Physical exercise has many benefits in the short, medium and long term. Sometimes there is a need to obtain more obvious results, as in the processes of rehabilitation and recovery from injury or illness.

Starting from this premise of speed and results, some years ago a new sporting discipline called “Barrecore” was born in the United Kingdom.

Designed by Niki Rein, this different view of understanding isometric exercises achieved visible results in a short time, above all in the core muscles (abdominal and back), buttocks and legs.

Barrecore is a mixture of barre and ballet exercise with high intensity training in short periods, called HIIT (high intensity interval training) which can burn up to 500 calories an hour. It combines intense non impact isometric exercises, cardiovascular work and stretches, or stretching. The barre, balls, stretch bands or weights are used.

It is suitable for any age, sex or condition.

What are the benefits?

• It avoids those injuries which high impact exercise can produce in the joints, tendons and ligaments.
• It works specific areas, so that classes can be “individualised”.
• It gives rapid results, so is used to regain shape after an injury, surgical operation or pregnancy.
• Improves posture and spinal alignment.
• Reduces cortisol release and helps to control stress and anxiety.

Classes last for 1 hour. They begin with a general warm-up and 10 minutes of exercises focussed on the upper body, head, neck, shoulders and arms. This is followed by 25 minutes of exercises for the legs and buttocks, upper, lower and lateral abdominals, isometric squats, over the barre or in the air. Then follow 20 minutes of basic conditioning, with balls and elastic bands, ending with five minutes of active stretching, and relaxation of body and mind. The intensity changes from one area to another to maintain interest and tension.

There are already several versions of the same type of discipline:

• BarreAsana, which combines physical and spiritual strength, with yoga postures.
• BarreFoundations, to correct posture, strengthening the  lower body.
• BarreStretch, giving priority to stretches through dance exercises.
• BarreNourish, with the specific objective of weight control and nutritional re-education.
• BarreCardio, with high intensity and low impact warm-up to increase the pulse rate and  recover it with relaxation exercises. With the barre for support and resistance and light weights.