Online Barre FAQs

What’s so special about barre?

I think of barre as a love letter to my body.  As we get older our bodies need different things.  My classes are designed to be nourishing and sustaining, and to leave you feeling energised.   Don’t get me wrong - they’re challenging but they are NOT tough on your body.  I still want to be doing these types of workouts in ten or even twenty years time.

My classes are low-impact, so don’t put as much strain on your joints as other workouts.  They also involve a great deal of strength training, which is crucial for women as we age. The same goes for balance.  If we don’t use it we will lose it.  Barre builds stamina, strength and balance. Your flexibility will improve hugely.

But - and this is the big one for me - the focus is as much on mental health as physical gains.  Barre rebalances, stabalises and restores.  A kind of alchemy occurs in my barre classes: the combination of the music, the endorphins and the complexity of the moves (which force you out of your head and into the present) makes a heady combination that is greater than the sum of its parts.  It’s a kind of magic that leaves you feeling fantastic.

Do I need to have done ballet before?

Good lord, NO. I have never had a ballet lesson in my life. You empathically do NOT need to be a teeny-tiny ballerina, (although of course you are welcome so long as you aren’t too scathing of my technique). You can be the person who always went right in an aerobics class when you should have been going left, and if you are terrified by the thought of going to a Zumba class, well, join the club. That’s the beautiful thing about working out at home. Nobody is watching.

Ok, great, I’m in. Where do I start?

Please start with the Barre Basics course.  It’s four weeks long, with four 30 minute classes each week. (You can worth your way through at your own pace though and do what suits you and when).  The course focuses in on technique and alignment, both of which are crucial when exercising at home where I can’t see you.  This course is suitable for all fitness levels, and in an ideal world, everyone, even barre aficionados would start here.  The classes soon pick up pace and what you’ll pick up in terms of technique will be invaluable when you come to the ‘live’ classes.  Bonus: You can try 7 days of full access to the digital studio- it's entirely free!
P.S. Newly post-natal ladies… please keep scrolling down to find a section in the digital studio just for you.

What equipment do I need?

You need a body and a willingness to try!  Everyone feels a little bit like a baby giraffe learning to walk in their first few classes, but it gets easier.  Please persevere - especially through the warm ups - and hopefully you’ll find the magic.  
Equipment wise you need a pilates ball (I like the Bender Balls on Amazon), a set of 1kg weights, and a stabilising surface that is about hip height - this can be a high back-chair, an ironing board, or a kitchen island.  If you are getting more serious you will want to consider investing in a set of 2.5kg/3kg weights, some resistance bands, yoga blocks and a decent mat.

I’m injured / returning from an injury. Can I do your classes?

It goes without saying that I would love to help but these are my limitations:

I am  not medically trained and therefore I cannot diagnose or prescribe treatment.

Every body is different and unique, so the ‘same’ injury will manifest differently in another body

Have you seen a doctor or a physio?  If you have, or feel that you are ok to exercise then I ask you to trust your instincts.  You know your body best.  Do what you think is ok, and if that means skipping part of the class or modifying the workout then that is fine.  You do you baby.  

Finally, never work through the pain.  Any movement that causes pain is to be avoided.  Stop the exercise the moment you feel a shooting pain or even a twinge.. That’s an order!  You can either end the workout there or wait for the next exercise depending on what your instincts are telling you is best for your body.

I’m pregnant. Can I do your classes?

First up, congratulations!  Excellent news.  Second up.. How are YOU feeling?  If you’re feeling well and full of energy by all means exercise.  If you are feeling knackered and your body is saying NO then please tune in and listen.  Exercise will still be here when you’re feeling stronger.  Your body is working very hard right now growing a whole new human and sometimes you won’t have enough in the tank.  And that’s more than ok.  

