I Tried Only Barre & Pilates Based Workouts for 90 Days - My Honest Review

Spoiler alert: I didn’t walk out with abs overnight - But my body and mindset definitely shifted. For the last three months, I swapped my usual HIIT workouts for lower impact, core focused pilates. I wanted to see if the increasingly popular workout was worth the hype.

If you played sports growing up like I did, you'll probably relate in the fact that workouts were centered around cardio and weight lifting. As I was always familiar with this, I joined a gym that focused on strength training and HIIT (high intensity interval training). Now, while I do still enjoy HIIT type exercises like burpees and squat jumps, I wanted to try something new.

During my senior year of college, I got a membership at a local pilates studio on campus. My intention at first wasn't to completely change my gym routine, but I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. I decided to fully commit and consistently go 4-5 times a week. After 3 consecutive months, I have a lot to say.

One of the first hurdles I had to overcome was redefining what it meant for me to have a "good" workout. From what I was used to, I naturally always associated a fulfilling workout with how hard I went. For instance, measuring things like sweating, soreness, and calorie burning, deciphered how hard I pushed myself. Obviously, barre based workouts aren't nearly as intense. It moves at a much slower pace, and requires no heavy lifting. In turn, I wasn't leaving the barre classes feeling how I'd normally feel after a HIIT class. At first, I'll be honest, I didn't necessarily feel fulfilled. In a way, I almost felt like it was pointless because I didn't feel exhausted by the end. However, I had fun and actually really enjoyed the nature of the workout. Instead of feeling exhausted, I left feeling centered and energized.

It was definitely an adjustment going from squatting with a 30-pound kettlebell to using, at most, an 8-pound dumbbell felt like a big change. But although the equipment is usually light and minimal, doesn't mean the workouts are not effective. Some of the smallest movements like holding a pulsing lunge for 60 seconds left my muscles shaking in ways I’d never experienced before. It was humbling, to say the least. These workouts forced me to slow down and actually pay attention to how my body was moving. Unlike HIIT, where I was used to pushing through with adrenaline, Barre and Pilates required control and focus. Over time, I noticed I had much better balance and core strength that I hadn't felt before. I quickly realized that just because I wasn't pouring sweat or burning hundreds of calories didn't mean I wasn't getting stronger.

I would argue the mental aspect is what challenged me the most- but in the best way. There is a mind to body connection that is required in Pilates. You have to be present and focused because you're doing things like holding a position for a certain period of time or constantly pulsing. The burn is real and in order to get through the struggle, you have to have that mental strength to hold the pose. At first, it was challenging thinking about my posture, breathing, and alignment all at once. But after a few classes, I started to appreciate that kind of focus. It felt calming in a weird way. Instead of worrying about how many calories I was burning, I was just paying attention to how my body felt and moving with purpose.

Now, let’s be real—I didn’t walk away from these 90 days with six-pack abs or a super toned body that everyone seems to get on social media. I'm not saying that this isn't possible, but despite what you see online, progress takes time. Patience is really key when it comes to working out to try and achieve a certain look. Remember, those girls you see on social media doing Pilates every day usually aren’t showing the full picture—it takes time, consistency, and everyone’s journey looks different.

After 90 days of sticking with Barre and Pilates, I can confidently say it made me more open minded when it comes to fitness. I gained strength both physically and mentally in ways I didn’t expect. It may not look or feel as intense as traditional workouts, but I felt more confident, and in tune with my body than ever before. If you're someone who’s used to fast-paced, high-impact routines like I was, I highly recommend giving this a shot. You might be surprised with the results. At the very least, it’s a refreshing change of pace that your body (and mind) will thank you for.