Why I Love. . . Xtend Barre

I love staying active and fit but I have always found going to the gym really boring. Having recently moved to Sydney, I decided the time was right to try something new and that’s when I found Xtend Barre.

Xtend is a barre-based, full-body workout with a Pilates foundation. For anyone who has ever studied ballet, Xtend uses all the traditional moves you learned such as plié, passé and relevé, but with an intensity you probably don’t remember from your ballet days.

My first session was a disaster. The class moves along at a fast pace and I was totally out of sync with the rest of the class, but my lovely teacher Emily encouraged me to come back and give it another try and I’m so glad that I did. The classes have quickly become part of my regular routine and something I now look forward to. With music and great teachers, it definitely beats the gym.

Getting stronger

After a few weeks, I could feel my body getting stronger. The teachers at Xtend always encourage you to feel the shakes when you are holding a challenging position. In the beginning, I was shaking like a leaf but as the weeks went by I found muscles I never knew I had! The classes are all one hour long so you can easily fit one into a busy working day and still manage to achieve a full-body workout.

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As well as the classes, I try to go for a big walk every day. I usually walk from Manly to Shelly Beach which hugs the coast so there's always something interesting to see. If the wind is up, there will be lots of surfers out and it's great to sit and watch them for a few minutes.

Moving to a new country has offered me the opportunity to try new things, and I’m embracing Xtend Barre as just one of them.

[ magazine@irishtimes.com ]