The Bar Method

The Bar Method has an amazing routine! In one hour, they work all the body parts to fatigue and beyond. I can’t say I have ever felt the kind of pain you get from this class anywhere else. I am referring to the good kindof pain, where you know you have worked your muscles. The instructors are personable and keep a watchful eye on their clients. I tried the competition (you know who I mean) and the classes do not compare! Go, you will be happy you did!

I would follow Sara anywhere — she and her instructors make getting and staying in shape fun. She pays close attention to correct form and gets me to persevere beyond the point I think I can go. The results are obvious.

Updating this review to add my pre and post natal experience. I continued to do Bar Method throughout my pregnancy (my last class was a Wednesday night and I had my daughter on Friday). I have a quick and easy labor which I attribute to Bar Method. The nurse even complimented how strong my abs were! I returned to Bar Method as soon as I could and got back in shape really quickly. It is by far the most effective work out I have ever done.

I love this place. I have been to several different Barre studio and this is by far my favorite. Every instructor I have had here is approachable, professional and knowledgeable. I always feel like I get a great session!

I was visiting family in Rye over the Thanksgiving holiday and signed up for two barre classes at The Bar Method. I frequently attend barre classes, so I knew what to expect and The Bar Method closely follows the structure of other barre studios. Both of the instructors I had, Andrea and Sara, were enthusiastic and tried to learn everyone’s name and provide individual attention. Overall, The Bar Method was very welcoming.
The first class I attended was on Thanksgiving and was not too crowded. I also went to a class on a Saturday at 11am, which was packed. I was surprised by the amount of ladies in the class and how many needed constant corrections and feedback. Both classes were structured very similarly. The one thing I find odd about The Bar Method is that instead of using a playground ball to squeeze between your thighs or behind your leg, you instead use a folded in half mat. I do not feel the mat is an effective as squeezing a ball. I did notice there were balls in the studio, so I wonder what is the deal with the mats?
I will be back in Rye soon and I plan to return to The Bar Method as I found the classes enjoyable. They also sell a variety of clothing and jewelry and I particularly liked the MistleToes socks.

This is by far the very best workout around and Sarah’s Rye Brook studio is the place to go. It took 46 years for me to feel comfortable in a sleeveless top! And I have done every kind of workout there is – weights, boxing, long distance running, etc. My arms look better now than in my 20s. Also, I am a skier and since I started Bar Method with Sarah my legs never get tired. Form is so important to get the max results and Sarah and her trainers are so helpful and attentive. I would recommend to anyone and encourage all to try!

I have been the client of Bar Method for almost 20 years and still always looking forward to my work out. Rye Brook studio has experienced, excellent instructors and welcoming super friendly staff. The studio owner Sara Giller makes every class fun and challenging!
If you want lean, toned dancer’s body then this method and studio is right for you!
Elena G

Great workout with a very friendly staff and community.
You can get in and out in an hour and feel like you’ve really toned every part of your body.
The instructors learn every client’s name so you can’t really «hide» — they will make sure you have the correct form or encourage you to push further than you think you could.
I would definitely recommend.

If you grew up on military bases and are most at ease under strict orders, this is the place for you. If you seek a venue where individualistic nuances are forbidden, this is the class for you. If you blindly follow the leader without question, you will feel at home at Rye Bar Method.
Sharing ideas? Nope. Bringing your own 20 years of Lotte Berk experience into play? Forget about it. Questioning? Ha. Marching to a slightly different beat? Please leave. Placing your foot on a slightly different angle on the barre? Leave now!
If all of this inspires you, march on in.

I’ve been a client of Bar Method in Rye Brook since it FIRST opened in 2008! Cannot say enough about the classes and instructors there! I am pretty active (workout 4 – 6 times a week) and I find that Bar is such a great complement to the other workouts I do (Soulcycle, SLT, Pilates). Sarah and her team of instructors are the best — so you can’t go wrong at any class you go to! (However, Sarah always seems to make me laugh all through class!) I highly recommend going if you’re looking for a good combo of strengthening, toning, stretching & FUN!

I travel 20 minutes at least 3 times a week to this studio because it is the only RIGHT way to exercise, because the studio strictly adhered to a genuine Lotte Burke method and it really works. The instructors have to pass a rigorous test by a method owner who comes from California and once in awhile they are being observed and recorded by the owner’s instructors. It is a difficult exercise but once you give yourself at least a month to try, you will never go back to any other form of exercise, it’s that effective ! The method works EVERY muscle in your body, even some you didn’t know we’re there.)) It’s wonderful for older people because it’s a weight– bearing exercise and it will slow down osteoporosis. The stretching they do is better than any yoga or even a therapist. Just bliss. Your cellulite will disappear and your whole body will be toned and lean– looking. You just got to be strong, committed and gave a positive attitude ! The instructors are supportive, serious about your progress and you will get your money worth. After doing it on and off for about 20 years, gotta admit that I still love it!

