The Bar Method

I’ve heard so many great things about the bar method. I honestly didn’t notice too big of a difference between this class & the ones at the dailey method. They use a lot of the same tools and techniques. The first time I took a class here, the instructor wasn’t the friendliest, but subsequent classes have been fine. These classes are a bit bigger but there’s very little movement, so more people doesn’t really inhibit your workout at all.
They are quite strict about correcting your form which is great.

I have tried many Barre classes previously, and absolutely love them. Came in to 3 classes at this studio with 3 different instructors within last month, and none of the teachers seem to have any physical body knowledge. But the worst thing — instructors demonstrated nothing, so we were just trying to look at other students trying to understand what was going on. Also, the music was blasting too loud, it was hard to hear what the teachers were saying. Some of the exercises were really challenging, but some of them made completely no sense. Did not feel like a balanced workout. There were only women each time I came in. The studio itself looks great, just wish the teachers were better trained.

I brought my staff to the Bar Method for a team building session with Heather, and the overwhelming response was, «Wow!» Heather teaches in a way that is calm, but firm, which helped us to be accountable to our own bodies during the workout. She was attentive to the way our bodies worked, asking us for details about past injuries or special accommodations we might need to get the best out of the workout. The Bar Method wasn’t just an excellent way to take care of our bodies, we felt as though it brought our team together in a new way. We are excited to come back again! Thank you Heather for a great class.

I tried Bar Method like 2 weeks ago because of a challenge to lose the most fat% at work. I’ve never been to a gym /​any workout before.
Surprisingly I like it a lot! All instructors are really nice and they remember your name. They also correct and adjust your posture so that you know you are doing the right thing. The workout itself is pretty effective and you feel good after!
Very convenient location as well. close to my office :)!

Very challenging workout. Took a class with Marissa and really found her to be exceptional instructor. She’s a stickler for form which gives you great comfort that you can focus in on the intensity and know she is watching and will correct you and make sure it’s safe. Really loved the experience. Had me sweating even before thigh started :) Great music as well. This workout is the ultimate secret to stunning carriage and posture and a rockin body. Stick with it!

I love it here! The space is clean and serene, you can’t help but feel more at ease as soon as you enter the front doors. I took a class from Kylie and I would go out of my way to take her classes again and again. Her energy and enthusiasm in contagious and she knows just when you need to hear some more motivation to keep you going! not to mention, her bod is to die for, so what’s better motivation than than!!!

Decent for a light workout. I can feel my muscles burning and working, but I find the classes to be a little boring. Maybe I’m just not a fan of barre in general. I haven’t been to many classes, but it seems like all the classes are more or less the same every time so it can get repetitive pretty fast. A lot of people knew which exercises were next before the instructor even said anything.
The instructors are really friendly and helpful. They make an effort to actually learn your name even though the class sizes can get quite large, and they go around making adjustments and correcting form.
I personally don’t think it’s worth paying for a membership or class packages, but the studio is on ClassPass!

I have achieved pretty dramatic results after about three months of 2−3x/week Bar Method classes. I remember looking down while in the shower and being shocked at how lean and toned my legs were! My arms are more sculpted and smaller, my abs are the best they’ve looked, booty is seriously lifted and my legs are lean and firm. The classes are really tough but you get stronger quickly. In fact, it took coming back from being sidelined for a few weeks over the holidays to realize just how strong I had become thanks to the Bar Method!
I think BM is excellent for strength training and toning, and apparently you burn a few hundred calories even though it isn’t cardio, and of course all your new muscle tone burns more calories throughout the day.
I have also held memberships to the Dailey Method and Pure Barre and I prefer Bar Method over both of those. Specifically, this is because: I have seen more results from BM, it has a much better abs section, the section where you sit with your back to the wall seems more effective than Pure Barre, it is more consistent, the carpet is less slippery which helps in plank, and there is a bigger focus on the cardio element of class.
Two downsides: the arms sections for all three brands, BM, DM and PB, are not hard enough compared to thigh section. This BM location has a waitlist at popular times but it does seem to cycle through really fast so I am usually admitted off the list every time.
Thanks for keeping me tight and right, Bar Method!

