Pure Barre Austin

I’ve been taking barre classes at many studios (and love Dancer’s Shape and Define) around town for over two years now. Took my first class here yesterday and sadly have to agree with the other reviewers on here who did not enjoy it.
I really did not like that they had carpeted floors, as while I did indeed bring socks, they could not at all grip the carpet. I also agree with Jessie F. that I find it hard to believe that carpet is good for the level of sweating everyone was doing (myself included).
The workout, or at least what I could understand/​improvise of it, did indeed make me sweat. And I’m even a little sore today. But I could not have been more exasperated with the instruction or the low-​light conditions. Her instructions were not very clear, and I could tell this because every time I looked around the room for cues on what she was asking us to do, everyone would be doing something different. She demo’d the moves maybe 50% of the time, most often when she would be at the furthest front of the room with the lights extremely dimmed. If they had inquired as to whether anyone was a first-​timer at that class (which they should’ve known because I signed the new customer waiver right in front of them), the instructor could have positioned herself better so as to provide better/​clearer instruction to newbies. The dimmed lights were just the absolute worst.
The amenities at this location also pale in comparison to the studios I mentioned above. This studio does not provide towels, as many others do, and does not have any dedicated drinking water fountain. Although I am on Classpass, a quick look at the prices shows that it is also MORE expensive than both of those studios, for far less.
Won’t be returning to this studio. Highly recommend other barre studios on Austin for your barre work-​out needs.

Easily the soulcycle of barre studios in the states, Pure Barre classes can be pretty variable depending on what studio you go to.
Having been to PB’s across the Austin area and in Boston, I can easily say that this PB location is unequivocally my favorite. An immaculate studio, boasting a rolodex of passionate teachers, rigorous and varied workouts, and a friendly environment… this place and their classes burn in all the right places and shine above the rest. And by burn I mean sets all the nooks and crannies of your body on fire!
What’s perhaps most special about this PB is the ambiance and community. Barre studios have a tendency to be a little stuffy, filled to capacity with lululemon clad millennials, and often with a palpable snobbery in the air— however, this PB attracts a broad spectrum of clientele, spanning across all age demographics and fitness levels. The result is a fun, friendly and inclusive environment, often lacking in the industry.
Keep it up, PB-​Westlake!

I’ve been to a lot of different barre studios in town and Pure Barre is the one that I continue to come back to. Pure Barre workouts are always consistent, due to the structure of the class, yet every class is different. Your level of workout here is completely dependent on your mindset and commitment, not necessarily on the teacher. I’ve been taking barre classes on a regular basis for about a year now and it has completely changed my body. It takes a while to really get a deeper understanding of the methods and the movements, don’t get discouraged after one or two classes, stick with it!
I really like that I can use my membership at both the Westlake and Arboretum locations because one is close to work and the other close to home for me. This makes it easy to fit my workout in every day. Plus, it’s nice to change up teachers and locations every once in a while.
Tips: get there early to get set up, bring water, a towel, and sticky socks!

I love love love Pure Barre. I was 100% sick of going to the gym. Not only was I constantly bored but it took every being in my body just to get me to the gym! I never wanted to go and no matter what machines I used, «new moves» I tried or hours of cardio I logged I never saw the results I wanted. Sure my boredom probably contributed to a lack of focus and thus lack of results but still I needed something new. I also didn’t want to have to do three bizillion hours or different types of classes to get that all around feeling of fitness… IE I didn’t want to have to do an hour at a gym for strength then another hour at a yoga studio to feel flexible. I needed a better all around approach because my schedule just does not permit me to spend hours a day on my physique. I tried Pure Barre and was hooked. Not only am I excited to go to class I’m certainly never bored while at it. The instructors are amazing and dedicated. They are constantly encouraging patrons during class and monitoring form. Plus they’re always free before or after class if you have specific questions on move modifications and/​or form. My body has changed tremendously. I am stronger, longer and leaner. I actually don’t think I’ve ever had this level of flexibility before in my life! Seeing the results were all I needed to tell me that Pure Barre was right for me.

