The Barre Code

The Barre Code is amazing in every way. I have only ever been to the Michigan Ave location & can attest to the fact that everyone who works here is so friendly & helpful (which helps for those 6:10 am classes…).
The instructors are very motivating & all provide a solid workout. I will say the «Barre Code» class is somewhat easier than some other Barre studios I have taken classes at, however it is still an amazing & fun workout. My favorite class by far though is «TBC» (think cardio blasts mixed with strength training)! I love the sense of community at The Barre Code & will definitely be a long time member.

review is for barre code overall…
fantastic well-​rounded classes. i’m a barre veteran of sorts. while pure barre and bar method follow the traditional «barre» format (which i obviously enjoy because i’m a student as well), «barre» code is a misnomer because they offer many different formats. if fact, the classes i’ve attended so far barely utilize the barre! my favorites are brawl and barre code.
the 3 studios i’ve visited all seem to have the same characteristics: random dark upper level or lower level gutted space. i almost feel like i’m in a decked out studio apartment in the city. i’m disappointed in the changing area/​lockers — wished it was more of a traditional locker room to accommodate more people. really stressful to wait for a changing room when i’m coming for a lunch break. it’s just a very bizarre set-​up IMO. like any studio, you need to find instructors that work well with you. when i first started taking classes, the instructor would come up to me, whisper some sort of adjustment and walk away and i’d have no clue what she meant. while some don’t like when instructors get all up in your business (like pure barre and bar method), i think hands on assists and adjusts are the only way to help a student get the most out of class.

This boutique, all– women studio is sleek and inviting. Although i wish with everything that there were clean and attractive showers available. I agree with what others have said about needing to find the right instructors if you want to get the best workout. After a few weeks i have found my perfect schedule. A few classes i can personally recommend are brawl with Sarah jane, baryassa with Helen, and tbc with Lina. I think it is totally possible to get a good workout here if you find the classes and instructors that work for you.

I really love this studio! It’s small, but the receptionist is always very friendly to me and the instructor is great! I typically do a morning barre. Also love that they have items to help me get ready afterwards in their changing area.

This location has given me one headache after another. Between last minute instructor changes to charging me for absent classes that I actually attended to today getting locked in their elevator and no receptionist answering the phones to help me! I tried calling them again when I knew the class would end at 12:50pm (three calls 12:49, 12:52 & 12:55pm and no one answered though everyone is out of class at this point and putting on shows to leave. I highly advise to visit river north or one of the other locations better managed. Oh and I just received a text being charged for today’s class when I was locked in an elevator before class even started. Nice huh?

I only do Interval, Brawl, and TBC because I feel like I get good workouts with those — lots of cardio and muscle toning. I skip Barre Code because I get bored with an entire class of mostly just toning and little cardio (and Burn would just be the hot version, so I skip that too). I used to do Baryasa as well (yoga), which gave me a nice break/​change from the other high-​impact classes I normally do, but they no longer offer it at the Michigan Ave location :(((
I’ve been going here for almost a year now, and although the workouts are good, I am starting to get a bit bored as the instructors can only come up with so many moves and routines (but I suppose this would apply to other studios like spinning or yoga?).
Pros:
–Friendly staff
–Convenient location for me
–Good workout
Cons:
–Price: I wouldn’t say it’s worth $ 139. Thank god I got grandfathered in to the $ 99/​month price.
–Crunches: There are sooooooo many other better ways to work your abs than crunches (which I think is one of the lamest & most uncomfortable methods), and yet, I often find myself having to do them in class. I hate it and normally just do other forms of ab work on my own.
–Stretching: With all the muscle toning, jumping around, etc, the stretches at the end of class are a joke and last 2 minutes top. I’m really surprised that Barre Code doesn’t devote more time (maybe at least 5 minutes???) to stretching, considering it is an important part of physical fitness and can help prevent injury. I know they say «Feel free to stay after to stretch» but if there is a class right after, it can be awkward once people start rushing in for the next class, or if it’s the last class, you feel like you’re in the way when the instructor starts cleaning.

I’ve been attending barre classes for the past 3 months and I loved all of the classes. The instructors were motivating and corrected your form throughout the classes. My favorite classes were the barre code, burn, and TBC. Every class leaves your muscles fatigued. The staff at the desk are always helpful and pleasant when you arrive.

Fun classes, and great customer service!

My friend had a code for a free class, which was great because I’ve been dying to try Barre Brawl, which was named one of the best workout classes in the nation by SELF Magazine. While I’ve hardly been to a workout class that I disliked (see AIR Aerial Fitness), this class was hands down the most fun I’ve had during a class ever! It was a mixture of kickboxing sequences (with optional weights), strength work, and just a lot of jumping around. The instructor was super cute and enthusiastic and the sequences weren’t too hard to keep up with even though I was new. The class also had a short barre sequence towards the end, which is just the way I like it because traditional barre classes can get a little repetitive for me. There are also a ton of other classes to choose from, so I feel like I would never get bored. If I wasn’t already attending a bunch of workout classes through a Groupon and LivingSocial deal, I would sign up for an unlimited monthly membership in a heartbeat!

