How to Choose Ballet Barres for Beginners

Whether you’re more interested in dance or the physical benefits you can achieve from exercises that utilize a ballet barre, there are a number of reasons why you might be looking to buy your very first barre. There are a few useful things you should keep in mind when looking for ballet barres for beginners.

First, remember the fact that your are only a beginner. You don’t need a Pro Barre just yet. Look for one that was designed with beginners specifically in mind. It’ll be a little cheaper and that’s always good when you’re learning something new. When you first start learning piano you don’t start with a Steinway Grand, and the same is true for ballet barres. You should get a beginner or intermediate barre and build from there.

Some people might tell you that it’s better for beginners to start out on a permanent barre fixed into the wall because it can take more weight, but the truth is that you shouldn’t be leaning your entire weight on it anyway. If you’re using the barre as if it were the only thing keeping you from toppling to the ground, then you’re doing it wrong. You should view it as your partner, you place your hand on it and it teaches you balance, but it’s a tool, not a crutch.

A portable barre is in fact better for beginners for a number of reasons but one of them is very simple and practical. An attached barre really doesn’t offer anything more and it requires the bigger commitment of drilling holes into your wall, a step that many beginners might be unwilling to take so soon for their new interest.

Portability is also important if you’re going to be using a lot of instructional videos. You can pull out the barre in front of the TV and put it back when you’re done. Another good reason to get a portable barre is that someone can stand on either side of it, meaning you can practice with a friend (as with every other kind of exercise, it’s always good to have a friend there to urge you on!).

Please feel free to contact us for beginner ballet barre advice.  We'd be very pleased to listen to your needs, and suggest the right Boss Ballet Barre for you.

Can You Use Ballet Barres for All Kinds of Dance?

If you’re starting to learn ballet, it’s very natural that you’re going to be interested in buying a ballet barre to practice with. However what you may not know is that it’s actually very useful to use ballet barres for all kinds of dance.

One of the first, most important reasons is that all dance styles use a lot of energy and strength and many of the same muscles, and barre exercises are especially designed to build those muscles. Also no matter what style of dance you’re studying, you need to learn balance and ballet barre exercises offer some of the best ways to learn it because so much of ballet is about balance.

Flexibility is also vital, as it’s exactly what a dancer needs to be able to bring life and momentum to hip hop, jazz and countless other styles.

Barre exercises also improve posture, the importance of which can't be overestimated. For both ballroom and Latin dances, posture is important when working with your partner and for exuding that seemingly effortless elegance that likely played an important part in attracting you to dance in the first place.

Posture is also important if you're interested in ever competing in dance competitions, amateur or otherwise. Judges take posture into account very seriously when scoring, especially for ballroom dancing.

However ballet barres have more to offer than exercises. They offer a great way to practice new steps. For instance if your class is tackling a new tango step and you want to work on it at home, you might not have a partner to try it with and the balance a partner can give you plays a big role in the feel of each move. A ballet barre acts as a stationary partner, giving you the chance to learn the proper distance you should be from your partner and practice with that extra bit of helpful support.

At the end of the day, whether you’re learning swing, Irish step-dance, ballroom or ballet, a barre is an invaluable training tool.


Please feel free to contact us at any time; we'd be happy to share more information with you, and go over the barres that would best suit your situation.  We'd love to hear from you.

Top Benefits of Ballet Barre Fitness That You Should Be Aware Of

If your goal is to get in shape and lose weight in the coming year, you may want to consider ballet. Learning ballet can help you in more ways than one-here are some benefits of ballet barre fitness you should know about.

Sculpts Lean Muscle

Ballet moves are designed to develop long, lean muscles that in turn will make you appear more toned. It is particularly effective at toning the hips, calves, thighs and buttocks, which are problem areas for many people.

Flattens the Abdominals

Back and abdominal muscles are naturally strengthened, which leads to a flatter stomach.

Improves Posture

To perform ballet moves correctly, you’ll need to constantly be aware of your posture and alignment. This is likely to continue after you leave the dance studio because you’ll automatically be more aware of slouching.

Improves Flexibility

In ballet, you’ll work on muscles that aren’t often used during other activities. You’ll also spend a great deal of time on the barre stretching to warm these muscles for use. As a result, you should notice improved flexibility in only a short amount of time.

