Pure Barre

I had an amazing workout my first time here! The studio is spacious and well lit. Instructor Bergin was great. I attended a classic workout which live streamed on a Sat morning. I will definitely return here.

This is my second home.

I'm kind of a Pure Barre veteran I guess. I've been taking for a few years at another studio. I lost momentum there last year in June while I was moving closer to Pittsburgh and transitioning between jobs.

After a few months (about five), I realized there was a Pure Barre very close to where I work and decided that now that I'm settled in my new home it was something I wanted to get back into.

My first couple classes back have been pretty rough. My body was telling me "We haven't done this in months! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME AGAIN!" After my first class back I realized how much I loved this and needed it to be a part of my life again.

There are some truly amazing instructors at this studio and they do a lot of corrections here. This is something I GREATLY appreciate. My prior studio seemed to be pretty hands off of the people who had been there for a long time. I always want to get better and the instructors at this studio ensure that it's what will happen. What I've found that here there is an instructor for everyone and whoever my favorites are (and I have them) may not be your favorites. It's definitely good to try everyone's class once. It's a different atmosphere depending on who's teaching.

Obviously Pure Barre works. I've taken about 20 classes since I've been back into it and I can already feel my body changing and working the proper muscles during class.

The addition of Platform adds cardio to Pure Barre and I think that should help those people who are worried about that part of their workout. Right now, it's still in the early months of trial and error. It's a great class, but they're always packed. Schedule them in advance, but don't NO SHOW! There are a lot of people who WANT to be in those classes! (You'd probably wonder why, SO HARD!)

If you've never tried these classes before I highly suggest trying them here! I'm thrilled to continue my journey with Pure Barre at this location!

My first class was okay. My second class was terrible. The instructor in the second class (Burgwin) didn't take the time to demonstrate form. I was looking around and there were a lot of confused faces. Honestly she seemed pretty callous, like she didn't care if people knew what they were doing. I looked around at one point and she had left the room!!! What is that?! If you're a group fitness instructor your job is to communicate. She failed. Everyone has a different learning style and she should anticipate and adjust to her clients' needs. For $20 a class it wasn't worth it. I felt nothing the next day. They do have an excellent selection of workout clothing available for purchase (Beyond Yoga and Free People). Sooooo great place to shop, but I'll stick to workouts with a payoff. Also I could not hear the instructor! I'm used to loud gyms, but this place is insane. I'm in my twenties and felt like they needed to tone the music down. If you aren't going to demonstrate the actual form, at least make sure people can hear you. I don't know it seems like a fad fitness place.

Classy act. I think you can see that the management responded to my earlier review in a very nice, non-defensive way. They now offer (who knows if it will become a normal thing they offer on a regular basis) fundamental courses for free, which I think is an EXCELLENT idea for newbies. My friend and I went to one last night, and it was really helpful in introducing us to the movements in a more instructed way. That we got a good workout from it was a nice plus too.

So, I give them an extra star for adjusting to client needs. Please consider keeping this class on regular rotation. I can't quite bring myself to give the full five stars because of the cost, but want to give credit where credit is due.

Pure Barre, you are the best.

I just finished my new client special of one month unlimited classes at a discount. And man, after less than three weeks into it--what's that in the mirror? Definition!? Muscles changing!?

If you're like me, you won't understand the rationale of sweating in $80 pants and a $50 shirt. If you're like a lot of the other clients there, you'll look super, super cute and trendy while exercising. Either way, it's fine. Be happy that you are getting a workout that is effective.

The results are where most of the motivation comes from. I can tell you--as a non-athlete and a pastry fiend--Pure Barre will improve your physical fitness quickly, even if you're like me and can only hold a position for 20 seconds at a time.

The rest of the motivation comes from instructors that are helpful and encouraging, perfectly tempo'd music, and the fact that each exercise lasts for mere minutes, so you're always almost finished! The whole hour flies by.

Pure Barre gets 5 stars from me because it's a 5-star service, no question about it. However, unless you can attend a "Breaking Down the Bar" workshop (there wasn't one offered during my month), you will only learn the technique gradually. This can be frustrating because you want to get the most out of your investment. Still, it's not a huge deal because it's a great workout regardless, and the instructors will answer any questions you have and correct your form. I suggest trying a few classes with different instructors because they each have their own style, though the classes themselves are all very uniform.

So glad Pure Barre came to Pittsburgh, and so glad I discovered it!

After 2 classes at Pure Barre, I'm hooked. I waited until after the second class to write this because I wasn't sure how much of a workout I got...until I sneezed and my abs felt like they were going to explode...in a good way!

I had a LivingSocial deal for 2 weeks of unlimited classes, and it turns out your first class is free, which is a great way for anyone to try it out. A few tips before you go:
-Everyone wears socks with treads on the bottom. They sell them at the studio, but you can pick up a similar yoga pair somewhere else.
-When you go for the first time, the instructor will tell you what equipment you need (weights, a ball, and a band), so that's helpful.
-Everyone there looks like they stepped out of the Lululemon catalog. Don't be intimidated; you can do this workout too!

