7 Things You Hear In Barre Class & What They Actually Mean

Barre studios are popping up everywhere and ladies are tucking all over the country. If you’ve been to a class before, you know that public compliments and corrections are a thing you must face. After a while, you’ll start to hear the same sayings and this makes you think about what your teachers actually mean.

1. You hear: “Drop one more inch.”

What it means: “You are basically standing straight up, please make it look like you are trying.”

This correction usually comes in thigh work, where teachers encourage everyone to “work at their lowest point” or their “shaky point.” Sometimes I’m just there, going through the motions, patting myself on the back for actually going to class, so this “low shaky point” is near impossible.

2. You hear: “Great energy!”

What it means: “Thanks for making it look like you care!”

Sometimes you feel extra motivated and your movements show it. Maybe it was because you chugged a gallon of coffee before a morning class, but that’s neither here nor there.

3. You hear: “It’s okay to smile!”

What it means: “I’m sick of a room full of resting bitch faces.”

Your RBF has a time and place, and it is apparently not meant for barre class. Teachers probably like seeing that their clients are enjoying themselves…even just for a few seconds.

4. You hear: “I like your (insert article of clothing here).”

What it means: “You are wearing something other than Lululemon, and I am acknowledging that.”

In any given class, you will see tons of “cool racerbacks” and “wunder unders” and it is probably refreshing to see someone in a tank with a funny saying or fun printed leggings.

5. You hear: “Great focus!”

What it means: “You look like you’re constipated.”

I generally don’t look at other people’s faces in class, but I’m sure the tucking and pulsing and lifting makes for some grotesque expressions.

6. You hear: “Great leg height!”

What it means: “Again, thank you for putting in actual effort, you are basically an Olympic gymnast.”

Sometimes, miraculously, you are able to lift your leg to ridiculous heights. And it feels great.

7. You hear: “Last 30! 1, 2, 3…”

What it actually means: “This is almost over (keyword: almost), so you’re welcome.”

Those repetitive motions that tug and pull on every muscle so much that you feel like you are dying come to an end,…eventually. So you embrace the “last 20” or “last 30” count.