Highly recommend this Berkeley bar method. Just finished first month trial (discounted!), coming back from a long knee injury and being very out of shape. Every instructor has been great at offering modifications to challenge the advanced folks, as well as support very-beginner. The range of ages, bodies, and abilities feels inclusive. Found the deals offered to be really fair and flexible, especially the unlimited month passes. App is easy to navigate for class sign up. Have been to every format of group fitness there is and this is a GREAT studio. read more

There are some good classes here. I felt singled out a lot by the front desk staff a bit and they didn't seem to remember me, and also couple of teachers, but also there are some amazing ones too! Something to be aware of -- if you purchase a set of classes they expire after 6 months. I unfortunately suffered an injury after buy classes in September, and upon feeling ready to return this week, found that my remaining 3 class credits were expired by only a couple of weeks. It's the rules, and I understand that, but just be aware so you don't get in the same situation! read more

I look forward to every Bar class because I know I will get a great workout and because it has helped me get stronger and more flexible. All of the teachers are highly qualified and they make every person feel comfortable and cared for. I like the variety of classes and I feel that the Bar Method was a contributing factor for my success on my quest to walk 62 miles on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Staff and instructors work very hard and it is a pleasure to be part of this community. I highly recommend this studio for all ages and for those who want to improve their physical strength and flexibility. read more

Joining Bar Method Berkeley in 2018, I've found it to be the perfectly balanced exercise, especially for someone like myself dealing with chronic lower back pain. After few years of pandemic hiatus I'd recently rejoined and so excited to find that the Bar Method has incorporated even better combinations of strength and cardio components that are a game-changer. What sets apart the Berkeley Bar Method Studio is its bright, airy atmosphere and positive energy. The owner Helen and the instructors I attend classes with are always very kind, encouraging and personable. They always make sure to do the needed adjustments in the process of each work out, and that continuously helped with the improvement of my posture and injury prevention. In this positive, supportive environment I can push my limits and see tangible results. And let's not forget the carefully curated playlists that keeps me motivated and energized throughout each session, especially my all time favorite 80s music! The various class options and times throughout the day/week are very appreciated. I highly recommend Bar Method Berkeley - whether the goal is to improve physical well- being, find joy in your work out routine or simply join a positive and inspiring fitness community! read more

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If you're looking for barre classes, look no further. Helen, the owner of Bar Method Berkeley, was very warm and welcoming. She made me feel at home. The studio in North Berkeley has a bunch of paid parking spaces available and free parking in the neighboring areas. It's spacious inside with cubbies, locker room, 2 bathrooms and a shower. For newcomers, I noticed there's a Groupon for $49 which is the same price as what they're offering on their site. I preferred to go directly though the source rather than a third party- support small biz! Classes vary from 45 to 60 minutes. They hosted a few challenges during the holidays which was a nice way to keep clients motivated. Personally, the hands on adjustments were sometimes aggressive without cueing verbally so I wasn't sure exactly how I should correct myself. They also call students out by name for verbal corrections so don't be surprised! I wish they had a move class in the afternoon/evening. read more

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I never found a workout class that stuck until I started coming to Bar Method in Berkeley. The instructors are so knowledgable and make classes fun (and safe!), everyone is kind and welcoming, and the space is bright, peaceful, and clean. My flexibility and balance have increased tenfold since starting these classes 7 years ago, and now that they introduced some new formats last year, including a strength class, I've never felt stronger! This place is truly special. And to the comment around their cancellation policy, it is strict (12 hr cancellation on weekends), but those classes regularly have 5-10 people on the waitlist, so it makes sense to ensure people are more likely to show up and fill classes. And I personally like the accountability of it-- if I signed up, I'm definitely going, as long as I'm not sick. Even if I don't feel like it when I wake up, I'm always 100% glad I did once class begins. read more

After grad school, a pandemic, switching careers, and a pregnancy/baby, I had lost my way with exercise for some years. I'd done barre before and this studio is very close to my house so I decided to give it a shot with a month unlimited trial period. This was in November and now, in July, I am about to hit 100 classes. The classes are fun and always different (Flow is my favorite!) and each instructor brings something unique to the table. There's not one instructor I don't look forward to seeing (though Helen, Alicia, and Andrea are my faves). I'll be a member for years to come, I'm sure of it. Thank you Helen for this amazing safe space! read more

The Bar Method Berkeley - Studio - Barre Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love love love the Bar Method Berkeley studio!!! I love all the instructors!!! I try to go to class everyday. It's such a beautiful studio. It is one of my happy places where I can work on my body, health & wellbeing. And of course, I love the studio pup Mochi. read more