Eliminates Stress

The combination of dance moves and soothing music are enough to help you eliminate your worries and relieve stress. As such, ballet can be an excellent form of exercise if you regularly have anxiety attacks or suffer from depression.

Improves Confidence

You’ll naturally become more poised and confident as you master increasingly difficult moves. The fact that you look and feel better will help improve your self-esteem as well.


These are just a few benefits you can enjoy from learning ballet, but there are actually quite a few more. To see the huge selection of ballet barres we have for home or studio use, contact us.

All Barres Are NOT Created Equal

Ballet barres, by definition, are either mounted or free standing forms of handrails used to practice various performance moves that are balance based. Additionally, the bars can be used for pre-rehearsal warm up techniques, workouts, and stretching.  Not truly meant to be gripped tightly, it is commonly known that quite often they are indeed used in just that way.  So strength is paramount when choosing a ballet barre.

There are two typically seen types of ballet barre:

Mounted

As the name suggests, mounted barres are fixed to either the wall or floor in some way. They are horizontal and usually span the length of the periphery of the performance or work out area.  Diminishing in popularity due to several limitations, the biggest issue seems to be that users of the barre can only orient themselves in one direction, meaning instructors can only be seen when facing away from the wall the barre is mounted to.

Portable

Portable (or free-standing) barres are designed to be moved around. They typically consist of the main horizontal round rail mounted between two uprights with legs and feet. These are an excellent option as they can be readily moved when the floor needs to be clear, or when another studio needs an extra barre, as well as having complete freedom of movement and orientation.

Barres can be made from wood, metal, aluminum or PVC pipe, with wood and metal being the two most common, due to the inherent weaknesses in aluminum and PVC pipe.

Wood

Wood was the traditional material for ballet bars. However, this doesn't mean it's the best choice - far from it. While wood is quite visually appealing in a traditional sense, and pleasant to touch, finding long lengths of high-quality wood to create the rails from can be a difficult (and costly) task. It is not recommended to go cheaper when faced with this obstacle, as poor quality wood can splinter and split over time as well as slowly work loose from the binds affixing it to the wall or floor. Additionally, it is not recommended for use as a portable barre system as wood has a tendency to warp and lose its form with repeated moving and dis-assembly.

However, the biggest drawback to wood bars is the fact that they take in germs like a sponge, and pass them on to whomever uses the barre next.  Even with rigorous, constant wipe-downs, this fact remains one of the biggest concerns with wood.

Steel

Strong and inexpensive (depending on the type of metal used) and with an excellent strength to weight ratio, steel boasts quite a number of advantages over its wooden counterparts. Being non-porous, metal disinfects readily and easily as opposed to wood, which is important in public facilities.  Add in a powder-coated layer, and you have incredible germ-resistance.  Steel is also an excellent candidate for portable barre systems, as they can last for years and years with minimal upkeep and maintenance.


Though wood used to be the more traditional material for ballet barres, its time in the spotlight is slowly coming to a close as steel barres, like our Boss Ballet Barres, take the stage. The benefits of cleanliness, cost efficiency, and durability are sealing the deal for many looking for barres both for public and at home use. If you would like to read more about our portable steel barre systems, we welcome you to visit our website. Additionally, you can contact us to go over your specific needs, and one of our helpful staff will be able to recommend a customized solution, just for you.

How Ballet and Barre Fitness Can Help Kids Concentrate

As you may have seen or experienced yourself, children seem to have shorter attention spans these days, and the number of kids being diagnosed with attention-related disorders is at an all-time high. One way to help your kids become more focused without medication is through ballet. This classic form of dance is suitable for kids of all ages, and will allow them to have fun while also strengthening their minds and bodies.

The structured setting provided by a ballet class allows children to develop discipline and self-control. These concepts are reinforced as they practice new positions over and over to master them. In time, they become more confident in their abilities, and are more willing to listen to instructions both on and off the dance floor.

Physical exercise isn't just good for the body-it’s also beneficial to the mind. Kids who get exercise on a regular basis have less stress, better memories and are more focused than children who do not exercise. It’s not unusual for children to achieve higher grades after taking ballet lessons for only a short while.

