I’m a closet ballerina. The one with no poise or grace, just like Lucy. So I twirl in hiding, and plié when no one is looking. Occasionally, if I have a long wait someplace where I have to stand for an extended period of time, I’ll break out the ol’ tippy toe maneuvers and throw in an attempt at an elegant circular arm gesture which I hijacked straight from the Nutcracker. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pirouetted my way into the fantasy ballet Hall of Fame, (It’s like the real one, only BETTER). And when I’m certain no eyes are upon me, I’ve been known to attempt a full circle spin on one toe, and blow an imaginary kiss to Baryshnikov. (So what if he retired from dancing years ago; Carrie Bradshaw brought him back to life, and back to my fantasies).

So, I admit it. I’m a Prima ballerina, (using bad, pretend French) trapped in the wrong body type, just waiting to be set free! One time, when I was thirteen, I thought I had been set free - to become one of the Solid Gold dancers. But as it turns out, that was a fantasy too. A dream turned nightmare which ended with me waking to Dionne Warwick singing “I know, I’ll never, dance this way again, so I keep holdin’ on, before the good is gone”.

So the secret’s out. My secret dream of being a dancer. Having a dancer’s body. Having rhythm and grace. Dancing with Russian men who have nice butts. But since I’m sure I’m not the only one who tapes a photo of my head to Brooke Burke’s Dancing With The Stars-newly chiseled physique. (I’m not, am I?), then I’m certain there will be many of you who are as happy as I am about the latest fitness craze that is about to take over the nation! 

It’s a type of exercise which combines the grace of ballet barre work with specific alignment principles from yoga and Pilates. There are a couple studio chains now capitalizing on this new fitness fad, and I have a feeling they are going to see a lot of converts, because clumsy people like me want to fancy themselves as graceful lilies swaying in a soft breeze, (just one of the many inanimate objects that I channel when doing my interpretive dance moves), and because everyone is becoming increasingly aware that staying fit is not just about building huge muscles and doing crazy amounts of high impact cardio. It is important to stay limber and prevent injuries as we age. 

One version of this type of Barre exercise is Richard Gloria’s CARDIO-BARRE routine. He owns a studio in California and his no-impact, body sculpting routines are said to be used by many celebrities. The best thing about his approach, is that any piece of fixed furniture  can substitute for the ballet bar, which means you can do this workout at no cost! You can also buy the home workout kit which includes a portable, easy to assemble bar, carrying bag and barre workout DVD! See more on this in CARDIO-BARRRe in this Fitness RX article.

The Pure Barre technique is a similar method, and since 2006 when this studio opened, they have seen such an increase in interest that they’ve opened ten more studios across the country! They also have a DVD that you can order here.

Barre3 is another studio which is gaining in popularity in Portland, Oregon. It was started by Sadie Lincoln, a long time fitness enthusiast and yoga practitioner. Here are just a few of the benefits she attributes to doing her Barre routines: 

 -longer, leaner, muscles and a strong core

-energizes and increases stamina

-develops muscle balance

-connects mind, body, and breath, relieving stress

If you ask me, this is the perfect workout not just for dancer wannebes, but for any of you gym-phobes who are deathly afraid that lifting weights will make you bulky, as well as any woman who wants a workout she can do at home, without the need for a lot of equipment. If you have a kitchen counter or the back of a chair, you are good to go! However, I recommend every girl at least try one class with a real barre, just so you can feel like a dancer, even if you don’t yet look like one!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my pointed toes and I have some Grande jetés, Grande pliés, soufflés, Yoplaits and parfaits to catch up on.