I want to begin by saying that I am a long-time Pure Barre client and a genuine supporter of the brand in general. I maintain a monthly membership at my home studio and make it a point to visit other locations when I travel. In almost every city, I've experienced the integrity, kindness, and professionalism that have made Pure Barre a community I truly value. That's why my experience with the Little Rock studio was so jarring and stayed with me. Because of my ADHD and the way I travel, at one point I mistakenly signed up for pure barre monthly memberships in several cities where I don't live (Austin, Oklahoma City, Santa Monica, New York City, Boulder). Every other studio responded with understanding and integrity, immediately correcting the mistake and, in some cases, showing me firsthand how simple it was not to keep charging a client who clearly didn't reside there. But in Little Rock, the owner, unlike the thoughtful women who run the other studios, insisted on continuing to charge me. This was not just a clerical oversight. It was dishonest and exploitative. When a business chooses profit over basic decency, the breach lingers. And this one has. I continue to value Pure Barre as a company and community, but Little Rock stands out as a troubling exception. Allowing such practices to continue damages the brand as a whole. read more

This is the second time my mother received inadequate and substandard care. This time she did not survive their terrible care. There is a lack of knowledge, skill, urgency, and caring in this institution. read more

If I walked in to a room of women doing barre without knowing what it is, I would probably wonder, "why are all of these women just sitting/crouching here?" but DAMN! It's hard! I have never been so exhausted from such little movement! It's crazy! And really well designed. Barre Background: Barre is a school of fitness that uses isometric exercises (static muscle contractions that rely on resistance from the ground/your own body weight/weights/ballet barre rather than movement, such as holding the plank position) as well as small, pulsing movements to isolate muscle groups. Barre was developed by an injured dancer in the 1950's and draws from physical therapy, yoga, and dance warmups (there is no dancing - this is not zumba!). It offers the same benefits that any resistance/strengthening exercise does, such as increased bone density. However, because the strengthening is isometric, it increases muscle density and elasticity rather than muscle volume, so muscles get stronger and longer without bulk. Also, this is much gentler on the body! Barre focuses on core strength and proper body alignment, so it's especially good for those of us who sit all day and/or have posture issues. Pure Barre Little Rock: All of the instructors here have been attentive, positive, and helpful. I have been coming for almost a month and I really enjoy it. I have no background in dance, am pretty out of shape, and have no body awareness, so my first few classes were very awkward and spastic. The instructors are great about giving pointers and coming over to give individual adjustments and advice. I have noticed marked improvements in my ability to do the exercises properly and isolate specific muscle groups. Now I understand what they mean when they say, "use your upper abs for this." I haven't interacted much with the other women in the classes, but there's certainly no negativity or judgement, except what's self-projected. Sometimes I feel like a clumsy potato because it *seems* like most of the other students are fit and graceful, but that's an internal narrative. UPDATE: I have been going for almost 3 months now and I am very happy with the results and with my experience at Pure Barre Little Rock. I am much stronger than when I started and I no longer feel like a clumsy potato (most of the time...). I am impressed with an appreciative of all the women who work and teach here. I highly recommend Pure Barre Little Rock: I have gotten a lot out of it and I think anyone of any age/experience/fitness level will too. Who barre is for: Ostensibly anyone, but it's probably not everyone's cup of tea. I haven't seen men here, but they do have regular men's nights. If you're prone to feeling like a clumsy potato (see above), it might be intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it's really rewarding. I think barre is a great way to begin the process of getting in shape because it's gentle on the body while also being challenging. For that reason, it's also recommended for injured and pregnant people. It is for all fitness levels, so even if you're already in shape, the exercises are still challenging. You get out of it what you put in to it! Also, I think anyone with posture issues would GREATLY benefit from barre because it's so focused on core strength and body alignment. If your goal is purely to lose weight, you'd probably be better off just walking/jogging on a treadmill for an hour a day (if you have the discipline and have a $ budget). But if your goal is to get stronger and improve overall fitness, or to tone your muscles, I highly recommend Pure Barre Little Rock. It *is* good for weight loss, because in addition to the actual exertion, building muscles burns energy even when you're not actively working out, because muscle cells have many mitochondria, which use a lot of energy (they're the engines of cells, so you can think of this as using gas to leaving 1000 cars idling instead of only 800 cars idling). Also the time passes *much* more quickly than time on a treadmill, because you're focused on doing very specific tasks. The only downside is that barre classes are a bit pricey. If you can afford it, I think it's worth it. Your first class/es: Wear leggings/yoga pants that are knee length or longer. No shoes. Wear socks - preferably some that are not slippery - ideally that have those little 'sticky' dots on the bottom. They sell socks there. Bring a water bottle. Sign up for class ahead of time online or by calling. Once a month they have a free 'Breaking down the Barre' tutorial session - this is most beneficial once you've been a few times, so you know what questions to ask. It took me a few weeks of coming 3-4 times a week before I felt like I was getting the hang of it. I was told at least 7-10 classes is typical before folks really catch on. I had purchased a 3-month unlimited pass before I started (trial by fire!) and I'm glad I did because I gave it a real shot. read more

If you are looking for a great place to work out, you should definitely go check this place out, you wont be disappointed. Its a wonderful place to get a good workout in even if you have injuries. It is a low impact, high intensity workout. They have modifications for joint/back injuries, and even expectant moms! It's not a cardio class but you will definitely be burning some calories and toning those muscles. The owners and all the instructors really care about you and help you get the best workout you can; they are always making you feel welcome and will show you everything you need to know on your first day to make sure you aren't lost! I love Pure Barre, go try it!! read more

Working out at a new place can be intimidating... Luckily Lindsey warmly greeted me upon arrival and asked me about my previous barre experience. The staff here was very friendly and gave me one-on-one attention during class to correct my form. If you are thinking about trying barre but scared, stop in without fear! It will be the best core workout of your life and your first class is only $10. read more

Pure barre is an awesome low impact workout for anyone. They use the ballet bar and ballet positions to lift, tone, and burn in record time. Small isometric movements isolate the muscles for an intense workout. The teachers know you by name and come around to help make sure you have the right position instead of trying to get a workout themselves. Try it and you will see results!! read more

Pure Barre is hands down the best work out I've ever tried--fast, effective and fun! All the instructors at this studio are awesome--I LOVE all their work outs and motivation during each class. Great atmosphere, friendly faces and an effective work out = perfection! read more