When children participate in dance classes, they’ll be getting physical exercise instead of spending time in front of a television or computer. This is important, as overusing technology can also reduce a child’s attention span. They’ll be less likely to do these things outside of ballet class, since they’ll also need to spend time practicing at home.

Ballet and barre fitness isn't just good for children, but it’s also a great form of exercise for adults. For this reason, many families enroll together so they can spend quality time with each other and have fun at the same time. These families often purchase ballet barres for home use so they can practice outside of the dance studio as well.

Here at Boss Ballet Barres, we would like to invite you to contact us to find out more about our products, including the widest selection of structural steel ballet barres available for the home, school/studio, or professional settings.

Make Your Business Stronger with Portable Ballet Barres

If you are the owner of a dance studio, your business could greatly benefit from adding portable ballet barres. At Boss Ballet Barre, we make the strongest, and sturdiest of ballet barres available. The fact that you can purchase portable barres makes for great convenience to your business. Give this a thought...  You may not want to stay in your current location long-term. A larger facility may be an option in the future. If you have the Boss Portable Ballet Barres in your studio now, they could easily be transferred to your new facility.  If you do plan on staying long-term, our portable ballet barres are easily moved from studio room to studio room, and can be carried by only one or two students or teachers.

You most likely have a class for younger children. What is the biggest concern for parents of a child in learning? Safety is their number one priority. You can put their minds at ease by telling them just how strong and durable your ballet barres are. Here's the thing with parents: when they find something that's enjoyable and safe for their child, they share that information with other parents. Therefore, you may gain new customers just by having the safest and strongest ballet barres around.

As with most studios, you probably have a few different classes. Maybe one for small children, or beginners; and another for young adults, and another for more advanced students. The great thing about the Boss Portable Ballet Barres is that you can get them in many different sizes. The smaller children may get more benefit from our Princess barre, since it is designed shorter than the studio standard height, with children in mind. You could easily have a Princess Barre on one side of your studio, and still have one or several of our standard-height Intermediate or Pro barres on the other side.


For your convenience, we ship all over North America, currently with Flat-Rate Ground Shipping.  Feel free to contact us to speak to our helpful staff with any information request you may have.  They will be happy to help you figure out the best options for your business.

The Advantages of Free Standing Ballet Barres

You've seen this scenario many times on TV shows and in movies: a ballerina practicing her pliés and tendus holding onto a wood, wall mounted ballet barre. What you may not know is that ballet barres have developed by leaps and bounds over the past few decades and one of the leaders in portable barre production is Boss Portable Ballet Barres.

Whether you're a studio owner, dance class instructor or a fitness buff who likes to workout at home, there are many advantages to using free standing ballet barres vs. wall mounted barres. Here are the top 5:

1. Portable ballet barres can be configured to maximize teacher/student interaction. Instead of students always facing a wall or mirror and having to turn their heads to see their instructor, Boss Barres are lightweight and can be easily moved from one spot to another or from room to room.

2. Boss Ballet Barres are made of durable long lasting structural steel tubing, designed in collaboration with many studios and schools. In fact, it was the daughter of the president of the parent company, Boss Steel, Ltd., who originally came up with the idea. And, she was an accomplished dancer to boot!

3. Wood barres collect dust, dirt and germs, harboring bacteria and transferring them from person to person. Boss Ballet Barres are easy to wipe down and can reduce the transfer of germs from continued use.

4. Because dancers touch, hold onto and continuously pull on wood barres, they eventually splinter and can cause damage to the walls. That's never the case with Boss Portable Barres because they're free standing and made from sturdy steel.

5. While traditional wood barres are one height and the same distance from a wall or mirror, Boss Barres come in different models -- from the Boss Pro and Intermediate to the Princess Barre for beginners. Plus, our barres come in different lengths with extensions available on some models.


One other great reason to buy from Boss Ballet Barres is that in addition to a durable, long lasting product, customer service is our top priority. Contact us today to find out about the many benefits of our portable ballet barres; we'd be happy to share any information you require.

Stay Healthy and Happy with Ballet Barre Exercises

Anyone who is a part of the workout community is most likely aware of the growing trend of dancing workouts, such as ballroom or Bollywood inspired dances. But ballet barre exercises is the latest way of getting the job done for amazing toned legs and all around workouts these days.