I am very active and was looking to expand my fitness horizons so I tried The Bar Method. The workout is pretty good; it definitely hit muscles I normally don’t use. The format of the class is easy to follow and the exercises are always being tweaked to avoid boredom/​repetition.
They don’t offer a «beginners» class to learn the basic positions, so if you’re new and not familiar with the program, be prepared to receive multiple corrections during the hour by the instructor who wears a microphone, so everyone can hear her loud and clear when she calls out your name. Some people may like this type of hands-​on teaching (literally, they will put their hands on you to correct your positioning), but I find it very uncomfortable. I can think of about a thousand things I’d rather do than stare at myself in a mirror for an hour while being repeatedly corrected because I’m doing it «wrong». In fairness, they’ll also compliment you if your form is good.
I found nothing relaxing about Bar Method; the other members aren’t particularly friendly and there’s no sense of communal support. If you have any body image issues (and who doesn’t?), Bar Method will not solve them and could make them worse (that includes all you narcissists who can’t get enough of yourselves!). Overall it was just a bit too much for me and gave me more stress that enjoyment, so I’m moving on.
Nice facility, friendly staff. The online interface works pretty well; the only real issue with it is that if you’re on the waiting list for a class, a space may open up last minute, making it hard to plan your day.
If you have physical issues that limit your workout options (joint pain, etc.), then definitely check out Bar Method. Just don’t look in the mirror.

Awful user interface. Rude front office. The studio is impossible to find for a first timer due to lack of signs on or anywhere near the building. I arrived 10 minutes late due to major construction nearby and no instructions on the website for a detour. When I finally did find the studio, the front office would not provide any consideration for the lack of directions or signs indicating the location of the business. I would not recommend this studio, especially to first timers. They are just plain rude and nasty.

I became aware of the Bar Method thanks to a deal from Living Social. I had never heard of the Bar Method before, but the Living Social deal put it on my radar with its «three-​classes-​for-​$ 25» promotion. Upon doing a little research, I discovered that the Bar Method was a combination of ballet/​pilates/​small exercises, etc. Why not try it? I thought. It couldn’t hurt, could it?
Oh yes, it could. A great deal, in fact.
The workout you get at this place is different from what you’ll get at the average gym. When you walk into the studio and see the ballet barre, the mirror, the selection of not-​especially-​heavy weights, you might think: this is going to be easy. Allow me to disabuse you of that notion. It is not going to be easy. It is going to be very hard, and it is going to be a workout that you will actually enjoy.
Classes at the Rye Brook location are mixed-​level classes (read: anyone can join), and they are challenging, stopping just short of impossible. They only get more difficult on subsequent visits. The instructors are great, and they know everyone’s name; even if it’s your first visit to the studio, they will have your name down before you’ve been in class for five minutes. They are positive and good at providing appropriate feedback and correction. I’ve been going here on and off for a while, and I have only encountered one snarky instructor, and she no longer works there. The studio space itself is clean, as are the bathrooms (only two stalls here). There are lockers available for storing personal items during class as well.
Minor caveats: classes here are not cheap. The Rye Brook location charges $ 25 per class; therefore, if you operate on an average income, you’re probably not going to be able to go to class here three times a week, as the Bar Method website recommends for maximum results. Although I must say, are those defined calf muscles I’m starting to see on my legs? And after only a class here and a class there? My goodness!
The Bar Method Rye Brook does offer class packages but these aren’t cheap either, and a «VIP membership,» will cost you $ 200 a month. Just in case you forget that you are in Westchester County, the Bar Method Rye Brook will remind you with its clientele, who will be working out in their Bar Method socks and Lululemon gear while you slave away in your decidedly un-​chic yoga pants. Ignore them and keep going. Your legs (and everything else) will thank you for it.

I’m obsessed with The Bar Method! Such a great workout, amazing instructors, super friendly staff, and plenty of classes. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

I’ve tried three Lotte Berke studios this year, and Bar Method is the least expensive, has the biggest studio, and probably most convenient location/​parking situation. I also like how you can purchase classes online and see a totally updated class schedule all the time. I’ve only been to one class here but I will definitely return.