pure barre

I’ve been to two other Pure Barre locations (in Chicago) and this one has definitely been the most spacious and inviting! The facilities are super clean and the age demo ranges from college student to mother of three children. I love how spacious the studio is — you don’t have to worry about competing to get a «good» spot!
Pure Barre WORKS and I love how tough these classes are. I highly recommend trying at least one Pure Barre class in your life. Warning. you WILL be addicted!

Super friendly studio. If you want to work hard and get stronger, this is the place to go.

I’ve done a lot of different exercises in my life, but nothing compares to Pure Barre. In the past, I’ve had to make sure to different sets of exercise for different benefits — cardio, resistance training, yoga. Pure Barre covers all of them in a 1-​hr session. I’ve done it almost exclusiviely for the past 2 years (2−3x a week) and am in the best shape of my life. More importantly, it’s a great functional workout. Running or lifting weigts 5 times a week will only get you really good at running and lifting. With PB, I’ve seen terrific improvement in golf, tennis, and *ugh* housework.
I’ve tried other barre workouts here in Ann Arbor and in Chicago and PB came out on top. The instructors, moves, and music were best.
For newcomers, it’ll be very challenging. But they’re really helpful for all fitness levels. I recommend doing the new client special for $ 20 for 10 days. If you can make it 3x in that period, you’ll get in a groove. I, like several friends, noticed results within 3 – 4 weeks.

I have now been going to Pure Barre for over 2 years, and I still adore it. I leave class feeling physically energized and mentally relaxed. I have tried all the Barre workouts in town, and there is no competition. It is that good.

Pure Barre has been a great experience for me. Not only are the instructors helpful, but I truly feel like I’ve gotten something out of the past 3 months that I’ve been attending classes. I enjoy working out in general, but I find it very hard to commit. With having to cancel class 4 hours before your scheduled to go in (or you are charged $ 15), it keeps me going!
When I first started Pure Barre, I found a lot of the moves very difficult and I still struggle during some classes. But I can see an improvement in my flexibility, arms, & thighs. And I think the moves do come easier with time, but you will probably never be perfect — and that’s okay!
The only downside is the price. I wish it was more affordable, because I really enjoy going to the classes. I can usually only buy classes if there is a special going on. I do encourage any newbies to do the 10 classes for $ 20. That’s how I got started!

Went to Pure Barre when a friend recommended it. I’ve been pretty skinny most of my life but not active at all! I dread going to the gym. Certain exercises will hurt my knees, I get bored, quit halfway through the workout, and pretty much give up.
I purchased the $ 20 for 10 days pass because I had no idea what to expect. The first class was difficult and I could barely keep up. However, unlike the gym, time went by much faster and I was feeling the burn! The low-​impact moves were much better for my knees. My first class was with Anna and she was GREAT! She kept me motivated and although I wanted to quit at times, I knew I had to keep going. The music was great and that pushed me even more. The next day I could barely move but part of me wanted to keep going! I went every other day those first 10 days so I could get the best out of the $ 20 deal.
I’ve tried other instructors but always kept coming back to Anna. Her choice of music was the best and she will help and correct your form if you’re not doing it properly. For me this is major because I want to make sure I’m not wasting my time AND money! The downside to PR is the cost. This has kept me from going as regularly as I would like.
So If you’re like me and need that extra push, this is the class for you. Having to pay $ 15 for a cancellation that is less than 4hrs keeps me going. Once I’m there, the instructors are motivational, and so are the others around you. I never regret going!

Pure Barre AA is the absolute best!
It’s such an incredible and challenging hour-​long workout that targets every area of your body. The teachers are great — they’re motivating, enthusiastic, and dedicated. They make sure you’re doing the exercises correctly, and help you when you’re not. AND the music is amazing! This definitely helps keep me motivated. Another great part of Pure Barre is that the workouts are very similar from class to class. They’re not so similar that it gets boring or monotonous, but similar enough that you’re not spending lots of time each class trying to figure out new exercises. It’s the perfect amount of variety. Plus — somehow the workout NEVER gets easy! It’s challenging every time and you always feel like you’re getting an incredible workout in!
Pure Barre is really such a great workout. I’ve been doing it only for a few months now, but I’m obsessed! I’ve seen so many great changes in my body — I feel stronger and I’m more flexible & toned. It’s fun & effective — what else could you want?!

