Pure Barre Bucktown Wicker Park

Immediately hooked after my first class and that was 2 years ago… been a loyal client here ever since. I’m not a gym rat and I abhor running so pure barre is the best mix of Pilates, yoga, and a sprinkle of ballet. I feel healthy, energized and probably in the best shape of my life thus far. The studio is clean, conveniently located and a fun place to make new friends.
The barretender on duty will happily greet you, especially Candace or Lisa, those two always have a smile on their face, it’s contagious. The instructors are attentive and genuinely seek to give you the best workout you can get. There are fun monthly challenges to engage clients, cute retail for sale, and free bottled water. The clear standout though are the complimentary starbursts at the front desk! What… I love candy ;0)

As an athlete in high school and college, maintaining a stable (adult) workout lifestyle with a normal gym membership wasn’t cutting it for me. The basic routine consisted of a pre «workout» stretch with my boyfriend followed by a high five to each other before we split ways… I’d head straight to the treadmill and he’d head straight towards the weights. After many years of practices, I didn’t have the discipline to develop a workout on my own. I always felt like I had a great sweaty run, but I didn’t feel in shape.
My mom had warned me for years that age and a drop in metabolism would catch up to me, but I never believed it… After the big 29 hit, my moms resounding words took life. Needless to say, I was frustrated. I know that alot of weight control as you age is diet, but you also need to contribute a whole body workout plan into the mix. So, the search for a new workout routine commenced.
Pam x Pure Barre: I had heard mixed reviews from different friends who had tried it out, and after it all convinced myself that the only way to find out if something worked for me was to try it for myself. And try it out I did.
Pure Barre has helped me become stronger and more toned! I have noticed that I need to attend 5 times a week or so to maintain or improve, but this doesn’t discourage me. I actually feel healthier and sharper (in my mind) when I attend classes this often, and after paying the monthly fee, why would’t you want to take full advantage, right?
The teacher really does make or break a class for me. Sasha is probably my favorite for her positive energy and verbal affirmation combined with the challenging aspect of her workouts. She encourages you to plank longer, squat lower and keep straighter legs… And surprisingly, you come out of class shocked at your own performance week after week. This isn’t to neglect the other teachers who also do an excellent job! I really do love this place. Clean, welcoming and overall a great place to workout!

I went to the studio a few days after the incident that lead to my previous review and spoke to someone at the front desk about it. That person was very apologetic and admitted that the policy doesn’t make a lot of sense for people who are regulars since they can pop in and get started without much fuss, and that it is not uniformly applied. She said she would tell the manager about it and the manager would follow up with me. Well, I got an email from the manager, Katie Parker (apparently it’s no longer Aleksa) who said:
«We have a policy that if a client comes in after plank, it is considered too late to enter class. I asked Candice and she said they were somewhere in the middle of weights. I apologize if this caused you any inconvenience. We do have to have some sort of cut off time to be fair to everyone. Not only do we want to make sure you are getting the most out of your workout, but we also want to respect not disrupting clients during a class. I hope this makes sense! Please let me know if you have any further questions!»
So basically her response did nothing to resolve the issue. Furthermore, what «Candice» told her was not true — when I went on 10/​1, «Candice» told me that I couldn’t go in because I was five minutes late and that they were «on plank» (not past plank) and not on weights. I responded to Katie’s email and told her this, and informed her that if in fact this studio does have such a policy, they need to publicize it because a policy won’t do them much good if no-​one knows about it. Katie did not respond. I am going to seriously think about taking my business to another studio.

