!) classes on time. I’ve had to leave several classes early (and miss the ending parts of the classes) because they’ve started late and ended late, and I’ve planned around the scheduled class times.

Took a Barre: Core class.
I showed up as a new student during a major thunderstorm. Found street parking ok and then learned they have a parking lot with validation available. When I asked about parking, one of the girls tried to encourage me to park on the street instead (I get that they have limited spaces but shouldn’t you encourage new members to use the parking lot you have available???).
Instructor had zero energy and absolutely no passion. She barely smiled and did not motivate me with her words (she had no «banter» and it felt like I was watching a DVD). I have had better teachers at Golds Gym. She also offered no modifications (maybe barre: core has no modifications and if so, my mistake).
Most importantly: not a great ab workout. My abs barely felt anything and I feel they missed out on some important basics (no plank? strange.) My arms felt like they got a minor workout thought.
Will I be back to Barre: Core with this teacher? No way. Would rather hold a plank for 90 seconds and call it a day.

I LOVE Barre Tech and everything it stands for. Amy is a phenomenal owner– fun, professional, and genuinely cares about her clients. I have been to variety of instructor’s classes and I’m never disappointed. I have to give a shout out to Adrianna, she rocks and has created a truly amazing Thursday night community that I look forward to throughout the week. The only downfall as a recent graduate is price, but I pony up as often as possible for a truly fun experience! Definitely recommend to any barre enthusiast!

The single star goes to the owner who tried to hard to email me and communicate. She was great in that.
The rest of the review goes to the classes and condition. I don’t mind it’s in a basement, but it’s small and dirty. That’s the worst part. The two classes I took– skipped the third– were in the same small barre room. The floor was filthy as reviewed previously. The carpet and the floating floor. There are dips and drops and issues with this floor.
The first class– not a lot guidance. Very chopped up and not smooth. Good music selection.
The second class– she was better with the guidance, but not as challenging even though it was the same class. Music is was terrible and also very chopped routine.
The instructors seem a bit young and not so knowledgable.
No one sticks around to help. It is just not a good place for feel or environment… especially not when you have a place across the street that is less expensive and with better instruction.

I attended the Friday 6am class with Anna. Awesome workout she knows her stuff very well. I was able to shower there and they offer everything you could ever need. There is a lot of parking space as well. Highly recommend.

Sorry to rain on the parade of all the glowing reviews, but maybe I came on an off day. I am new to barre and just took a class at pure barre here in Boston, so I have something to compare it to. All in all this was just a disorganized class. Overbooked apparently so we were crammed in the already EXTREMELY small space. The instructor never asked us to fill anything out, despite the fact it was over half the class’s first time taking barre (like my friend). I can’t even say who it was since she never told us her name. The space and equipment could be updated, as well as maybe vacuuming the place. I hated that we did class on hardwood floors and felt my feet getting dirty during class. Ew. The whole place is just wicked small, and kind of weird that you need to walk through the café in the front to get to the class.
Probably my least favorite studio I’ve ever been to. While yes I am new to barre, I’m not new to working out or fitness in general. I’ve been to many studios over the years, including for yoga and Pilates. Oh and ps as for the workout? I wasn’t even sore the next day. When I’m back in the area visiting my friend we’re going to pure barre. Definitely not coming back here.

I love how down to earth and friendly barre tech is. The class sizes are small enough that the instructor can give the necessary amount of attention to everyone in the class. I really love the burn 60 class on Saturday mornings and wish they would add a couple more throughout the week.

Attended my 2^nd class with Amy today. Liked it even better than my first and really thought Amy’s form tips helped. All the women in the class are very friendly. I ‘ll definitely be back!

I’ve been taking barre for almost a year. I was with another studio that closed and immediately felt the Christmas/​winter bulge growing around my waistband. A friend sent me Barre Tech’s website which had a similar pricing structure and they offered early morning classes since evenings don’t really work for me (I work full time and I’m in grad school part time). I really enjoy the instructors and classes and already feel like I’m getting back into shape! I took classes at the Arlington location, which is great, and coincidentally just moved to Del Ray so I’ve switched to their Alexandria location. Very convenient locations, both with ample parking.
I’ve taken barre in a few studios in Arlington and having been a sorority girl, I found some can be clique-​y. At Barre Tech, the instructors know my name and always ask how I’m doing (and how my recent move is going), remember my injuries from my volleyball days, and are overall super friendly while simultaneously knowing how to kick your butt (and offering modifications if needed). I recommend it to everyone (especially former athletes with sustained injuries). I would suggest integrating more Beyonce songs, but I try to integrate Beyonce into everything in life.

