Pure Barre

A girl walked into a barre. and never left because she couldn’t get herself off the floor.

Pure Barre is an excellent workout especially if you love high intensity types since this is a more fast-​faced type of barre. My favorite PB instructors are Sami and Fawn. I love this location since it’s very clean and its in the heart of Greenlake so I can easily go to Roadrunner sports for some sports apparel and to PCC for groceries. I actually live in downtown but I dont mind venturing to other locations as long as I can hit 2 – 4 other spots while I’m somewhere else. Plus, worst case scenario, you can go to Greenlake Park itself and run after your PB class.

I took this class through ClassPass for the first time today. Over the past year I have taken a lot of barre classes and this one rivaled Flybarre in difficulty. The instructor pushed everyone hard and made your workout worthwhile. She was also great about fixing your form without being too disruptive to your workout.
The only thing that was sort of rough was they don’t validate parking for the parking garage located underneath the studio. This is kind of problematic in Greenlake which is always busy. So if you are going to go to a mid morning/​afternoon class on the weekend make sure to leave early to allow some time to find street parking. Alternatively, the PCC will validate parking for up to an hour and a half with purchase.
Also, if you’ve never been before, be warned you will need to buy some grippy socks before class (or bring them if you already own some).
Happy pulsing!

I love this studio. I have been about 7 times now, I can tell a difference in my body, I like how friendly and personable the staff is. It’s clean and a great location. Not a snotty studio. I really like Rachel, she’s super helpful and makes you feel confident. Loving barre!!!

Love Rachels class on Monday nights! She’s the best!

This is the only Pure Barre location I’ve taken classes at but I have been exercising many years in various locations and can compare this workout as a great muscle-​burner, and the facility is super clean. I highly recommend the barre basics class for a good orientation (and it’s free!). Another tip is to stay away from the corners as it can be too crowded to do exercises with correct form.
When I mentioned the crowding and sound system problems to the woman at the front desk she really seemed to care and said they were having the audio worked on. She also introduced me to the instructor (Italy), who gave me a lot of attention during the class so I could get the most out of every small but intense movement.
They listen to customers and seem genuinely interested in making sure you get a good workout.

Okay — I just have to update this review say that Pure Barre is a total game changer! After taking classes for almost a year, Pure Barre has become a part of who I am. Those 55 minutes are the best part of my day, and the community of women and instructors are AMAZING. I have never felt more welcomed, challenged and inspired in my entire life — and this coming from a girl who danced competitively for the first 21 years of her life! It’s unreal!
And just to sweeten the pot, I’ve gone down two pant sizes since August 2014 as an added bonus for spending so much time at this place!
To Sami and crew — you are doing it RIGHT! Thank you!

After moving to Ballard from Cap Hill, I’m so glad I have found my new Pure Barre home!
The studio is luxe and clean. I love the amount & variety of apparel they sell. All of the teachers at this location are TOP NOTCH! I’ve never take a class I didn’t like. Favorite class: Mondays with Sami!
The one thing that is a little different from the Cap Hill studio is that the floor inside the actual studio isn’t concrete, it is carpet covering a wood floor. At first it caught me off guard but now that I’ve been going regularly, I no longer realize it.

Love love LOVE pb! Sami is a fantastic owner and one of the best teachers — she is at the GLake studio on Mondays at 5:30 and her class is always packed!
Most workout classes or fads like this only work for me for 6 – 8 months before I plateau and have to switch things up. Not barre! The longer you take class the harder you work your body. I finally am seeing the long, lean, toned muscles I’ve always wanted! Highly recommend.

