Trying out the burn of The Bar Method
The Bar Method opened at SouthPark on Aug. 15. I’m a creature of habit and rarely take the time to branch away from my yoga haunts, but I learned I could wear my yoga pants to class so you know, why not?
In fact, I was instructed to “be sure to wear socks that cover the whole foot (are there other types of socks?), workout pants that extend below the knee and a shirt that covers the midriff.” Done.
Once you get it together with the dress code, here’s what to expect when you try out The Bar Method:
(1) An hour of concentration.
The Bar Method is a one-hour workout that is intended to target problem areas, benefit posture and strengthen and slim muscles. The SouthPark studio has four instructors with a variety of classes including mixed level and beginner level. An advanced class will likely be added once the clientele grows.
(2) What appears to be cramped parking.
I went to an 8:30 a.m. mixed level class so there were plenty of available parallel spots on Ashley Park Lane. Autumn Frk, owner and instructor of the SouthPark studio, said street parking gets tight in the evening because of all of the Phillips Place restaurant goers, but there is a seven-level deck (with free valet for building patrons if you stop outside of Dogwood) connected to the building. Fancy.
(2) A soothing, peaceful ambiance.
Think fresh flowers, white candles softly burning, images of graceful movement, a touch of luxury with white chairs and a freshly carpeted, new-apartment smell in the two studio rooms. The studios are complete with mirrors, bars and equipment such as 2- and 3-lb. free weights, rubber balls, straps for stretching and thick foamy mats for stability.
(3) Burning.
Ungodly burning. I was initially worried about rug burn, but then the muscular burn spread to my glutes, triceps, abs and calf muscles. I’m in decent shape but something about intervals of push ups, planks, bending, stretching, toe raising, leg lifting, back dancing and a slow imitation of crunches was oddly excruciating.
In between Autumn correcting my classmates’ form and telling us to notice how back dancing creates a sensation “like someone sticking a hot fork right in the corner of your seat,” she called me out and reminded me to breathe. I did, so I was ok.
Here, try some fold over seat work. I was face-d0wn on the bar after a few minutes of this:
You could be, too, if you look into the class package pricing.
(4) A chance to get centered.
The class concluded similarly to a yoga class. Autumn sat everyone on the floor, cross-legged, hands to heart center, and said, “Feel thankful for the day.”
I was, once I discovered the pre- and post-workout essentials: beverage bar, sweat towels, toiletry luxuries, a basket of mints (go for the mints!).
(5) A change in your body.
I looked the same after one class. I didn’t even sweat, which was most exciting.
But Autumn said she noticed a visible change after a few weeks into her own practice, which is what most people experience if they practice at least three times a week.
“It’s all about form and alignment and doing it right,” she said.
This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 12:19 AM with the headline "Trying out the burn of The Bar Method."