Pure Barre — Local services in Columbia

I have been attending Columbia's pure barre located on Green Street in Five Points since 2013. Before that time, I had never once attended an indoor exercise class and really looked down on them, thinking my outdoor running and biking was far superior. To my great surprise, pure barre offered the perfect complement to these activities that I didn't even know I needed. Pure Barre gave me core and upper body strength that my long-distance cardio-focused activities didn't. It also strengthen my legs through resistance stances. I became much stronger overall, and I got better at my running and biking too.

Pure Barre also gave me a community. I was new in town, and over the years have developed great friendships. I live in the Northeast of the city so my commute to PB is longer, yet I still attend faithfully because I am committed to these friendships and know that connecting with my PB buddies is about as healthy as the workout itself.

Finally, I will speak to my age groups -- initially late 40s, now late 50s. Middle age brings a host of gradual changes which speed up with menopause. I'm now on the other side of that change and I can tell you it was so valuable to have this workout as a regular component over the last 11 years. I gained no weight, my muscles got stronger and more fine-tuned (I have a six pack at age 58) and the varied and low-impact movement helps lubricate the joints. I always feel better when I leave a pure barre class than when...

Edit: I'm a year and over 100 classes in and, for the first time in my life, my entire bloodwork panel is on the low end of normal! I've always eaten well but could never get my genetically high cholesterol lower until taking these classes just twice a week. I don't know if my body just responds well to this workout style, but I have worked out consistently my entire life and have never seen that kind of result. As Pure Barre is the only lifestyle change I've made, I have to attribute it to that. My posture has improved as well!

Maybe I'm just showing my complete lack of human anatomical knowledge, but I am strengthening muscles I didn't even know I had after just 2 classes. Examples: that fluffy part of your upper inner thigh, the part under your bum where the chafing happens, the lower tummy area, and the muscles on my shoulder blades that I never even knew had muscles on them (I legit thought they were just bones lol). I've taken a lot of different fitness classes over my 30 years, played sports in high school, played on intramural teams in college, and like to run for fun, but I truly have never felt a workout work so fast and be so targeted before. This place is awesome and has a client for life, they know what...

I took my first Pure Barre class back in March and LOVED it. However, I didn't feel like I could commit to a package due to my busy schedule. And boy was that a mistake! I recently decided to try it again and bought the $99 Intro package which includes unlimited classes for a month and it as been the BEST decision yet! I'm on week two and I'm addicted to the workouts! I've already started thinking about what package I plan on purchasing next. The staff has been incredibly welcoming towards me and I feel as if I'm apart of a team every time I show up for class. The workouts are difficult and I have to modify some of the moves, but the instructor does a great job of walking around the room and demonstrating how to properly execute each move. All I can say is, DON'T WAIT. I have already noticed a difference in my energy level on a day-to-day basis and I've started craving healthier food options as well. Pure Barre is a must if you're even considering it! And don't let the first class scare you because you will...