I’m 14 years old and I was looking for a quick way to get in better shape over the summer and prepare for a dance class I was starting at school. At the first class I realized I was the only person my age doing this class with a bunch of moms. Some of them were even the moms of my friends at school… awk…but as soon as the music started and the work out began none of that mattered. The teacher was fantastic and was great at explaining each exercise and why we did it. After that day I went back every single morning for the next two and a half weeks. I hadn’t done anything since I stopped doing competitive cheer in the spring and I had lost my splits and was in pretty bad shape but after those classes I had all my splits again. The classes are designed so that each person can push themselves as hard as they want. It’s your fifty five minutes and you chose if you want to get the most out of it or not. That was a dramatic change from competitive cheer and I liked it a lot. The classes were hard, don’t get me wrong, but I never felt like I was being pushed to something I couldn’t do. It was a great way to start my mornings and I felt ten times better for the rest of the day. I was obsessed. Once school started I haven’t been able to go back, but I find myself thinking about it all the time and really missing it. I would probably be t here every Saturday if the classes weren’t so dang expensive. That’s my only problem. I think the prices are a little ridiculous. I don’t feel like I can continue going to these classes because they are so expensive.

What can I say — I fell in love… with PB!!! I can’t say enough good things about PB Austin. Just an FYI to all prospective PB’ers… The owner Rashanna is fantastic! Full of energy and passion to get her clients the best workout possible! This workout targets every muscle in the body and you are likely going to be sore EVERYWHERE for the first couple of weeks. After that, the toning and the calorie burn will pull you in. The music pumping throughout the workout keeps me motivated to tuck and burn until my legs/​arms/​back/​stomach are shaking (when the real work is done!). I frequenlty ask the teachers what songs they played during the workout because they are so catchy and fun that I DL them later. My favorite instructors are: Rita, Rashanna, Kathryn, Anika etc etc… well — they are all fantastic and passionate about what they do! Not to mention just their bodies should be an indication of the wonders PB can do! I have been a client for just over 6 months now and am not sure if I will ever leave! I really appreciate how the instructors are always in a cheery mood and start the classes ON TIME always ON TIME. Plus a major bonus is that the owner owns both the North Austin and Westlake location, so clients can go to either! They have great specials to try it out ($ 100 unlimited for a month) and regularly email specials or fun events going on. One thing I cannot wait for is the Valentines day classes… basically it’s a day where you can bring your BF/​fiancé/​husband to a class and they can «enjoy» the burn. I doubt our men really understand how difficult and challenging the workout is… I just cannot wait to bring my fiancé to the class that day. They offer beers and other manly things that day to make them feel a little more, how do you say? manly? They definitely will give you respect for the workout after that one class! Why wait? Join PB and get in the best shape — the most fun way possible! Thanks PB!

AMAZING. I love PB Austin. Just moved out of town and miss it terribly – the studio here doesn’t even compare. The instructors at the Westlake location are incredible. Well-​trained and intense but make you feel at home. They make a point to compliment people by name throughout class and if you are doing something incorrectly, they take off the mic and fix your form privately.
The best teachers in my opinion are: Mary (so very kind, makes connections with her students), Kathryn (hardcore, beautiful, yet so nice) and April (sweetest one there… her smile lights up the room!).
Give it a try. I was very nervous my first class, mainly because I was out of shape and intimidated by the other clients, but it’s an amazing experience and worth the money. Plus, college students get 15% off. The instructors and your fellow clients are very, very good people.

I get why there are bad reviews, it is definitely not for everyone. But personally it works for me. I do not go every week, as I like to run a lot. But this is a great workout. I have never left this workout and felt I did not get my money’s worth, it is hard! Also I get that this PB gets a bad rap due to its location, I am not there to judge the people there, I am there for a great workout. And trust me, nobody who goes here for a session should come out saying otherwise.

Always a great workout! I have been a client since shortly after the studio opened and it is still my favorite way to exercise because it is always challenging. There is a bit of a learning curve but the teachers are very helpful. You work on your own level and the more you learn the more you are able to push yourself. I’ve gotten several friends hooked on «tucking.» If you commit to going to class you will definitely see a difference in your muscle tone. If you aren’t shaking and burning in class then you are most likely not doing something correctly. The movements should be small and concentrated — this is where the learning curve comes in. I have a love-​hate relationship with the thigh sets. ;-)
It is a little pricey but if you buy several months at a time you receive a significant price break.
Please be sure to wear pants to at least your knee. Some of the moves can be too revealing in shorts. Be nice to your classmates!

