The Bar Method

I enjoyed the classes. They were challenging. However I wasn’t going so after a few months of being charged $ 159 I finally cancelled. Read the fine print of their service agreement. 30 days notice means from the 1^st of the month. No pro-​ration. Email correspondence back and forth and finally a phone conversation were all pretty disappointing. They claimed to have sent me emails about my absence of which I really would have appreciated since they were taking the money out month after month even though I wasn’t going to any classes. I didn’t receive any (they weren’t in spam either). Also disappointing because they acted like there was absolutely nothing that could be done about crediting my account for 2/3’s of a month over charge. I had attended no classes since July. I gave notice on 11/​9, so ¹²⁄₉ should have been the end date. Instead, they pulled another $ 159 from my account on ¹²⁄₁.
To be fair, they offered to convert the remaining for month to a year package or transfer it to someone else. However, I wasn’t going to class before so I didn’t need a conversation and I know no one that is interested in these classes. Those options were not helpful in recouping the lost money.
The 2 stars is for the ridiculous 30 day notice requirement. It’s not really 30 days, it’s 30 days plus the remaining time in the month you give notice. That’s not clearly spelled out and it really shouldn’t be any company’s policy especially if they post a 30 day notice requirement. The 2 stars is also for the inability of the owner to make any decisions, being a franchise evidently ties your hands to the point of no ability to meet a customers reasonable request. This is not a group I’d care to do business with again.

I had a very bad experience in here.
First time, I went to school early, she would not let me in because of the pregnancy.
I drove 40 mins back home.(That’s ok, I understand because I’m pregnancy)
But this month I went to classes again. When I entered the office and no one at the counter. So I went to the restroom and put my bag in the locked room. When I go to the classroom, I saw Ana show up in the counter. I asked her that if something needs to be signed because this was my first time. Then she told me I COULD NOT go to the classroom. She said it was because I did not arrive 10 minutes earlier. But problem is «she was not there». So I went to restroom first. Anyway, Ana still insisted that I should be there ten minutes earlier. My question is simply «Why was she not at the counter?»

I love this workout class! I am a former crossfitter but I hurt my back this spring and was looking for something that would still be a great workout without hurting my back. This class is no joke. It is very different from anything I have ever done and I have been sore every day after attending the class!
The studio is really nice and so far I have only worked out with Stephanie as the instructor. She is fabulous and really helps the new people with their form to get the max results.
Try it out and I assure you that you will walk away sore but happy you went!

I am a huge fan of the Bar Method. I only started going as part of my New Year’s Resolution and three months later, I’m glad I made the investment.
I’m stronger, healthier and my endurance has improved. I’m not just talking about endurance in the studio, I’m talking about the length of time it takes me to get tired on stairs.
The Bar Method is amazing on several fronts. Being able to view, schedule and pay for classes online is so convenient. I love that I’m able to see the instructors scheduled for the week as well. I’m also able to view my class history and print out receipts (I get reimbursed for gym memberships through my work).
Stephanie, as mentioned in several reviews, is an amazing instructor for Level I classes. Many of the other instructors will just throw jargon at you: «untuck your seat» «option to come into relevé» «option to come into a runner’s lunge» «come into first position…» if you don’t have a background in dance (and I’m not sure where «runner’s lunge» is used), you will find yourself opting-​out of challenge options simply because you don’t know how they’re done, and you’re looking around wildly for clues as to what first position is supposed to look like. Stephanie takes time to define these terms. Leslie is also really good at it too, but I don’t see her that often due to my restrictive schedule.
The studio has community days and bring-​a-​friend-​free days, as well as fitness challenges. Overall, the Bar Method feels like a great family to belong to (and sweat with), even though we communicate mostly in grunts and exasperations during class.
With so many fantastic instructors and a well-​attended location, the Santa Clara Bar Method has enough classes at various times to fit into *life.* I am in love with the 6am classes, but when I can’t make them for whatever reason, the 6:45pm classes are a great time slot that fits perfectly after work but before dinner.
As for the class format:
* be prepared for upper-​body strength training with light weights (2−3lbs)
* you will do push-​ups, but they allow modifications (on your knees, at the bar)
* you may hang from the bar, pull from the bar and throw a leg or two over it ;)
* you will die in thigh work, but that’s to be expected. They ask you to stand on relevé (basically your toes, but not your tippy-​toes), bend your knees and drop your tailbone (push your pelvis inward)
* after you miraculously recover from thigh work, you will do seat work (butt and upper-​thigh)
* crunches of various sorts are to be expected (usually called clam). My favorite clam work is done with the deflated balls.
* back dancing is next and it’s basically a celebration of getting through class. It’s hard to explain, but lie face-​up and try to keep your back ribs completely on the mat while doing pelvic thrusts
* end with stretches and you’re home free
If anything at all hurts or aggravates a previous injury, talk to the instructor and she will be able to give you some amazing options to modify. I personally have double-​jointed hips that sometimes pop out of place (very painfully) so I have to be careful about hoovering my legs too far away from my hip joints (I’m talking to you pretzel position).
Overall, the Bar Method is excellent for improving flexibility, strengthening and toning specific areas. Of course, to *look* like one of the instructors, you will probably have to modify your diet/​nutrition and food portions as well.

