Be the Belle of The Barre!

Be the Belle of The Barre!

Barre, Pilates

Be the Belle of The Barre!

Here we highlight a few super exercises that are simple and fun!

Barre Exercises from “Belle of the Barre” by Fittbe!

Who is ready to be the Belle of the Barre?! If you can find 25 minutes to enjoy this session from the Fittbe Barre app, we know you’ll feel amazing and benefit from a glorious full body tone that improves posture, feels graceful and is also FUN! Here are a few of our featured exercises with an excerpt so that you can all see what’s coming! 

4 count plie pumps with arms floating to second

An all time favorite warm up!

This warm up is amazing and you can really do it any time you just need to warm up your arms and legs! Take your feet to a natural first position, and start by engaging your legs, and squeezing your inner thighs together. Really think of “pulling up” through your legs. Arms are starting in Fifth en Bas of Bras Bas, and taking the 4 counts of plie pumps to float to second position. Then, take 4 counts to float back down and gather for another set! Keep sending your hips straight to the floor. 

Alternating heel second position plie pulses

This one really works your legs!

Make sure your take a nice wide second position with your legs. Promise yourself that you’ll route your knees right over your second toe for the entire exercise. Good tracking is essential! As as you lift one heel off, and keep your foot in demi point, take your plie knee bend lower. Then, take your heel back down to the mat. Switch off legs and find a nice rhythm! 

 

Standing oblique rotation with parallel passe

Engage your waist as you twist! 

Ok, see the picture? That waist is twisting and those abs are tightening with every exhale. But the FUN part is that your upper body is totally dancing with each twist! The torso always goes toward your working leg on this one. Your standing leg is reaching tall and far from the floor! Be sure to get your knee nice and high and make sure you keep your best posture!

First position curl ups on the Mat

Take it down to the mat!

For this exercise, you will want to come down to your back, and take your arms over your head. Flatten and tighten your abs. Squeeze your knees together in a bent knee position, feet on the mat. As you exhale, roll your upper body and arms up and find a ballet first position. Hold for several counts, then roll down slowly through your spine keeping your core tightly engaged!

Rotated leg, lift, lower, out, and center

Isolate those external rotators and inner thighs!

Begin in a position with your elbows on the mat. Keep your neck long. Bend your knees out in front of yourself, then route your first working leg to a 45 Degree angle. Flex your foot. Now, draw the leg upward, enjoying a hamstring stretch. Keep your knee reaching side. Lower slowly back to the 45 degree position. Now keeping your core strong, route the leg outward off of your center line, and hold. Lastly draw it back in, engaging your thighs again. That’s one set!

We have some helpful video clips of the featured exercises here for you, and the full video is available in the Fittbe Barre app. Included for All Members! Tap the link to enjoy! 

 

It's always a good day for BARRE!

BARRE is always a good idea, and of course Paris is too.. Thanks Sabrina!

 

3 Barre Moves for your Legs

3 Barre Moves for your Legs

Barre, Pilates

3 Barre Moves for your Legs

Today we have 3 barre moves for your legs that will get you toned up in a jiffy!…

3 Simple Moves for a quick  barre workout

Affirmations are powerful! The thoughts we have impact the way we feel, the way our body reacts to things, the way we interact with our worlds, and our loved ones. Why wouldn’t you want to train your thoughts to be beautiful, strong, or positive? It may seem silly at first, but the operative word here is “train.” Bad thoughts can be habit-forming. But never fear, no negativity tailspins here. GOOD thoughts can also be habit-forming. When you have a mind full of good and productive thoughts, you start the process of forming the habit of good thinking, You will put good out into the world, and it will boomerang right back to you. Believe us!

Plie Points

These are fun to do and a great leg burn

Start in your second position, and make a nice plie with tracking knees as always! Then press your weight over to your standing leg and point your working leg outward. Come back to your second position and lower into your plie. Make sure you have a nice low  in second with your knees tracking right over your toes, then power up and reach that working leg far away from yourself!

