Month: October 2025

Sharing 5 online barre classes you must try and are a fun component to add to your fitness routine. 

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re enjoying the week! I’m meeting up with some friends, have client calls, and am taking a yoga class.

For today, I wanted to talk about a workout format that has stood the test of time. It’s something that I’ve loved for many years and always come back to it as a staple in my routine:

barre!

I LOVE barre workouts because they give me a little reminder of my dance days of yore, they’re incredibly challenging, yet easier on the joints. There’s minimal impact and I feel like no matter what, I always get a good workout. There are so many great online barre options, so I wanted to share five of my top fives if you’re looking to get in some barre classes at home instead of in the studio. This is an excellent option for my perimenopause or menopause friends who are used to HIIT workouts, but want something that’s low-impact and still an excellent workout.

5 online barre classes you must try

Pure Barre

Pure Barre classes are designed to target specific muscle groups using small, isometric movements. By isolating and working these muscles to the point of fatigue, you can achieve a long, lean physique while improving your flexibility, posture, and overall body alignment. It’s a fun and challenging full body workout.

One of the things I love most about Pure Barre is its inclusivity. Whether you’re a seasoned fitness enthusiast or a beginner, Pure Barre offers modifications and variations to meet you where you are on your fitness journey. The supportive and encouraging environment makes it a welcoming space for all fitness levels and ages.

Why I like Pure Barre:

I feel like these classes are more music-driven, and they feel like the most *classic* barre exercises to me. It includes a mix of pulses, isometric holds, and full-range movements, in addition to core burners, juicy stretches, and challenging series. With a variety of class formats, including Classic, Empower, and Reform, you can mix it up and keep your workouts fresh and exciting.

Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month (billed annually; $29.99 billed monthly) and you also get access to different formats, including Club Pilates and Yoga Six.

Britsbarre

I recently discovered these workouts and have fallen in love with them. They’re classic barre workouts with solid form cues, functional flows, and an awesome burn. Brit Shimansky is a former professional ballerina turned master barre instructor who understands what it’s like to juggle mom life while making fitness a priority.  After spending years teaching and training in NYC, Brit became a mom in 2020, and found that fitting in studio time just wasn’t working anymore. That personal turning point inspired her to launch Britsbarre virtual studio:  a space built by a mom for moms, where movement meets real life. She created short, beat-driven barre and strength classes that are super effective without a huge time commitment.

In these classes, you’ll find traditional barre work: low-impact, high-rep sequences designed to build lean muscle, boost endurance, and revitalize your energy, even on busy days. Brit is also a a certified pre and postnatal trainer, so you can expect lots of great instruction and modification options. The workouts are fully on-demand, many under 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy moms who need something effective, flexible, and engaging. Each class includes alignment-focused instruction, modifications (including pre/postnatal), and options you can take without equipment or in a small space. Equipment for these classes include a mat, band loop, Pilates ball, and dumbbells. Click here to give it a try! All subscriptions include a free 7-day trial. 

Sculpt Society

Ok so in all fairness, this isn’t traditional barre, but the strength and sculpt workouts are very barre-esque. I definitely recommend giving it a try if you like barre classes!

Sculpt Society was created by celebrity trainer Megan Roup, and this dynamic fitness method combines dance cardio, sculpting exercises, and targeted workouts to help you achieve your fitness goals and unlock your inner confidence.Sculpt Society is all about finding joy in movement and embracing your body’s natural rhythm. Through high-energy dance cardio routines, you’ll get your heart rate up, burn calories, and boost your cardiovascular fitness. But it’s not just about the cardio—Sculpt Society takes it a step further with sculpting exercises with light weights that target and tone specific muscle groups, helping you improve overall strength and endurance.

Sculpt Society incorporates a variety of exercises and equipment to keep your workouts exciting and effective. From resistance bands and hand weights to sliders and ankle weights, you’ll experience a diverse range of movements that challenge your muscles in new ways. The workouts are designed to activate your entire body, helping you build strength, improve flexibility, and enhance your overall athleticism.

