Fitness & Wellness Blog

FLAT BACK: THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BARRE EXERCISE AND WHY IT’S YOUR CORE’S BEST FRIEND
Flat Back is an old-school exercise: it has roots with Lotte Berk, the founder of the Barre technique back in the ‘60’s. It has been a staple in core conditioning exercises for barre classes ever since. There are so many benefits of mastering the Flat Back position. It’s a results-oriented, efficient exercise with real results that keep students returning to the barre: a leaner waistline and a stronger core. If you can master this position, it’ll improve your performance in every other exercise in the class, as well as your posture, strength, and balance in the studio and out. In Flat Back, you press your back into the wall and
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ROUND BACK: FLAT BACK’S BEST FRIEND (AND WHY IT’S YOURS TOO)
Round Back is a classic barre exercise: it has roots with Lotte Berk, the founder of the barre technique back in the 1960’s. It’s also a functional exercise position for gymnastic and springboard diver athletes. A staple in core conditioning exercises in every barre class, Round Back is the second exercise position in your core conditioning trifecta: Flat Back, then Round Back, followed by the Curl. Flat Back and Round Back are two of the most misunderstood barre exercises – and they’re also some of the most effective. Both exercises complement each other to brace and stabilize the core, but with Round Back, there is an added challenge: spinal flexibility. As
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HALLOWEEN IS YOUR NEW NEW YEARS!
madison wright, msblog coordinator + core fusion teacher The holiday of Halloween has deep roots, dating back more than 2000 years ago; the pumpkin seed trail leads us to the Celtic culture of the Druids of who lived in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Halloween, originally dubbed “All Hallows Eve” was a celebration that coalesced the last day of the Celtic Calendar, October 31st, a culmination of the summer season and of course – the one that we’re more familiar with- a day to honor the dead. The festival, Samhain (pronounced sow-in) and means November in the English language, was an important autumn festival focalized around fire which signified the
THE CURL: MOTHERSHIP OF EVERY CORE FUSION BARRE CLASS
In exhale Barre classes, our Core Conditioning Series follows a pattern: Flat Back, Round Back, and finally the Curl – which introduces a progressive challenge of increased spinal flexibility with each position. All three exercises address two fundamental needs: strengthening the core while building flexibility in the back. Joseph Pilates always preached that the “supple spine equals a youthful body,” and it’s true. The more spinal strength and flexibility you have, the more strength and flexibility you’ll see in every other area. The curl takes discipline because it’s a complex position. You have to prioritize pressing the lower back down on the mat while simultaneously curling up enough to keep the shoulder
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KATIE’S EXHALE TRANSFORMATION STORY
When Katie first came to exhale with a 30-day unlimited class package, she was recovering from a life-altering car accident and brain surgery. Here’s her incredible story of building strength and mindfulness at exhale – one class at a time. First, please indulge me in some brief (kind of) background info. I was hit by a car while crossing the street in July 2016 which left me with a grade 3 concussion and a left hip injury from the impact. The injury restricted my physical activity. About six weeks later, in September, I underwent brain surgery to remove a colloid cyst. My neurosurgeon estimated it had about a 50% chance
WHAT’S YOUR WORKOUT MENTALITY?
By: Fred DeVito, exhale co-founder and the ultimate fitness aficionado As a young barre teacher, back in the 80’s and 90’s, most students came to my class 4-5 times a week like clockwork. They loved the technique — because it challenged them constantly and it gave them fast and noticeable results. Back then, it was fashionable to be consistent with one method that worked. Nowadays, that kind of consistency is out — and variety is in. The belief is that the more you mix up your workouts, the more you challenge your body. Taking a different type of class every week is the M.O. for the modern aged workout junkies
WHAT IS BARRE?
By Fred DeVito Core Fusion co-founder and ultimate barre aficionado, Fred DeVito, breaks down the history of barre, how it works to change your body, and what to look for in a high-quality barre class. First things first: what is a barre?The Barre, a word taken from the world of ballet, is a fixed pole, firmly attached to a wall so that a person can pull, push, hold or lean on to gain support when performing exercises that are primarily using one’s body weight as resistance. These movements stem from the original ballet barre warmup that dancers use to prepare and train themselves for their actual dance combinations in a
I TRIED BARRE+YOGA
By: Emily McNeely, exhale enthusiast, copywriter, dancer and (newly committed) Barre + Yoga devotee It’s why I fell in love with exhale in the first place: balance. Whether it’s the balance of spa and fitness, of energy and mindfulness, of strength and flexibility — or the challenging balance in chair position on the mat, heels up, arms stretched wide, finding your center. That’s why I fell in love with exhale’s new class, Barre + Yoga. The latest brainchild of exhale’s co-founder, former ballet dancer, and barre legend Elisabeth Halfpapp, Barre + Yoga blends two classes into one powerful, balanced hour. For the first half of class, you’re in Core Fusion
REASONS WHY MEN SHOULD TAKE BARRE CLASS
By: Fred DeVito, Core Fusion co-founder + the world’s first male barre teacher Most men are programmed from sports training in high school and college to think that lifting weights and doing cardio is how you stay in shape. But after high school and college, most of us realize that only doing exercises you’re used to can limit your fitness potential – and as the first male barre teacher in the industry, I learned this the hard way. The first time I ever took a barre class, I thought it would be easy. After all, I was a 23-year old athlete with a professional background in sports conditioning and training.
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