KX BARRE
HIIT
What happens when you cross the training method
du jour with a dance-inspired fitness routine?
igh Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) – essentially a series of
very short, super-intense, cardio-strength intervals
interspersed with short recovery periods – has been
enjoying its time in the fitness limelight for a while now. Barre workouts,
which feature ‘sculpting and toning’ moves to create long, lean
muscles, have also been gaining legions of grippy sock devotees. It
was only a matter of time before the two collided to create a workout
combining the best of both worlds.
Recent studies have shown that short HIIT sessions can be more
effective at improving heart health, building muscle and assisting fat
loss than longer moderate-intensity workouts. According to Aaron
Smith, founder and CEO of the KX Group, it’s drawing people because
it’s efficient and effective; ‘One short HIIT session will torch fat, build
long, lean muscle, and boost your metabolism more than any other
workout.’
So how does this intense style of training fit in with what could
be viewed as a more genteel form of exercise, with its roots in ballet
training?
Smith, together with the KX team, developed Barre HIIT by fusing
ballet barre exercises, functional Pilates training and cardio fitness –
and then adding a high intensity twist.
Barre training addresses the three components of functional
fitness – balance, coordination and endurance. Using the barre
and bodyweight to perform functional activities (pushing, pulling,
squatting), barre exercises are performed in a variety of functional
positions, from standing and sitting, to kneeling and single leg
balance. When combined with the high octane nature of HIIT, the body
uses fat and carbohydrates as its primary sources of fuel throughout
both aerobic (cardio) and anaerobic (strength) training.
So what does a KX Barre HIIT session look like? The intensity of the
50-minute class, which combines high performance dynamic Pilates,
ballet barre exercises and weights and bodyweight strength exercises,
is increased by recruiting more muscle fibres in a short amount of time,
and having shorter downtime between sets. In a nutshell, it targets the
whole body through continuous, precise, controlled movements and
functional exercises.
Currently located in studios across Melbourne, it may not be long
before KX Barre HIIT goes national.
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44 | NETWORK WINTER 2015
To experience KX Barre HIIT or for information on franchising opportunities visit
kxbarre.com.au