Why I like Sculpt Society:

I really like the design of the workout and Megan Roup’s vibe. She’s encouraging and fun, but doesn’t try too hard to make you laugh. Doesn’t have any silly catch phrases, and just seems like a real person. It’s very refreshing in a world of over-the-top fitness instructors, and the classes are all extremely well done. I have fun, I break a sweat, and I feel challenged.

Pricing: They offer a free trial. You can also use my code GINA25 at this link for 25% off your first month. After that it’s $179.99/year or $19.99 (what I currently pay for my subscription).

Coach Kel’s workouts

I found Coach Kel’s YouTube years ago and love her workouts. They’re a little more ballerina-ish, which I love, and I also like her low-key coaching approach. She has a ton of workouts on her channel and the best part is that they’re freeee. She’s genuinely a great barre instructor. I wish I could add more info here, but I had a hard time finding out more about Coach Kel and her background even though she’s active on social. The good news is that you can check out her workouts for free and see how you like them!

Pricing: Free! She also has an on-demand platform that you can check out here for $19.99/month.

Ballet Beautiful

Flashback to the time when I got to take a class in person! I was shocked by the uniqueness and effectiveness of this format. All you need is a yoga mat to get started.

Here’s a little more about Ballet Beautiful:

Created by professional ballerina and celebrity fitness trainer, Mary Helen Bowers, Ballet Beautiful draws inspiration from the elegant movements and techniques of ballet, incorporating elements of ballet conditioning, Pilates, and yoga. Through a series of precise and controlled movements, you’ll engage your muscles, improve your posture, and work on muscle strength and endurance. You don’t need to have any prior dance experience to enjoy the benefits of these workouts. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced fitness enthusiast, Ballet Beautiful offers a range of workouts and modifications to meet you where you are on your fitness journey.

Pricing: $39.99 for 1 month, or $90 for 90 days

Have you tried any of the barre classes mentioned above? Which one is your favorite?

Hope you have an amazing day and I’ll see ya soon.

xoxo

Gina

Honorable mention:

Barre3,all about finding balance in every aspect of your life. With a focus on functional movements, the workouts aim to improve strength, flexibility, and stability, while also nurturing your mental well-being. It’s not just about the physical aspect; it’s about connecting with your body and embracing a mindful approach to fitness.

Barre3 classes are a blend of isometric exercises, functional movements, and dynamic stretching. The use of props such as gliders, weights, and balls adds variety and intensity to the workouts, keeping you engaged and continuously challenged.

Why I like bare3:

I love the mindfulness aspect of barre3. There’s a significant emphasis on mind-body connection, as a series of breaths begins and ends each class. I added this as an honorable mention because I don’t gravitate towards these workouts as much as I used to. I feel like there are more dynamic and enjoyable options, which I’ve shared above.

Pricing: 14-day trial trial. $19.99/month billed annually and $29.99/month billed monthly.

The post 5 online barre classes you must try appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Catching up with my internet besties for a little juice date. 

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having a lovely week so far! I’m here back in homeschool and mom mode after my trip, but looking forward to catching a hot yoga class this afternoon.

It’s been a little while since we’ve had a juice date, so I’d love to chat about what’s been going on and see what’s happening in your life! So grab your favorite drink and let’s catch up a bit, shall we??

If we were having juice right now…

I’d want to hear about what you’ve been up to! Is fall crazy for you, too? What are your kids going to be for Halloween? Any fall or holiday travel plans?

I have a trip to LA coming up in a couple of weeks that I’m looking forward to, and other than that, we don’t have any travel scheduled right now. (Side note: we’re hosting a meetup on November 13th so if you’re close to the Manhattan Beach area and would like to join, let me know, and I’ll send ya the details!)