Barre workouts are becoming a very fashionable way to get and stay in shape, especially for celebrities. But why is it becoming so popular? Here are a few reasons: 

• Can be done by anyone, no matter your size, age, or gender
• It's a complete workout for your entire body that improves your health, posture, and confidence over time
• It's never dull, you can change it up every day and still see results
• The exercises are gentle on your joints, but tough on your muscles

Many gyms have begun to offer barre classes as an enjoyable activity and numerous new studios have appeared throughout the country with barre techniques as their form of exercise. But if either one of these options doesn't make you want to move your body, you can always buy your own barre, look up a video, and put on your favorite music within the comfort of your own home. 


Not to mention, physical benefits aren't the only form of exercise you receive. You have to focus for barre exercising, just as a professional dancer would have to. Plus, you can actually dance after you workout and just enjoy moving your body that is wonderfully limber and becoming healthier by the day. Who could ask for a more comprehensive workout!

Feel free to contact us to learn more about ballet barre exercising; we'd be more than happy to answer some of your questions, and share with you exactly how Boss Ballet Barres can be a part of your exercise regimen.

Try These Ballet Barre Exercises for Tighter Abs

Though ballet moves are certainly beautiful and graceful, they also require muscle strength that comes from hours of conditioning. Some of the most important muscles for ballerinas are the deep core muscles, which are used to support and stabilize several ballet exercises. What's more, because ballet exercises use the core muscles so much, they are a great way to strengthen them.

Here are several ballet barre exercises that will give you the core strength and physique of a professional ballerina's.

1. Rotating Side Plank

To go into a rotating side plank, start off in a forearm plank position. Now, turn your hips so that one is leaning on top of the other. After that, place your right arm on the floor while the rest of your body is lifted up. The first thing you're going to do is pulse your top leg toward the ceiling several times. Once you're done pulsing, rest your leg back into the side-plank position.

Now you'll want to lift your top hand and twist your body toward the floor until your hand reaches through the open space between your body and the floor (remember, your right arm is still supporting your plank position at this point.) Do this several times and then repeat on the other side. You should be feeling the burn by now!

2. Pelvic Tuck

Did you know that increased motion in your pelvis helps strengthen your lower abdominal muscles? That is what happens when you do a pelvic tuck. To do one, face a ballet barre with your feet separated wide apart. Your hands should be resting on the barre. Start bending your knees while carefully bringing your navel to your spine. While you're doing this, be sure to squeeze your belly button towards your spine. Hold this position for a few counts, release, and repeat!

3. Abdominal Scoop

Abdominal scoops strength the deep muscles of your core. How? Well, when you're doing them you'll be bringing your navel into your spine the whole exercise. To do an abdominal scoop, sit straight on your mat with your knees bent and squeezed together. Hold the back of your thighs and "scoop" your abdomen – that is, create an round shape with your upper body by drawing your navel towards your spine. Lean back slightly, come back towards the center, and repeat the exercise.


Want to learn more about ballet exercises that will tighten your abs? If your answer was "yes!," feel free to visit our website and/or contact us.

The Best Ballet Barre Exercises to Define Muscle

It's not just ballerinas who work out at the barre these days. Celebrities, athletes and every day people are using the ballet barre to build and define muscle with safe, non-impact workouts. A Boss Portable Ballet Barre is the perfect piece of equipment for the perfect workout.

Here are the top 5 ballet barre excercises you can do in the studio, classroom or privacy of your own home. Be sure to warm up first with lots of stretches.

1. Plié: With feet apart and toes pointed outward, bend your knees and lower yourself toward the ground. Keep your heels on the floor.  Put your free arm out straight to the side. This will stretch your thighs and glutes.

2. Grand plié: Similar to a  plié, this time you'll slowly raise your heels as you descend toward the floor until the back of your thighs make contact with your calves. This will give a deeper muscle stretch.

3. Relevé: Again, with feel apart, toes pointed outward and your free arm to the side, raise yourself up onto the balls of your feet bringing your heels off the ground. This move will engage your calves and feet muscles. Be sure to keep your legs straight.

4. Battement tendu: With one hand on the barre and legs together, slide your outside foot out, keeping it on the floor and ending with a point. This will stretch the foot and build overall leg muscles. This is a great way to warm up also. Do several repetitions and then switch sides and work the other leg.

