How to Become a Barre Method Trainer

The Barre method is a workout that is becoming increasingly popular. The technique is a combination of ballet-type exercises, Pilates and yoga. While ballet exercises are implemented, you don’t have to be a dancer to use or teach the Barre method. If you are already teaching exercise classes, or you are taking or have taken Barre method training, then you might consider becoming certified as a Barre method trainer.

image-13 this info

An interest in the method is a good start, but that’s not enough to become a Barre method trainer. The technique is designed to help people of all ability and fitness levels, from beginners to advanced, but it is an intense workout. You’ll need to be able to have the stamina to teach on all levels. You will also need the ability to create safe and effective workouts. To do this, you will need to do some training on your own before you’re ready to teach others. Once you have completed training and certification, you can either find a studio looking to hire someone to teach the Barre method or you may decide to open your own business.

Search Certified Personal Trainer Programs

Get information on Personal Training Certification by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Sponsored Ad

What is the Barre Method?

The original method was created in London in 1959 by Lotte Berk, a German dancer who was trying to come up with a way to stay fit despite having a back injury. The method relies on isometric training, focusing on specific muscles, and body alignment and proper posture to strengthen your core and give you a more aligned, leaner body. The workouts are also very intense, which increases endurance and metabolism, so the Barre method is a suitable cardio workout as well.

The only equipment required for the Barre method is a ballet bar and a workout mat. Sometimes handheld weights may be used for targeted core workouts, and an exercise ball may be used for lower body workouts. Ballet exercises that may be incorporated into the workout include pliés, piques, arabesques and the first, second, third, fourth and fifth foot positions. The most effective Barre workouts will also include mat exercises and cool-down stretches. Since the program also focuses on endurance and pushing the body’s metabolism to burn fat, the workouts can be quite intense. Most workouts last between 45 minutes to an hour. There is not much rest time between each activity so that the muscles can stay engaged to achieve the best results.

What are the Benefits of the Barre Method?

There are several benefits to the Barre method of training. Since the process is intense, results are a lot quicker than other workout programs. The Barre method tones your overall body without making you bulky and improves posture, balance and flexibility. Since the workout is low impact, it’s a good workout for pregnant women to help with balance and stability. It’s also a suitable workout for those who are trying to get back into shape after an injury. Doing Barre workouts regularly can increase bone density, which in turn can help to prevent bone disease and osteoporosis as well as injuries. Barre method training is also an effective way to increase your mental clarity, mind, and body awareness and reduce stress while providing relaxation.

Why You Should Become a Barre Method Trainer

Above all, if you are considering becoming a Barre method trainer or any type of fitness instructor, you must be passionate about fitness and working toward achieving or maintaining your own fitness goals. But if you aren’t interested in helping other people, working as a Barre method trainer may not be the career for you. Working as a trainer, you will be helping others achieve their weight loss and fitness goals using the Barre method. You’ll truly be making a difference in the lives of others.

Fitness trainers in all aspects, including the Barre method, are high in demand in the United States. The job group of fitness trainers and aerobics instructors is currently experiencing a growth rate of ten percent nationally. Approximately 55,000 new trainer jobs become available each year.

Many Barre method trainers start off taking the classes as students. One of the perks of becoming an instructor is no longer having to pay to take the classes. Also, as a trainer you will get paid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is $40,390. The top ten percent in these fields make as much as $75,400 a year. Of course, salary will vary by state. Salary is also dependent upon how long you’ve been teaching the Barre method if you work for someone else as opposed to owning your own business, and how many classes you teach. Typically, Barre method trainers make approximately $30 an hour or per class since most lessons last about an hour.

Another plus to this career is the flexibility. You can teach classes part-time while maintaining another job or make this your full-time career. You can work at a gym or dance/fitness studio, or you can open your own studio.

Becoming a Certified Barre Method Instructor

The path to becoming a Barre method trainer is almost as intensive as the workout itself. First, you will need to decide where you would like to teach. You may already be taking classes somewhere, and it’s a possibility that you might be able to get hired at that facility. Some studios have specific training guidelines. In most places, you will be able to complete the training and certification program of your choosing. Still, some franchises will require you to complete a specific training program, and they will have choreography and music preferences as well.

For Barre method training, certification and training go hand in hand, meaning if you complete a certification program, you will be completing the training that you need to work as a Barre method instructor. Most Barre method training programs require that you already be certified or actively teaching Pilates, yoga, or some other group fitness program. If you don’t have a background in fitness, some programs offer a prerequisite course that will provide you with the training you need to have before training to become certified.

There is a variety of certifications offered for the Barre method that can be taken both online and in-person. However, not all certification programs are the same, so it’s wise to do your research before enrolling in a program. Here is an overview of some of the available certification programs:

  • The Barre Intensity Program—There are several studios worldwide that offer this program. You can choose between one-day or two-day training. Cost is approximately $350-$450 depending on which plan you choose. Online training is also an option.

  • The International Ballet Barre Fitness Association (IBBFA) Barre Certification Program—This course can be taken online and is one of the most widely recognized Barre certification programs available. The program costs approximately $500, and you are given six months to complete the 35-hour course.

  • The Barre Standard—This extensive training program lasts 50 hours and costs $750.  Participants are prepared to begin teaching as soon as they finish the course.

  • The Barre Above Certification Program—This fee for this seven-hour workshop is currently $269.99 and can be taken in various studios throughout the United States and Canada. This program is popular because of its low cost; however, once you have completed the program, you will be ready to teach classic Barre classes as soon as the next day.

  • Zen Barre Certification—This program can be taken online at your own pace. Once you’ve completed the course, you have 90 days to submit a video of yourself teaching an hour-long Zen Barre class. The program costs $295.

Depending on which program you choose, becoming a certified Barre method instructor doesn’t take long. Some programs do require you to train for three to six months before teaching, but some programs prepare you to begin teaching as soon as you complete them. But to be successful as a Barre method trainer, you must build a rapport with your clients and retain your existing clients while also bringing in new ones.

Teaching the Barre method can be a steady and rewarding job. If you enjoy fitness and want to help others enjoy it, and you are willing to put in the time and effort for training and teaching classes, then you might enjoy a career as a Barre method trainer.