Experienced a barre-inspired home glute exercise regime compared to Pilates - learn the reasons behind my preference
Strengthening Glutes with Mara Cimatoribus' Barre Workout
A new addition to the author's fitness routine, Mara Cimatoribus' barre workout, has proven to be beneficial for strengthening weak spots, particularly the glutes. This workout, inspired by ballet training, uses bodyweight or light weights for strength building and focuses on lower body strength and muscle activation.
The routine consists of four exercises that are repeated twice. These exercises, such as wall squats, side-lying clams, and lunges, specifically target the glutes and surrounding muscles, often incorporating balance and opening movements. The donkey kicks in the barre routine resemble cable kickbacks, engaging the hamstrings and core, in addition to the glutes.
The barre workout tests balance, coordination, and core strength, making it a more dynamic workout compared to the more gentle style of Pilates. It emphasizes muscle toning and endurance with controlled, small-range movements characteristic of barre style, aiming to sculpt and strengthen the glutes and legs.
In contrast, home Pilates workouts generally emphasize core strength, flexibility, controlled breath, and whole-body alignment. Pilates tends to focus more on joint mobility, posture, and muscle endurance rather than on isolated muscle hypertrophy or intense cardiovascular stimulus. While Pilates can raise heart rate moderately, it usually provides lower cardiovascular impact than barre workouts structured with continuous repetitions and sequences for muscle fatigue.
| Aspect | Mara Cimatoribus' Barre Glute Workout | Home Pilates Workouts | |---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Exercise Style | Barre-style: small, controlled, lower body-focused moves emphasizing muscle burn and endurance | Slow, controlled, full-body movements focusing on core, flexibility, and alignment | | Muscle Focus | Primarily glutes and lower body muscles with balance components | Core, glutes, back, and whole-body muscles for stability and flexibility | | Cardiovascular Impact | Moderate: continuous rounds create sweating and muscle burn but not high cardio | Low to moderate: more focused on control than cardio conditioning |
The author added this barre workout to their existing routine of weight training and Pilates, finding it to be a valuable complement to their fitness regimen. The routine requires a chair or a countertop to lean on, and the repetitions for each exercise are shown in a video by Mara Cimatoribus. Engaging the core by squeezing the glutes and rib cage helps prevent lower back arching during barre exercises, ensuring a safe and effective workout.
[1] Mara Cimatoribus' Barre Glute Workout: [Link to video] [2] Understanding the Science Behind Barre Workouts: [Link to article] [3] Comparing Barre and Pilates Workouts: [Link to article]
- Mara Cimatoribus' barre workout, which includes exercises like wall squats and donkey kicks, focuses on home workouts that strengthen and sculpt the glutes, offering a different approach from Pilates.
- This fitness-and-exercise routine, inspired by ballet training, employs the principles of health-and-wellness by testing balance, coordination, and core strength, making it a dynamic lifestyle choice.
- In contrast, home Pilates workouts promote flexibility, core strength, and joint mobility, concentrating on proper posture and muscle endurance, setting it apart from the muscle-toning and endurance-focused barre exercises.
- By incorporating Mara Cimatoribus' barre workout and existing routines such as weight training and Pilates, the author embraces a comprehensive home-and-garden lifestyle that integrates various fitness practices for overall fitness and well-being.