Super friendly staff — loved that since it was a full class the props were already set up, so I knew exactly where to stand ;) I loved how intense the beginning of class was — it set the foundation for the rest. Class was fun, energetic, and went by so fast!
Oh, and the studio is spotless and spacious. It also has a bunch of cute workout gear, so you can get your shop on before class. There’s a changing room in the waiting area and cubbies and bathrooms on the other side of the studio. Oh, and just in case you’re new to barre — no shoes here. The studio is carpeted, so don’t forget to bring your grippy socks. And the staff is super friendly!
Now, on to getting buff. I’ve been around the barre block, and enjoyed the fast pace here. For the class we used weights, a ball, and a double tube. Also, there were two other instructors in the class, so we had someone to look at while the amazing main instructor walked around the room making adjustments (which were on point and private — no yelling and calling you out in front of everyone from across the room). I also liked how after we were finished using our weights, the other instructors walked around and collected them for us, which decluttered my workout space (seriously, if anyone would suffer death by exercise ball, it’d be me). Overall, my arms, seat, and thighs felt the burn. We did our abs with our backs against the wall, and since that’s not something I’m used to, it’ll def take a few more visits to get it right. Also, like any barre class, it takes some time to learn the cues, so I can only imagine the burn after a few more classes!

I’m visiting from Phoenix and take pure barre there and am here for a week needing some exercise! I took the 9 am with Sasha and it was awesome! She’s so friendly and encouraging, the staff up front is very welcoming, I loved it! I’ll be back the rest of the week! Oh and the workout was just as challenging as at home, with the humidity though, wow I sweat! Was great!

As a Classpass-​er I’ve taken classes at the Bar Method, Dailey Method and Barre Code and Pure Barre is far and away my favorite!
I’m a total cardio junkie — my favorite forms of exercise are running, cycling and hot yoga, so I was a little hesitant about a low intensity, low impact workout. Pure Barre is still an intense, worthwhile workout, even if you’re not sweating it out!
The staff is always really nice and the instructors are really good about being clear about how you should be performing the exercises and giving you helpful modifications (unlike at the Barre Code, where no one talks to you). They are the only barre studio I’ve been to that really utilized arm weights for a great sculpt portion of class as well.
The studio is very nice and clean and I always look forward to class. My arms shake, my thighs burn and I leave feeling toned and worked out.

Overall, I like Pure Barre. The staff is friendly, teachers make an effort to know your name, the facility is nice and the workout is effective. But I will say that the adjustments are really lacking. I’ve taken classes at both Dailey Method and Bar Method for extended periods of time, so I have enough background to know what’s going on during classes here – but if I didn’t, I’d be completely lost. I often hear staff telling first-​timers, «Yeah, it’s really confusing at first; you’ll get the hang of it.» But other barre classes are actually not that confusing, because the instructor is constantly correcting everyone’s form, and will take a good amount of time to work with individuals during class to make sure they’re getting it right (without interrupting the flow of class). At Pure Barre, I constantly see girls looking up from the barre in utter confusion and the instructor ignoring them and continuing with her script.
Which brings me to my next point – the classes really are quite scripted. I hear the same verbal «corrections» over and over at the same points during class – which is fine, but it doesn’t seem like they’re modified according to what cues the class actually needs. It would be really great to see teachers more tuned in to students’ form and body language.
Anyway, I’m going to continue to go, because I do enjoy class there, and I’ll probably even buy another month. Like I said, the workout is great and I love the vibe. But this is just something that has stood out to me over the past few weeks of taking classes here.

So far, I’ve been to about 15 Pure Torture (er, I mean, Pure Barre :)) classes. While I haven’t done bar classes at any of the other studios, I am definitely experienced with many yoga and pilates studios (so that’s my basis for comparison).
They really should be called ‘Pure Friendly’, because honestly… I’m really impressed by how supportive and friendly each and every instructor is — every single time. As well, I’m finding that these classes truly clear my mind for those 55 minutes. It’s impossible to drift, because things are moving along and you’re focused on form, form, form!
Speaking of form… my only request would be that the instructors keep fixing my form, even if it means they are standing next to me the entire time. Ha ha! OK, I realize I can’t have personal training. But truly, I appreciate when you do adjust me, and I’m sure everyone else feels the same. Keep up the adjustments! Thanks for the great experiences thus far…

I was visiting family from out of town and convinced a few friends to join me for a Pure Barre class here. We all LOVED it! The instructors were amazing-​so kind and helpful! Aleksa was incredibly encouraging and supportive-​I wish I lived closer so I could take her class more often! Awesome studio-​I can’t wait to come back on my next visit to Chicago!