Absolutely in love with the Bar Method in Santa Clara. The one in the Marina (SF) is great as well but I attend this one 4 – 5 times a week and have seen amazing results since October. I have tried joining gyms and even boot camp– but the way this work out caters to specific areas of the body is remarkable. Highly recommend it!

The facilities are very clean and the staff and instructors are good.
For a person who does office work and have a 9 to 5 (or longer) job, this is a very tough workout unless you do some serious stretching before the session.
There’s no denying that it is a good workout but it might not be for everyone.
I don’t like the tone they use in their correspondence or otherwise in customer support, there’s an air of vanity and condescension, and «I told you so before» and «we have repeatedly stated this». And lack of understanding that not everyone has the time to read and pay attention to details they post in regards to their policy. There is a level of niceness that is lacking and even if they might cooperate with you the tone and language used takes away from the experience.

Amazing! As a physician, I’m always looking for ways to stay healthy, lean and strong… and especially any new activities that I can recommend to my patients – all ages and shapes. I took this class last week and am still sore! Everywhere! My workout is usually a mix of Pilates, Rock climbing, gym/​weights and none of these ever work me out as well as this class did! It had cardio, arms, legs, abs, stretching AND to fun music in a really comfy environment. I have tried other bar classes in SF, LA and Phoenix, but found this studio and «The Bar Method» challenging yet do-​able.
Highly recommended :)

Bar Method has been on my to-​try list for some time, so this month I finally made a trip over! While there is a location in Palo Alto as well, this one prices drop-​ins cheaper at $ 24/​class. If you sign up to do the new member special, your first month is $ 99 unlimited.
FACILITIES — Very clean and well kept! There are onsite showers and many lockers for you to use. Their lockers have keys rather than codes, so you can hang your key on one of the hooks near the door inside class and then you just remember your number.
METHODOLOGY — As someone who has taken class at other barre studios, I feel that this one is similar since the movements are isometric. These are many repeated smaller movements meant to work out a particular part of your body (lower abs, upper thighs, etc). You will not really sweat but you will shake!
INSTRUCTION — I had Stephanie as the main instructor and Sarah as an assistant instructor. Stephanie is great at remembering everyone’s names so I was pleased with that. There are many corrections given to form by both instructors which is good bc they want to correct it, but I found it annoying at times when their fingers were pushing into my back. Every body is different and I need to be told how my body form should be so I can learn to correct it myself, instead of being touched too firmly.
Overall, I don’t believe Bar Method is better than other barre studios I’ve been to but equal. If you are interested in trying out barre I would say go ahead, but I recommend a Levels 1 class (if it works with your schedule, it didn’t work with mine) over a Mixed Levels so you can get the form fundamentals.
P. S. Give yourself extra time for parking. I found myself parking in the Rivermark Plaza which is fine but that lot gets crowded quickly!