The class starts off fast and doesn't stop. If you think you're getting a break to stretch, you're not. The instructor does give you some adjustments, but a lot of the movements are so small that it's tough to know what's right. My method is to just go by feel; if it's tough, it's probably working. I was a little surprised that we don't do more barre work; a lot is on mats or the floor. No problem really, because the barre stuff is the toughest.

I really wish it was less expensive, or even if they would include cheaper "community classes" taught by instructors in training like some yoga studios do. They advertise that you will see results in 10 classes or less....so I'm going every day until my deal expires because I feel it working already!

Nothing makes you feel as invincible as when you walk out of a Pure Barre class. Full disclosure: sometimes I'm limping a little when I leave class because you work so hard you FEEL it in your muscles.

I am really (temporarily) out of shape right now, I promise I'm probably in worse shape than you are. You CAN do this work out. You'll feel very comfortable in these classes, and people of all fitness levels are welcome.

The instructors are very nice. Don't worry if you don't know what you are doing--I still can't complete the whole class and was all cranky when the instructor came over and helped me modify the ab work out so I could finish the exercise set. Salty, bc at the time I just wanted to lay on the floor. Glad she did show me the modification bc now I've worked by way up to the regular exercise.

I am REALLY out of shape. For right now. I was kind of intimidated going to my first class bc I am so out of shape and was afraid I'd look ridiculous in a room full of yoga instructors.

Don't be intimidated if you don't look like a yoga instructor, or you feel like you won't be able to keep up, I'm telling you you are wrong bc all the moves are really about holding onto the bar and squeezing your butt and thigh muscles.

Don't worry about how you'll do in class, you just have to do it.

And honestly--no one looks particularly cool while squatting and moving their pelvis back and forth*. It's kind of a moment where everyone in the class is going to bond a little.

Its a great feeling when your thighs start shaking--you know what you are doing is effective!

I say I love to hate Pure Barre classes. The classes are fun but sometimes, in the heat of a tuck, it feels like your thighs are on on fire (I hate it during the exercise!) but then afterwards, I LOVE it. You'll feel great.

If you've never done a Pure Barre class, find a friend who hasn't gone yet and bring them with you, the class is free. Give it a try!

* Channing Tatum would look AMAZING squatting and thrusting his pelvis back in forth. Let's all take a moment and think about that.... Oh Channing... see, we've bonded already! Now I'll see you in class!

I am SO hooked on Pure Barre. I've been taking classes on and off for the past two years at both Shadyside and Mt. Lebanon (with a different owner, but same great experience). It wasn't until this summer that I was able to take class consistently, and this is by far the only workout that I've enjoyed enough to stick with!

I'm just about to finish 20 classes in 30 days after buying a student-priced unlimited month of classes, and I've definitely noticed changes in my body! I'm more toned, have a greater endurance and better ability to correct my technique in class, and stronger than ever. It definitely takes a few classes to adjust to the intensity of the workout, but eveytime I leave, I feel amazing (albeit ridiculously shaky). Now, I look forward to spending an hour a day completely losing myself in the workout.

If you try Pure Barre for the first time, it WILL take a few classes to get a hang of the terminology/technique... and eventually you will stop feeling like you're going to die in the middle of thighs. The staff is friendly, the teachers are always willing to answer questions after class, the music is so much fun, and the studio is super clean. I definitely recommend Pure Barre to anyone motivated by group exercise like myself.

Only downside is the cost, which is kind of expensive for a college student even with the discounted pricing!

I checked out this place with a LivingSocial deal I had bought. I definitely agree with Kristen H's review below when she said "In the middle of the work out I was thinking, "This sucks so hard. Never again. When it was over I felt invincible..." & I started to look forward to the class, even though it was really hard! I feel like my posture and gate were even better after finishing the class.

I did about 8 classes in 2 weeks and felt like I could already see and feel a change in my body. I won't lie though, after the first class, my body hurt like it never has before for about 3 days. It hurt to go from laying to sitting up, to walk, everything! haha The instructors are all very friendly and the classes are small.

I do agree with some of the other reviews that the first class was sort of confusing. It was very fast paced, and I agree that there should have been an intro class. I had the same reaction: "tuck? tuck what? what muscles am i supposed to be using?" The instructors also don't always demonstrate every move, and I am a visual learner, so I often found myself looking to others around the room for what to do. There were other times when I could not clearly see the instructor, such as when she was sitting facing the mirror, and I had my positioning wrong because I couldn't actually see their placement from where I was in the room.

I loved the class and want to keep going after my deal is expired, but sadly I feel like I can't afford it at regular price. It's $23 per class, and the bundle packages do not make it much cheaper. I just don't have the budget for it. I'm hoping they may run some specials for the new year, or in the future. For now, I think I'll have to try one of the DVD's at home.

In the realm of the "barre" explosion in fitness circles around the U.S., the Pure Barre brand stands out for a couple of reasons. First, you get results like nowhere else. Second, they have a TON of locations and are growing rapidly. On the down side, because it's a franchise, you can't buy a package in one place and use it at another (unless the two locations have the same owner & management), but that's not a big deal.

It still leaves me wanting some cardio, so I don't suggest doing ONLY this barre workout, but they really DO deliver on the tagline of "Lift Tone Burn." It does all three, and more. Prepare to suffer (in a good way).