Fantastic studio! Being new to the Bar method, I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to do it correctly or keep up, but the instructors are so encouraging. They explain what they’re doing and don’t hesitate to help you with your form or ways to modify the moves. They’re also super motivating and encouraging, which I know I need when my legs start shaking!
It’s an intense work out and you’re pretty much nonstop for the entire hour, but that’s what I was looking for! I feel stronger after only a few classes, I can’t wait to see the results start showing.
I didn’t realize that the classes would fill up so quickly, but now that I know how to make reservations online its much easier. The only issue I have is that, although there are a TON of classes every day during the week, I was disappointed that they close early on Saturday and don’t offer any classes in the afternoon. But with all of the other times offered, its still going to be convenient enough to make several classes a week and get a great deal with the $ ¹⁰⁰⁄₃₀ day new member offer. The studio is beautiful. And bonus, they offer childcare!
I highly recommend The Bar Method– see you there!

Meh. Pretty expensive for repetitive workouts & centuries old music (seriously — sweating to the 70s?). On the plus side: the instructors learn students’ names and they offer lots of convenient classes, showers, & a clean facility. Kind of a weird vibe here — all LuluLemon and Marina chicks basically. For the price, there are much better options out there.

Clean facility, professional staff. It’s convenient that there are showers and lockers. The classes would be better if they limited to 15 people or less. The workouts are challenging but can be a bit monotonous since the sequence is always the same. It’s good for toning but not if you are trying to lose weight

I’ve been going to the Embarcadero location for the Bar Method since February and have no idea why it’s taken me so long to write a review. Early on I was popping in about once a week but have upped that to about three times a week in the last few months. Though the classes do follow an identical format, the specific thigh and seat exercises vary (as does my ability to perform them.)
While I initially worried about being the hippo in a tutu compared to some of the other students, there is always a variety of body types and athletic abilities in class. Also, any fear I had about feeling judged by others disappeared after my first class, when I realized that everyone is too focused on their own body work to cast a critical eye toward anyone else.
The class size itself can vary from full capacity (24 students) to about half, depending on what time of day you go. The constant is that you’re certain to get a knowledgeable instructor who will learn your name, help you to improve your form, and push you to get the most out of the hour that you’re there. Some of my favorite instructors (Shadin, Lauren, Stacy, and Karolyn) are the perfect combination of stern taskmaster and encouraging motivator, who uncannily seem to know when you are able to muster a «bonus» plank before back dancing or call out, «Stick with it, Elaine» at just the right moment.
While the indulgent eating that Super Dave and I engage in tends to negate any potential weight-​loss from Bar Method, my over-​all muscle tone and definition have definitely increased. Additionally, my posture (terrible from sitting at a desk all day) has improved significantly, as has my balance. But I think that what I like best about Bar Method is that I go into class with the desire to be better than I was last time (maybe by not breaking hold or by sinking a little lower or by going for L shape) and I always leave class looking forward to the next time and the next opportunity to be even better.

Great location, good instructors, nice studio, I do believe that the work out is good. However, they pack 20+ students in one class, and still charges $ 20+ each student.
I would go to Pilates Proworks if you are in FiDi, or Core40, Avant Barre, or Mint Studio in SOMA.

Bar Method is an effective workout, though rigid, with pretty much the same workout each time. It is very personal; the instructors learn your name and use it to compliment or correct you through class.
Unfortunately, the quality of the instructors varies, most are good but a few are weak and one is downright unfriendly. This is what finally caused me to quit the studio.

I recently started with the bar method! I like the facility, it is new and clean; the staff is friendly and welcoming! I feel that this class is great for building muscle (not sure if it works for weight losss– time will tell). The only dissappointing factor is the price. I wish it could be cheaper.

I love this bar method studio and would give it a full five stars if it were a little cheaper and less crowded. The studios and locker rooms are really nice and all the teachers are great. Some of my favorite teachers include Ellen (though she teaches mostly level 2), Tera, Stacie, and Anne. They really make you feel like family here :) I have been going for a while now and even though I’m pretty active and fit, it’s still challenging every time, but I always leave feeling stronger, especially in my arms and core. After sitting at work all day, it’s also a great relief for my back.
Additional pros include:
1. They validate parking, which is really rare for anywhere in downtown SF
2. They’re located 2 blocks from the SF ferry building, which is a great place for a pre or post workout treat. On Saturdays I love going to class and then hopping over to the farmer’s market.
The main con is that classes fill up quickly and you often have to book them well in advance.
All in all, definitely recommend you try it!

