You don't have to be a professional dancer to get a great workout with a portable barre. However, it can be intimidating for first-time users. To help you improve your mobility and feel confident working out at home, try these five easy exercises for portable barre beginners.
Heel Raises
Warm-up with some heel raises. It's a low impact exercise that will improve your overall stability and strengthen your muscles. Face the barre and hold on gently with both hands. Rise up onto the balls of your feet, so your heels are off the ground. Go back down. It may not feel like much at first, but after a few minutes, you'll definitely feel it.
Barre Pushups
A portable barre is great for shaking up traditional exercises and providing you with low-impact options. Instead of doing pushups on the ground, do them at the barre. Keep your entire body straight when you stand and when you move down towards the barre.
For an added measure of difficulty, stay on the balls of your feet while doing your pushups.
Leg Swings
Leg swings are a form of dynamic stretching, allowing you to limber up your muscles. With one hand on the barre, gently swing your leg forward and backward. Don't go very high to begin with, but as you get warmed up try going a little bit higher.
As you begin to feel more confident, you can start swinging your leg side to side and in circular motions.
Barre Stretch
Improve your flexibility with a simple barre stretch. While there are many different ways to stretch on a barre, start with this. After warming up sufficiently, face the barre and place your leg on it. Lean sideways towards your leg with your opposite arm.
Balancing
Ballerinas use barres to learn how to balance. You can do the same! Raise one foot off the ground and try to balance. Use the barre to help find your center and let go. The barre will be there for you. By learning to balance, you'll improve your coordination and strength.
Learn more about our portable ballet barres and how they can make exercise at home more engaging and fun. Have questions? Contact us today for more information.
