The Barre Tech

I have been going to Barre Tech as a part of classpass for the past three months. I have taken Barre classes at a number of studios in DC and Barre Tech is my favorite so far. I have taken classes at both the Del Ray and the Clarendon studios. I prefer the Clarendon studio because it is closer to my apartment however both studios have great instructors.
Classes have great structure and you workout all major muscle groups. I prefer Barre Tech’s classes mainly because of the portion of class we spend at the barre. The movements are effective without being overly technical and the instructors are really great about providing modifications.
Also, the class size is smaller which allows for plenty of space and 1 on 1 time with the instructor!

This was … weird. The studio is ¹⁄₃ belly-​dancing, ¹⁄₃ barre room, and ¹⁄₃ coffee shop. The instructor had great music and great energy. However, she was screaming the speaking the entire time. I would’ve enjoyed it more if she had a mic and talked less. Here talking was a ton of counting or the same word over and over, not a whole lot of direction. This had more of a barre-​boot camp feel than a traditional barre class. Not a lot of structure. But more high-​intensity moves than other classes I’ve taken. The ONE bathroom was dirty and couldn’t flush. Maybe their Alexandria location is better… not sure how this stays open.

Love this place!
It’s a tiny studio that’s shared with the dance studio next door. It’s directly attached to an adorable café called Karu and Toast, which has good coffee and yummy Gouter tonics.
The class size is small, and the floor isn’t carpeted so there’s no strict need for barre socks (unless you want them), which I like. There’s a bathroom that’s shared with the dance studio, and cubbies for you to store your stuff.
The 45 minute class moves quickly, but feels just as challenging as the 60 minute one. I’ve attended class with a number of different instructors – Shannon, Dona, Sam, Emma – and each of them taught a slightly different routine, and were all great.

Thanks to classpass, I tried barre for the first time at Barre-​Tech and I was impressed. By the end of the class, my muscles were ‘alive’ and tired. I attended Barre: Basics with Sam since I’m new and been going twice now. Same class, same instructor but not same workout. She pays attention to everyone, gives examples, is friendly, and now I’m into Barre :)

A fun, challenging class with a fantastic instructor!
I’ve only been to one class at this studio thus far but I will update my review if anything changes during the course of my 20-​class package.
Pros:
— The class size at the Clarendon location is capped at 12 participants, which means more individual attention! This of course requires advanced planning to ensure you get a spot in the class.
— The instructor, Marisa Workman, was super friendly, upbeat, engaging, and helpful. She corrected many of my postures during class and I am now getting more out of certain poses after incorporating her recommended tweaks.
— Barre Tech has several different types of Barre offerings — a condensed 45 minute Barre class (shorter abdominal portion), a 60 minute Barre class, Yoga Barre, and Core Barre.
— The 45-​minute class was effective and I felt like I had participated in a 60-​minute workout. I did not feel gypped.
— The packages are transferable between both the Clarendon and Del Ray locations. Not all Barre studios allow this, so it’s a definite PLUS!
Middle of the road:
— I am not sure how difficult parking is during the week. There is a parking lot behind the building, but make sure to only park in the spots marked «Saffron» during business hours. After 5 pm or 6 pm, apparently you can park in any of the spaces. Do not park against the building or you will be towed. There is metered parking nearby, in and around Northside Social coffee shop. Typically metered parking is free in Arlington after 6 pm, and parking is free all day on Sundays.
Cons:
— Just like most of the small exercise studios, it’s difficult to get in touch with a live person. You typically have to leave a message and wait for a return call. Similarly, if you arrive to class too early you will not be able to enter the studio, since no one will be onsite. I arrived 30 minutes early, and went around to the side door and the dance studio manager opened the door for me.
— The parking lot is tricky. Be careful when departing because the exit ramp area vs. the curb area is not well marked. It’s very easy to drive over the sidewalk/​curb and risk damage to your car.
— The cost of a 12 –month contract is higher at Barre Tech than other local studios ($ 200/​mo). Other studios cost between $ 165 — $ 185/​mo for a 12-​month contract. Occasionally Barre Tech offers 30% off package prices during the year.
Note: Barre Tech does not require that you wear socks at this studio. You can go barefoot if you prefer.

I have been hitting most of the barre studios in the area thanks to classpass. This is one studio where I’m one and done. Not impressed at all! First the class before ran way over (even though it’s supposed to end 15 minutes before our class). Then the instructor was complaining about the fact that it was her 3^rd class of the day and chit chatted about 10 minutes. This was the only barre class I’ve taken where they instructor didn’t ask if there were any limitations (post natal c section) nor did she ever provide any modifications to the tough core work. Leg work didn’t even make me break a sweat. The most off putting was the class was way over booked for such a small studio. Everyone was on top of each other. I’m not sure why anyone would pay $ 22 for such tight quarters when there are plenty of other studios for the same price but actually have ample personal space. And the music was beyond horrible…

Not sure why there are no reviews yet, but Barre Tech is close to my apartment so I’ve been rotating it in to my fitness schedule as I try out all the studios. To my Philly friends: it’s kind of a mix of Focus Barre and Pure Barre. We start with a warm up and arms, then move to thighs, glutes, and abs, with bridge tucks at the end. All of the instructors have been nice, and some correct form more than others. They use a lot of ballet terminology, but you don’t have to be a dancer to do this work out. I don’t love the hard wood floors. They can be uncomfortable for your feet. It’s just as expensive as other barre classes, even though the studio isn’t as fancy. I had hoped it would be more affordable, but I’ll probably still go back a few times a week because it’s a good work out, and I want to try the «burn» class.