I like to always know when our next trip is happening – it gives me something to look forward to while I’m hustling, which I heard is a trauma response but I’m ignoring that – so I’m crossing my fingers that we can book a Disney cruise or something fun soon-ish. The girls are begging to go to Korea and Japan, so I’m thinking that will be our next big trip, after Liv’s 8th grade graduation. If you have any recs, please let me know!! This is totally new territory for me. (And Liv is a little bit perplexed at the fact that we could have lived in Korea many times for the military, but opted for other PCS top picks instead.)

For Halloween, Liv is a boxer with her friend (cute athletic wear and boxing gloves) and P is one of those inflatable costumes that looks like an alien is caryring you. P turned 10 on Sunday and I can’t even believe it!

I’d want to know what you’ve been reading/watching/enjoying lately. I’m LOVING this season of Dancing with the Stars and The Voice. I watch DWTS with the kids – they like it, too!- and The Voice a couple of times a week while I walk on the walking pad. I’m reading Frozen River right now — it’s intense and I’m enjoying it so far.

I’d want to hear about how you’re doing… like how you’re really doing. No fluff; the real deal. I’d tell you that we’re in an interesting season. We’re still trying to navigate the Pilot’s travel schedule with my work life and homeschooling. I’d also admit that homeschooling is amazing, but it’s not always easy. I had these lovely ideas of all of the field trips we’d take and the crafts we’d do, but the reality is that by the time we finish everything and have lunch, I’m lucky to get one chore done and wrap up a couple of work tasks before we have to pick up Liv and head into the afterschool activities/homework/dinner shuffle.

I know we’ll find our balance eventually. The good news is that she’s thriving academically and the Pilot helps with homeschool stuff when he’s in town. This is when I batch client calls and podcast interviews. It was always meant to be a bridge – not a forever thing unless that’s what it needed to be – and she’s started to say that she misses her school friends. We’ll see what ends up happening, but we’re taking it day by day.

Just wanted to be honest because online we see a ton of sourdough life-on-the-farm harvest from the garden, gather the eggs, milk the cow, romanticized version of homeschool, but sometimes it’s not always like that.

I’d tell you about the Reimagining Health Summit and how excited I feel after it. These types of conferences always light a fire in my soul, but this one felt especially impactful. I feel really honored that I was chosen to speak on the Health Coach Expert panel with a few of my best Integrative Health Practitioner friends (and women whom I admire so much), and thank you to your amazing support, I was #7 out of over 5,000 IHPs in sales for our 100-day challenge. (I was #7 last year, too!) I’m feeling a nudge for the next step and what I’m supposed to do, and am excited to see it unfold. When I first interviewed Dr. Cabral for my podcast years ago, I knew that he was creating something truly amazing, and I’m beyond pumped to be a small part of the EquiLife and IHP mission.

I’d also ask you about your thoughts on peptides, especially GLP-1/GIP. I know this can be an intense topic, but I’m always curious to hear what my friends think about anything in the health/wellness space. I’ve always loved certain peptides and their abilities – like collagen peptides, the OneSkin products I use every day, glutathione, and NAD+ – but was a hard no on GLP-1s for a long time. I’ve learned more, and have changed my mind, especially when it comes to microdosing.

To my knowledge, there aren’t any large studies when it comes to microdosing; GLP-1s have been around a long time but the related studies are based on larger, therapeutic doses. Quite a few health experts I trust have spoken about longevity benefits from microdosing.

If I end up giving it a try, I’ll definitely report back because I’ve heard it can be beneficial for blood sugar response, inflammation (I’m feeling extra inflamed right now), and perimenopause. I don’t think you should depend on these things – and that you should test to see what underlying imabalances are happening – but can possibly be a helpful lever if you’re feeling stuck.

I’d watch to know if you’ve tried any good recipes lately and what you’re making for dinner tonight. I made this beef bowl for the first time about a month ago, and the girls request it fairly often. It’s SO good and satisfying! I started adding artichokes to it, too. The sauce + the beef and veggie mixture is amaaaazing.

I’d also ask if you want to split a couple of gluten-free treats with me

Thanks for catching up today, friends, and for being here. Have a wonderful day and I’ll see ya soon!

xo

Gina

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