Barre experts - what’s the dealio...
 

....on this move where you stand on the balls of your feet and put your heels together and kind of do a front squat? Supposedly you work your quads more, but all it does is give me knee pain!:mad: Callan does this exact exercise in the OG Callanetics.

Is it necessary, really, to stand on the balls of my feet or can I let my heels be on the ground?

I’m not sure I EVER understood barre workouts. But I have them and use them....those micro-movements burn!!!

I think Barre3 cues to lean forward slightly as a modification. I’m not sure if that would take much pressure off knees or be more for back discomfort, though. :confused:

I like this move less and less, even though I don’t experience knee pain, and prefer legs parallel. I don’t get much out of it with heels down, though.
Does doing it with feet parallel bother your knees less? If not, maybe you could substitute a regular squat.

I think Sadie Lincoln has also cued to keep feet flat or only slight raise in heels.

i think you're referring to the standing pelvic scoop? you can do it with flat feet. the key is to feel the contraction in your glutes.

My understanding from barre classes that I used to do plus my physical therapist is that if you are up on your toes that actually protects your knees. I think the key is to be up on your toes and still sit back a little bit so that your knees are not going way forward of your feet. If you do it flat footed it's really just a type of a squat - it's not the same exercise.

not an expert, just a persistent barre-ista
 

Funny how different people feel the same move differently. I have advanced knee arthritis, and the move described is very comfortable for me. I use it while waiting for things on the stove or in the microwave. OTOH (or knee LOL) heels raised and feet parallel, what Sadie calls "power legs," is not good for me, and I use the flat-footed, rear back modification..

Thanks so much! I do have some Sadie in my collection, so I’ll break those out.;)

Bzar - yup the pelvic scoop one where you go down two inches and scoop, then another two inches, etc. I’ll try that with flat feet.

And I also like Monterey’s suggestion for feet parallel.

Bfit- I will try to lean back a bit. Nice to know there’s a few things I can try out!

muggie - yep, it’s hard to believe that little unweighted leg pulses can cause so much of a burn!