I’ve taken several classes here now and I highly recommend trying out different instructors to see who best matches your intensity level, personality, and work out style.
So far, I have taken classes with Kristen, Samantha, and Fawn.
Kristen: Really great if you’re just starting out. Out of a scale of 1 – 5 the challenge level is about a 3. You’ll shake, but Kristen will give you stretch breaks.
Samatha: Challenge level is about a 4. Fewer stretch breaks and more fast pace.
Fawn: Personally, I enjoy her class the most. On a challenge scale it’s about a 4.5 or 5. You don’t get as many stretch breaks, the stretch breaks are shorter, the class is a faster pace, and she pushes you. If you are looking for a challenge and enjoy being sore, take her class!
Each of the instructors are very knowledgable, helpful, and teach solid classes. It just comes down to what you’re looking for and who you match up best with :)
The Greenlake studio is very clean, they play good music, and there are lockers you can store your things in. I definitely recommend it.

I wrote a review in the past for PB queen anne (I went there for a few months during the summer). My physical therapist recommended barre to me particularly for strengthening my hips. After my summer trial was up, I made a complaint about *some* of the instructors using language that I found to be sort of offensive as a woman (fat shaming). I felt that there are ways to motivate women to work harder without pointing out everything that’s wrong with their bodies. The owner emailed me promptly after I wrote my review and seem genuinely concerned. She told me she would work with her instructors to find better ways to use language.
I moved to Green Lake and after having more pain in my hip figured I’d give PB a try again. Here’s what I’ve concluded:
1 — The owner must have actually taken what I said to heart because I didn’t experience any language (not once) that I found to be even borderline fat shaming. I was impressed by this.
2 — PB works, for a little while. I feel that I have reached a plateau and am now using a personal trainer to get better results. I think PB is great if you’re new to strength training or intimidated by the weights in your gym, but long-​term I’m not sure it’s the best option, especially because the workouts are so repetitive.
3 — The facility itself is really fantastic including lockers and two bathrooms.
4 — Although the classes are all pretty much the same I’ve found that instructors vary considerably. Some are clearly more skilled than others especially when it comes to offering modifications and adjustments.
5 — Minus the fact that it’s pretty much all white women, there’s a pretty diverse group of people (as far as body type and age goes), it doesn’t feel competitive when I’m in there, everyone’s just focused on themselves
6 — The student discount is considerable and greatly appreciated!

TUCK! SQUEEZE! HOLD! LIFT!
There’s so much tucking going on, you’d think this was RuPaul’s Drag Race (ha-​HA). I think fitness is so much about personal preference and there is a reason why you don’t see a lot of guys (or any) at Barre classes. First, let me start with the disclaimer that this was my first Barre class, so I’m no expert at this but I’m quite the fitness fiend. I tried Pure Barre as part of my fitmob membership.
I really like their website. It tells you everything you need to know for your first class (READ IT, newbies!), except… that the first class is free (don’t worry, they’ll credit it for your second class). I felt immediately welcomed when I signed in. They had smartly marked the newbies on the class list so the instructor could go over basic Barre concepts. The space is small, but it’s modern, clean, bright, and very well organized, making the transition between classes very smooth.
The workout is very targeted and is best described as small contractions, which is why this is not a good avenue for your aggression. You won’t be throwing or slamming things around, you’ll probably only move different body parts 3 inches at a time. This doesn’t mean you can slack off. Even with 2-​lb weights, you’ll feel the effect on your shoulders instantly and as you tuck, lift and squeeze, your legs will be shaking… and the shake is good. As I looked around, I saw people with the expression of someone who was about to give birth. It’s torture in tiny doses, and it’s a test of ultimate control and discipline. I usually enjoy working out (unless it’s running), but I kept glancing at the clock during class, hoping that it would magically be over soon.
So: you probably don’t want to come here if you want to lose a lot of weight quickly. You do want to come here if you want to sculpt your bod and/​or you enjoy a challenging, low-​impact workout where you will emerge after class still looking as pretty as you did coming in, ready for brunch. I probably would not have tried it if it wasn’t for fitmob (they’re pricey!), but now I’m intrigued and will give it a few more tries to see the result.

