What is the difference between Barre & Pilates?
Barre and Pilates are so similar, yet so different. Here is a little background info about the two.
At BARLATËS we offer barre, mat-pilates, mat-reformer and our signature BARLATËS Sculpt class, combining the three practises.
Barre and pilates are so similar, yet so different, but go so well together.
Check out the differences below.
Barre:
Rooted in ballet, this low-impact, high energy workout combines high reps with tiny movements to sculpt, tone and improve your endurance. Expect a high energy to-the-beat class that will leave you feeling the burnnnn.
Pilates:
Rooted in rehabilitation and precise controlled full-body movements, this low impact workout has goals of core + alignment + total body balance. Pilates classes are fun and hard in a controlled way and will leave you feeling mentally stronger and long and lean without the bulk.
Sculpt:
A cute trendy word used to describe a combo class of barre, pilates and weights, sometimes in a heated room. Expect to sweat!
Strength Workout:
Another trendy word used to describe an upbeat (sometimes heated) class that where you lift some weights and use the progressive overload technique to build muscle and get stronger. All of our workouts fall under the ‘building strength’ category!
Your Quick Reference Guide
BARRE - A quick history and deeper dive
Barre was created in the late 1950s by Lotte Berk, a German dancer living in London who wanted a way to stay strong and rehabilitate after a spine injury.
She blended ballet positions, physical therapy, and strength exercises — and boom, barre was born. It started as this chic underground method for dancers and socialites… and now it’s one of the most popular low-impact sculpting workouts in the world.
Barre is your go-to if you want that slow, satisfying burn that sculpts everything — arms, legs, glutes, core — without feeling overwhelming or high-impact. It blends ballet-inspired movement, tiny pulsing isolations, and elegant strength training that makes your muscles wake up in the best way.
You’ll shake (in a cute, “I’m getting stronger” way), you’ll sweat, and you’ll leave feeling taller, lighter, and totally energized.
It’s spicy, it’s feminine, and it’s incredibly effective for creating long, lean lines. Perfect for anyone who wants to tone, sculpt, and feel like the most graceful version of themselves.
PILATES - A quick history and deeper explanation
Pilates was invented in the early 1900s by Joseph Pilates, a German boxer and physical rehabilitation enthusiast. He created the method to help injured soldiers and dancers build strength, alignment, and control using breath and precise movements. He called it Contrology — because it was never about big muscles… it was about mastering your body from the inside out.
This is pilates the way it was meant to be: intentional, effective, deeply connected, and rooted in alignment and control. Pilates blends therapeutic, precise foundations of the 16 classical movements with the smooth, modern transitions of contemporary work. The results? Classes that feel intelligent, grounding, strengthening, and unbelievably good on your joints.
Expect deep core activation, posture work, breath-led movement, spinal mobility, and those “ohhh, that muscle exists?” moments.
Every exercise has a purpose — nothing is random, nothing is wasted. This is where you rebuild your foundation, reconnect with your body, and learn how to move well again.
All of our classes will incorporate OG classical pilates moves, contemporary movements AND at least one mat-reformer movement as well! We will also be offering a full Mat-Reformer class using lots of props to mimic being on a reformer machine.
BARLATËS SCULPT CLASS - What To Expect
This is the class that defines our studio — the best of both worlds.
BARLATËS Sculpt combines the grace and burn of barre with the core-powered precision of pilates to create a full-body experience that feels elegant, athletic, and deeply satisfying.
Expect:
-low-impact strength work
-core-focused pilates sequences
-ballet-inspired standing series
-lengthening + sculpting transitions
-mindful movement that leaves you glowing
It’s challenging but not punishing, energizing but not chaotic.
You’ll leave feeling sculpted, aligned, grounded, and powerful — like your strongest, most embodied self.
Perfect for: Women who want everything in one class — strength, grace, precision, burn, flow, and that signature BARLATËS vibe.