Update - still love The Bar Method and the Berkeley studio! Love Bar Strength and Bar Cardio. Thanks Helen and team for keeping all of us fit and energized in these challenging times! read more

Has been here for a year, love the environment, staff and practices! Highly recommended

I have to say that years later, I continue to frequent this studio for its great community, instructors, and classes. Helen, the owner, has done a fantastic job weathering the COVID pandemic and being flexible with class offerings. I can enjoy remote classes in my pajamas via their online platform or feed off the energy in live classes for a good core and low impact workout. read more

I've been a Bar Method practitioner since June 2016, and have recently been going to the Bar Method Berkeley on weekends when I'm in the area. Since my first visit, the staff and instructors have all been warm and welcoming. Every class I've taken in Berkeley has been challenging, energizing, and FUN!!! If you've been thinking about checking out a barre class, I highly recommend taking a class at the Bar Method Berkeley and finding out for yourself that this is one of the toughest workouts you'll ever love. read more

This is my first year joining the annual membership and I must say, the Bar Team here is amazing! My body always feels so much better after every session. Thank you instructors!! read more

It started off as me being curious about the bar method from walking past it a few times. After my first class I was hooked. The instructors are ALL amazing and so encouraging. The actual studio is spacious, clean, and have various bars for your comfortability. There are bathrooms and showers for your convenience, so if coming in between work you have the option to shower. A great environment to really challenge yourself and a wonderful community to encourage you to keep on going! Also classes are throughout the day so you have many options. read more

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Very happy i tried this place. Large room, offers morning and afterwork classes. Wear socks. Offers in person and zoom classes. Clean with multiple air cleaners. Lots of lockers. Great safe location. Used Groupon which was very good deal. Lots of metered parking. A bit hard to get free street parking. read more

I've been taking Bar Method classes since 2015 and it just keeps getting better. Helen runs an amazing studio with stellar teachers. Bar Method is a well rounded, challenging workout that works all the small muscles which support the larger ones, keeping my body strong and injury free as I age. I am grateful for the welcoming community which continues to nourish my well being. read more

After over 1,800 classes one would think I would be tired of doing The Bar Method, but I am not! I'm still having fun and find that if I concentrate on really applying myself and make even very slight adjustments when needed, that I am still benefitting from the exercises. There are so many different exercises and exercise combinations that can be created that it is never boring. Rather, it's like doing beneficial physical therapy while getting a total body workout in a fun way at each class. I am thankful that there are now also many different class formats which add variety to the schedule. As a long-time practitioner, I especially appreciate this. I am also thankful for well-trained teachers who give clear instructions, and contests and special events that challenge us to work at our limit while having fun! I am excited to see what other new props and exercises come our way! I hear there will be massage balls incorporated into some classes in the fall! Yippee!! read more

Friendly, experienced instructors that make it a point to know client's names and push them! A clean space in a nice area, it's a good option for exercise if you're getting back into your fitness, want something low impact, or just want to try something new. You can tell the studio cares and have built a community, and that counts for a lot. read more

Since my last review, The Bar Method has introduced several new class formats. There is now a class that emphasizes cardio, incorporating familiar moves, but combining them to create a challenging cardio workout. There is also a wildly popular strength class, focusing on sustained weight work at a higher intensity than the standard class. There is also a new-ish yoga inspired "flow" class format. Along with these new classes, the Berkeley studio continues to offer the beloved classic Method and relaxing Restore formats. I have practiced Bar Method regularly for almost 10 years, and couldn't have imagined I could love it more than I did. But the new formats have lifted my workout to a new level, while continuing to offer the thoughtful guidance and expertise of the fantastic instructors. I absolutely love that the program takes into account evolving fitness research, and incorporates it into the workouts. After ten years, I'm still being challenged, and still having fun. There is no better fitness community in the Bay Area than Bar Method Berkeley! read more

Once again I can't say enough about Bar Method, and specifically the amazing team and clients at the Berkeley studio. It really is a practice and exercise that is both mind and body changing! I can't say enough good things about how it makes me feel, how strong I've become, how aware I am about my posture, muscles and overall wellbeing. Its a life changer and I can unequivocally recommend it to anybody, any age, any level! read more

I'm a happy Bar Method Unlimited member and go to class three times a week. The teachers are warm and skillful; the workouts are scientific and fun. We do dance, yoga, and weight lifting to the beat of club music. And the facility is really clean, with lockers and showers. read more

