Pure Barre (Santa Monica), You Gotta Put in the Time
The 411
Full Disclosure: I tried Pure Barre because I had a 10-class groupon and I only made it through about half of them.
With limited time on my hands due to full time toddler-care, I was excited by how close the studio is to my house, that there were a ton of of class time options and that each was a manageable 60 minutes.
Given their loyal following and full classes, Pure Barre is clearly the preferred workout for many people. If you are not the instant gratification type and you like a clean feeling, not-super-sweaty experience, which requires full concentration and attention to detail, Pure Barre could really work for you. Studio testimonials speak to seeing real results and building strength and flexibility for the long term. Bonus if you have a dance/ballet background.
Truth be told, I struggled to get a satisfactory workout there. In addition to my limited time, I also have limited patience. The subtlety of the moves and the need to do them absolutely correctly in order to get the full benefit left me a bit frustrated. Even after 5 or 6 classes, I still didn’t seem to have a handle on the proper technique and as a result, I never left feeling wrung out and endorphin-y the way I crave.
Note: this review is for the standard Pure Barre class. Once a week, the Santa Monica studio offers a Pure Barre Platform/Cardio class. I tried that class once and liked it waaaaaaay more. It left me dripping, out of breath and I felt the effects all throughout (and importantly, the next day as well). I don’t know why the studio only offers this class on Friday’s at 10am! More Platform/Cardio classes would likely have me coming back for more. Especially if they had been included in my groupon.
Class
Pure Barre moves are extremely subtle, repetitive, almost micro-movements targeting very specific muscles at a time. Exercises vary from floor work on a mat, to work at the Barre, (with and without light hand weights), to work with a medicine ball or small platform. The class aims to hit most (all?) muscle groups and lean out your entire body. Some of the movements and sequences definitely produced The Burn, despite my lack of finesse.
The music is pop-y, loud and matches the pace of the class.
Vibe
The vibe is a little bit antiseptic, though Pure Barre instructors and staff were friendly and upbeat. It’s a perky atmosphere and heavily female, of the 20-40 yr. old variety. One bathroom with complimentary tampons…you get the picture.
Space
It’s a small studio, but very clean. The requirement to wear socks during class (no shoes and no bare feet) makes the rug feel nicely hygienic. All the equipment is stored in a corner of the room and it basically feels like a large, windowless studio apartment, albeit covered in mirrors and barre’s. The front desk area has lots of natural light, though, and a nice stock of Pure Barre gear for sale.
Instructors
Pure Barre seems difficult to teach, because the class moves fast and the moves are so refined. Instructors wear headsets and provide both demonstrations and verbal guidance non-stop throughout. Some instructors were more attentive than others with corrections/adjustments. All were highly energetic, young and (shocker) female.
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They have a number of new client specials, including $15 for a single class, 4 classes for $69/month, 8 classes for $119/month and unlimited for $179/month. Regular prices are 5 classes for $125, 10 classes for $200, 30 classes for $480 and monthly unlimited for $225. Regular single class price is $28.