5. Rond de jambe: With one hand on the barre, point outer foot and move in a semi-circular motion keeping toes on the floor. This is like sweeping the floor with your toes. This helps with hip flexibility and defines calve and foot muscles. For a more advanced workout, you can do the same move with your foot in the air. After several repetitions, turn and do the same move with your other leg.

For more information on all of the Boss Portable Ballet Barre products for studios, classrooms and home, please contact us.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Portable Ballet Barre

In a typical ballet class, the barre is mounted on a wall and dancers can only choose between facing the teacher or a mirror. This is not an ideal setup and limits the interaction between teacher and student. Boss Portable Ballet Barres are the perfect solution. Here are 5 of the top reasons to invest in portable ballet barres:

1. Boss Portable Ballet Barres are lightweight, considering their amazing strength, are easy to move around and easy to configure in any size space so dancers can always see their teachers and teachers can see their students.

2. Traditional wood barres collect germs. Our barres are  made of high-strength steel with a germ-resistant powder coating. They're easy to wipe down and don't require any special cleaning product.

3. Our portable barres require no maintenance, whereas wood and wall-mount barres can eventually pull away from the walls, causing damage and requiring constant repairs.

4. Most wood barres are one height but we recognize that not all dancers are the same height. Our barres come in the standard 44" height, along with our 37" Princess Barre for beginning dancers. Another plus is that the center bar on some of our models can be adjusted up or down.

5. You don't have to be a dancer to own a portable ballet barre! Our 6 foot Pro model is ideal to stretch and do a ballet workout in the comfort of your own home. It's so easy to move and store too.

Whether you're a dancer, teacher, studio owner or someone who just likes to stretch and get limber at home, we have a product that's right for you.


Contact us for more information.

The Best Portable Ballet Barre Money Can Buy

It was a dancer who suggested Boss Steel Ltd. manufacture a portable ballet barre. It wasn't just any dancer who came up with the idea, but an accomplished, award winning dancer who also happened to be the daughter of the company's president. Her idea sparked a durable line of portable ballet barres that combine our patented line of connectors with high-strength structural steel tubing.

What makes our products better than others is the fact that they're not only fairly lightweight, but also easy to maintain and clean. And even more importantly, they'll last for many, many years. This alone is attractive to studio owners who have to continuously replace and repair wood and wall mounted barres.

At Boss, we developed a set of prototypes and asked our contacts in the dance industry to try them out. What better audience to test a product than the one that will actually end up using them!   Our barres were tested at several schools and studios for over a year before being made available to the general public.

Boss Ballet Barres, a member of the Boss Steel family, is proud of establishing a tradition of superior-quality products and service, where building a relationship with our customer takes priority. Since 1991, when Boss Steel was founded by Doug Loyst and Steve Walker, we have provided superior products and customer service.

Boss Portable Ballet Barres come in a variety of models that are used in the dance studio, classroom or home. In fact, the benefits of barre workouts for non-dancers have been recognized by athletes looking to build strength, flexibility and endurance. Whether you're a studio owner, teacher or figure skater, we have a model that's right for everyone!


For more information on our company and products, please contact us.

Attention Baby Boomers! The Benefits of a Barre Workout for Flexibility

The 2014 U.S. Census Bureau states that there are 76.4 million Baby Boomers -- those born between 1946 and 1964. This generation is continuously seeking new ways to stay fit, whether it's Pilates, yoga or Zumba classes. A great alternative is a ballet barre workout. 

As we age, one of the key factors in keeping our bodies healthy is to focus on low impact exercises and stretching. Our muscles are most flexible when we're younger and the opposite as we get older. While touching toes first thing in the morning is a great start to staying flexible, the benefits of a barre workout for flexibility help add a level of creativity to your regular workout. 

Here are the top reasons why a Boss Portable Ballet Barre is the piece of equipment that complements your regular workout or and is an alternative to a trip to the gym for busy Boomers:

• Basic ballet moves at the barre are something anyone can do. Some specific moves that increase flexibility include pliés, tendus and attitudes, which engage hip flexors, ankles and hamstrings.

• You can target parts of the body that need increased flexibility such as hips, shins and back. And, there's no impact on your joints which means no recovery time.

• Stretching at the barre is a great way to warm up if you're heading out for a jog, a swim or to play touch football with the family. It's important to stretch before and after a physical activity. 