Barre and pregnancy are a good fit with 3 caveats:

You have a hormone called relaxin in your body when you are pregnant.  This prepares you for childbirth and makes you more ‘bendy’ than normal.  Don’t work to your full range of movement - exciting as it may be to suddenly be able to get into previously unattainable positions it’s not advisable.

The abs sections are not suitable past your first trimester.  There are lots of abdominal exercises you can do when you are pregnant but you will not find them in my classes.  You will have to skip these parts and substitute your own exercises here - think arms or seat work - but NO to twisting and NO to abdominal crunches and NO to lying flat on your back.

In some of my classes there is some jumping.  IN THEORY these should be ok in your first and some of your second trimester.  Again, you need to listen to your body and accept that as your baby grows jumping will put unnecessary force through your pelvic floor. This will weaken it.  Take the no-impact option and your older self will thank you.

I’m post-natal. Can I do your classes?

The guidelines say once you’ve had  your 6 week check up and have been given the all-clear then you are free to exercise.  I say noooooooo.  Think of your core as the foundations of your house.  Rehab it properly and you will thank yourself for the rest of your life.  I always recommend doing a program designed specifically for post-natal exercise.  I did MUTU after my last 2 kids and it was excellent.  Stick with it, despite it feeling very slow.  

If you are breastfeeding - and for SIX MONTHS afterwards - you’ll have the hormone relaxin in your body.  You will be bendier than normal so make sure you limit your range of movement.  Don’t suddenly think you’ve become super human! 

When you have done some core and pelvic floor rehab please come and meet me at the barre, but start with the Barre Basics course and take the adaptations that suits where your core is.  Any heaviness or dragging in your pelvic floor is a red flag.  Please see your doctor asap.

Do you offer a ‘refer a friend’ scheme?

Yes I do.  If you are an active subscriber you’ll receive a free month’s membership for each invited friend who becomes a paying customer.  Simply log into your account, and in your Dashboard you'll see the tab ‘Invite a Friend’- from there you can copy your personal referral link (it’s specific to you and your account) and share it with your friend.  If your friend signs up to MYATB within 30 days of the link being shared you will receive your reward.   Your free month will be added 30 days after the first paid invoice. 

Your free month will be added 30 days after the first paid invoice.  All plans can receive referral rewards.  If you are on a yearly plan you’ll still have 30 free days added to your subscription.

How do I buy or redeem a gift card for MYATB?

What a great idea!  -  the gift of movement is one that keeps giving! Click here to buy a MYATB gift card

From there, you can buy a month or annual subscription and easily share this gift to your loved one in a comprehensive way!

Redeeming a gift card is just as easy, your recipient will receive an email with a code and all instructions to head to the digital studio, or they can simply click on redeem a MYATB gift card in the bottom/footer of the site and get started (while feeling FAB about taking this step in their health and wellness journey)!

How do I cancel my membership?

It's simple! Simply login to the digital studio. Then, click on Dashboard.

From the dashboard, click on the option Billing

Then scroll down, locate the Active Plan and click on Change Plan

Click Cancel Membership below your active plan.

When the pop-up appears, click on Yes, I'm sure. (This is important!)

Once you've completed these steps, the subscription will be officially cancelled, and you will not be charged for the subscription in the future.

What makes your online barre classes different?

Short answer? These aren’t “grit your teeth and get through it” workouts.

Longer answer… if you’ve ever tried to force yourself through exercise you don’t enjoy, you’ll know how that ends. You stop.

My online barre classes are designed to be low-impact, effective, and genuinely enjoyable, so you actually want to come back.

They build:

Strength (properly, not just tiny pulses)
Balance (hugely important as we age)
Stamina
Flexibility

But the real difference?
How they make you feel.

There’s something about the combination of music, movement and just enough coordination to keep your brain busy that pulls you right out of your head and into the moment.

You finish feeling:

clearer
calmer
stronger
and slightly smug (in the best way)

And yes — they’re challenging.
But they are not punishing.

Do your online barre classes actually work?