Great workout!
The space itself is clean and modern. All the equipment was in good shape and each student wipes everything down after they use it. There are open cubbies to keep stuff in during class. A more secure space would be nice. I don’t think there is a changing area other than a bathroom but I am not sure. There is plentiful parking.
All the staff I met were very nice and my teacher helped me out when she noticed I was lost.
My only complaint is the price. It seems like the cheapest you can get the class is $ 15 when you buy a package of 20 online. One previous reviewer mentioned using spa finder gift cards that you can buy discounted at Costco, but unfortunately Pure Barre Ann Arbor is no longer listed on the Spa Finder website. I will probably continue to go to get in shape for my wedding but after that I may need to stop due to cost. Oh yeah… don’t feel peer pressured into buying the fancy black pure barre socks. I have been wearing basic white athletic ankle socks and they seem to work just fine :)

Let me first caveat my review by saying that I take regular barre classes out of my base in Los Angeles from another barre studio, Pop Physique, whom I ADORE.
While spending a week with family and friends in MI, I needed a nearby studio with barre classes to avoid completely falling off of my workout routine during vacay. Pure Barre on Oak Valley seemed to be the obvious choice. I was also thrilled to see their new client special of $ 20 for 10 days, which, given my time in town was perfect! I went to a total of three classes within a 6 day period.
A good friend and I went to our first class on a Friday at 7:45. I want to say the name of our instructor was Allison, though I’m not completely sure. Our instructor, did however have long red hair. After having taken barre classes before, I’m used to going through the various movements and having the instructor describe exactly which muscles you should be working out for each exercise to ensure you are doing it correctly. A good instructor will do the counts with the music so you know how much longer you will be in pain for. A really great teacher will even go so far as to make corrections for folks who are doing the movements incorrectly and/​or having trouble. In our first class, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE… not even close. Both my friend and I were COMPLETELY LOST throughout the majority of the class. This teacher, would start to count, with the music, then just trail off and walk around the room… uh…ok. Not really sure what she was doing but it definitely wasn’t correcting any students as far as I could tell and she certainly wasn’t doing the exercise either, so my friend and I had to look to other students around us to try to understand what was happening. This instructor barely took the time to physically show the class what it was we were supposed to be doing. I get that everyone has off days, but COME ON! I really would have thought that by having some kind of barre background I’d have some idea about what was going on during our first class, but the instructor was THAT TERRIBLE. I felt bad for my poor friend who had never taken barre class before so this was her first (AWFUL) experience. I judge each barre workout by the level of muscle soreness i have the next day or even the day of and my soreness level on day 1: very barely.
My friend and I promised to give it another shot and try another instructor. For our 2^nd class we had Anna, who was a bit better. She at least counted through the songs and kind of made adjustments to students. We left feeling better about it because we weren’t completely lost, but the class itself still wasn’t to the caliber (of pain) that I’m used to at my LA studio. Soreness level on day 2: mildly sore.
For the third class, our instructor was Amy, who was definitely the best of the three. She was more detailed than the previous 2 instructors in that she took more time to describe each of the exercises and count all the way through at a pace that everyone could keep up with. Noticeably, the same playlist was used from class number 2, which was slightly annoying because then the workout seems predictable (even if the movement varies from class to class). Soreness level on day 3: mildly sore.
All in all Pure Barre is just ok. One of the fundamental issues I have with this studio based on my experience, is there were a number of exercises that, though explained by Anna and Amy, didn’t really make much sense in terms of stretching or working out any muscle. There were other exercises which should be done in specific positions (i.e. tucking your tailbone under) to avoid from throwing out your back and were NEVER explained to the class the proper position/​s to avoid injury. Tsk tsk Pure Barre, you should really watch out for your students a bit more… especially at such a premium cost.
Other minor cons that stood out… no natural light, likely to give students privacy, which I get (but there are window shades that can block the view from the outside) and the carpeted floor (carpet burn much?, isn’t that why barre classes typically call for the socks w/​grips to keep folks from sliding around on hardwood floor).
I really hope that there are other, better teachers at this location. Now that I’ve written a novel for a review I hope that someone finds this helpful in some way.

