Questions for those over 50 using barre

[dela]

Originally Posted by Rhonda

I haven't been one into Barre workouts because I found them boring. I keep hearing about Suzanne Bowen and have looked at hers and they look good and I am actually getting back into Pilates as I am trying to not be so hard on my body.

So this is an interesting thread.

any suggestions on good barre type workouts for beginners? I can't stream anything so it would have to be in DVD format.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Anything from Barre3, and I only have the DVDs, I think I have all of them now. Barre really is not my type of workout, and any little bit I had tried in the past, I did not like, but then needed something while healing my shoulder, and I really enjoyed everything I did from Barre3. I did only Barre3 for about 2 months. There was zero dread, I enjoyed it, and had no problem fitting one in nearly everyday. My butt definitely benefited, my legs felt hard, but it didn't do anything for my upper body.

I like the suggestion above of Barre + weights, and eventually will look to work in a rotation like that next year.

ETA: I am also a member of the flat butt club, and I really could see a rounding from Barre that had never been there before.

[Pat58]

Originally Posted by cherimac

Mine used to ache too and now they don't! The best thing ever.

Hmm, come to think of it when I was using Yoga Booty Ballet a lot - though it's not technically a barre workout, it has some sprinkled through - my back pain all but disappeared. I should dust those off, too.

[fatkat555]

I'm not over 50, but I turn 49 in December. I currently teach barre and naturally I love it. If you remember, I'm a big Firm fan and did the Firm exclusively for YEARS. Well, four kids later and add some age with shoulder issues and in comes barre. I have fewer aches for sure, but I have to do barre consistently to maintain and see results. I, too, have had my best lower body definition from barre - even better than when I was doing the Firm exclusively. I still pull out my old Firms and Fitprimes, but barre is the bulk of my workouts. Most often I'll teach myself my own class that I'm going to teach my students the next day so I can see where the pitfalls of the class might lie. Other times I just want to go on autopilot and have someone else instruct me. On these days, I do SBF, Bar Method, Leah Sarago, and some others. I'm always working on ways to incorporate more upper body work with barre, but quite honestly I have not noticed any strength loss doing barre even with upper body, but I have lost some size in my upper body. My legs look slimmer as well. Booty? Well, I've always had a big, round butt and it's still there. I would say for me personally that the hardest thing to "get" is ab work especially flatback and roundback at the wall. Finally, the light bulb went off and I'm seeing strength gains in my transverse and an improvement in my diastasis caused by 4 kids in 4 years (one set of twins!), 2 c-sections, and other abdominal surgeries. HTH.

[yogapam]

I am 58 and I love barre & ballet workouts! Barre3, Sleek Technique, Jessica Smith, Fluidity, Suzanne Bowen, Essentrics, Tracey Mallett, Balletone, Yoga Booty Ballet, and the list goes on... I feel so much better having given up intense weights, compound moves, and high impact. I am not "ripped", but I am slim, toned, and feel pretty good!
EDIT I should add that I am dealing with a long standing shoulder issue most likely related to heavier weights and kettle bells. My back and knees, both of which were not happy with weights and impact, are much better with barre, ballet, & low impact cardio.

[TinaT]

I'm so appreciative of the responses. It broadens my view of what will help me. I will always find a way to use my FIRMS, but mixing in barre may help to balance out how I'm feeling physically.

[ealakey]

I like to mix it up a little. I still get fatigued so I'm not sure I could go back to lifting heavier every day. I've started back with Margaret Richard, along with Barlates add ons. Those Barlates workouts are a great find. I'll also try to work in a day of Bar Method or something similar. I still think my best results tend to come from more than my own bodyweight. Everyone is so different; it's worth trying barre or at least mixing it into your week. See how you feel.
~Beth

[superfit41]

I am 53. I still try and do regular weight workouts such as the Firm with barre in between. I keep having minor injuries such as lower back pain and shoulder strain, after doing regular weight workouts and more strenuous cardio workouts I think I am going to have to switch over completely to barre, and low impact cardio such as walking for good. I have had good results from mixing barre with traditional weight workouts, (other than the minor injuries), but I am not enjoying the side effects from heavier weights
Sherry

[Sara1000]

I find that even minor injuries cause me to lay off or at least back off for weeks. I think doing something gentler regularly is more beneficial than doing harder stuff and then having to rest while an injury heals.

Right now I'm still struggling with sciatica - it's gone from totally debilitating to a minor annoyance yet I'm afraid of going too hard on anything lest I aggravate it again.

I've been doing mostly Jessica Smith since I hurt my back. I just ordered Classical Stretch Season 10 and hope that will speed up the healing and help me avoid future injuries.

[donnamp]

Originally Posted by Sara1000

I find that even minor injuries cause me to lay off or at least back off for weeks. I think doing something gentler regularly is more beneficial than doing harder stuff and then having to rest while an injury heals.

Right now I'm still struggling with sciatica - it's gone from totally debilitating to a minor annoyance yet I'm afraid of going too hard on anything lest I aggravate it again.

I've been doing mostly Jessica Smith since I hurt my back. I just ordered Classical Stretch Season 10 and hope that will speed up the healing and help me avoid future injuries.

Amen, Sara! I couldn't agree more. I do a variety of workouts, but I find my body feels its best when I stick w/ the lighter weights. I find Jessica Smith's weekly workout schedules to be very well balanced so I don't end up "over using" anything although I do lift lighter than she does these days on the weights. But I guess I have a few years on her.

I am in a rotation planning mood and I found one I came up w/ that mixes Margaret Richard, Barre, and Pilates. In my mind, they really complement each other!

MR, Pilates & Barre:

Day 1 – Short cardio & MR Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 2 – Short cardio & Pilates Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 3 – Short Cardio & Barre Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 4 – Short Cardio & MR Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 5 – Short Cardio & Pilates Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 6 –Short Cardio & Barre Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 7 - Rest/Stretch

MR, Pilates & Barre w/ Longer Cardio Days

Day 1 – Short Cardio & MR Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 2 – Short Cardio & Pilates Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 3 - Longer Cardio/Stretch
Day 4 – Short Cardio & Barre Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 5 – Short Cardio & MR Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 6 - Longer Cardio/Stretch
Day 7 - Rest/Stretch

Day 1 - Pilates Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 2 -Barre Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 3 - Longer Cardio/Stretch
Day 4 - MR Upper Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 5 - Pilates Lower Body & Abs/Core or Stretch
Day 6 - Longer Cardio/Stretch
Day 7 - Rest or Stretch

[Missiscipi]

I am 42, have 2 herniated discs in my lower back and cannot lift weights except maybe 3lbs each hand. Plus I have to be super careful. I started doing Callanetics and the pelvic tuck was miraculous with my back. I got bored with it quickly and found Pure Barre. I have been doing 20 workouts in 30 days and am on 15 I think. I am seeing great changes in my legs, butt, abs and arms. I am rotating the Pure Barre Pure Results dvds and doing them about 5-6x per week. I will say the results came on slower than kettlebells and heavy weight lifting but it is something I can do and I don't feel beat up. I am actually liking the leaning and less "puffy" look. Kettlebells make me feel a little "harder" muscle wise but I am very happy with barre and probably am a convert