This is a fantastic Pure Barre studio!
I’ve taken classes here about 15 times and totally love it. Each instructor is a bit different and can mix up class, while each class also has a few of the same standard movements. I’ve asked a lot of questions before/​after class, and the instructors are always eager to help you improve.
I had never taken a barre class before stepping into PB Green Lake, so I went into my first class knowing nothing. Honestly, I had a hard time keeping up in my first class, but could tell that once I figured everything out, it would be super fun (and a totally hard workout). I ended up watching quite a few of the Technique Tip videos on Pure Barre’s YouTube page, and that REALLY helped. When I am in class, don’t think about anything else. I get laser-​focused on what I am doing and work hard for those 55-​minutes. So not only am I getting a great workout in, but I’m able to shut everything out and have a 55-​minute pause in my day.
This location is in a great spot — there is street parking or PCC will validate your parking ticket for the garage (sometimes without a purchase, but I usually buy a water bottle after class anyway). The studio itself has free lockers where you can create your own 4-​digit combo each time so your items are secure (unlike the Bellevue location where they just have little cubbies), it has 2 fully-​stocked restrooms and a nice lobby. Super clean and pretty.
I wish they had some more clothing for sale (sizes seem a little weird…), and a few more class times. Still, I’ll be coming back… often! :)

Best barre class I’ve EVER took! This is the
Third barre studio I’ve tried and it by far exceeds all workout expectations! Sexy body sculpting is a guarantee! Thank you Amy for being so kind my first class! I’m
Addicted now and excited to join!

SOOOO HAPPY THAT PB IS at GREEN LAKE! Super clean studio, amazing, friendly and helpful teachers, fabulously hard workouts, and great music!
What’s NOT to love???
There are plenty of classes to choose from and it’s a breeze with the PB app!
New moves and a variety of sequences means a different workout every time!
Plenty of parking – even if you buy a piece of fruit at the market for validation, it’s less expensive than street parking! Better yet, attend the 6 am class and park for free!
I’m coming back to PB after an almost three year hiatus and Green Lake is my new home studio. If you’re looking to be challenged and have fun in EVERY SINGLE WORKOUT, come join the girls at the Pure Barre Green Lake! You’ll be SO glad you did!!!

I was going to Pure Barre in Massachusetts before I moved and was thrilled to learn there was a studio so close to my new place! I attended my first class today and was not disappointed.
The studio is brand new and very clean. Front desk worker Margo was really nice and showed me how to use the lockers. Retail selection seems standard for a Pure Barre studio.
The studio itself is light and spacious. My class was with Maria and she was great, really motivating and helped correct form with all the students in class. This was more than I remember with my classes in MA and was a welcome change. The workout is challenging and intelligent and leaves you exhausted! Other reviewers have gone into more detail about the workouts themselves but suffice it to say they are more effective for toning than anything else I’ve done.
I will be back as often as I can!

I’ve nothing but positive things to say:
— Facilities are clean and the layout is great
— They offer enough class times that I’ve only been wait listed once
— Staff and instructors are friendly and positive
— The work outs are consistent but still provide subtle differences so you work different parts of the body
My only complaint is the price– rather expensive so take advantage of the specials!

First off, just want to say that I love Pure Barre! I’ve been going to classes since late November last year, and though I don’t go as often as I would like due to my busy travel schedule for work, I can tell the difference the barre has made in my strength and overall physique. Luckily, Pure Barre offers a lot of classes every day at all their studios, so I can squeeze in at least two classes a week!
I normally go to the U Village location, but decided to try out the new Green Lake studio today since it’s closer to where I live. The check-​in, locker use, and equipment prep was all seamless and what I was used to at the U Village location, so no surprises there. An added plus is that there are two bathrooms located right next to the lockers, whereas at U Village, the bathrooms are shared with the rest of the businesses in the building, so you have to go out of the studio and back in through another building entrance to get to it.
The class itself was just as sweat-​inducing and active as expected, and Katie (the instructor) was awesome with motivating the class to keep up the motions and going around the room to correct our forms. As always, the music tempo was always a good tempo to whatever variation we were doing, and the mirrors around the room were helpful to check how I was adhering to form.
One slight downside of the Green Lake location is that parking isn’t validated, though there is plenty of it in the underground parking garage. But as other reviewers mentioned, PCC (which shares the same parking garage and does validate for 90 minutes) does validate, so I was able to pop into PCC after barre and grab a couple of grocery items I needed anyway. Most classes at Pure Barre are an hour, so that should give you plenty of time to gather your things after class, get something small at PCC, have the cashier validate your parking, get your car, and exit the garage.
Great first time at the Green Lake location; will definitely be back!

