Have you been wanting to try barre classes but weren’t sure if you could do it? Or maybe you’re just not sure if you want to invest in an expensive package before trying it out. Regardless, I wanted to share some things I’ve learned from going to barre classes at several different studios over the years, in the hope that it will help you feel more comfortable hitting the barre!

1. If you’re injury free, you can probably do it. But it is not easy.
I am certainly not the fittest person on the planet, but I am stronger than I look and I have pretty good balance. Even so, my legs shake almost every time, and I have strongly considered throwing the little rubber ball (which you have to squeeze between your thighs) and the rubber band thing out the window. The difficulty level does depend on the instructor and the type/brand of barre class you’re taking — and there are modifications you can do if you have an injury or are pregnant — but I don’t think any barre class is easy.

Not too long ago, the girl next to me (who is in fantastic shape) started yelping during the ab portion of the class. I had already had to stop and shake my arms and/or legs out several times by that point, and at the end of abs I would have been happy to continue laying on the ground for at least 10 more minutes. So, while most of the movements are tiny and you aren’t likely to be doing much jumping, it is seriously difficult.

2. You don’t need any ballet or dance experience.
While I think it helps that I have experience learning new moves quickly and know some ballet terminology, many of the other students have no dance background at all. And when I went to a Bar Method studio, I felt like my natural inclination to turn out my feet and hips actually made it more difficult for me, because several of the moves require keeping your feet straight forward. So don’t worry if you don’t know a plié from a passé. Your instructor should be explaining and demonstrating the movements, and correcting your form if you’re having trouble. Which brings me to…

3. A lot depends on the instructor.
Some instructors are super peppy, happily chirping “Isn’t this fun!” or “Shaking is your body making positive changes!” while you curse under your breath. Others are like nice drill instructors, assuring you that you really can do it, pushing you (sometimes literally) farther and gently chiding if you take too many breaks. And a few just aren’t awesome at their jobs. It’s hard to tell before trying out the class.

You should definitely tell the instructor if it’s your first barre class; many will introduce themselves anyway and ask you if you’re new. You may even want to call ahead of time and ask which class or teacher is best for new students. But if you do end up with a teacher who doesn’t explain or demonstrate the moves well enough, who is rude or unhelpful, or is just annoying in some way, don’t give up! Just make sure you sign up for a class with a different instructor the second time!

4. You can probably try a class — or a week of classes — for a reduced fee.
Every studio I’ve been to (or even looked at) has some kind of special that allows newbies to try a class for free, or try a week of unlimited classes at a discounted rate. If the studio you’re looking at doesn’t list an offer like that online, I would call and see if they have any promotions for new students. You can be really brave and sign up for a whole month right off the bat, but I think it’s best to see if you even like it first!

5. You’ll need some socks.
I’ve taken adult ballet classes, and my feet have been the same size since I was in elementary school, so I have a few pairs of ballet shoes. But no one wears ballet shoes in any barre class I’ve been to: It’s all about the socks. Xtend Barre (my favorite) requires socks with sticky things on the bottom, and the studios have some available for purchase, but they’re pretty expensive. Other places I’ve been to just want you to wear some kind of socks, and they don’t care what kind. It all depends on what kind of floor they have in the studio, so call or look on the website first.

6. There will be mirrors.
What does that mean? For me, it means I need to wear something that I don’t mind looking at myself in for an hour (usually something cute and also a little flowy). But it also means I can check my form, which is helpful — when you’re trying to keep your heels up, knees bent and butt tucked, you may not realize you’re holding your shoulders up around your ears until you glance at your reflection. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t look quite as lovely in that reflection as you did when you came in.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you try it out.