Bar Method is the best way to start my day -- knowing I've taken care of myself before spending the rest of the day caring for others :-) Not only do I get a full-body workout in 45 - 60 minutes, but the Berkeley Studio offers friendly, helpful, and upbeat instructors who lead classes in a safe and sunny, fully vaccinated space! Thank you, Helen and team, for making me feel strong, healthy, and welcomed to your awesome community :-) read more

I've been attending classes at this studio for 7.5 years, and I'm as big of a fan now as I was when I posted my first review. This is a very caring community, and there's no one I'd rather have tucking my butt into shape than this knowledgable team of lovely women. Thank you, Helen & crew! read more

Great team of teachers. The exercise is great; music not so much but it's an excellent work-out

This is the best exercise studio I have ever been to. All the instructors are excellent and able to lead as well as correct our form. The workouts are designed to use all your muscles optimally and to build both strength and flexibility. The studio is inviting, well equipped, organized, and spotless. It is a safe and excellent place to work out your body and be part of a community of equally minded folks. read more

Hands down the most wonderful workout studio with such caring and knowledgeable instructors. The community here is amazing, so supportive and friendly. I love the combination of strength and aerobic moves and how everything can be adjusted to your particular body. I've been taking classes here for almost ten years, and I'm a reluctant exerciser, so that is a testament to how much I love it! read more

I was looking for some thing to help strengthen my core and help with balance. Barre Method Berkeley has really helped me achieve that goal. All the instructors are so helpful providing personalized corrections. I truly appreciate them. read more

Have you typically approached working out as a chore? You should absolutely give Bar a try: Classes here are practically addicting, since each session is so fun. The instructors are super welcoming professionals who show a deep awareness of musculature, spinal alignment, and knowledge of how to tailor the varied exercises to fit different limitations. The vibe within the studio celebrates *your* body in all its individuality. During the class, the instructors vary the exercises so that it's never boring. All you need to do is show up. Bar Method will take care of the rest: Motivating you, varying the exercises to build strength and sculpt your entire body, with kind attention that never risks pushing past the feedback you hear from your whole body. read more

Instructors are all very friendly and knowledgeable. I always wonder how they remember all their students' names. But this is important since they give personalized instructions during the class. Clean, beautifully designed space. read more

I truly believe that The Bar Method is a healing restorative practice for any age that also increases your strength and kicks your butt in every class. Hard to believe you can have both. Helen and her instructors are extremely well trained as well. The Bar Method saved me during lockdown and I have not stopped since! read more

I love going to classes at The Bar Method Berkeley! I've been going to this studio for almost a year, and I still feel challenged in each class I take. The studio is clean, street parking is not an issue, and booking classes on the app is super easy to do. All of the instructors are knowledgeable and make classes fun. read more

Lovely studio, teachers and community. New class formats keep the workout challenging and interesting. Love that they have online and in-person classes at a variety of times that suit work schedules. read more

The variety of formats makes this a challenging workout even after doing it for years. Give it a try and you won't regret it. The space and instructors are wonderful. read more

I absolutely love this studio. I bought a trial pass a few years ago and was attracted to this because I loved the way the women carried themselves! After my first class, I like my body was thanking me. I loved the fact that the classes are fun and are quite a workout. When doing the exercises, there are modifications for those of us who aren't as limber or strong. I love the fact they they are offered in a way that isn't demeaning or shaming. I also love the fact that each class is different. If I show up for the same teacher each day for consecutive classes, each class is unique. It's also quite a workout. I felt myself sweat, felt my heart rate increase, and was able to throw my leg on the bar like a pro, even though I am bigger. I had classes with every teacher and was never disappointed. The facilities are nice and clean, especially in the bathroom. They have lockers where items can be stored I have to say that I was a skeptic because a ballet, yoga, pilates hybrid was kind of weird, but I was doing a year of new things so I tried it. I've joined again for a similar reason and even though I'm older, greyer, and more stressed, going there still feels good. read more

This is hands down one of my favorite studios and workouts of all time. The classes are pretty varied (my faves are cardio and strength) and it's the one place where I consistently feel safe... there are always modifications if an exercise isn't quite working for my body on any given day (this getting older business is no joke!). Some instructors are more challenging than others (I prefer the ones who really push us), but I almost always feel like I've gotten a good workout and improved my balance, strength and flexibility. Everyone who teaches at the Berkeley studio is friendly and well-trained and offers helpful verbal and hands-on adjustments to ensure proper alignment. The community is also incredibly warm and welcoming. I'm grateful to have discovered Bar Method (and this studio in particular) when I did. It's nearly everything I need--cardio, weight-training, stretching--to help me age as gracefully as possible. read more