As someone who has taken barre classes for 2 years I was completely underwhelmed by my experience at this studio. From the moment I walked down to the basement, where the studio is located, until the end of class where I had to wipe down my mate with a chlorox wipe-​I was counting down the minutes to leave. I found the teacher to be uninterested in class, mentioning a few times how tired she was, the queuing to the music was for the most part off and the overall studio looked like it was falling apart (visible duck tape, old weights, just completely thrown together). The wood floor was the worst though, it was creaky and unstable and felt like a bunch of plywood about to snap and did not feel clean. I felt so uncomfortable by the entire atmosphere to be honest. I recommend to all to try another studio in the area that is cleaner, renovated and with teachers that want to be there. Ick!

Take classes with Amy. She’s fab. Especially in Barre: 60 and Cardio Code. Best cues ever. All of which are anatomically oriented, so that seemingly simple gestures like raising your arm above your head gets in-​depth analysis. («The strength comes not from the shoulder, but from the core!») Even chronically sagging belly pooches can’t hide from Amy’s adjustments during fold-​over, that infamous bane of barre moves.

Her dance floor also rocks. No carpeted floors and socks to send your feet into cramps; no slip ‘n slide hardwood flooring to kill your joints. Is it all perfect? No. There’s still that odd brick column with the duct tape around it or whatever. But Barre Tech’s local flair more than makes up for it. It’s what you’ve always imagined barre to be before it got corporate.
So go ahead. Pretend you’re a dancer during the off-​season training at the secret underground joint or something. Cuz when Amy dims the lights and commands you to tuck, the clouds will break, the legs will shake, and a small circle of light will begin to appear at the end of that tunnel.
Three cheers for Queen Amy. The ghost of Lotte Berk approves.

Really impressive instructors. The cuing is the best of any barre studio I’ve been to in DC/​NoVA or any DVD I’ve done. The instructors make sure that everyone is working out safely. The instructors are good at making corrections and doing it in a way that doesn’t stop the class or make me feel singled out or ungraceful. Marissa was great about providing modification for my bad knees.
At the same time, the instructors and music are motivating. The time goes pretty quickly, considering — it is a workout, after all!
The space is a mix. On the plus side, very clean, cute bathroom, sprung floor, and sufficient equipment. On the negative, the basement location, the mid-​studio column, duct tape attaching the studio floor to the carpet, and various electrical cords from the string lights. I mostly notice the negatives only when I’m trying to take my mind off the effort of the workouts.

I love my weekly workouts at Barre Code! I’ve taken classes with most of the instructors and they all have a little different flavor and are great in their own way. I choose my classes mainly based around timing but no matter whose class I take, my quads and abs will always burn during it.
I take the Barre:60 classes but have taken Cardio Code as well, which will really make you sweat! The class sizes cap out at about 15 – 16, which works fine in the studio. Though I do really enjoy the off-​days when the classes aren’t full and it’s a little smaller.
I appreciate the fact that my form is fixed when necessary (though it is always my goal to not have to be «fixed»). It definitely helps us get more ouf of the work-​out (and therefore more bang for your buck), and will help prevent injuries as well.
The prices are competitive to other local studios, as I did a lot of shopping around online before commiting to Barre Code. I think I’m lucky that I really do like the first barre studio I tried, but I figured my chances were good with all the good Unilocal reviews. Core work-​outs are so important and this is a great way to get one. I did take ballet growing up, and barre offers a nice ballet/​pilates/​yoga fusion work-​out. While taking regular ballet classes is really hard to get back into for me (I have tried, and I haven’t found adult classes I’ve liked), barre offers a taste of it without that «ballet» atmosphere.
Also, good news, the second studio recently opened! That means more frequent classes as well as more variety. I’ve only been going since the summer but even since then, Barre Code has developed a lot.

