Pure Barre

The instructors are good, but the atmosphere is yuck! If you go bring a friend, the basic Bs are silent to you, even if you try and make small talk. They pack you into a room like sardines and everyone is silent. You will be sore though!

The pros — convenience, generally a good workout and some instructors take it up a notch.
The cons — Pure Barre inc.
The carpets all Pure Barres have are disgusting. They are hard, rough, and visually unappealing. They remind me of the carpet on the Metro system. However, that is a corporate problem and not the fault of this Pure Barre. The studio itself is a little claustrophobic.
I have had 1 or 2 good instructors. They generally offer challenging workouts. However Pure Barre is more concerned with being hard and challenging with tons of random props rather than having people doing the workouts safely and correctly so they are working the right part of their body the right way. You don’t really get the positive affects of a workout when 90% of the class has no clue what they are doing and are just flailing around like a fish out of water. Having taught barre previously, I can recognize this almost immediately. Also — this is what causes injuries. Again, Pure Barre inc trains their instructors to repeat a script when instructing to avoid any deviation from the corporate routines and image, just devoid of any individuality.

Love this studio! Friendly instructors, great location, and shape changing workouts (and a lifted seat as a bonus!)

First — I went into Pure Barre– Arlington with a completely open mind. It had great reviews when I was researching the teaching style and their team seemed very friendly based on their online presence. This is NOT the case in reality.
I started Pure Barre in Feb. of 2015 to get in shape for a June wedding. The instructor who did my intro class taught me the basics but after that, no one could even remember my name. I was attending class 4 – 5 times a week and signing up at least two weeks in advance to get into their pre 9am /​post 5pm classes. The classroom is also TINY for a group of up to 30 participants and you almost always feel crowded.
The instructors seemed more interested in talking to each other after class than getting to know the people they were teaching. I was looking for instructors who created a friendly environment with a great workout. I’d look somewhere else if you want engaging instructors or a challenging workout.

Pure barre was fine. I’ve taken a lot of barre classes in the area, and they really are all different so it’s just a matter of what you prefer. I tend to be a bit of a psycho about intense workouts and pure barre just wasn’t for me — I wanted a little bit more of everything. The instructor was great, I just didn’t feel like we held the moves long enough for me to really burn anything out. Nice studio though!

GREAT workout, great instructors, convenient location, reasonable prices (for what you pay for barre in this area). I signed-​up for the recurring contract, and it lowered the per-​class price a bit. The early morning and weekend classes fill-​up quickly, but the first few people on the wait list for the class generally get in. You must cancel reservations 3 hours before class (or the night before for weekend classes) to avoid a late fee, so you generally get a sense of whether you’re getting in off the wait list. The online reservation system and iPhone app make signing-​up for classes very convenient. I am so happy that Pure Barre is in Clarendon!

I am a cycling instructor at a high-​energy studio and I’ve really struggled finding a workout that keeps my attention and challenges me to offset the cycling. Jamie Howes at Pure Barre has done it! She is calm, motivating, and clearly knows what she’s talking about. You can tell she’s a dancer and I love seeing her technique shine through when she demonstrates each move. I also love Claire Bosworth. Her class is KILLER and my favorite! There is always a perfect amount of demonstration, motivation, and critique with every instructor.
Weekend classes are always waitlisted, but I’ve gotten in every single time.

After two months of ClassPass, I got the chance to try several different studios in the area. I like Pure Barre more than the other barre options because I feel like I’m getting a more challenging workout consistently. While the Arlington studio is on the smaller side when compared to a lot of the other studios, the instructors are great! I always feel challenged during the class, but love that these instructors push you to do your personal best and offer modifications to make each move easier or harder.

This is one of the best workouts I have done and I have been working out for years. The instructors tell you Pure Barre is a full body workout and they are not kidding… Each workout is challenging and yet fun. The more you go, the more you see results and the stronger you get. Love PB!

I fell in love with Pure Barre a few months before I moved to the Arlington studio and since my first class with Jenna I’ve become more and more hooked each day!
I was never a group fitness type of person at all but since finding Pure Barre it’s become my main workout. I used to only do cardio but since starting PB I have become so much stronger and gained confidence I never thought I would have! Not only does each class push you to work harder than the day before, but the teachers are extremely encouraging and supportive!
If you’re even considering starting Pure Barre you should absolutely try it! They offer a discounted price for your first class and a month unlimited for around $ 99. I must admit that after my first class at a different studio (and the soreness that I was not expecting the next day) I wasn’t sure what the hype was all about. I signed up for a month unlimited and quickly realized why everyone seemed to look forward to class each day! It’s such a great way to step outside of your comfort zone, especially if you weren’t a dancer growing up! I recommend Pure Barre to all of my friends and even got my mom hooked!
The Arlington studio is made up of some of the friendliest people and it is such a positive and encouraging environment! The girls at the front desk are always welcoming and the teachers are always willing to help you learn more about different moves or how to take your workout to the next level!

PB is awesome. It’s my favorite and only workout. I lost 20 lbs and I’m in the best shape of my life!