I absolutely adore Pure Barre. I started coming to Pure Barre after trying barre at Vie last summer, and came pretty regularly until I moved out of A2.
If you are interested in giving PB a try, purchase their $ 20 for 10 day pass. It is a great deal to give it a try. I’d suggest coming to at least three classes, try different instructors, and really get a feel for what it’s like.
After several weeks of steady work, you can tell a HUGE difference in your body. The classes are definitely intense, and they remain intense because even though the exercises and movements are repetitive, you can chose how deep you bend or how heavy your weights are etc. I have tried both their morning and evening classes, and their morning classes are definitely less packed. I loved Jasmine when she was teaching now, but she has left and I haven’t seen her since :(I also really enjoy Jessica’s classes and love taking a class with Carrie when I get a chance.
Compared to Barre Bee, I feel the quality of instruction is MUCH higher. They really focus on technique, and proper execution. Because the classes are relatively small, it’s great to get that individual attention from the instructor to tweak your stance or tell you you are doing well!
Parking here is also a plus, since it’s not downtown it’s never a hassle to park.
My only negatives for this place is I tend to get a little cabin fever-​y when I depend on this as my only workout. I typically purchase the month unlimited, and switch between other places for the next month, and then come back. If you are a high frequency attendee (4 – 5 times a week), you may feel similar to me. I kept asking the instructors to change up the music, and I was occasionally rewarded with a new song in the playlist. But hearing the same songs over and over again every day when you are already doing an almost identical routine can be hard.
The other negative is that it is a bit pricey. But I found several ways to help in this regard. 1. Watch out for the deals that they have. I scored one month unlimited over Black Friday. I then signed up for one of their challenges and purchased my next month’s unlimited at a reduced price as well. 2. They also accept spafinder gift certificates. You can buy these at costco for about $ 80 for $ 100 worth. I believe you can find them online as well. I purchased these, and received some for Christmas. $ 20 may not seem like a lot but when you are talking about $ 165 for a month unlimited, it puts a nice little dent in there!
Lift Tone Burn, guys!

The first thing you do when taking a class here is sign a form stating whether or not you are employed by a gym or are a fitness instructor and agreeing not to «duplicate» what you see or learn at Pure Barre. This is surprising considering that the class itself cites Pilates (the hundreds, roll-​ups), yoga (cobra position, planks), and ballet. However, the class itself is most like an aerobics or other group fitness course in terms of music style, the way the instructor talks, and in general atmosphere. I like club music so that part was fine, but the instructor used a wireless mike in a room that was about the size of a normal living room, which didn’t seem needed. the pros: this is a no-​impact workout that didn’t hurt my bad knees at all, and there are no difficult combinations to learn. anyone who’s taken any other fitness class can keep up with this one no problem. it was a good workout and I was sweating, and felt sore the next day. the cons: if you take real pilates, yoga, or ballet you will be totally confused because the movements in Pure Barre are kind of jerky and abrupt, very unlike these styles, and if you don’t feel comfortable squeezing a small ball between your upper thighs you’re out of luck. There are no individual corrections, also unlike pilates, ballet, or yoga, even in a small class. The instructor will practice next to you if you’re not doing what everyone else is doing and you can watch.

I LOVE Pure Barre. It’s the most effective, fun, full-​body workout and I am completely addicted. I started last summer with a month unlimited package and I never want to quit!
Pure Barre targets the butt, abs, thighs and triceps, and the workouts are done to high-​energy music with lots of stretching in between. I’ve tried Barre Bee Fit but Pure Barre is a much, much better and more fun workout. ALL of the teachers are great (but my favorite are Jasmine and Nicole), and the studio is always clean and tidy.
The only downside is that it’s really quite expensive, $ 165 for a month unlimited package or $ 21 per class ($ 15 for students). But, it is popular for a reason, and I love it so much I always manage to scrounge up the money :).