Ah, the big one.

Yes — when done consistently, barre is incredibly effective for:

building strength
improving posture
toning and shaping muscles
increasing mobility and flexibility

But here’s where my approach is slightly different…

You don’t just get barre.

You also get Upbeat Lift — my strength training classes designed specifically for midlife women.

Because the truth is:
👉 strength training becomes more important as we get older
👉 especially for bone density, muscle mass and metabolism

So instead of choosing between:

“light, elegant barre”
or
“intimidating strength training”

…you get both.

In a way that actually feels doable.

I know I should be lifting weights… but I hate the gym. What are my options?

You are absolutely not alone here.

So many women know strength training matters — but:

don’t enjoy the gym
don’t know what to do
or simply can’t face it

This is exactly why I created Upbeat Lift.

It’s strength training:

at home
structured (so you’re not guessing)
effective (you will feel it)
but set to music and designed to feel good, not grim

Think:
👉 strong, capable, energised
not
👉 punished and exhausted

I’m completely unfit / it’s been years. Can I still do this?

Yes. This is exactly who this is for.

You do not need:

a base level of fitness
coordination
or any recent relationship with exercise

You just need to start.

The best place is:
👉 Start Where You Are

It’s designed specifically for:

beginners
returners
anyone who’s fallen out of the habit

Short, manageable workouts that help you build consistency without overwhelm.

No “all or nothing”. No pressure.

How long do the workouts need to be to actually see results?

Not as long as you think.

Most of my classes are:
👉 10–20 minutes (Barre Snacks)

Because let’s be honest — that’s what most women can realistically fit in.

And here’s the key:

a doable 15 minutes you actually do
will always beat
a 45-minute workout you save and never touch

Consistency > duration. Every time.

I don’t have time. Will this realistically fit into my life?

Yes — and this is where the platform really comes into its own.

You’ll find:

short workouts (10–20 mins)
longer sessions when you have time
programmes you can dip in and out of

Plus:
👉 Travel Series — low equipment, perfect for holidays or chaotic weeks
👉 Themed classes (Beyoncé, Madonna, Tina Turner…) — when motivation is on the floor

This is fitness designed for real life, not a fantasy version of it.

Is this suitable for women over 40 or going through menopause?

Very much so.

In fact, this is where this approach really shines.

As we move through midlife, our bodies benefit hugely from:

strength training (bone density, muscle preservation)
low-impact movement (joint-friendly)
consistency over intensity

That’s exactly what you’ll find here:

barre for mobility, strength and balance
strength training for long-term health and resilience

No extremes. No punishment. Just smart, sustainable training.

I have back pain — can I still do your classes?

Yes — with awareness.

I have a Lower Back Series specifically designed to:

support your back
build strength
improve movement patterns

But a few important notes:

I’m not a medical professional
always follow advice from your physio or doctor
never work through pain

You are always encouraged to:
👉 modify
👉 skip
👉 adapt

This is about supporting your body — not overriding it.

Do I need to have done ballet before?

Good lord, no.

I have never had a ballet lesson in my life.

You do not need:

grace
rhythm
or any idea what your arms are doing

You can absolutely be the person going left when everyone else goes right.

And the beauty of online barre classes?

Nobody is watching.

What do I actually get for £25/month?

You get full access to the digital studio, including:

Online barre classes (all levels)
Upbeat Lift strength training classes
Start Where You Are programme
Lower Back Series
Barre Snacks (short workouts under 20 minutes)
Travel Series (low equipment workouts)
Themed classes for when you need a boost

It’s everything you need to:
👉 start
👉 stay consistent
👉 and actually enjoy it

Is there any point if I’m inconsistent?

Yes. 100%.

Because consistency isn’t something you have — it’s something you build.

This platform is designed to help you:

start small
remove pressure
keep going

Even if that looks like:
👉 10 minutes
👉 twice a week

That still counts. That still works.