March 22, 2011
Are YOU ready for swimsuit season?
Looking for that long, lean, dancer’s body? Try Xtend Barre Carlsbad or Xtend Barre Carmel Valley! There are many new bar method’s popping up. One of the differences of Xtend is that with the cardio component and a full range of motion, not just the small movements, we are working on Xtending those muscles – to create those longer, leaner muscles, rather than shorter, more contracted muscles.
Xtend Barre was featured on recently on Ivillage.com as one of those workouts to get that body you’ve always desired. Natalie Portman used this extended bar method to lose weight and tone up for The Black Swan. This type of workout is also one of the popular workouts used by Madonna, Kelly Osborne, Kelly Ripa, Anna Paquin, and it has absolutely TRANSFORMED Drew Barrymore’s body!
One of the great things about the boutique barre studios is that most limit class sizes (most are 25 people or less) – providing you with a more individualized and safe workout experience. So, if you’re looking for individualized attention, and to get that bikini body you’ve always wanted, try a FREE class at Xtend Barre Carlsbad or Xtend Barre Carmel Valley. First class always free with a local ID!
March 17, 2011
How Is Xtend Barre Different Than The Other Bar Methods?
We get this question quite frequently! 
1. Cardio and Calorie Burning
All Xtend Barre classes are meant to provide your resistance training, as well as your cardio all in less than one hour. Many of our Xtend Barre Carlsbad & Xtend Barre Carmel Valley clients wear heart rate monitors when they come into class. The average client burns about 600 calories per hour – PLUS their FULL BODY resistance training!
2. Neutral Spine vs. Tuck
Most other bar methods operate in a posterior tilt (or a pelvic tuck). They do this to help create additional resistance during movements. Xtend focuses on using just creating your own resistance. I often say to treat your body as if you are moving through quicksand – create that resistance with your own muscles. Xtend operates with a more pilates based, neutral spine, believing that this is the most safe and stable spinal position.
3. Dance Inspired
Xtend incorporates large movements (think cardio) in with our small, isometric movements. It seems that just as you can’t do any more of those small movements – we’re ready to move you to the larger movements. This helps give you a break, without over developing any one muscle group. It helps remove the lactic acid from the muscles (reducing muscle soreness). It helps with the extension of the muscles, vs just the contraction. It also serves as your interval – increasing the calorie burn. But most of all – it hopefully just makes class MORE FUN!
Remember – your first class is FREE!!!! If you’ve taken another bar method and want to know how Xtend is different – come try a class on us! Xtend Barre Carlsbad and Xtend Barre Carmel Valley look forward to seeing you soon!
August 28, 2010
That ab work is more than just looking good!
Before I started with Xtend Barre Carlsbad, I was notorious for skipping ab work and stretching! Why? My abs were weak and stretching wasn’t going to help me lose weight or look good. We all have a tendency to do the same workout over and over, and if we aren’t good at something, we skip it, focusing on the part of the workout we do well.
One of the great things about and Xtend Barre workout is that it is meant to work the entire body! In your 55 minutes, you are able to get some cardio AND sculpt your arms, abs, back, legs, and seat!!!
Often one of the weakest parts of our clients bodies are their abs and entire core. I happened to be reading a Women’s Health article the other day, and they were talking about all of the health benefits of a strong core. It’s so much more than just having that beautiful six pack of muscles! A strong core reduces your risk for stroke, heart disease, kidney stones, and many other ailments, that we’d really rather skip!
In short, be mindful of your diet and nutrition, establish weight loss goals, and don’t skip your ab workout. Keep those abs fit and trim. Your health may depend on it!
July 11, 2010
Pilates Certification at Xtend Barre Carlsbad
We are so excited to announce that we have coordinated with the very prestigious Power Pilates of New York to offer a Pilates Mat certification. If you’re a current fitness instructor, this is a tremendous way to increase your current fitness offerings. If you are not currently a fitness instructor, it offers you the ability to become an instructor at major fitness centers, or build your own business.
We will be offering a free pilates mat class at Xtend Barre Carlsbad on Wednesday, July 21st at 6:20 pm. This will also be a meet and greet to ask questions about the certification and employment opportunities it will provide.
The certification program is a three day program, offered August 13th through 15th at the Xtend Barre Carlsbad studio.
For more information or to register, contact Xtend Barre Carlsbad.
July 7, 2010
I’m still sore from yesterday’s class, should I work out again?
Basically it comes down to how sore you are.
Soreness comes from the overloading of muscles, creating microscopic tears. As the muscle rebuilds itself, it builds a stronger muscle. The regeneration time for the muscle is incredibly important.
If you have a little soreness, maybe you want to still workout, but not necessarily push into your full challenge zone. The danger of skipping workouts is that once you skip once, it gets easier and easier to keep skipping, and the next thing you know, you haven’t worked out in two weeks!
Muscle soreness is also a great excuse to try something else. If it was a barre class that made you sore, maybe today’s a great day to take a yoga class and work some different muscles.
Just do something – even if it’s just a walk! Both your body and mind will thank you!
July 6, 2010
Why don’t we let you rest in Xtend Barre Classes?
Xtend Barre Carlsbad
You’re hearing more and more about the validity of interval training – a solid workout, with short bursts of increased intensity. It causes the body to burn more calories in 30 minutes than a typical 30 minute solid intensity workout. Getting your heart rate up beyond its normal level causes your body to start dipping into its energy stores.
In an Xtend Barre class, we look to bring you into your challenge zone within the first five to ten minutes of class. We want your breathing to increase, and the first muscle group to fatigue quickly. While you’re stretching out that first muscle group, your instructor is already setting up your next series.
According to The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, you burn 33% more calories by doing back to back sets of two different exercises (rather than resting between exercises). When you start that thigh series, be prepared for one exercise, after another, with quick transitions – keeping you in your challenge zone. Then we add in that cardio burst to increase the heart rate, increase the intensity, and keep you moving!
So, next time you’re doing your reps, and your instructor tells you to keep it low and make a change – try to stay in that challenge zone! We know it’s hard! We know it burns! We know it shakes! But that’s what gives you the Xtend Barre results!
