Did you catch our This Is Your Brain On Bari series? (If not, it’s really interesting stuff! Go read up on Part 1 and Part II.) We dug into how exercise - and specifically Bari’s cardio sequences - build a stronger, sharper brain. The takeaway? Cardio does the brain and the body good. Today, we’re providing you with a list of trainer-curated tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your cardio experience at Bari.

Trust your trainer.
It’s our job to give you the best workout of your life - every single time. Beyond that, we love and take pride in doing this for you. As your trainers, we promise that we don’t just step into the studio, wait for inspiration to strike and improvise a class on the spot. (Our Bari brains are strong, but not that strong.) We work behind the scenes and in the studio to make sure we’re setting you, your body and your brain up for success. We plan our classes strategically, and we’re trained to make a Bari class accessible yet challenging for all levels. If you let us guide you through, we promise you’ll get a fun and sweaty workout every time.

Match your trainer’s energy.
Take class as if you were teaching class. Sure, we all have the days when it’s a struggle to even get out of bed — let alone bounce around at 100 percent for an hour. But, trust us, your body will thank you if you do! We’ve always had a hunch that our energy feeds our burn — that we sweat more and expend more energy during workouts when we’re really into it. So, we tested this hunch with our iQniter performance training system, and our research confirmed our hypothesis. If you take class with a more energetic and purposeful intention, you’ll reap the benefits of a better workout (a.k.a. you’ll burn more calories). This is a case where energy in and energy out are directly correlated. Step touch like you mean it!

Throw yourself into it.
Even the most coordinated people walk through our doors and ask, “I’m so uncoordinated. Will I be able to do this?” And our answer is always, always yes! Because you can. Any hesitation you have about your workout will only hinder your body and brain’s development and progress. So as the peeps at Nike would say, “Just do it.” Don’t sell yourself short because you didn’t perfect Rodeo the first time or because you were off the beat during your BOUNCE class. As with anything in life, Bari takes practice, and you’ll only feel more comfortable every time you do it.

Just keep moving. We don’t care if you mess up!
The flow of a Bari class keeps our minds engaged and in a strangely meditative state (despite the fact that there’s a stinging drop of sweat in your eye). This flow is what keeps you actively involved in the sensory learning process — while also allowing you to immerse yourself in the music-pumping, adrenaline-flowing workout atmosphere. Anything that breaks your groove will make it harder to jump back in. Even if you’re learning a new sequence for the first time or feel a little off your game on a certain day, just keep moving and you’ll push yourself through.

Understand the why behind your workout.
Ever wonder why we make you add that extra prop to an already challenging exercise or why a cardio sequence has, what seems like, particularly complicated footwork? Simple movements that build on one another to create compound and complex movements allow for multiple body parts to work in tandem; they simultaneously force your brain to use coordination to help your body work in a way it’s not used to. Moving in ways that aren’t typical in our daily lives allows us to create functionally-strong muscles and prevent the dreaded plateau.

Look for patterns.
There is a method to our madness. Try to look for movements that are repeated and movements that build on one another. In any cardio class, most movements will inevitably be brought back to build a larger sequence or act as a movement that connects the sequences. Hone in on what movements your body’s making, actively remember and embody them and by the end it will feel like you’ve put together a magic cardio puzzle.

Shall we put those bodies and brains to work, Tribe? Sign up for your favorite Bari cardio class — and rest sweat assured that you’re getting the most out of your workout.

Photos via Bari Studio