• Flexibility is a measure of the range of motion of a joint. Working out at the barre first with small, repetitive movements not only builds muscle, but can help reduce the side effects of chronic pain.

• Many Boomers maintain busy schedules and may not have time to get to the gym. A Boss Portable Ballet Barre is lightweight and easy to move. Watching TV while increasing flexibility at the barre is a great alternative to your exercise routine.

• There are many videos online that demonstrate barre workouts with the sole purpose of increasing and maintaining flexibility. 

There's really no downside to working out at the barre to increase flexibility. It's convenient, maintenance free, cost effective and fun.


To learn more please contact us. Your muscles and joints will thank you!

You May Be Surprised by the Benefits of a Barre Workout: For Athletes

Our series exploring the benefits of a good barre workout continues this week, with a focus on Athletes.

There's a terrific episode of the TV show, "Glee," in which football players in full uniform and black tar under their eyes dance with joy on the field to Beyonce's hit, "Single Ladies." It's not traditional ballet but it represents a trend in athletic training that's been taking shape over the past decade. 

You may think ballet and sports training aren't at all similar, but that's not the case. Not only are there similarities between the two, the benefits of a barre workout for athletes are numerous. Whether you're an amateur or professional athlete, here are some of the top benefits:

• Sports and ballet use some of the same muscle groups. A barre workout can help in the rehabilitation of sports injuries because it's low impact so that ankle, knee and shin injuries aren't aggravated. 
• According to Healthy Living, NFL Hall of Fame member Lynn Swann credited his graceful performance in games in part to flexibility that he learned from ballet training, adding that it helped him achieve body control, balance and a sense of rhythm and timing. Football greats Hershel Walker studied ballet when he was playing for the Dallas Cowboys as did Walter Payton when he was playing for the Chicago Bears. 
• Even the biggest, strongest football player can use Boss Portable Ballet Barres. They're made from high-strength structural steel and are durable enough to use in the training room or at home. 
• Ballet training in general, and barre workouts in particular, promote flexibility and graceful movements. If you watch the swing of a tennis racquet or the way a football player leaps into the air to catch a ball, it's not a far cry from what is learned at the barre.  
• Of course anyone who watches competitive figure skating recognizes an intense component of ballet training. Skating requires excellent posture, core strength for jumps and lifts and controlled body movements. These are all integral components of a barre workout.
• Gymnasts, like ballet dancers, need to achieve an extensive range of motion. Both will work to achieve flexibility in their back, hips and ankles at the barre.

In sum, athletes from any sport can benefit from a barre workout. It helps with cross-training, balance, coordination, dexterity, flexibility, discipline and core strength. A 100 pound ballerina could probably show a 250 pound linebacker and thing or two at the barre!


To learn more about the benefits of a barre workout for athletes, please feel free to contact us.

A Perfect Fit: Boss Ballet Barres and the UDMA Show!

Boss Ballet Barres took center stage in New Jersey and Chicago during the annual United Dance Merchants of America (UDMA) Show in October. With multiple booths to showcase our portable ballet barres, Boss products were a hit with the thousands of studio and dance school owners who attended.

The UDMA show, in it's 21st year, provides vendors with exclusive opportunities to connect with studio owners, directors and teachers from across the nation to demonstrate products and answer questions from the experts who know the benefits of quality ballet barres.

The UDMA Show guarantees that 100% of the attendees are dance teachers and studio owners - exactly the kind of folks that we want to show off our barres to. It's also the perfect place to launch new products and get immediate customer feedback. The show is not only the biggest of its kind in North America, but it also takes place during the time of year dance teachers and studio owners are ready to shop.  What better way to allow our friends and fans to touch and feel our products, and to really experience the strength and quality of a Boss Ballet Barre,

Our portable ballet barres are made of sturdy, high-strength steel and are easy to clean and germ resistant -- ideal for the onset of flu season. We offer many sizes, from our 4' Princess Barre, a 6' and 8' Barre Pro to the 12' and 14' Extended Barre Pro. Since our barres are portable, they're ideal for small or large studios and can be easily configured to maximize teacher/student interaction. We also offer gift certificates which are a great way to thank your favorite teacher.