Loved the studio! They’ve been there for 3 years+. My tip is if you can go during the daytime, try to do so because you get more attention that way. It helps so much. Minor tweaks make all the difference. Leslie is a fantastic teacher and studio owner!

I love The Bar Method Santa Clara!
I just finished my 30-​day new client special and thought it was finally time to write a review! My first class was HARD! Really hard! But I’m really glad I decided to purchase the new client special and keep with it!
I attend class 4 – 5 times a week and I am seeing amazing results! Some people say it’s not enough to just do Bar Method exclusively for weight loss but I disagree. On average, I burn around 450 – 500 calories a class and have lost 10 pounds. I’ve also seen very noticeable toning throughout my body and I have these awesome muscles in my arms for the first time in my life! It’s also great that you get such a killer workout at such a low impact. As a former dancer, gymnast and runner my knees, ankles and hips have been pretty shot and the low impact nature means I get to enjoy my 4 – 5 classes a week!
The facilities are great and the instructors are all amazing and each put their unique spin on every class they teach. If you’re looking for a workout that will push you and transform your body, look no further! You won’t be disappointed!

This review is not for the type of work out bar method is, but is on the facility and staff. I attended a class here on a friend’s guest pass. It was real simple and organized to schedule a class, as everything was done online. Their classes tend to fill up and attendance is important, so be sure to not flake on a class you signed up for!
The workout room, bathroom, and locker room were all clean and well kept up. They provide fresh towels for your workout and complimentary toiletries in the locker room, which include showers. They also have filtered water, but make sure to bring your own bottle since the paper cups they provide are made for shots.
My instructor, Krista, Krystal? … was friendly and very helpful, especially to newcomers like me. She was quite energetic…
Overall, the facility was nice and staff was friendly at this bar method location.

I don’t think I will ever come back again.
I did pure barre before and had a really good experience and thought this might be a good alternative. Showed up a couple of minutes earlier and was told that I wasn’t allowed to get in just because I wasn’t exactly ‘ten’ minutes earlier as the new client. I understand that they wanna give instructions before I take the exercise but the lady at the front desk is just like a robot and not considerate at all. This ruined my first and ever experience with this studio and funny thing is I don’t even get to try the exercise.
Very disappointed.

So far I just took my first class this past Thursday. I’m a pear shape and i have a bad left knee, so it’s been a long journey to find something that helps me keep fit and motivated. i find it pretty difficult to motivate myself to work out. In the past, I hadn’t really found anything I particularly liked except a pilates class at 24 fitness, but it was cheap and overcrowded.
I heard about Bar Method in the past and since it is pricey, didn’t have a chance to check it out until now. i got the fall promo $ 80 for unlimited classes for 30 days. What a steal.
I’m pretty sore today and it was tough to get through the class. I was SHAKING and felt burn in places I never felt. I’m going to commit to going 2−3x a week and see how it goes.
So far I like the facilities, clean environment, friendly and attentive staff. My first class was with Krysta and she helped correct me on my form throughout the class, which I feel is super important to prevent injury. I will write later when I have taken a few more classes to see how it goes.
Never in my past have I experienced a class that targets muscles intensely but with very controlled movements. Great so far!