V Pulses

Send your knees to the side as you work those legs with little pulses. ⠀

These are so easy and quite fun! You can get a great leg engagement in so little time! Just rise up to your demi point releve, and squeeze your heels together. Plie down slightly but stay on your toes. Now, rock some little pulses. Try 16 counts and then come down and shake it out! 

First position plie raises.

It’s time to stretch those achilles but keep working our legs

Take your heels together in a ballet first position. Plie with your heels on the floor as you stretch your achilles. Squeeze your legs together as you pull up, engaging your inner thighs too! 

We like to add a simple 90 degree bend in the arms with light free weights – as you know they are always optional! 

 

It's always a good day for BARRE!

BARRE is always a good idea, and of course Paris is too.. Thanks Sabrina!

 

New Workouts from the Fittbe Elf

New Workouts from the Fittbe Elf

Barre, Pilates

Are you finding it tough to stay calm during the busy and sometimes stressful holiday season? Endorphins and a great balanced workout can help you combat that stress! We have all new workouts from the Fittbe Elf, so be sure to check them out on your apps today! ??

See the daily challenges from the #12Days of Fittbe and catch up on fabulous self care if you need to!

FITTBE PILATES APP

For just 50 cents per week, you can live your best fit life and give yourself unlimited Pilates video workouts in the palm of your hand.

The apps are on iOS  and on Android

With an always expanding catalog of videos from Fittbe Pilates creator, Kira Elste, you will always find the perfect session to get you looking and feeling fit and fabulous!

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Why Ballerinas Have the Most Toned Backs

Why Ballerinas Have the Most Toned Backs

Barre

Hey Loves! Have you ever noticed that ballerinas have the most beautiful and toned backs? Yet.. they rarely if ever lift actual weights. But, think about this, those fluid and beautiful movements they spend hour after hour and day after day doing are all resistance based. Ok, what does that mean? It means that they create their own feeling resistance – like they are moving against water. And… as they do that gorgeous Port de Bras, they do so for a prolonged period of time!

Want to work toward your own beautiful ballet back at home with no weights? Here are a few porte de bras exercises you can do on your own!

Hold your arms out in ballet second position for as long as you can – flatten your back as you do it

next, take those arms from second to high fifth with a feeling of resistance, hold each position for about 2 seconds

Hold your arms up in high fifth for about a minute!

Take your arms back out to second position and do tiny little circles

Finish the series by taking your arms from first to second – just like number 2?

You’ll be so excited to pull out that strapless or backless!

Is Athleisure here to Stay?

Is Athleisure here to Stay?

Barre, Pilates, Uncategorized

Athleisure… Now that’s a word that didn’t even exist 5 years ago did it? Does anyone else remember Blair Waldorf’s famous “leggings are not pants” quote? It had me laughing and honestly repeating it big time. But now, I’m one of them!

I’ve now lived in a few cities where it seemed that leggings, a cute baseball cap, a tank or zip and running shoes almost feel like a uniform. At least it’s the uniform if you’re at Costco between 10 and 3 on a weekday!

 

You’ve probably guessed it, but athleisure is basically when you wear your workout style clothes in other settings, and it is big business. The trend appears to be sticking around as well. Morgan Stanley predicted that the industry will grow to an $83 million market by 2020. Their study explained that people are living more and more active lifestyles, and those who participated in sport activities when they were younger are now infusing their adult lives with the same priorities.  They suggest that the sports we watch and play are influencing what we buy.

Some of the Athleisure apparel we particularly love at Fittbe comes from Kate Spade (especially recommended for for our Barre babes out there), New Balance X JCrew and Lorna Jane Activewear – (check out their current sale). Why are they topping the list? Primarily because they offer options which are cozy and comfy for everyday. I don’t know about you, but I do not like being shoved into an unbreathable sports bra so tight I can’t even breathe. My corset style tutu days may be over, but Athleisure wear is here to stay!

By the way, have you heard that wearing Athleisure apparel might actually help you workout more?!