Pure Barre is a great workout (you don’t need my Unilocal review to confirm that), and this location is pretty convenient if you live in Northern Virginia. I had great experiences with all of the instructors, and I definitely noticed a difference in strength/​muscle tone from just a month of working out there.
A couple of tips to keep in mind, though, for newcomers:
— Yes, the classes DO fill up really quickly. However, a couple of things help with that: first, if you bought an unlimited package, it doesn’t go into effect until the day of your FIRST class. So you don’t really waste any time. Second, you basically have to reserve classes a week in advance. No need to stay up till 12am, just remember to get online sometime in the morning. You can always cancel later if your plans change. I honestly found it pretty manageable when I was doing the new client special.
— Definitely ask an instructor about the part of the class where you’re under the barre. I didn’t get it the first few times, and it did nothing for me, but once you realize what you’re supposed to be doing, it’s REALLY tough.
— Do not forget your sticky socks. The floor is carpeted so you’re not allowed to go barefoot unlike in some other studios, and in regular socks I was slipping all over the place. As if you need anything else to make that forearm plank feel harder.
— There’s only one bathroom, and it also doubles as a changing room. No showers or lockers or towels, just cubbies.

Just wanted to update my review for a couple of reasons. First, classes are way less full these days. When I first reviewed, it was winter, and like most gyms, it was pretty crowded since no one wanted to work out outside. Classes were really difficult to get into. However, nowadays, you can sign up for even a weekend class relatively last minute (the early morning classes fill up quick, but the late morning/​afternoon classes are doable). The weekday evening classes also don’t seem to get as full — I’ve signed up an hour before class and gotten in no problem. Second, I’ve taken more classes with different instructors, and I highly recommend Claire’s classes. She does a lot of adjustments, which is definitely helpful. Claire also explains more about the positions during class and I find myself doing self adjustments based on her comments. For example, sometimes I’ll be doing a seat exercise and I’ll be thinking, «ok my other leg feels weird» — and as if she can read my thoughts, she’ll say something like, «if you feel too much on your standing leg, try boxing your arms» (or something that sounds more helpful than what I just wrote).

As a newbie to Pure Barre this has been a great place to learn. Great instructors and music! Easy to get to location and nice clean studio.

Hard to set up classes since they are all full. I bought a package of classes for my gf and it will go to waste.

I love Pure Barre! For me, it’s definitely the most effective workout method around by far! It definitely has a cult following. Let’s just say when other non-​Pure Barre studios mention low client turnouts due to weather, Pure Barre classes are packed wall-​to-​wall. That says something!
For this review I am going to focus on the Arlington studio specifically. I’ve already written a lengthy and detailed review of Pure Barre in general, with some tips, which you can read here:
. Yes, it’s for another Pure Barre location, but it’s much further away, so I don’t see it as being in competition with the Arlington studio. Since Pure Barre is a franchise, the studios are all run in a similar fashion, so the review is still relevant.
Arlington location:
I’ve been to three Pure Barre locations and the Arlington location is my least favorite. It’s the most popular Pure Barre studio in all of Northern Virginia so classes are PACKED. Classes sell out well in advance. I would be upset if I had an unlimited package here because it would be difficult to use the package to capacity. This Pure Barre studio is also smaller than other locations. Expect to bump arms with your neighbor and have a foot in your face. It’s just the way it is. On a freezing February day, the room was really humid and hot. There are spaces where you can be situated under a fan to help with the heat. The entry way is packed too with 30 people coming and 30 people going all while getting or dropping off personal belongings.
Staff:
The staff and instructors are well trained. Out of all of the Barre studios I have attended, Pure Barre does the least amount of hands-​on corrections. The class is super fast paced, which I like, but sometimes I am concerned about my form and corrections would be helpful.
Parking:
It’s Clarendon, so parking can be a bit tough, but at least there are some free parking options around (the Alexandria studio’s parking situation is worse). There is street parking near the studio but it’s hard to snag a spot. I believe the cost for the meters is $ 1.25 per hour (free after 6 pm on weekdays and all day Sunday). A few blocks down (if you are in the studio facing outwards, go straight), there are some free 2-​hr and 4-​hr parking spots. Expect to walk 2 — 4 blocks. There are many nearby parking garages with varying rates.
Package Price and Restrictions:
Most of the Northern Virginia locations offer a 12-​month auto pay for $ 185/​mo. That’s the best value available. Packages cannot be transferred between studios even though the same owners own three studios. Once you attend 100 classes, you become part of the 100 club. Classes towards the 100 club are not transferable across studios. Also, when purchasing a package, you can only take classes at the same studio you purchased your package from. You cannot use that package at any other Pure Barre studio. You have to purchase separate classes if you want to attend multiple studios. This inflexibility is what prevents me from purchasing a package. I believe these rules are stipulated by the franchise agreement. One upside is that since each studio is considered to be independently owned, you can participate in the one month $ 99 new client special at each location.
Overall, there are some downsides to attending Pure Barre classes (packed classes, parking, pricing, package restrictions, etc), but the workout itself is phenomenal and worth checking out! Three stars for the Arlington Pure Barre studio, five stars for the Pure Barre workout.