Can you be in love with an exercise system? Because I think I am. In fact, I very well might propose soon, if I still feel as amazing at the end of the summer as I do now. (I likely will, so I guess that means I need to start browsing the Tiffany’s catalog…)
As a bit of background, I consider myself a workout junkie, I mean, lover: cardio kickboxing, body sculpting, yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, interval training, spinning, Zumba, you name it, I’ve probably done it and then some… but The Bar Method was one of the few workouts that I hadn’t looked into, and I’m almost glad that I hadn’t until this point, because it has — in its own soft, pretty way — kicked my butt harder than some of these others have in the years I’ve been practicing.
Perhaps it’s because I needed the endurance building of kickboxing, the learning of proper form and technique from body sculpting, the mental strength I found through yoga, and the coordination of Zumba to shape me into a Bar-​ready lady. Seriously. My muscles have never shaken so badly in the first (or second… or third…) day of any other exercise class before. But it is amazing! It’s all these little muscles you didn’t know were there, to help support you… and those are, in turn, what help you look lean and sculpted.
It’s only been three classes, but I swear I feel like my muscles look longer and leaner… especially my arms, waist, and thighs. I have incorporated some light cardio during the day as well, but mostly it’s just been The Bar Method, and I’ve got to say: I’m hooked! The instructors are attentive and awesome, and I love the direction and guidance they give the students (especially the newbies) — because sometimes the slightest adjustment makes all the difference.
And, OK, I love when they comment on how pretty a stretch on the bar looks. I feel like a lot of times, in other workouts, I’m concentrating so much on sweating it out and really pushing myself that I look really ugly (no shame, it’s fine — I’ve often told people that I *should* look uglier coming out than when I had come into the gym or studio)… but it warms up my heart to know that working hard can still look pretty. I wanted so badly to be a ballerina when I was a little girl, and this is the closest I’ve gotten so far, so I’ll take what I can get!
The studio is bright and clean, the locker room is spacious, and the staff is all SO NICE: ah, the power of acknowledging someone by their name. It really does go a long way. Overall: a challenging but enjoyable workout that has already converted me in a few classes into a true believer. I’m ALL about you, The Bar Method… now the only question for you is: white gold or platinum? ;-)

I went with a friend who had a guest pass. I’ve tried barre classes at various studios including Pure Barre, Equinox and The Dailey Method, and I have to say that The Bar Method was not as challenging as others I’ve tried, so I felt like I didn’t get as much of a workout as I’d hoped for. The staff is friendly, instructors are easy to follow and give good corrections, and the studio is impeccable. This might be overly picky, but I’m a former ballet dancer and it still seems strange to me to exercise on a studio with barres AND carpet, but I understand why barre studios are designed that way, and The Bar Method carpet seemed softer and cleaner than carpet at Pure Barre and The Dailey Method. The classes are «pricey» but in line with similar workouts in the area. For $ 6 more, I can get a much better workout in the same amount of time at SoulCycle :/

I was invited by my best friend her cousin to try out The Bar Method. I checked out the website and it looked like fun, so we I signed up for the new client drop-​in $ 24 class.
Facility: Very modern and clean inside. You can purchase clothing and cute socks right in the front if you need them. We received a tour prior to class after we checked in and were oriented to the facility. They have lockers, stocked bathrooms, water, and towels all outside for clients to utilize and reserve before/​after class.
Class: We signed up for the Level 1 (beginner) class. Lauren was our instructor & she was awesome! She kept the energy level up and was encouraging throughout.
The overall workout itself was SO awesome. I wish they had a Bar Method closer to Fremont, I would probably go all the time. The mix of yoga, strength/​conditioning, and high reps w/​little rest in between circuits was such a great workout!
If you live in the area & are looking for a great workout, I’d definitely try out Bar Method. I plan to do drop in classes whenever I’m in the area, especially as I get closer to my next bikini competition.