Awesome studio, I took my first class earlier this week and had a great workout.
Admittedly though it had been an extremely long time since I set foot in a gym this was one experience I will not quickly forget.
The studio is cute, modern and sleek. The classrooms are clean and mirrored. Gym equipment (weights and straps) are outside the room. Lockers are conveniently located.
I took the barre express and it really kicked my butt! One day after I’m sore all over! The exercises really target all different areas: core, thighs and arms. The Instructor was very motivating and music is good. Would recommend more grippy socks.
I will go back for more classes!

I really like this place!
Ive been doing yoga for years and I want to integrate some variety. Ive attended three classes and my experience was wonderful! The instructors were kind and motivational — even though I often need modifications.
I would love to attend one or two classes a week but the price for an individual class is incredibly high. For now, ill be going once in a while but I hope they consider reducing their prices to get more regular customers.
They also need more classes! I hate the limited classes in the weekends. They desperately need 8pm classes on weekdays as well!
—
Update: I have to bump this place from a 4 to 1. Quality of instruction has really shot down and customer service is horrible. I emailed the studio about an experience I had but I never heard back from them… im stuck with a few more classes and Im dreading it. When I first started to come here, the instructors were great. They showed you how to do things with modifications and then they came around to see if people were doing the movement correctly. They don’t care about form at all which means the likelihood pf injury os super high. There are lots of barre classes around the city — avoid this one.

I have been attending Barre Bee for about 12 weeks now. This is really a review for all of their studios here in Chicago:
Pros
Affordable Compared to Other Stuidos
Lots of Locations
Lots of Class Time
Can be a decent work out
Love Barre Burn
Cons
Only one studio has locker rooms
Instructors do not make corrections for the most part
No Locker Rooms
Prime Time Classes can often be full
Variety of Classes — Would like more Bardio, Interval, and Baryasa Options
Overall, it is ok. I guess you get what you pay for. I am going to keep going for another month or two and then will look into a more traditional gym

I am new to Barre Bee, but I must admit that I am totally hooked! The studio is really nice and they have showers and really nice amenities if you decide to take a morning class before work. So far I’ve taken Barre Bee, Barre Brawl, and Barre Interval and they’ve all kicked my butt. I am sore in places I forgot I could be sore in!
I do recommend socks with that grippy stuff on the bottom. I’ve been having some issues with foot slippage in the classes.
I think my favorite thing about this studio is that they keep the lights on pretty low while you work out. This is nice because it gives the effect of beer goggles– making me look much more attractive than I am while working out, thus making me think I’m really not as red and sweaty as I feel which makes me work even harder.
I would love to tell you to give it a try, but I sort of don’t want to because I don’t want the classes I want to go to to fill up!

Barre Bee Fit is great! I just started recently and I’m addicted! I love that they opened the location on Michigan, finally a bar class close enough to work that I can justify walking over there after.
Instructors have been great so far at Barre Bee and the place itself is stylish and has everything you’d need to get set for your workout. Changing rooms, lockers for your stuff, and showers for afterwards.
Oh, and if anyone out there is thinking about switching from Bar Method to Barre Bee Fit, I’d encourage you to give it a try! It’s a bit cheaper and I found I was more sore after Barre Bee Fit classes. When I took Bar Method I felt like 60% of time was spent on legs and my core was never very sore afterwards. Barre Bee seems to be much more evenly spread between arms, core, butt, and legs. Barre Bee Fit is also nice because during the workout they’ll tell the whole class helpful tips on keeping form and all that, while at Bar Method they’re good at remembering your name and correcting you on an individual basis. Some people, I know, aren’t comfortable with that kind of attention. Barre Bee Fit is a much more casual atmosphere.
I did the minus one star because I’m not a big fan of the fact you need to cancel your reservation 4 hours prior to class in order to avoid the $ 10 penalty. (That’s with the unlimited monthly!) I plan on going to classes after work… things get busy at a drop of a hat sometimes and I won’t find out until after noon I need to stay late. I took classes at Bar Method in Lakeview and they let you cancel with no penalty up to an hour before. *shrug* But if you know you’re set to go then this isn’t a biggy.
Also bummed that their 45min Express barre class during lunch isn’t bit earlier. Oh say, 11:30? But oh well, after work classes will have to do!
Bottom line? Give it a shot! You won’t regret it! :)

The smallest movements you do in these classes will come back to bite you in the butt. I love the variety of these workouts and the «cardio blasts» that seem to make their way into every class. The instructors are great, the music is fabulous, and the energy of the classes makes the 45 minutes or an hour fly by.
This Michigan Ave location is new (opened today) and I took the inaugural Barre Brawl class. I am so excited to have this studio in my hood since it is closer than the River North location I previously attended.
Just to note, take the elevator to B1 (basement level) to find the studio. They have done a great job transforming the space. Changing rooms and lockers are available.