Bodybarre

While, the instructors may be trying to give a valiant effort (keyword: trying). Their moves are simply awful. What makes them qualified to teach these classes? You’d be better off saving your coins and tuning into YouTube videos. The only words that come to my mind are… mediocre…lame… and basic. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!!! #stopculturevultures

Everyone should know that this studio refused to hire an African dancer who specializes in twerking, which is odd because twerking is actually a dance with roots in Africa. They teach a watered down, completely fake version of twerking — don’t be fooled! Go watch the videos on YouTube and don’t waste your money on fraud instructors who have NO clue what they are doing.

I love the bodybarre studios! I was looking for something a little bit different to do in Manchester a few months ago and came across their website. I’m not a gym person and I was looking for something active but more importantly something fun!
My first set of classes was aerial hoop. Penny was great, friendly and enthusiastic. As someone else has said some of the other girls in the class were clearly dancers where I have done nothing like this at all. I didn’t feel like this really mattered though, as you are in pairs on the hoop it means if you’re struggling a bit your buddy can always help you out and give you a bit of a boost. I struggle with my lefts and rights at the best of times, let alone when I’m upside down!
Unfortunately hoop was all booked up the month after (you gotta get in quick!) but then I discovered that they also do trapeze! Since then I have also tried Kettlecise — killer exercise, it hurts so bad but makes you feel so good! And I am currently on a set of Anti-​gravity yoga sessions. I’ve loved all the classes I’ve tried so far. Kaz keeps you up to date with what’s happening with a weekly email and lets you know of any new courses coming up! I would highly recommend if you fancy doing something different and fun! I only wish I could afford to do more classes! :-D

It’s not you Bodybarre, it’s me… kinda.
This place honestly has the best set up I’ve seen for pole dancing and that is primarily its main specialism. I walked in the first time and there must’ve been at least 15 people strutting their stuff in unison on the poles. It was really impressive.
However I like aerial acrobatics and as you may see from my previous reviews I’ve tried a fair few places. I booked onto both the four week trapeze and four week aerial hoop lessons. Both the owner and the teacher were really helpful, as I specifically emailed beforehand to make sure I would ‘fit’. Sounds silly, but being almost 6 foot tall kind of works against gravity and I’ve found both aerial artists and your generic kit (hoops and trapezes) to generally be on the petite side (makes sense really). Which in my experience makes for a not only painful, but embarrassing and also futile workout for me.
So after some reassurance I signed up and sadly this only confirmed my fears. The studio is on the top floor of a building in the Northern Quarter — which is brilliantly located — but I’m not sure the ceilings are much higher than my flat. Meaning that for me there was only enough space to sit once on the trapeze and I was very nearly scraping my head on the floor when hanging under the hoop. In my opinion if you cant stand up on a trapeze, it’s basically half a lesson. Lack of space meant I didn’t feel comfortable, as I was too busy worried about hitting things than actually getting into the classes and the movements.
In all honesty I got bored, I felt the teaching was more focused on flair than developing strength and aerial conditioning. One reason behind this could be that a lot of class members seemed to be from the pole dancing school, in which case I’m sure they already have fantastic upper body strength. But I did book onto a beginners class and I think if I had been a genuine beginner I would have felt totally lost.
Its a difficult thing to review an aerial class, because everyone has their own needs and requirements. In Bodybarre’s defence they did offer me a trial half-​price lesson to judge whether classes were suitable and I chose to continue and sign up for the courses after having had that trial. I guess I was just overly enthusiastic about finding somewhere for aerial in Manchester and sadly Bodybarre just isn’t what I am personally looking for in a studio.
However don’t let me put you off, I recommend you drop them an email if you have any inkling of an interest, they have a very experienced team and were very helpful.

I have recently learned two new skills at Bodybarre… both pretty unusual which is why this is one of my favourite places in the world.
Aerial Hoop. A hoop attached to the ceiling that spins couldn’t be more fun if it tried! It really is the best. Possibly on a par with my love for pole, but at the moment the feel of brand new tricks and ideas is still there. Penny has been teaching on this course and she is very calm in teaching, making sure she has an eye on each and every one of the jam packed (sarcastic tone in voice) class of SIX whilst helping us get the most out of the hoop and our bodies. We learnt individual moves and then joined them up to make a routine. Way too much fun for one hour!
Anti Gravity Yoga (AGY). Well I have never seen anything quite like it. I have always been fascinated by aerial silks but have never actually tried it. I am thinking this is the closet thing to AGY but still way off. Basically its a silk hammock attached to the ceiling that you use to take your body weight to play extreme yoga in. After the first class I was unsure whether I actually did like it as much as everyone said I should. It seemed like a lot of hard work and in certain positions it was quite uncomfortable. However, now on week 5 of 6 I LOVE it! I realised it can sometimes be hard work because it is AGY at Bodybarre (!) and the uncomfortable positions have gone with a few wiggles! To start the class we get in a position called the womb, nice and snug, warm and cosy and to end the class we go to the silkworm. Everything in between stretches your body and mind and the benefits are worth the effort! Not a better way to start a Sunday :)

What were you doing the Sunday before the Bank Holiday, hmm? Nursing a hangover? Having a lie-​in? I can guarantee not many of you were hanging upside-​down from your ankles with a hammock suspended from the ceiling for support. See attached picture:
Yes Unilocalers, I was engaging in a spot of anti-​gravity yoga, and I can tell you first-​hand that it’s the yoga to end all yogas. You thought you had it tough with your warrior poses and your cobras and your planks, pfft. This is the real deal.
I first became fascinated by anti-​gravity yoga when I saw the delightfully orangey Ollie and Cheska of Made in Chelsea swinging from bits of material, flying through the air with the greatest of ease, then of course to break off for a chat about some drammmz, golly gosh or whatevs. Anyway, I thought, that looks awesome. I went trawling about on the interwebs for clips of such fun, and I was suitably intrigued. Upon discovering the lovely, friendly Kaz at Bodybarre (as recommended by our Unilocal Elite’s own Grace R, equally talented in the skills of baking and pole dancing), I just had to give it a go.
As you might recall, it was a rain-​drenched morning in Manchester, and off I toddled, it taking mere minutes from my Ancoats abode to Thomas Street. (I love my new house.) The rules — no vests, must be sleeves. No jewellery. No shoes, but definitely socks. You’ll figure out why as you go along. You don’t want to snag the hammock, but as well as that, it’ll grip you solid around the shoulders and ankles, so a material cushion of sorts is essential! The studio is as Grace says, utterly sumptuous. Up the stairs you go to be greeted by a holder for your umbrellas, proper coat racks for your layers and a thoroughly warm welcome by Kaz and the staff. Seriously, I’d never felt so at home in a brand new place before. I was guided through every step as the only hammock virgin, my legs shook, my arms felt like they might fall out of their sockets, my abs asked me why I was trying to kill them, but as those who try to keep in shape know, this is all a very good sign. And then at the end, you get to fold out the hammock folds and lie down and have the loveliest rest you can possibly have outside your own bed.
Genuinely, I want an anti-​gravity yoga hammock for my house for this very purpose.
Sold, within minutes. Of course there are countless, myriad brilliant classes available here, all of which are expertly taught and reasonably priced, with a delightfully inclusive vibe you wouldn’t get at your faceless national brand gym. I was worried about moving away from the Aquatics Centre due to my love of swimming. With this around the corner, I’m thinking, well, it doesn’t involve me being drenched in chlorine and having to avoid bashing into scantily clad people. Aquatics What-​now?
All kinds of brilliant, and worthy of all the accolades.