Boss Ballet Barres and the UDMA Show is a match made in dancer's heaven.  If you're a dance or fitness instructor, studio owner, parent or dancer, contact us for more information.

Let Your Mom Know About the Benefits of a Barre Workout For Seniors

Our series on the benefits of Barre Workouts continues this week, with a look at how Seniors can make use of a good barre workout plan.

The age group considered "seniors" is younger and more active than ever. Senior living communities offer an excellent alternative lifestyle, especially for those who enjoy group activities and interesting classes.

In addition to standard exercise classes designed just for seniors, such as water aerobics and low impact cardio, fitness instructors should consider the popular barre workout which can easily be tailored for seniors. Boss Portable Ballet Barres are a perfect addition to a multipurpose room at a senior center. They are lightweight and can be configured to maximize space while giving everyone enough room to easily complete their pliés and elevés!

So what are the benefits of a barre workout: for seniors?

• Having to remember the sequence of movements at the barre helps improve memory and stimulates the brain, both of which are important as one ages.
• Working at the barre increases flexibility and builds muscle strength. Both are important factors with seniors who are at risk of permanent injury from falls. 
• A barre workout will improve posture, whether you're 20 or 70. In an article from BBC News about seniors who have taken to the ballet barre, the instructor remarked on how the women in his class have grown. They've stopped slouching from stretching and lengthening their back and shoulder muscles. 
• They are part of a group working toward a focused goal. Many seniors have lost a spouse and find a sense of support and community in a barre class.
• Some seniors danced when they were younger and love the idea of recapturing those memories, but with the advantage of working at their own pace.
• A barre workout not only strengthens muscles, but bones as well. This also is a major concern for seniors and a barre workout is a terrific alternative to going to the gym to use weights. 
• You don't need any dance experience! If you can stand, follow directions and move, then a barre workout is an ideal way to get in shape for women and men in in their 50's, 60's and beyond. 

If you know a senior who would love to work out at the barre but doesn't have access to a class, Boss Portable Ballet Barres make the perfect gift for an at-home ballet class. They offer a lightweight beginner's model which can easily be moved and stored.


Want to learn more? Please contact us and we'll be happy to help. 

The Benefits of a Barre Workout: General

Today, we begin our series of blogs discussing the amazing benefits of Barre Workouts.  

The movie "The Turning Point" features some terrific closeups of the great Mikhail Baryshnikov warming up at the barre with Grand Battements, Port de bras and Rond de jambes. That's generally the image people have of a barre workout: it's for ballet dancers only.

That's no longer the case. Classes are popping up all over the country offering barre classes and with the advent of cable TV stations offering nothing but workout programs and classes,  it's becoming more popular in homes as well. Whether you're taking a studio class that uses Bass Portable Barres or have decided to purchase one for your home, there's no downside to an energizing barre workout.
  
The benefits of a barre workout: General

• It's a full body workout that strengthens and lengthens your arm, leg, and back muscles. This is a great alternative for those who suffer chronic back pain.

• Unlike jogging or high impact exercises, a barre workout puts minimal stress on your joints.

• A barre workout combines the most effective aspects of pilates, ballet and flexibility training, with the added benefit of accompanying music to get you motivated.

• You don't have to be a dancer to work out at the barre. No experience is necessary and you can progress at your own comfort level, working in small or expanded movements.  

• You can purchase portable barres to set up a home to accompany a video workout. They are lightweight, affordable and easy to store.

• Barre workouts will increase flexibility and range-of-motion which reduces the risk of injury.

• Isometric movements protect your bone health and increase the percentage of lean muscle mass. This will also help to burn calories throughout the day.

• You'll never stop moving and virtually every part of your body will get a good workout, after which you'll feel refreshed and invigorated.

Want to learn more about how you can benefit from a barre workout? Just contact us for more information.

Why Studio Owners Should Choose Portable Ballet Barres

While tradition has long favored wall mounted barres, portable or free-standing barres are becoming a more popular option for studio owners.

Here are the top reasons why Boss Ballet Barres are the best choice for your studio that will put the debate of wall mount vs portable barres to rest: 

• Our free-standing ballet barres were created because many studios wanted to get away from the wall mount style barre, due to the eventual repairs and maintenance that needs to be done to keep them from coming out of the wall, etc. Not to mention, a portable or free-standing barre allows studios and schools to put dancers on BOTH sides of the barre, to maximize space.