This is a great studio to Lift, Tone, and Burn (pure barre language)! The instructors are helpful, encouraging and you feel great when you leave. There is a 5:30 am class which is great for those of us who have to be at work early! I have been to other Pure Barre studios and they are all similar, but I like the community feel of Wicker Park/​Bucktown!

It was my first barre class and I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was extremely friendly and very welcoming to new comers. The instructor helpful and not intimidating. I will definitely be back for another class.

Love this studio. I have been doing Pure Barre at the River North location since October, and started coming to the Bucktown location once we moved. I was a little nervous to switch over, since I had become pretty comfortable in River North, but Aleksa and the other instructors have really made me feel at home! On my first day in class, Aleksa walked me through the studio and told me how they do things there. It was really nice since logistics are different between studios.
The studio itself is very large… I rarely feel like my foot is going to hit someone else’s face. It’s nice to feel as if you can stretch out a little and really get the most out of your workout. Although I have only taken from Kayla and Courtney so far, the instructors all seem great. They are great at correcting your form and giving you modifications for problem areas (I have bad hamstrings, so Courtney walked me through how to modify seat work to decrease discomfort).
The exercises themselves are difficult for sure, but I have definitely improved with time. I remember hating my first class in River North, but have slowly gotten addicted to the changes I have seen in my strength and flexibility. With each class you learn exactly what you are supposed to be doing and that’s when you see changes. There are so many beginners in the class, anyone can do it!
Some tips: bring sticky socks, a bottle of water, and a small towel… it is a sweaty workout all the way from the beginning to end. Give Pure Barre at least 5 classes before you decide to do it or not to do it. Chances are, you’ll decide to do it!
Would HIGHLY recommend Pure Barre Bucktown Wicker Park and I can’t wait to become a regular.

I’ve been going to Pure Barre classes for about 6 months now. I have finally found a workout I enjoy. Everyone at the studio is so friendly — even when you take a 5:30am class. The teachers really make an effort to get to know you, and it makes working out a lot more pleasant. The classes never get easier, which I love. The teachers don’t overwhelm you with corrections at the beginning. This helped me feel more comfortable when I first started taking classes. But, each class I learn something new about the technique. The studio will sometimes have challenges to complete a certain number of classes in a given time period, and these are great ways to hold yourself accountable. Pure Barre is a challenging workout in a friendly and comfortable environment. Make sure to take class with Aleksa, Kayla, and Sasha.

I had never taken a barre class before and man did these girls wow me! They made me feel so at home and comfortable even tho i was incredibly nervous! The instruction is great and the workout is so fun! I had worked out with a trainer before but was more sore from barre !! Not only is it a great body workout but its the best mind workout! You feel so amazing after one class and just want to keep going back for more! I recommend this to everyone! Cant wait to see what kind of results ill have in a few weeks!

I have been struggling to find a fitness place suited for me. I danced/​tumbled my whole life and have tried running and a regular gym, but lost interest quickly. I don’t like working out with a ton of people around me watching. I don’t like overcrowd classes, I don’t want to pay thousands of dollars for overpriced personal training, etc.
Then, I found Pure Barre! I love this place — this workout is like no other! I have not felt some of these muscles worked since back in high school when I was at the peak of my tumbling/​dancing involvement. The class size is comfortable, they keep the lights dim, they check your form, encourage you, and push you to finish the work out. It is hard, do not get me wrong. It is very hard. But I love it!
The staff is incredibly friendly as well. Since I am a newer face, the instructor has introduced themselves to me every time. The store manager, Aleksa, also sat down with me for a little bit before a class and got to know my personal fitness history and what I was looking for. She was incredibly sweet and made the experience much more personable.
I am already obsessed, purchased a membership, and am hooked! Definitely give it a try if the general gym membership isn’t working for you!