After hearing amazing things, I finally had a chance to take a class at the Bar Method! As soon as I walked in, I knew I was a fan. Here’s why:
+Big, spacious workout rooms
+Beautiful locker rooms with showers and bathrooms (you can even use the mens restroom because it’s a very girl dominated workout place)
+Extremely attentive and sweet staff: front desk lady gave us a tour after we checked in since she knew it was our first time
The class itself was nothing like I have ever done before. It was a combination of light weights, strength training, core, and bar exercises. I didn’t realize that there was an actual bar in the class that we used to do so many of our exercises – so unique and so difficult! My legs were definitely quivering while we did these and even though I was in the beginner class, I took a few breaks in between to catch my breath and give my quivering thighs a little break! I loved the music that accompanied each different type of workout and I enjoyed having a smaller class size so the instructor focused on each of us. I think she came over to me atleast 4x to correct my form and help me out with the exercises I didn’t quite get the first time around. It was a refreshing change from the usually packed and not personalized gym classes I’m used to!
The only thing that I would have changed during the class was more demonstrations: as a beginner it’s very difficult for me to visualize everything the instructor says. Sometimes, she was great about it and demonstrated everything so I could see it and mimic it. However, more than twice she would just say what to do and the beginners were left to look around to see what she meant. I looked at the more experienced beginners and was left more confused because they were doing different things. So I think the only change would be to demonstrate what you are doing clearly so the newest individuals can keep up. The other thing was at the end for the core workouts our instructors set up her mat near the back middle of the room facing away from more than half the class. With girls in front of me, I could barely get a view of her, let alone her form.
Besides that, which is easily fixable, this class was golden. I’d give it 4.5 stars but because of how sore I was the next day and how happy I left feeling, I can’t not give it 5 stars. I can see it being perfect for leaning out muscles and really toning yourself in ways that being on a treadmill just can’t!

shake n burn, shake n burn…
I’ve been going to bar method for a few months now. I’m not the most fit since I enjoy food too much but I have been doing kickboxing, insanity and running for a while now. I’ll have to tell you that this has been one of the most effective workouts that I’ve been to. I started seeing a difference after the first couple of weeks after going 3 – 5 times a week. All the instructors there are really nice but I think they could do a little better in the response time when you call or email.
The monthly fee itself I can say is on the steep side. I think the appropriate price could be around $ 120−130/month but they do provide towel service, shampoo/​conditioner/​body wash in the showers and other bathroom products in the bathrooms.
There could be some small improvements made to the facilities such as fixing the shower holder in the womens shower stall, adding additional outlets for curling irons and blow dryers in the bathrooms, they could have a little better blow dryers too as it always makes my hair frizzy, and better lighting over the cabinets where the girls get ready.
Overall if you’re looking for a great workout to define your figure then this is the place to be!

I’m not really a fitness enthusiast, and I’m not the best at following directions like «square your hips» and «soft knees.» Squared hips? It took me weeks to figure that one out in my yoga class. So when my friends mentioned to me about barre classes, I brushed it off at first… until I noticed Bar Method near my work. I thought why not try it out for a month… and maybe I’ll actually get into shape for once.
If you like structured, fast paced classes with super attentive instructors, you are in for a treat. I took several classes with Stephanie, Shion & Sabrina, and they’re all amazing and challenging in their own unique way. And YOU WILL SHAKE. A LOT. Even after 2 – 3 weeks, I was shaking like crazy… and I certainly wasn’t alone. I think Bar Method is more challenging than vinyasa yoga, at least for me. I started seeing results in 2 weeks. pretty amazing stuff.
I don’t know why some people are complaining about having a dress code. It’s really not that difficult… you just have to wear socks (you can just wear your regular socks or purchase the grippy ones in studio. but I was fine with my non-​grippy ones) and pants that comes to your knees or below. You don’t even have to carry those annoying yoga mats and towels since everything is provided. And did I mention their awesome locker room? With keys? You don’t even need to bring locks, and this place is probably the nicest/​cleanest exercise studio I’ve ever been to.
If you live in the area, definitely stop by. And check out their $ 100 new client promotion.

I love this place!
I started attending classes with a friend of mine few days ago and wow, 15 minutes into the work out and I was already sweating.
Sabrina was a great instructor. since it was my first time. she was very helpful with how I should do my posture correctly.
Classes are a bit expensive but there are a lot of class times, great services from the staff, very clean bathroom, lockers, shower, they even provide a blow dryer for you. I hope they will have a discounted price for students with a valid I. D so people wouldn’t be hesitant to come and try the class.
If you want the best results, they suggested to go 3 – 5 times a week.
The only thing I was hoping for the Bar Method is to open a branch in downtown San Jose so it will be more near from my place :)