Belly Up to the Bar

No, it has nothing to do with cocktails. The bar method is a new studio workout trend that doesn’t let two left feet stand in the way of fitness.

“The exercises give you a long, lean look like a dancer without learning choreography,” says Jean Chou, owner of the Bar Method Baton Rouge, a new studio opening on Bluebonnet Boulevard next month. “It’s a full-body exercise that is focused on conditioning muscles that support posture and your core.”

Chou, a lifelong swimmer and water polo player says the bar method was the only workout that could keep her in good shape after college.

It’s a smart, low-impact workout that exercises neglected muscles and is accessible to beginners but can be a challenge for even seasoned athletes. It’s safe, too. The program was developed by physical therapists, and Chou recommends it for men and women.

Chou is hosting free preview classes at De Frances Academy of Dance until Bar Method Baton Rouge’s grand opening in May.

Another bar method studio, called Pure Barre, is also set to open this spring on Perkins Road near the overpass. Co-owned by Mary Daniel Templeton, Pure Barre offers classes that are intense but low impact.

“Our classes are high energy and fast paced,” Templeton says. “The workout offers a full-blown attack on the problem areas that women struggle with the most: arms, thighs, seat and abs.” For more on these new businesses, visit batonrouge.barmethod.com and facebook.com/pure-barre-baton-rouge.