I absolutely love the barre classes here! I got a $ 20 unlimited 10 day pass to try it out, and it was my first time taking barre classes. It’s a great workout – abs, thighs, butt (definitely the butt), calves – that’s both fun and challenging. I hate going to the gym because it’s boring and I’m definitely one of those people who lay back and read the New Yorker while leisurely pedaling. But the barre class is great because it pushes you, but you also have fun. I might also be in the minority of people that enjoy gym music.
The studio here is really clean, the classes are small, and there’s lots of variety in the exercises. I’ve taken classes here with 3 different teachers that instruct on varying levels of difficulty, so I think it’s pretty perfect for people at all different levels.
The only negative is that it is prohibitively expensive here. $ 165 for one month is pretty insane for me as a student. I think if they had even a slightly discounted student rate, they could expand their business by quite a bit because the classes are high-​quality and the teachers are top-​notch. So as much as I’d like to return – I can’t afford it!

I am in love with Pure Barre! I’ve been a believer in pilates for about 8 years and recently learned more about the Lotte Berk method, which seems to be the basis of the Pure Barre method. I’ve done similar workouts that are simple but effective; PB is a new level of burn! The movements are simple and small, but they get right to the point… in an hour class, you won’t waste a minute! I could see the results after a week! Expect to sweat and to work harder than you ever have for an hour. The studio itself is pretty small, so classes fill up quickly. I would recommend some sticky socks (not required) and to take advantage of the water they offer. While it is really quite expensive, I’m used to it because pilates and yoga just are expensive, so sticker shock might keep you away. Don’t let it! For the results, I think Pure Barre is with the money, and they have all kinds of deals that can make it a little less painful to your pocketbook. I would (and do!) recommend this to everyone who is looking for some fitness advice. (For clarity, I’ve been a runner for years as well, so I was in really good shape before I started and this class STILL kicked my butt the first time!)

I love pure barre! I signed up because some of my friends were raving about it, and showed up for my first class clueless. I signed in, put on my socks and then we were off. From the beginning, it was clear this was going to be tough. The individual movements alone are not difficult, but the number of repetitions really gets you, as do the slightly strange positions. That first time there were some parts that just plain hurt (and not in the good-​sore way). But I made it out of the first class alive and have been going back ever since! I could barely walk out that first time, but it has definitely gotten easier. While I don’t think this is the best cardio workout, it’s a nice change of pace and a good pilates-​barre workout. If you’re familiar with barre work it may be easier to get the movements right away. Also, if you go often enough, you might find you prefer some of the instructors over the other, but the online sign up makes it easy to see who’s teaching when.
So pros:
–good, tough workout
–will make you sweat
–instructors are very nice and helpful (and will never make you feel bad if you have to stop/​modify)
cons:
–I personally would like a bit more cardio
–expensivo! The classes cost a lot, even with the student discount, so I never go as often as I’d like.
I would (and do) recommend pure barre to my friends/​neighbors/​coworkers/​anyone who asks! Definitely be prepared to work but it’s so worth it.

Amazing workout! Very friendly staff!
This is a very challenging workout, but yields amazing results. I started about 4 weeks ago and am down one dress size, not to mention the muscle tone!
Love the small class size and instructor attention!

I need to preface any review of a gym or fitness spot with letting you know that I’m not exactly the most athletic or fit person in the world. I’m no couch potato. I’m always busy running around town doing things, but my workouts are pretty basic — some time on the elliptical a few days a week, a few sessions of restorative yoga, that’s about it.
So, though I loved trying Pure Barre, I was in over my head. Since this studio is very new and the word is still getting out, I was fortunate to sign up for a class that ended up being a private lesson. I thus avoided totally embarrassing myself and also got plenty of personal encouragement and guidance from the owner/​trainer there, Carrie Bristol.
The workout is low impact on the joints, but it’s not easy. The small movements are deceptive — lots of reps and the fact that they seem to work muscles you’re not used to using makes the whole thing feel pretty intense.
The format blends together some elements of pilates, ballet, and weight training. One thing that I appreciated was that there is a good amount of stretching to balance out the more intense strengthening exercises.
My abs ached a bit in a good way, and were really «awake/​activated» when I went into yoga practice a day later. This was a positive thing. I think that some of the other exercises may have been a little too much for me. I totally had to stop early on one or two — I was joking that I really needed a remedial class! Still, it was my first time, so I’m sure it hit me harder than it would if I went to the classes regularly.
Carrie was very sweet, adaptable, and encouraging. The first class is even free, which is nice. The workout seems like it would be really effective, and might be easier for someone who was in even better shape to jump into.
I’ll probably be back, but I feel like I may need to work up to it a little more first! Whew!