Don’t let their pretty faces and petite bodies fool you… these ladies are tough! I have never – and I do mean NEVER – liked any exercise class before this one. It’s less like a class and more like a group of girlfriends getting together to get their sweat on. The music is great – upbeat, current, and just the right volume so that you can hear the instructor’s voice calmly and thoughtfully leading you through the moves and offering encouragement all along. They will quietly correct your posture when needed, which is a reflection of the care they take to make sure you are getting the most out of your workout.
The moves are arranged in groups – like warmup/​arms, legs, abs, butt, and cooldown. There are a variety of torture, er, I mean exercises that they choose from within each group so it’ll never be the same workout twice which you know is the best way to exercise. Mostly I like the athletic yet simultaneously feminine style of Pure Barre. There are components of barre (ballet inspired moves to work out those muscles into long, lean stilleto-​wearing machines), pilates, yoga, and straight on strength exercises.
Two themes will arise: the tuck and the ledge. The tuck refers to the forward thrust of the hips that provides the counterpressure needed to sculpt that backside. Eventually, you’ll catch yourself tucking while driving and listening to music – it’s unavoidable. When you’ve tucked enough, you’ll achieve the Pure Barre Ledge – the affectionate term given to the nice way your bum is lifted and separated from the tops of your hamstrings – no wiggle wiggle wiggle there!
Enjoy!

I’m a guy and having been going to Pure Barre at the Westlake location since they opened in August of 2010. I’ve taken my time composing this review because I really wanted to be comprehensive in my assessment of Pure Barre Austin.
So I might not go every single day (or every other day for that matter) like some of the die-​hard Pure Barre clients but always have a good workout when I do.
I’m an athlete and an ice hockey goaltender which I still play competitively in Austin so I consider myself to be pretty flexible (the instructors always compliment me on my «pretzel» pose!). Pure Barre takes flexibility to a whole new level for me! Some of the positions they contort me into are very challenging and I find myself shaking a lot –which is good.
There are lot of things I love about Pure Barre:
1. It’s a workout I’ve never quite experienced before –I play sports, bike, run (not really), workout on my elliptical, taken spin class, and did boot camp last year.
2. It always challenges me.
3. The instructors are not afraid to help me when I look like an idiot (which can be often) positioning myself on/​near the ballet bar and they don’t call me out over the sound system. They quietly walk up to me and give me subtle correction. I do appreciate it when they call me over the speakers for doing something right though :) I used to do a similar exercise class in Chicago and the instructors there would constantly call out the newbies (like me), barking instructions over the sound system for everyone to hear –not cool.
4. You’re gonna sweat! Depending on how hard class is I usually have a pretty good sweat from holding/​shaking in those pure barre positions.
5. The music. Music is such an important thing to me when I’m exercising or working out. It can be motivating and put me in a better mood. The PB music is very motivating and makes me forget the pain (well almost). I don’t think I’ve ever heard the same play-​list twice since taking class so I think they’re pretty on top of updating the music and keeping it current. It is also very well choreographed and timed to synch just right within each part of the routine whether you’re working on seat, abs, thighs, etc.
6. Environment. I was pretty nervous taking pure barre knowing that it is a workout whose main client base is female and being the only guy I knew I would standout. Everyone there is super friendly though and made me feel at home. I’ve gone to exercise classes that seem very clicky and everyone has their own social group within the class but the PB clients are not like that and I feel pretty welcomed.
7. That feeling of accomplishment right when class ends. I’m not a traditional exercise/​gym class person and I usually always procrastinate going but nothing compares to that feeling you get right after class ends when you stand up still shaking from the 55 minutes you’ve just endured. That’s a feeling I haven’t been able to duplicate from other workout routines. I may not always want to go but I’m always glad I did after class is finished.
The studio is very nice and clean. The sound system is pretty good and they don’t blare the music too loud during class. They sell some Lululemon apparel and grip socks. Some other nice touches are the chandeliers in the bathroom and front lobby. I’ve never had an issue with parking here either. That’s pretty much it from a guy’s perspective. Overall, I highly recommend Pure Barre Austin for men and women!
Their second location in the Arboretum just opened! Looking forward to checking that out!