I Love Pure Barre Green Lake!!! I attended a class on their first day open and am hooked! I needed a change in my workout routine and when I saw that Pure Barre was opening next door to me, I had to give it a try.
After two weeks I am already seeing a difference in my body and muscles. I also run the lake a few days a week and ever since starting Pure Barre I have increased my running speed and don’t have the usual leg and muscle pains that I used to. I also love that it is not an intense cardio work out, but it still makes you sweat!
All of the instructors are great and I feel very comfortable in class even though I am 40+ and working on losing weight.
I was almost brought to tears in today’s class (Thanks Kristen!!) but I will be back at least 3 – 4 days a week!!!

I’m a long time Pure Barre member of a few years, though up to this point I’ve only ever gone to the University District location next to U Village. This location opened in early July 2014 as a part of the new Greenlake Village development (formerly known as the giant hole in the ground!)
For people who have never taken barre classes, prepare yourself for a very brutal, grueling workout that does get somewhat easier after the initial death period, but is never anything less than a serious challenge. The good news is, the energy level in the room (complete with fast energy dance tracks) is infectious, and even if/​when you have to take a quick pause, you quickly realize you aren’t alone. Any initial self consciousness you might have goes out the window when you realize that everyone else is working as hard as you are and no one cares how much you might be wobbling or shaking, since they are too! It’s a fantastic, effective workout.
Now on to the comparisons (U District vs Green Lake) and some other technical details:
–Greenlake Village has a big (paid) parking garage so no worries about having to deal with side streets. If you take an early weekend class street parking is available relatively easily, though. Parking «isn’t validated yet» according to the first person I asked, though who knows if that means it will be validated eventually. :) That being said there’s a gorgeous, huge PCC next to the studio and they validate, so go on over and grab a handmade protein smoothie post-​workout and get your parking for free. Even if you don’t, it’s only $ 2 for 1 – 2 hours.
–There isn’t a changing room like at U District; there’s a big/​nice bathroom, but still probably better to change before you get there
–The layout feels less secured, belongings-​wise. In the U District studio the locker area is in the back of the studio, so you’d have to walk through the main room to get to where your stuff is. I always felt comfortable leaving a backpack there, for example, if I came straight from work and needed to put my laptop somewhere. In the greenlake studio the lockers are in the front room and they’re fairly small, no room for backpacks. The lockers do have locks.
–It’s a little less private. In the U District studio there’s an inner door that remains closed and outside of the studio isn’t a highly trafficked area anyways, so you can generally not have to worry about people gaping in at the relatively awkward positions you’re in. Green lake has an inner door but it’s full glass (and sometimes not closed), there’s a glass door leading outside, and it’s on a very heavily travelled street. About ²⁄₃ of the studio is behind a wall, but classes are usually full and if you’re in that other ¹⁄₃^rd (or if you find yourself on that wall during the bar exercises), people can and sometimes will stare in/​gape at you. During one of the classes I took, a maintenance guy with a leaf blower was pretty obviously loitering there looking in for awhile and it was weird. The moral of the story is try to go to the back of the room.
–People often complain about barre classes being full of size 0 co-​eds wearing nothing but Lululemon gear and that there can sometimes be a weird competitive spirit in the room — the former is definitely true in the U District studio, but so far the classes at Greenlake have been anything but. The ladies have been a wide range of ages and sizes, there’s not a nonstop fashion show going on, etc. Perhaps U District is like that mostly because of all of the college students nearby? Who knows.
Overall I love the Green Lake location — the same friendly, awesome staff I’ve come to expect at the franchise, super convenient to restaurants/​PCC, easy parking, and a great workout as always.