How to Make Your Workout Work For You

Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters. We never feel like we have enough of it, but at the same time, we don’t always utilize the time we do have for our health, wellness or happiness. “Not enough time” is also the number one excuse people use as their reason for not exercising. At The Bar Method, we know you have to make the time to exercise because you will never “find” more time. However, competing priorities and obligations constantly threaten our good-intentioned plans and often, it’s exercise that’s the first to move down the to-do list. We’re passionate—borderline obsessed even—with helping you fit movement and exercise into your everyday, so we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help you fit in your Bar Method class on even the most hectic days.

Make a Promise To Yourself

Before the week begins, look at your calendar and find at least three days you can commit to a workout. Book your classes ahead of time and add them to your calendar. Treat these workouts as an appointment with yourself that you cannot miss. After a few weeks of consistency, these classes will become more of a routine that your body knows and loves. You will see familiar faces in your Bar Method classes, begin to make friends, and before you know it, these classes will be something you look forward to, rather than something you have to find time for.

Log Out—No, Really

On average, Americans spend more than two hours a day on social media. Monitor your technology habits by adding an app to your phone that tracks your daily digital footprint—seeing how much time you spend on your phone (and where your time is being spent) can be an eye-opening catalyst for change. If you are struggling to commit to a workout routine, take your total time spent each day on your phone and see if you can reduce it by 30 minutes. We have 30-minute classes! Then work your way up to 45 minutes and then to an hour. No one has ever regretted spending less time on their phone and more time moving their body.

Schedule an Early Morning Class

Yes. You. Can. You may not think of yourself as a morning person, but a little transition and consistency in your routine might just change that. Start by committing to an early morning workout two days a week. Pay close attention to how your body feels throughout the day on the mornings you workout versus those that you don’t. You may be surprised to find out that you actually have MORE energy when you start your day with an early morning workout. When you book an early morning class,  treat yourself to a coffee or smoothie on your way home or to work. The endorphin rush from exercise paired with a caffeinated beverage will jumpstart your morning in the best way. Soon, you won’t even remember that once upon a time, you were “not a morning person.”

Try a Class with a Shorter Format

Your workout’s efficacy is not dependent on its length. That’s the beauty and the brilliance of The Bar Method. Each class is designed to maximize efficiency and kick your seat, regardless of class length.  With that said, our studios offer condensed class formats* that offer a total-body workout in the studio, but with a little bit of time back. Bar Express is a 45-minute barre class that offers the same burn of a traditional 60-minute class. It’s fast-paced and will keep you guessing from beginning to end. Bar Combo is a super-efficient class format that includes a warm-up, two full sets of two specific muscle groups, and the beloved stretch segment—all within 30 minutes. Instead of skipping your workout for the day, sign up for a shorter class on the days when your schedule is packed from a.m. to p.m.

*Not all studios offer these classes, so be sure to check out the schedule! 

Take a Barre Class at Home

There’s no place like The Bar Method studio. But occasionally, you may have to sacrifice your in-studio routine to fit in your workout. Ask your studio if they offer livestream classes or check out Bar Online—with both of these options, you can take a class from home, whether it’s in between meetings, while the baby is napping, or if you just need to move your body for 15 minutes. When The Bar Method comes to you, you can bring the magic into your daily routine every day no matter where you are.

Schedule classes in advance, spend less time online, wake up a little earlier, or shorten your class time and you will find that making time for a workout, isn’t as tough as you once thought it was. If you haven’t taken a barre class with us yet, take the first step and book a class today!