This post is part of my 2017 New Year’s Resolution to try every group fitness class offered at my gym, The Equinox in Chestnut Hill. See the full list of reviews here.
Here I am, back in my happy place!
Ok, one of my happy places. It’s hard to leave the beach and Maine behind, but it’s wonderful to walk back into The Equinox for a structured workout followed by the steam room and a peaceful shower while the kids happily built forts in the play space.
I’m excited to take some new classes and check off that New Year’s Resolution to take every class at the Equinox!
Today’s Class: Trilogy Barre with Megan Baxter
Class length: 55 Minutes
Description from the Equinox: The pinnacle of Barre at Equinox. Prepare to elevate ballet-inspired techniques with our signature triple-barre system and exclusive resistance bands. Wrap bands to barres, then work, sculpt and shape against resistance for the ultimate tone. Switching anchor points from barre to barre opens up a new world of movement, challenging your entire body and igniting muscles in tandem. An intense, total-body workout in a class beyond Barre as you know it.
What Class Was Like
Ok, not a bad description from the Equinox. It did ignite some muscles! I enjoyed using the resistance bands to isolate different muscles and I feel like this is a class that could continue to be challenging with improved technique and stepping away from the barre for more resistance.
This barre class used resistance bands combined with traditional barre exercises to isolate core, leg and arm muscles. No weights or ball were used.
I needed to stay focused because exercises change frequently, were sometimes quick paced, and form is important for getting the best workout. That said, I don’t feel that this class would be unfriendly to beginners. You just need to pay attention, and the workout will become even more effective with increased familiarity.
Sample Exercises
- Standing next to the barre with resistance bands in one hand and bringing hands into center, then out to second position
- Lunges facing the barre with resistance bands in each hand to do tricep curls
- Facing the barre on all fours and then extending one leg backward with resistance bands on the foot
- Sit-ups with legs in the V position using the resistance bands on each hand just to guide the sit-up
Who would love it?
Anyone who likes Pilates or barre classes should give this a try.
Resistance Bands vs. Weights
While weights can be nice because you can track your progress based on how heavy a weight you can use comfortably, resistance bands are nice because you can modify the resistance instantly by moving closer to the barre. So rather than needing a variety of weights to nail the sweet spot in terms of difficulty, you can just move closer or further at any point in any exercise, without as much interruption as you’d need to switch weights.
Know before you go
One wall has a mirror, the other doesn’t. It’s really helpful to arrive a few minutes early so you can grab a spot on the mirrored wall. That way you can see reflections of the instructor and other people to follow along, and check your alignment in the mirror.
Most people did the class barefoot. Socks are also acceptable but they might be too slippery.
You’ll need to make sure you have two resistance bands to hook through the metal loop on the strap on the barre using the carabiners. Those straps then need little cloth loops to go through the bottom rings, which are removed and washed after each class (take them off as you leave and place them in the green laundry bag, but leave the resistance bands on the barre).
And in other news… The Equinox in Chestnut Hill has a new juice bar vendor! Hello Juice Society. Does that say Avocado toast with vegan mayo?!?!
Excited to try them out!
