Common Mistakes People Make in an Online Barre Class (and How to Avoid Them)
Online barre classes are a brilliant way to move your body — especially at our age and stage of life. They’re flexible, low-impact, surprisingly spicy, and right there in your living room, ready to fit around your schedule.
But without an instructor in the room giving you real-time feedback, it’s easy to slip into a few common traps. The good news? I make it my mission in life to cue every movement using relatable imagery that actually works. If you go into your first barre class with me, having read this, you’re going to get so much more out of it.
Everything here is fixable — and once you know what to look for, you’ll get more out of every single class.
1*
Going Through the Motions, Not Feeling the Work
Barre is sneaky. Tiny movements, light weights — it can look easy from the outside. But the power’s in the intention. If you're not actively engaging the right muscles, you’re just waving a limb around, wondering why everyone else is shaking.
✅ Fix it: Focus on the mind-muscle connection. If we're working your glutes, really squeeze them. If I cue you to hinge, imagine slamming a door shut with your bum. The magic’s in the detail. 2*
Poor Posture and Alignment
Without a mirror or someone watching, it’s easy to slouch or stick your bum out. Over time, poor alignment can lead to aches, strains, or just a less effective workout.
✅ Fix it: Picture a metal rod running from the crown of your head down to your tailbone. Keep that line long and neutral — whether you’re standing tall or in a plank. I cue this loads in class and it really helps. Working out in front of a mirror or flipping your iPad camera so you can see yourself? Worth its weight in gold. 3*
Skipping the Warm-Up and Cool Down
When you're short on time, it’s tempting to jump straight to the ‘good bit’. But skipping the warm-up means your muscles aren’t primed, and skipping the cool down? That’s a fast track to stiffness and soreness.
✅ Fix it: Trust the structure. Every class I design is layered for a reason — the warm-up wakes your body up, and the cool down calms your nervous system. They’re just as important as the spicy middle bit. 4*
Thinking You Need to Be Perfect
Spoiler: no one is. And definitely not me. Online barre is about progress, not perfection. Whether your balance is wobbly, your coordination’s gone on holiday, or your weights feel weirdly heavy — you're still doing it right. Just meet yourself where you are. And don’t forget: everyone starts out looking like a baby giraffe learning to walk. It’s a whole new way of moving your body.
✅ Fix it: Keep showing up. Let go of the pressure to ‘nail’ it. Half-done and wobbly still counts. In fact, that’s where the growth happens. And one of the best things about doing it at home? No one’s watching. 5*
Comparing Yourself to Everyone Else (or Your Younger Self)
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you should be fitter, stronger, more flexible, or more consistent. But life is messy, bodies change, and your fitness journey is yours.
✅ Fix it: Stay in your lane. Come back to your why. Maybe you want more energy, better sleep, a stronger core, or a calmer mind — not a perfect arabesque. Let that be enough. You’ll improve with time and patience. Final Thought:
Online barre works — beautifully. But it works best when you listen to your body, take your time, and ditch the idea that it has to look a certain way. And — of course — when you listen to me.
Now go grab that iPad and flip the camera round. As my dad used to say, “If a job is worth doing, do it properly”.