There is a Groupon available for this location, you can get two unlimited weeks for $49 (again I'm sure you could get it for less with some Groupon promo). I've never done bar before so I wasn't sure what to expect but I would say overall it's pretty much just Pilates with more fancy props. There isn't much cardio and I would say it's mostly body weight movements. You are supposed to wear leggings (or something that covers your knees) and you can borrow the special grippy socks from them. I have worn regular socks to class and nothing bad happened. I feel like it's pretty hard to slip on the carpet. Honestly, I don't love the leggings rule because I am a sweaty person and the fact that the floor is super carpeted is good enough for my knees and I feel like I should be able to wear shorts if I want. I did a bunch of regular bar method classes as well as the advanced one but they all have the same format. You have to start with 30 knee lift warmups (if you are late you still have to do these first) and then do some upper body exercises involving small weights. Then you move to the bar and do various lower body exercises that can involve various props such as a ball, mat, and straps. Then there is some portion where you sit under the bar and do some stuff. This part is the strangest to me; but it's very possible I'm not doing it right and I am also not very flexible, which I think makes it hard to contort into the position gracefully. Then, you end the class with a laying on the ground portion. You do core exercises and finally there is "back dancing", which is a super weird name for what is just pelvic lifting/hip thrusting/butt clenching on your back. One of the things I do really enjoy is that there is stretching interspersed throughout the entire workout so I have never been sore. I tend to be very lazy and skip stretching if I'm on my own, which I usually tend to regret but it's baked into the class here. I never got to try the bar move class because for some reason you can't just book it in the app you have to call and I didn't ever really want to call. All the instructors are super nice and very attentive. They somehow manage to remember everybody's name and they will give individualized comments. I don't know if this is part of the whole bar experience but it surprised me but certainly wasn't bad. It's nice to have someone make sure you are doing everything correctly. If you are traumatized by some kind of childhood school experience and don't want your name called out in front of everyone (even nicely) I would probably try to say something beforehand since this seems like it's the norm - especially for newer people. I think after all these classes I certainly enjoy it but I didn't fall in love with it. I don't think it is the *most* challenging workout especially because there is no cardio component (for me personally). I never had that feeling of being totally wiped after a class. This place tends to be quite packed. Even classes that are in the middle of a weekday are full and some classes fill up days in advance (e.g. a Sunday morning class might fill up by Wednesday). For me, this is kind of a minus because I am kind of an antisocial exerciser. The facilities are nice and there is a private shower. The change room is a bit small but it definitely has ritzy fitness studio vibes overall. I also think it's super cool that they provide child care concurrently with some of the classes. Overall, I think if you are looking for something that is medium-hard and enjoy Pilates you should definitely check it out! read more

The Bar Method Berkeley - Rules poster - Barre Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Wonderful staff and friendly owner. 100% body positivity which is refreshing and hard to find. Healthy bodies come in every size

This is a great community and I cannot recommend enough! Every instructor brings energy and passion to class. They impressively learn your name after one introduction and correct/encourage everyone by name to keep you motivated throughout the class. I continued attending 2-3 times a week through my entire pregnancy and am very thankful for the modifications provided that allowed me to stay fit and healthy as I was growing the baby (and my belly!). read more

During the pandemic, I stopped going to Berkeley's Bar Method after foot surgery. Aftwards, I noticed that some of my other long-term ailments worsened: a neck injury from a car accident, sciatica caused by uneven hips and a rotator cuff tear. I saw the studio owner in the neighborhood and, with her encouragement, returned to the studio, modifying many of the exercises to fit my needs. Then, when the studio ran a fall challenge, the owner suggested that I try that, too, and I did. I decided to go to class every day. Amazingly, I improved by neck so much, a chronic injury I've had for over ten years, my chiropractor told me that "I cured myself." The sciatica in my hip is gone and my rotator cuff, thanks to the method's shoulder exercises (many of which are prescribed in physical therapy), has repaired and almost going away completely. I never though I would feel so good again, and I credit the owner, Helen Liu, and her accommodating and attentive staff for their professionalism and meticulous attention to detail. Contrary to what my chiropractor said, I did not cure myself but did so with the help of this studio, its staff and its thoughtful, safe and well-researched technique that has improved my posture and body mechanics. I can't say enough good things about this studio. read more

I started coming to Bar before having my kids, went throughout my pregnancies, and have started coming again now that they're a bit older. I love Bar!!! The instructors are so supportive and kind and great people in addition to being good instructors. The studio is clean and always feels comfortable and warm. I just really appreciate having a space like this. Thank you Bar!!! read more