• Portable barres can be configured so that dancers are all facing the instructor rather than a mirror or wall. This optimizes learning and creates a more focused teaching environment.

• Wall mounted barres are usually made of wood, which absorbs dirt and retains germs. Our portable barres are made of high-strength steel with a germ-resistant powder coating.

• Wall mounted barres are usually the same height. Our barres come in the standard 44" height, along with our 37" Princess Barre for beginning dancers. Plus, the center bar on some of our models can be adjusted up or down.

• A wall mounted barre is not something you see in dancer's homes. Our portable barres are ideal for home use. The 4ft Intermediate or Princess Barre are both lightweight and make a perfect gift for the beginning or advanced dancer. We offer gift certificates too!

• Portable barres also make it possible for studios to use a classroom for ballet class that doesn't have a wall mounted bar already installed.  This is another great example of optimizing space.

Now that you're convinced portable barres are the best investment for your studio, contact us for more information.

Are Wooden Ballet Barres, Sanitary? You Decide!

With cold and flu season right around the corner, you'll need to take every precaution to keep you and your children safe from germs that can keep you cooped up at home for days. Plus, you'll also have to count all the time missed from dance practices.

Of course, as a parent or even a working adult, one of the main questions that keeps creeping up in your mind is 'Are wooden ballet barres, sanitary?'

This is a very good question and it's one that can be answered very simply and easily. First, let's look at regular wooden ballet barres:

What can you expect from regular wooden ballet barres?

• covered in wet perspiration
• have absorbed perspiration also known as other people's sweat
• accumulated dirt and grime from hands
• covered in dirt and grime from feet
• have absorbed bacteria
• and plenty of germs!

Now, let's look at Boss Ballet Barres and what makes them stand out above the rest.

If you've never heard of Boss Ballet Barres, you're in for a treat. They were developed by a dancer and not just any dancer - this dancer was the Boss president's daughter. As an accomplished ballet dancer with many awards, she knew what kind of barres the ballet world needed and with a little help from the company's products and extremely structural strong steel tubing, these unique barres hit the market.

What makes them different from the usual germ-covered wooden barres? Boss barres are:

• made of high-strength structural steel
• contain a baked-on powdered coating
• coating is made with a germ-resistant material
• a quick wipe-down keeps them clean
• portable

With the worry of sanitary issues gone, practicing through the cold and flu season won't be an issue. Whether you have a barre inside your home or you are looking to get one for your school or business, knowing these barres resist germs eases your mind and that of your students.

If you have a business, be sure to advertise that your barres are germ-resistant. Due to the fact that simply wiping the barre is all it takes to remove unwanted grime, bacteria and germs, you can easily wipe it down after each class to keep colds and flu at bay.
Want even better news?

Boss Ballet Barres now have a flat shipping rate of $50 making it the perfect time to order your barres now!


If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us so we can help you choose the best barre for your needs.

Ballet Barre Fitness Routines You Can Do At Home

Although it's ideal to go to a studio and work out with a group of people, it's also possible to get a fun and challenging barre workout at home, especially if you're crunched for time.

So set up your Boss Portable Ballet Barre and try out one of these Ballet Barre Fitness Routine video workouts.

1. A warm-up video to get you started.
2. This classic 40-minute workout suits beginners and advanced students alike.
3. Want to kick it up a notch? Try this cardio-focused barre workout.
4. If you need to take it easy, this simple workout is just your speed.
5. This 12-minute workout is a quick one you can squeeze in to a busy day.
6. Work your thighs and enjoy beautiful scenery in this video.
7. This workout brings together ballet barre moves and pilates.
8. Chairs are used as barre-substitutes in this video, but the beach makes for a nice backdrop.
9. For a quick workout with advanced moves, try this workout with professional ballet dancers.
10. Watch this video if all you need is basic stretching.

Another great home workout resource is Netflix Instant. They have a category filled with dance and barre workouts.

These videos prove that a ballet barre fitness routine is not impossible to do in the comfort of your own home. Enjoy our recommendations but feel free to do your own searching on YouTube or Netflix Instant for ballet barre workouts to try out.


To learn more about our free-standing ballet barres and other products, contact us or visit our website.