Looking for support from barre class members

juliek1960
juliek1960 Posts: 37
in Getting Started
Hi I just started barre class last week. I bought a groupon to take 10 classes. I haven't worked out in a year and am able to do this full class, but my knees and hips hurt so bad. I keep reading that I should work thru the pain, and it will get easier, but wow I have never hurt this much..

How many calories does it burn?

Does a bath with epsom salts work??

Really seeking information..Thanks

Replies

  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    Hi

    welcome to MFP

    Losing body weight is based on calorie deficit. You have to eat less calories than you burned through activity.

    Try managing your eating calories first.

    This link may be of help

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    I found the most accurate way to track my burned calories was a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM). Chest strap model works better for me. You may think about this option if you are able to keep frequent daily activity.
    I found Internet estimates for a certain type of activity grossly overestimated. It all depends on your intensity, not just the time.

    If you are able to lose some body weight, your knees and hip may be less painful.

    Good luck in your journey
  • dlkingsbury
    dlkingsbury Posts: 90 Member
    i love barre classes! do you have any prior injuries that could be causing you pain?
  • ichibanmom
    ichibanmom Posts: 10 Member
    If you are doing Bar Method they offer 3 different classes: Level 1, Mixed Level and Level 2, start off taking Level 1 and go from there. I have doing this religiously everyday for the past 5 years, I do a Level 2 class 5 times a week and burn between 380 - 425 calories a class. It wil become a love / hate relationship...but if you stick with it, you will become addicted. The first couple of weeks everything will hurt, but the payoff is huge. Lifted seat, strong core, cut arms and legs.
  • juliek1960
    juliek1960 Posts: 37
    hi thanks for sharing. my body hurts so bad right now, especially my knees. the last class that i went to was on thursday and it's tuesday and i'm not sure i can make it today. i'm wondering if this is something that i should be doing or is it normal to hurt this badly 4 days later..
  • juliek1960
    juliek1960 Posts: 37
    hi i don't have any prior injuries. i like this workout but i took a class 4 days ago and i'm still in so much pain. i find i can do the entire class, but feel pain immediately after. i guess i should ask the instructors if there are different things i can do so my knees don't hurt so much.
  • ichibanmom
    ichibanmom Posts: 10 Member
    If your knees are hurting you during "Thigh" (and you do not have any previous injuries) you shouldn't go high on the balls of your toes. You can do something called "Narrow V" where you put your heels together and only go an inch or two off the ground. I hope that this makes sense. As you take more classes and get stronger, it will stop hurting.
  • Goldfishnyc
    Goldfishnyc Posts: 3 Member
    I take barre classes at Exhale Spa (Core Fusion). It is not normal at all for your knees or joints to hurt during or after class. You should talk to your teachers and let them know what kind of pain you're feeling. They should be able to help you by suggesting modifications during the parts that hurt you.
  • juliek1960
    juliek1960 Posts: 37
    thanks for sharing. i did my last barre workout on thursday and i'm still in so much pain. i just took an epson salt bath and hope i can take another class tomorrow. i will have to ask them what i'm doing wrong..
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    is this like ballet exercises on a bar?
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    Whoa... This is a thing?? Pretty cool! I wonder how legit this is though. It's really important in ballet that your body is in proper alignment. I'm not familiar with these classes though, just speaking from a dancer's point of view.
  • watchhillgirl
    watchhillgirl Posts: 597 Member
    Booty barre classes are a lot of fun! Yes, you will be sore, but once you get the hang of it, it is a lot of fun. You are working muscles that haven't been worked in a long time! Just take it slow and have fun! Don't over extend too much!
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    Your actual knee and hip joints hurt? ... Perhaps you are performing the exercises incorrectly, your posture may be off ... just a thought?
  • bakerj1966
    bakerj1966 Posts: 2
    Barre class is intense in many ways. The 60 minutes classes left me exhausted and feeling accomplished. I was in pain for a few days after the class, but it was muscle pain not joint pain. I switched to doing the classes online and prefer the 30 minute session (they also have 10, 30,40 and 60 minute sessions. I completed the 28 day challenge and saw good toning and tightening changes in my 47 year old body. As I did the classes more classes I felt more worked out after a class and not nearly as sore. Good luck to you.
  • juliek1960
    juliek1960 Posts: 37
    hi it's like ballet, yoga with weights...it's a great class, workouts go so fast there is great music and you will definitely feel it for the next few days..it's a class where you can get addicted very quickly..i love it..
  • juliek1960
    juliek1960 Posts: 37
    it's been 7 days since my last barre class and i'm still in a lot of pain. i've spent the last 2 days icing my knee. i know i did the exercises correctly because i had the instructor show me exactly how to do it correctly and also told her how bad my knees hurt. i plan on going back on monday just wont do the exercises where you bend the knee over your foot (are those plies???)
  • Aidnos
    Aidnos Posts: 3 Member
    Speaking from the perspective of a former dancer (who's just started up doing barre work at home again as part of my exercise routine):

    1. Aleve or Ibuprofin are typically the best for joint pain (as they are anti-inflammatory painkillers and don't just mask the pain, they reduce the cause of the pain). If you're taking other painkillers for the pain, switch to these.

    2. Perhaps reduce your turnout for the exercises? Getting your knees over your toes every single time with every single bend is more important than having a wide turnout, especially when starting out. If the angle is just 30 degrees, that's fine. No one should expect you to have an instant 180 turnout and getting your knees over your toes during plies is more important. Greater turnout will come as your hips get more flexible. (And yes, definitely avoid the plies until your knees are feeling better. You don't want to exacerbate an injury.)

    3. Engage your muscles firmly all the time. Each exercise should be highly controlled. Even if you're just standing in turnout between sets, your legs, gluts, abs, all those muscles should be engaged, not relaxed. Keeping the all your muscles firmly engaged through the exercises will help stabilize your joints. (I have an old knee injury, so I have had to learn to be especially careful with this.)

    A good barre routine can definitely make you sore, throbbing pain from worked muscles or from intense stretches, and sometimes it can take a while to go away and you just have to work through it. So pay attention to the quality of the pain. Throbbing is usually okay, but it shouldn't be a sharp jabbing pain. That generally indicates an injury is happening. To avoid injuries, don't overdo it. It's good to push yourself a little, but, especially starting out, it's okay if your plies aren't very low or your battements aren't very high. It's really challenging stuff (moreso than it looks, since part of ballet is learning to make it look effortless) and it takes a while to build up strength and flexibility and the technique to not hurt yourself while doing it. Take it easy so you don't injury yourself, and then gradually build up the intensity as the exercises get easier and for now focus more on good technique. Once the technique is firm in your muscle memory, then start pushing the plies further.

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