This place is great! I just went this morning for a workout and am feeling great post class. I know that tomorrow I will be sore, but only because it kicked my butt (in a good way). I love a challenging workout that really feels like it is making a difference while it’s happening. The music and instructor make the hour fly by. Can’t wait to get my but kicked (tucked) again soon!

I’ve gone to Barre classes before but hadn’t found a studio that I loved in Wicker Park. So I was pretty excited to see Pure Barre opening up. After going for a while, I figured it was time to write a review!
About me: Average size lady with curves. I’m a runner but cross training and strength training have never been my strong suites. And this isn’t a cardio class so running hasn’t given me much of an advantage.
Class size: They’ve been getting more full lately as the word has gotten out about Pure Barre. Maybe 15 or so is the most people I’ve ever seen in a class. I’ve never been to a class that was too full where I was having to adjust myself to avoid hitting another person. Which has happened to me at other studios.
Workout: The best part about this studio is that anyone really can do it. I’ve been plenty of places that say it, but this is the first time I actually see that. At Pure Barre, I have seen people with vastly varying abilities in the same class and it works. You just go as low as you can and take a break if you need to. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see I still get a great workout in at Pure Barre despite having an ankle injury that prevents me from doing some of the moves as prescribed. The instructors help me modify and my legs are still shaking! The class will begin with a warm up, planks, arm work then to the barre for seat and legs, plus throw in some ab work here and there. After you work on one part of the body, you will stretch it out. The instructors will come around and correct you occasionally but not in a bad way, just to make sure what you are doing is safe and effective. And they will also tell you when you are doing an awesome job
People: The staff and instructors are A-​MAZING. Somehow, they all know my name! I’ve taken classes with Aleska and Kayla. Both are great instructors who have been able to help me get a great workout in despite an injury. They are super encouraging during class and know how to keep you motivated. My experience has also been that everyone in the class is nice. I’ve been to other studios where I felt like the unpopular girl trying to join a sorority. Not here. Here no one looks down on you if you dare to wear anything other than Lululemon. Wear whatever makes you comfortable and if that’s a t-​shirt, do it! The clothes don’t make the workout.
Overall: I love this place. I wish it was a little cheaper *sigh* but $ 23 is more or less what you are going to pay for a class in Wicker Park. They do run deals occasionally so get on their mailing list!

The quest for a healthy life has been an ongoing journey for me. As I get older, I find myself constantly looking for ways to challenge not only my mind but my body. At Pure Barre, I am able to both. In a small, intimate setting, you literally leave your daily stress at the door.
The staff is friendly, welcoming and eager to help you acclimate to the PB method. The instructors are able to give students plenty of individualized attention and make it their business to know you by name. I want to make sure I’m not wasting my time by doing a move incorrectly and the instructors have always made sure to come over and help me correct my form. Unless you’re a prima ballerina, the individual attention should be welcomed.
What’s more, is that regardless of your level of athleticism, PB can work for anyone. The positions are adaptable for anyone from the most flexible to someone who can barely touch their toes. Regardless of your ability, your body will adjust and the possibilities for growth are endless. From what I’ve heard from my Barre enthusiast friends, you will always be challenged and never bored.
I appreciate that classes are capped off to prevent overcrowding, which is ensured by the online sign-​up for classes they have in place. Be warned that if you are a no-​show or try to cancel less than 2hrs before class you will be charged for the full amount of $ 23. Though it may seem harsh, it’s a great way to ensure that you keep your commitment to working out. That’s never a bad thing in my book!
So, if you’re looking to break free from the confines and bore of running on a treadmill, belonging to a gym where you’re nothing but a number, and looking for a way to challenge yourself, PB may be just the thing for you.

Good class

I enjoy the different moves PB has compared to Daily Method and Bar Method. I especially like Mel and Kayla’s class = great burn :) I wish there was more correction to form like Bar Method. Good fast paced workout for the cardio effect.