Completely agree with some of the other reviews, notably Lydia and Katie — though would definitely not give it 3 stars! This was a horrible experience and a rip off. And sadly, if people are trying this as their first barre experience, it’s giving barre a bad name. Try someplace else for barre — Dancers Shape on Burnet is so far beyond Pure Barre in instruction, personalization, form, atmosphere, even aesthetic and music choices.
I received no introduction at Pure Barre, no questions regarding my previous experience with barre or any previous exercise, my fitness level… nothing. They didn’t even bother to offer up any information regarding the barre technique in case I wasn’t familiar with it. The class had no personalization, barely any cues for proper form. Having taken pilates and barre for a while now, I could look around the room and see half the class doing it improperly — what a waste of money for those people! The instructor herself did not seem properly trained (I wonder if they’re certified) as she did one of the exercises incorrectly.
Their equipment is not up to par with other places. Their space is not well done. As others stated, the microphone had a weird echo to it.
They did not bother to check in with me after class to see if I had questions, or what I thought of the class.
I had to buy $ 12 socks though there is no information on their website stating that you need to bring socks. And they still didn’t grip the carpeted studio (some other places are wood floors and do not require socks).
I could go on and on. Not a single good thing to say about this place.
Try Dancers Shape on Burnet, or Bar Method that will be opening soon — I’ve taken classes with the trainers who are opening it and they are superstars at instruction.

The workout is INTENSE and the instructors are nice. Show up early and don’t forget your socks!

I heard great things about pure barre, so I talked a friend into going with me. The class was not at all what I had expected, this was no ballet-​based workout (which can be any level of intensity).
My experience: The experience was impersonal. The instructor was wearing a head set, and didn’t really seem to want to be there. She did not appear adequately trained, her demonstrations of the moves did not alway include correct form (when she did demonstrate the move). She barked instructions, which were included terminology poorly understood by the class. My friend observed that at one point everyone was doing something different! The music (which I did not enjoy!) was continuously turned up for the duration of the class while the lights were turned down. At the end of the class the bad music was blaring and we were doing fast past ab work in near dark conditions. It was ridiculous!
At the end of the class, upon exit I was asked what I thought of the class and when I implied that I had not enjoyed it as much as I had hoped they got a bit snooty. The class was also filled with fake plastic Westlake ladies, if you are not one you may wish to skip this class; if you are a fake plastic Westlake lady I may have found your perfect fitness class! Enjoy!

I love this place! I checked it out at the suggestion of a friend and have since become hooked. It truly is the best one hour workout where you feel like you have accomplished something. The burning sensation you get in your thighs and arms is intense, but well worth it and keeps me coming back for more. I hate gyms and this class has filled that void for me.
The instructors are great! They are all very motivating and help «correct» your technique to make sure that you are getting the most of the workout.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new routine!

Austin is lucky to have Pure Barre Austin! I have never done a workout quite like this before. I was impressed by how sore I was after using 2 – 3 lb weights. This workout uses muscles that you don’t use when you run or do boot camps. No matter what kind of shape you are in, I promise this workout will be a challenge. I am now hooked and love the results I am seeing from this awesome workout!

Since moving to Austin earlier this year I’ve missed the grueling workouts at Physique 57 located in my previous place of residence.
One day, while driving down Bee Caves, the red «pure barre» signage appeared like an oasis amidst the suburban shopping strips. I knew what barre meant, just like a dog knows the twitch of a squirrel’s tail or the promising crinkle of cellophane…
I waited patiently for them to open and finally made it to my first class today.
My abs were burning within the first few minutes. The instructor was positive and friendly, and provided corrections when needed. I am confident this workout will transform my body just like Physique 57 did, so long as I put in the time and stay away from that crinkle of cellophane…
I will post again after my 30 day unlimited package ends.
PS it’s a great deal.

For some strange reason I believed this workout will be more of a ballet/​yoga based workout. I was not expecting to sweat, moan and groan. I am a former Fitness Instructor, I taught fitness related classes for about 20 years, took dance when I was younger, and my strongest muscles are my gluts, quads and hamstrings. I can do any lower body type exercise with ease, since my lower body is tone and strong I can endure a little bit more.
Not with the Pure Barre workout, I immediately begin to feel the burn during the thigh portion, in fact my thigh are still tingling. My thighs were bothering me so much, I regret the run I did around Town Lake Saturday morning. I took the 8:30 AM class with Rashanna and she was great. Her cuing was on point and she did a fantastic job of instruction by walking around the class checking form and offering alternative moves.
All in all, I will be back to take these classes. It is something different from my regular workouts and is an excellent addition to any cardio type workout you do. I say lift, tone, burn, baby!