A newbie, I bought a 3 class package for $ 45, and am just writing this review after completing the 3^rd class. At my first class, I felt welcomed, was well-​informed on what to expect before and after, and comfortable. My form is pretty terrible and Amy did correct me a few times but I appreciated that and noticed that the improvements in form made a big difference. I still, after 3 classes, don’t have form down but I can see a slight difference in my legs and I know it’s a great workout from the soreness I feel after. For the reviewer that posted that Amy was rude, I find that very hard to believe and people who feel like they are being «called out» probably shouldn’t do this type of workout. Do a pilates video in the privacy of your own home or something. You get corrections in these classes because they’re specialized and paying attention to you, and at $ 15-​$ 18 per class depending on what package you buy, you’re paying for it.
From having done 2 of Amy’s classes, the beginner and barre 60, I recommend starting out with Amy, but you don’t have to start with the Beginner (it’s nice to though if you can). I don’t know Barre but I felt like her class was more traditional. I loved my 3^rd class with Amanda because it was different but it was a lot more challenging for me. I really like that the class with Amanda wasn’t the exact same as Amy’s. The whole reason I chose Barre instead of a Les Mills class at the gym is so that the classes can vary from instructor to instructor and I won’t get bored.
Also, space is very important to me and they plan out the class sizes perfectly. I’m sure they could squeeze in a couple more people but they (so far) don’t compromise my comfort and workout space to do so.

I had my first barre class last night. I spent the whole day aganizing over barre muscle shake stories, that I almost didn’t come. But, after countless lackluster yoga studios as of late, and the 25lbs I gained studying for the bar exam this past summer that have yet to disappear, I was ready for something new. I figured, I would take advantage of the 3 classes for $ 45 special, and if I don’t like it, go back to searching for non-​lackluster yoga studios in the DMV to continue my practice. A full body workout using 3lb weights, and a ballet barre? Make me a believer!
The studio is actually not that hard to find. There is a banner on the building kind of telling you to turn here that you can easily see from the road. Maybe that was added recently? I walked in, looked in the studio, and literally turned around and got back in my car. I wasn’t sure about the parking I told myself. Honestly, I may have just been slightly afraid! So, I called, verified parking was okay, and asked could I still come since it was three minutes past class start time. Amy, the owner, was soooo nice. She said sure, and so began the start of my first Barre experience.
The Studio: The Barre Code is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen (this is my first barre studio, so I’m comparing it to the twenty or so different yoga studios I’ve been to). Not a single detail went unnoticed. The studio is gorgeous. Very chic and modern, with great lighting. I didn’t notice any dirt on the floor, and yes I looked! There are plenty of cubbies to store your belongings. Everything you need is provided for your use; mat, ball, strap, weights. Cold bottled water is $ 1, and is located in the back of the studio, which makes it easy to grab if you realize you forgot yours or run out halfway through class.
The Class: Before class, Amy introduced herself, told me to do as much as I can, and to take breaks when needed. I signed up for the Beginner Barre class, and when Amy gave a run down on what was getting ready to go down, I almost grabbed my jacket and ran. Amy speaks a little fast, and I am normally told I speak way too fast myself. However, she explains what is going on, or rather what should be going on multiple times. So, it was not a problem whatsoever. I don’t know what made me stick it out past the warm-​up. Oh I do remember. Amy placed me in the front right where she could easily see me! I told myself, there is no way I will last an hour, but lo and behold somewhere in the blur, she said, «final two minutes TUCK, TUCK, TUCK!» I worked muscles I’m not sure have previously been worked. And I’ve been working out, and practicing yoga for years. Throughout class, Amy gave modifications, adjustments, remembered everyone’s name, and came around and gave more adjustments. The movements are so slight, but when Amy adjusts you to what she calls your «sweet spot,» you know you’re going to be sore the next day. The music was fantastic, and made the muscle shake slightly more bearable. Notice I said slightly! After class, Amy advised me that even thhough I felt light as a feather at the moment, to take a hot bath, and try to come back soon and work through the soreness. She also asked if there were any questions about anything.
The Aftermath: The soreness came in waves. I immediately soaked in a warm bath once I got home, yet the soreness hit within hours. I was sore in places I didn’t know existed! It’s the next day, and my abs have literally been tight all day. It hurts to try to slouch, which is a good thing. I’m definite, y walking taller, although the side of my glutes are soooo sore!
The Verdict: I’ve been practicing yoga for 7yrs, trained for a half marathon last year, and played soccer and cheered all through high school. My body has never been worked as hard as it was last night in barre. Excellent instruction, Amy’s great personality, and the beautiful studio leave me without a doubt this is legit! I am definitely signing up for a package after my intro package is up. Results to come!