I’ve been to over 30 classes at Bar Method so far. I am definitely no fitness junkie and haven’t tried a lot of other workouts, but here are my 2 cents on Bar Method.
After going semi-​regularly (2−4x a week), I started to see improvements in my core strength and flexibility. I started out and still am weak and inflexible though. I also began to pay more attention to my posture. On the other hand, I don’t think BM is very effective for strength training or weight loss. Some of the moves simply don’t work for workout noobs like me. I struggle to simultaneously pay attention to 6 parts of my body. When the instructor tells me to grip my seat, soften my standing knee, lift my chest, keep my shoulders back, suck in my belly button, and move my leg in a little circle, I just feel lost and frustrated.
Things I like:
— The instructors are helpful. They learn everyone’s names and constantly correct you. (Especially me. I am probably consistently the worst person in the class!) A lot of extra attention is given to people who have attended 10 or fewer classes.
— The studio is nice. You definitely feel like you are getting a premium product. I’ve also noticed improvements in the facilities during my time here, such as larger mirrors being installed in the locker rooms and an additional wall of mirrors installed in one workout room.
— Validated parking. Very convenient if you need to drive.
Things I don’t like:
— Inflexible cancellation policy. If you don’t cancel 12h in advance for the first few classes of the day or 1h before for the others, you either lose a class or get charged $ 15, depending on what package you are using. If you are accepted off the waitlist within the cancellation window and want to cancel immediately, you still incur the late cancellation penalty. On the bright side, the reluctance to lose my money did make me wake up early on many days I wanted to sleep in.
— Morning and evening classes are almost always entirely full. You often have to sign up more than a week in advance to get a spot.
— The workouts get boring because of how repetitive they are.
— The locker rooms are small and usually way too crowded. There are only three shower stalls, which is not enough for the packed morning classes.
— The studios get extremely hot and stinky.
I’ve also tried Dailey Method. Here is my comparison of BM and DM:

I’ve been a fan of The Bar Method since 2010. The downtown location is a very special studio that is now the main location of my membership. I have the monthly auto-​renew which is the best bar-​gain for anyone wanting to change their body.
For those who’ve never taken a class: Give this a one month trial… in two weeks, you will feel the muscles in your legs and know that you are making a transformation. In three months going at least 10 – 15 times each month, you will drop a pant size. From there, it’s about continuing to strengthen, lengthen, tone, and burn off fat. After a class, you feel amazing; you get an attitude adjustment along with a tough workout.
You get your money’s worth… and the music makes the medicine go down easier.

There are some fiercely loyal Bar Method users out there, and you’ll notice that they usually have rockin’ bodies. It’s no coincidence — this workout really does the trick! It’s a great option for me when I’m in town for work because I can drop into a class and book online, and they have plush locker rooms for me to change and even shower if I want… and a short walk from the financial district!
The only thing keeping me from becoming a militant Bar Method user is the cost. If you’re willing to fork over about $ 24 for a single class (gets way less if you purchase a package), then this might be just the thing you need to get those abs and glutes in shape!

I’ve been hearing gushing testimonials about the beauty of The Bar Method for forever now. I kept on meaning to go — but just never had the gusto energy to make it over to any of the studios in the city… until today.
Talk about a workout… The Bar Method may be one of the most vigorous and intense isolated workouts I have ever been part of — and yet I didn’t break a sweat throughout my whole experience.
You can whip your tush, abs, arms, legs, shoulders, and pretty much every part of your body into lean elongated shape — while listening to bumpin’ beats, and while still keeping your mascara in tip top form.
The Bar Method is not easy. You really have to have a slew of will-​power and core strength to do the isolated small movements — but with the instructor’s hands on and personable instruction — they do an impressive job of motivating you in the class — while ensuring that you are doing the exercises correctly.
The studio is also gorgeous. It’s equipped with beautiful lockers, showers, clean bathrooms, toiletries for up-​keep and they even have some solid magazines on hand in the waiting area.
Unfortunately The Bar Method is not cheap — but after today’s session I can see why it has a slew of loyal fans and followers — it works. Everyone in the class boasted sculpted arms and did the exercises with ease and know-​how. I’m really looking forward to trying it again. BM = what’s up.
Trust.