It looks so unassuming. It’s a rectangular room with mirrors and a ballet barre along three walls. No fancy equipment. No jocks grunting as they lift 200 lb weights. Just a bunch of ladies chatting quietly waiting for class to begin. Our instructor walks in and tells us to grab 2 or 3 lb weights (the 5 lb weights will probably be too heavy, she says), a band and a ball. I’ve been a runner most of life and have lifted weights for years. This will be cake.
The music starts pumping and we begin a warm up. Easy enough. Then all of a sudden, we hit the floor, begin a “Pilates Hundred” series and continue with a (oh geez!) 90-second plank, side planks, continuous push ups, and isometric arm exercises. Suddenly the 3 lb dumb bells weigh about 100 lbs, and my ego has officially been checked at the door. And we’re just 10 minutes in.
Welcome to Pure Barre.
