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February 14, 2008
Bar Method hurts
so good
by Monica Eng | TRIBUNE REPORTER
I don't like trembling. Especially not
in public. But while I was attending
my first session of The Bar Method exercise class
recently, we actually got praised when we'd pushed
ourselves so hard that our limbs started to shake.
Our teacher, Catherine Wendel, said it was a
sign that our muscles were getting stronger.
And strength training is a major part of this
exercise philosophy that hit Chicago only a couple
of weeks ago -- opened by San Franciscan Wendel
and a partner.
A blend of Pilates, yoga, ballet and weight work,
The Bar Method has enjoyed popularity on the coasts
for years. And if you can believe "Extra,"
it's the "best of the best when it comes
to star workouts."
I don't think I saw any stars when I arrived
at the studio on the ground floor of the new lofts
opposite the Vic Theatre on a recent night. I
did, however, see at least 18 women who were already
Bar Method devotees. In the locker room they told
me that they started going the first day (Jan.
11) or have been doing it with a DVD for a while
and were eager to try a studio class.
Although almost all of us wore socks (required),
a T-shirt and black yoga pants for the workout,
you may want to skip black as the studio's light
colored carpet is still shedding extra fibers.
We started the workout by hanging from a bar
-- the kind that you had in your grade school
gym. This is to strengthen your arms and stretch
you out before and after the workout. At eye level,
there's a watch that lets you see when two long
minutes are up. Luckily for me, beginners can
stop after 30 seconds. I barely made it.
The workout begins in the studio with atmospheric
music and some standing, body-warming leg lifts.
It moves quickly to curls and smaller focused
arm lifts done with hand weights and proceeds
to 20 pushups. Next we take a place next to the
ballet bar and perform a series of stretches,
plies releves (rising up on our toes) and leg
lifts in arabesque. This is where the pain kicks
in. As we stood in first position (it helps to
know a few ballet and yoga terms in this class),
got on our tiptoes and dipped down for about 30
plies I was OK. Ten more and I was hurting. Another
10, and I thought I would collapse but was determined
to finish, darn it. That's when our instructor
shouted, "Only 20 more, ladies." What?
I collapsed into an incredulous laugh as my trembling
legs cramped and crumpled beneath me.
These exercises are followed by mat work with
a cushion propped against the wall under the bar.
We raise our hands and hold the bar and lift our
legs employing small focused movements to work
our thighs and butt. After each of the intense
strength-training moves, we stretch the flaming
muscle. The idea is to build the muscle then elongate
it immediately afterward.
Most exercises are offered in beginner and advanced
forms. I didn't even contemplate the advanced.
Next, we move our mats into the middle of the
room to perform abdominal crunches and stretches
on our back with a strap, which helps pull our
legs toward the chest. We follow that with another
20 pushups.
The one-hour workout finishes with gentle stretches
and breathing punctuated by another hang on that
bar. This time, it's even harder.
As I gingerly got dressed in the handsome locker
rooms -- outfitted with showers and beauty tables
even though most didn't use them -- I asked the
other ladies if they also struggled in the class.
Some loved the challenge, and one woman thought
it was harder than the class she'd attended a
few days earlier.
Wendel explained that, in about three classes,
you develop muscle memory -- and that will help
you through these moves that stress muscles that
you may not use in other workouts.
It's four days after the class and I am still
smarting in my upper arms and butt. But I feel
drawn back to the Bar Method, because I think
I can see increased definition in those areas
already. Hmmm. Plus, for many commuters the studio
is located in a super-convenient spot -- steps
from the Belmont "L" stop, where many
end up stopping every morning anyway. And, they
have childcare ($6) during many of the classes
and validated parking ($2) in the building.
If you can stick to this workout, it appears
-- like many tough supervised exercise regimens
-- to offer fantastic results: long, toned muscles
and a super-flat stomach. Just don't give up too
soon.
The Bar Method
Where: 3144 N. Sheffield Ave.; 773-935-2150,
http://www.barmethod.com/chicago
When: Classes are scheduled most hours between
6 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Cost: $20 for a single class, but packages make
it much cheaper and new clients can purchase an
unlimited 30-day pass for $100
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