The Barre Code

I attended regularly & loved it! I recently moved out of Pittsburgh and haven’t found anything to compare to the full body strength & cardio routine the barre code offers. In 50 minutes you get an intense workout worth every penny.
Each class is different, so try out a few before you decide whether you like it or not. I think interval & TBC are the most challenging classes. Every instructor has a very unique style, so be sure to try different instructors. Be prepared for loud music & instructors counting down every move.
In any of Shannon’s classes you will work every second you’re there & she will be working just as intensely right along with you. Vanessa is great at reminding you why you’re there & pushing you to work harder.

This is by far one of my favorite places. I have tried several work out studios and this is the only one that still has me excited and coming back after several months.
THE WORKOUT: Every class is different and often incorporates different props. You will never get bored here or be able to expect what is coming next. It also continues to challenge– I thought that after working out here for a few months it would become a piece of cake. Wrong. I still find myself shaking and pushing my body every class. One of my favorite things about this place, and what makes it different than other barre studios in the area, is that it offers a variety of kinds of classes. I love that for one membership I can get strength focused barre classes as well as cardio ones, too. It really allows you to get a complete workout.
THE INSTRUCTORS: These are the nicest girls ever. They are all extremely friendly and wiling to help you. I always seem to be injuring some part of my body (via walking my dog… he loves squirrels :/​… or at work… I’m a nurse, on my feet all day long, lifting heavy patients), and the instructors are extremely helpful. They will tell me about exercise modifications before the class, check on me during the class, and then give me extra tips for stretching/​things to do at home after the class. They are very knowledgable, understanding, and motivating.
THE PLACE: It’s quite adorable. Bright colors, cute workout apparel for sale (I have my eye on an awesome tank and sweatshirt now), and an even cuter pup to greet you! The parking lot is small, which drives me crazy sometimes, but then when you realize that most of the workout places in Shadyside don’t have a parking lot at all, it puts it into perspective. Plus, I never have trouble finding a spot a street over if I can’t get one in the lot.
YOUR BODY: This is probably the best part. I’m extremely proud of the change in my body, and love when other people notice too. My arms are really getting toned and look great– but I really love how STRONG I feel. It’s an amazing, empowering, feeling.
I’m always recommending this place to my friends. Try it out and you’ll be hooked.

Do not let the barre fool you… this stuff is HARD. Get ready to work those long muscles.
Parking. If you can’t find any in the lot, you’ll find some on the next street over. A single class costs $ 8. There are lockers for your belongings and you don’t wear shoes while working out. What? Yes!
After checking in at the front desk, you take off your shoes, put your belongings in a locker, and make your way downstairs. The barre room is in the basement. The room has some serious mood lighting (like you’re at the fanciest steak dinner), which I appreciated because I looked a fool while I was jumping around.
Meredith, instructor and owner, was great. I took an express class (45 mins instead of a 60, I believe) and it stood by it’s name– it went by incredibly fast. Lots of «let’s squat and hold it, hold it, now pulse» and my muscles wanted to pop out of my skin and crawl under a bed. Also lots of planking and pushups. It was totally different than my normal workout routine and I enjoyed the change. I’ll be stopping by for classes whenever I’m in town.

I have been to this studio over 50 times and have taken all of the different classes they offer.
The entire staff is friendly from the front desk to the instructors, and they continually change the routines which makes it interesting. The instructors are all well trained as they walk around to ensure all participants are using the right form so they don’t get hurt.
The workout space is in the basement — it’s a nice clean space and it’s perfect for what we are doing. They utilize different pieces of equipment which makes it interesting and mixes it up a bit on your muscles. I always leave with a little pain (the good kind!)
As I’ve been doing the workout I can see a noticeable difference in my body, so their classes really do make a difference! I have had a lot of friends and colleagues comment that I look very toned all over.
Another final comment is that I think that the owner does a very nice job running this business — if there is ever an issue she and her staff take care of it professionally and go above and beyond. I was at a class where an instructor was late — like 5 minutes… we took the class then they proceeded to refund the entire cost of the class. That was unexpected and appreciated!

I went to Core Fusion a lot when I lived in New York, so I have a pretty specific idea of what a barre class should be. The class I attended here was okay — not wonderful, not terrible, really just smack in the middle. For a barre class at a place with «barre» in the name, I would have expected more barre work — but in the class I attended, we spent maybe 5 minutes out of the hour at the barre. We also barely used our weights — the class focused mainly on crunches and pushups, which, while they left me sore the next day, didn’t really incorporate anything I couldn’t have done at home.
The space is a bit puzzling, too. Upstairs is bright and airy, but the class is downstairs in a dank and dark basement with mirrors in only half the room.
I am glad that the first class was only $ 8, though.

I wanted to wait until I had formed a solid opinion about Barre Bee before posting a review. Tonight I finished my tenth class and I think now is a good time to talk about my experience so far.
By way of some background information, I was introduced to Barre Bee via Groupon. I purchased a 3 class package in December and was surprised that I enjoyed the workout enough to keep coming back to the studio. This was quite unexpected because I succumb to boredom easily; however, boredom hasn’t yet been an issue at BBF because every class is different.
Here are some of the factors that encourage me to return at least twice a week for hour-​long classes. First, the workout itself is great. I’m in pretty good shape, but I leave every class with some soreness. The micro-​movements that Barre Bee uses are fantastic. They really target those typical «problem areas» (i.e., triceps and thighs), which is great for me. Second, the instructors are all really nice. I’ve had classes with three different instructors over the past couple months, and have been impressed at how encouraging they all are. More importantly, they observe everyone during class to ensure that all of the exercises are being performed safely and correctly. Finally, the music is great and I can sing along the entire class. The tunes are upbeat and fun and keep me motivated to work hard.
Overall I’ve been really pleased with my experience and I will continue to go back as long as I’m enjoying myself.

Pros:
Nice sunny lobby and cute dog
Nice person at desk
OK workout
Maybe it means more people are getting in shape?
Cons:
Workout studio is in a dark grey basement. Why they didn’t put it in the sunny upstairs space is puzzling. I tried the Barre Interval class. The teacher shouted loudly into her microphone which was already turned way up the entire time, while throbbing loud exercise/​rave music played. She spent more time looking at herself in the mirror than actually helping anyone in the class, with the exception of berating us with the standard «Keep it up ladies!» It was a fair class but not so different than any step aerobics class minus the step. No one seemed to be enjoying it, no smiles. All that said, a regular Barre class might have been better.
Having initially tried Barre Method in San Francisco, I was shocked to find that the places in Pgh more expensive even than there. I liked going to a place where the instructors seemed to care a little bit about instruction and where it was a bright welcoming studio. Alas I’ll try Pure Barre next, but I still can’t understand the crazy prices.

I give Barre Bee Fit a 5 star rating b/​c its a great workout for all abilities and ages. It is worth every penny because you get a good full body workout and feel it the next day for sure. I’d recommend everyone to try it at least once…