The Bar Method Revisited + Giveaway

When the Bar Method opened its first studio in Vancouver five years ago, I tried a class and wrote a glowing review afterward: "The workout definitely lived up to its reputation for being tough and effective. Over the next two days, soreness lingered in my upper arms and quads, and my abs ached a little whenever I coughed or sneezed. But was the Bar Method such a scary workout that it would intimidate beginners? Probably not." Well, I still stand by that glowing review. The Bar Method is the same tough and effective workout it always was, combining exercises inspired by yoga, pilates, and ballet. When done in intervals in quick succession, these small, precise movements isolate and strengthen key muscle groups.

But a lot has changed in five years, and by "a lot" I mean I'm not as fit as I was when I was twenty-five and going salsa dancing 2-3 times a week and doing yoga regularly. A couple weeks ago as part of an invitation-only social media influencers class, I braved the bar—after too many days spent at a desk, too many nights spent blogging or on the couch—and I swear, I almost died. It was embarrassing how out of shape I was.

My muscles were fatiguing so quickly and trembling so badly I had to keep stopping at intervals—and I don't remember having done that the first time around. By the time class ended, I could still feel micro-tremors running through my thighs and calves and the beginnings of epic soreness descending. I couldn't walk properly for four days afterward and cringed mentally every time I was faced with the prospect of descending a flight of stairs. This was so much worse than the first time, when I'd felt only the slightest lingering soreness.

Post-class photo via Bar Method Vancouver's Instagram

Despite the discomfort—or maybe because of it—I was hooked. The class is a lot of fun, and no matter how difficult the exercises seem in the moment, in the end, it's only an hour out of your life and you're working hard to get stronger, right? Or at least that's how I see it. Plus, seeing firsthand how much more out of shape I am now than I was five years ago made me want to return and improve. My immediate goals are to make it through my reps without stopping and go to class 2-3 times a week, and work up to my previous fitness levels. And beyond that—well, it seems like a great way to tone up before the wedding.

To help me reach my fitness goals in 2015, the Bar Method Vancouver generously gifted me one month of unlimited classes, and they want to do the same for one lucky Solo Lisa reader residing in the Lower Mainland! This is your chance to try the workout risk-free. All the giveaway details are below. Good luck, and to whoever wins, fingers crossed you love it as much as I do!

a Rafflecopter giveaway