One of the most commonly asked questions we get at The Bar Method is how many calories we’ll burn during our workouts. We’re sharing how our barre training can help torch calories through a combination of isometric moves and cardiovascular exercise — and how many calories you can expect to burn per class.

Do Barre Workouts Burn Calories?

Yes! Most Bar Method students burn 250–500 calories in a class — and they continue to burn additional calories for several hours after the workout due to the intense muscle work.

Barre workouts use isometric training to strengthen muscles while burning calories in the process. According to a study published in The Journal of Applied Research, isometric training — when combined with a dietary program — is shown to boost weight loss and reduce various circumference measurements in as little as one month.

How Many Calories Will I Burn Doing Barre?

While no scientific assessments of caloric burn-rate in Bar Method classes have been done, here’s what we can tell you based on burn rates of comparable exercise techniques: A 125-pound woman in good shape reported burning about 350 calories with a Bar Method workout (and closer to 400 calories in a beginning/intermediate studio class due to the faster pace). In addition, Bar Method workouts give an approximately 100-calorie additional post-workout burn-off from the build-up of lactic acid.

Advanced classes burn more, as a Bar Method student named Kristen reported a few years ago. “I wore my heart rate monitor for a couple of level-two classes and burned almost 500 calories (per class);” she said. “I burn about 600 on an hour-long run.” Another student, a man who took his first class wearing a heart rate monitor, burned 800 calories. Students in other barre fitness classes who wore calorie counting devices reported burn-offs ranging from 136 to 701 calories.

Why Do Barre Calorie-Burn Rates Vary?

Just how many calories you burn depends on a number of variables such as your height, weight, muscle mass, fitness level, age, your overall exertion, and many other factors. According to Kerrisa Smith Manheimer, National Coach and Physical Therapy Consultant for The Bar Method, “It’s very difficult to give an accurate range since there are many factors involved.”

Another reason for the variation in results is the heart rate monitor itself. As Mikael Mattsson, a senior researcher (Ph.D.) at Stanford University, explains to Business Insider, “The reason it’s so difficult to get the calorie counts correct is that you’re not really measuring the calorie counts. To do that, you need to measure all the cells in your body and how much energy they are using. And obviously, you’re not going to do that.”

Does Barre Include Cardio, and Will I Do Cardio in a Barre Class?

While many people understandably associate barre routines with stretching, there’s a lot more to this workout technique. At The Bar Method, our workouts challenge your muscle strength as well as your cardiovascular system, creating an intense workout that burns calories throughout the class — and for several hours after the workout.

“While The Bar Method has always had a focus on both safe and effective exercises, we have evolved to offer formats that focus on different goals our clients may have, from classes that focus on cardio to advanced classes that focus on muscle endurance and restorative classes that focus on flexibility,” Manheimer adds. “As we continue to expand our offerings, clients are able to meet a variety of their fitness goals by attending Bar Method classes.”

Can The Bar Method Help Me Lose Weight?

Absolutely! The Bar Method’s exercise formula is specifically designed to maximize weight loss while strengthening muscles. Most students who do The Bar Method regularly become slimmer and lighter — sometimes within months. These results are what keep our clients coming back for more.

One of the reasons The Bar Method is so effective is that it intentionally targets your largest, most calorie-hungry muscle groups (those in your legs and glutes) and keeps them working at an intense pace. This combination of strength training and stamina building boosts the volume of energy you burn in each class.

The Bar Method also adds density to your muscle fiber, making your body more efficient at burning calories all day long. Plus, The Bar Method’s quick and noticeable results keep students motivated and feeling great about the transformation they can see in their bodies. It’s a great incentive to continue with the program and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How to Torch More Calories with The Bar Method

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how many calories you’ll burn during a barre class, but there are some ways to ensure you’re meeting your fitness goals. If monitoring your calorie expenditure is important to you, we suggest wearing a fitness monitor to class to better gauge your personal performance and numbers. We also recommend supplementing your Bar Method workout with a healthy diet and various other forms of cardio like walking, running, dance or sports to boost your overall results.

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