Long steeped in the basics of   Weight Training, Supersets, and Yoga as my favorite workout regimens, there come the times when I have a hankering to get back to my dancer’s roots.

See, dance is where I started. Actually, my love affair with dance began concurrently with my first study of yoga with my Mom years ago.

I was in my second year of high school. To my delight and surprise, I auditioned for and earned a spot in an esteemed, exclusive dance performance group. In those days, to have a physical activity curriculum that “legally” replaced the standard PE classes was pretty rare.

So, I scored double – not only was I a “dancer”, but no more hockey sticks and gymsuits! (The ones with the grippers up the front – remember?) 😯

Yes, no more geeky look- it was now blue leotards and tights.  Or as my dance teacher Millicent Hamburger (yes, that really was her name) often let us indulge in, silk scarves and skirts wrapped around our middles.  Talk about feeling pretty.  As one who comes from a background of mountain trail trekking, tree climbing, bruised knees and scratched elbows, flitting around in scarves and bare feet was a whole new, lovely world for me.

You see, “Miss H”, as we affectionately called her, had actually been a student of Martha Graham’s in New York.  The style was modern, modern, modern.  With lots of flow and movement from the middle.  Actually, THAT is where I got my basic training in how to work the core – it’s all there in Graham’s stuff.

Keep On Dancing

My dance career and indulgences continued through college, where as a Fine Arts major I got to further my new found love.

And indulge I did.  Not only did I get to study ballet, jazz, and more modern dance, but I took courses in Renaissance, Native American, and International Folk Dance as well.  I branched into choreography.  We had folk dancing laced throughout our wedding ceremony.  You get the idea.

Then “fitness” and “workouts” came along.  My “dance” nature was indulged with choreographing and teaching aerobic dance routines.  Fun, fun, fun.   Really.  I had a blast.  When step aerobics came along I just took my choreography there as well.  Pure sweaty indulgence.  But after awhile, more structured workouts absorbed my attention and became my personal workouts and trainer’s arena. 

Yet along the way, I intermittently get the urge for some of the beauty, flow, and unique conditioning and body shaping that comes with dance.  Barre-type workouts have been excellent choices and give me the feel and look I’m after.  There are several similar choices out there: Bar Method, Fluidity, Lotte Berk, Callanetics, Physique 57.  But my favorite has been the Bar Method.

Why The Bar Method?

Though the above listed barre-type workouts all have their origins in Lotte Berk style – which is based on physical therapy – the Bar Method has been my favorite in the lineup.  The reasons for this were the flow of the workout and the instructor on the videos.

To me, as I prefer to workout sans video, when I DO work out to DVD the instructor needs to be pretty clear, focused, and transparent. Don’t give me a lot of cutesy personality, please. The message and instruction must prevail.  Repeated viewings as we do with video make this even more essential to me.  Of the bunch in the Lotte Berk tradition, Burr Leonard on the Bar Method videos did this best.

However, after awhile I just wanted something more advanced without all the setup time.  This is where all other exercise video production camps need a “Tempo” track a la Teresa Tapp. Where once you have the flow, sequence, and instructional setup down, all you need are the reminders, the count, and the form checks.  The early Bar Method videos could only take me so far and then I became frustrated with all the stops and starts.

Good News!

Which is why I was really excited when I was asked to review the NEW (that’s right!) Bar Method videos.  Hurray!  Burr has released an Accelerated Workout video that takes you through a more advanced routine.   I’ll be trying it out and report back in with my findings.

I’ve polished my barre and am ready to go.  Let the dancer emerge!

© Lani Muelrath All Rights Reserved