Diary of a Fit Patriot: At the Barre
By: Alison M. Hall
Do you spend time at the JC, AFC, or RAC? You can participate in Mason Recreation’s Barre classes at any of these three locations. But what is Barre?
Rachel Gill, Barre instructor at the AFC, describes the class as “an exciting and new program that strengthens, tones, and improves balance and flexibility through ballet inspired moves.” She explains that Barre is unique to other strength classes because “instead of only targeting the large main muscle groups, it focuses on the smaller stabilizing muscles that are necessary for increased performance and injury prevention. Barre is perfect for anyone ready to mix up their workout, find balance and control, and have a lot of fun doing so.”
Some Barre classes actually use a ballet barre on the wall, while others are taught without the physical barre there. Patty Jarrett, Mason Recreation Group Fitness Coordinator, explains that classes without the barre “are the same leg and arm movements but done lying on the floor, with props, and/or have added Pilates and yoga movements. They are challenging to both men and women and NO dance experience is required.” Whether your class uses the barre or not, Patty says “the classes incorporate many muscle groups that are not used regularly in daily living or even in the gym period. Barre is also very challenging to the core muscles and help to balance the body.”
This semester, Mason Recreation is offering Barre classes at the following times:
| Class | Day & Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Barre Works | Mondays, 6:30-7:25pm | AFC |
| Pilates/Barre Fusion (co-sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being) | Tuesdays, 12:00 -1:00pm | JC Dance Studio |
| Barre None | Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm | RAC |
All Barre classes are Green Access, which are free to full-time students and Mason Recreation members. The Pilates/Barre Fusion class at the JC is free and open to the entire Mason community. For more information about Barre and all of our fitness classes, visit recreation.gmu.edu/fitness.
Mason Recreation Fitness Classes—Give Them A Try
By Alison M. Hall, MS, CPT
Have you ever walked past a Zumba class and thought, “that looks like fun, but can I do that?” Or have you ever heard the music pumping from the group cycle room and thought, “I’d love to ride to that music, but can I really go in that big, dark room?” Group fitness classes can be scary at first, especially if you don’t know anyone in the class or if you haven’t taken one before. However, Mason Recreation group fitness welcomes everyone. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to set up a bike, if you believe you have two left feet, or if you’ve never exercised in a group setting before. All of our instructors are certified fitness professionals, and they are trained in how to help a beginner. If you already love Zumba and rock every cycle class, you will get an amazing workout in our other group fitness classes too. Each class truly offers different experiences and levels.
Group fitness classes offer many benefits beyond simply exercising on your own. The classes create a fun social environment, a consistent schedule, and a safe and well-designed workout with no prior knowledge or experience necessary. Additionally, there is an accountability factor. The instructor will welcome you back each time you come. Seasoned participants will congratulate you for joining in. New friends will text you to make sure you’re going to show up, whether it is 6:15 am boot camp, noon cycling, or 6:30 pm yoga. Group fitness creates a new camaraderie and accountability among participants and the instructor.
Another benefit of group fitness is variety. One common reason for quitting an exercise program is boredom. Our instructors offer a variety of formats and styles to challenge you all semester long. Each cycle instructor has his or her own style of music. Each Zumba class has a different flavor. Each yoga instructor offers his/her own personal touch. Every martial arts and self-defense format has its own focus.
To some, the variety of exercise options can be overwhelming. Our group fitness schedule does offer a lot of options, but another benefit of group fitness is that each class has a description. Read the description and start with one or two classes that interest you. Get comfortable with those classes, then try something new, or if you like a particular format, try a new instructor. Keep up that pattern, and you will take control of your own fitness destiny.
Finally, the most common reason given for quitting an exercise program is lack of time. All of our classes are an hour or less, including 30-minute classes offered Monday–Thursday at 5:00 pm. Our full schedule is available at recreation.gmu.edu. Green Access classes (Group Exercise and Cycle) are always free for full-time Mason students and for a minimal facility membership fee for part-time students. Unlimited Gold Access classes (Yoga, Pilates, Martial Arts and Self-Defense) are $50 for students and $70 for other Mason Recreation members for the entire semester. If you have questions you can contact us at fitness@gmu.edu. We can’t wait to see you in class!