About Us

The Bar Method in Brief

The Bar Method™workout creates a uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles.

The result is a noticeable “Bar Method” sculpted body featuring:

• Firm, elongated muscles
• Reduced body fat
• High muscle definition in the chest, upper arms and upper legs
• Improved posture
• Long, narrow thighs
• A lifted seat and defined hamstrings
• Strong, flat abdominals
• Increased stamina and energy
• Extended youthfulness

About The Bar Method, Inc.

Burr Leonard, a former journalist, has been practicing and improving on the exercises that now make up The Bar Method exercise system since 1991. 

Lotte Berk

Burr had been an avid Lotte Berk Method student since 1981 and had been teaching since 1991 when she was The Lotte Berk Method's sole licensee. See more about Lotte Berk origins>

In 1991 Burr and Carl Diehl, a lawyer, opened their first exercise studio in Greenwich, Connecticut.  In 2000 they founded The Bar Method, Inc. and the next year opened their flagship studio in San Francisco.  Since then they have built and franchised many Bar Method studios around the country and have produced two exercise dvds, the first in an ongoing series.

They currently co-own The Bar Method™, Inc., The Bar Method™ Franchising Company, and with Beth DiMicco, The Bar Method™ Media, Inc.

For more about the Bar Method:

Find exercise classes near you.

See more about how our body sculpting exercises work.

Workout at home with the Bar Method exercise dvds.

Find out more about Bar Method's Core Strengthening Secrets.

Studio Franchising

In early 2008, The Bar Method Franchising Company, LLC, launched a new franchising program that is now expanding The Bar Method studios over the United States, Canada and elsewhere.  The Bar Method has a national reputation for superior teacher training and excellent support for its studio owners. 

Applicants for Bar Method franchises must be either current Bar Method teachers or Bar Method students who demonstrate the potential for becoming excellent teachers. Bar Method studio owners are required to teach classes, serve as models for their teachers, and maintain a high quality of teaching at their studios.  An offer to see a franchise can only be made after presentation of our Franchise Disclosure Document.

For more information on franchising, contact Carl Diehl at carl@barmethod.com.

If you are interested in becoming a teacher rather than a franchisee, please contact the studio at which you would like to teach.

*The information provided does not constitute an offer or sale of a franchise*

Shown below are (left) owners of the Chicago, IL Bar Method, (center) owner of the Marin, CA Bar Method, and (right) owners of the Bar Method in Downtown San Francisco, CA. — Photos by Kate B. Grove

Here are our independently owned and operated The Bar Method exercise studios as of July 2009:

For general information about classes and schedules, and contact information for all our studios see Exercise Studio Locations.