As a self-professed Triber, I’m a sucker for all things Bari. But the class that really gets me going is Hybrid: a buffet of Bari goodness that lets me sample every morsel in one happy, sweaty hour. When I take Hybrid, I don’t have to choose between trampolines, toning or sensory cardio; I get it all.

Hybrid starts like any other class: I often think, as I look at myself and my fellow Tribers in the mirror, starting to move and warm up my muscles to the most recently curated playlist of Bari beats. I start out slightly self-conscious, rolling my shoulders back dramatically, trying to mimic the trainer as best I can (why do these moves always look more natural on them?). But within minutes, the sweat starts beading on my skin, we begin to pick up the pace, and before I know it, I’m flying across the floor with reckless abandon and dancing as if nobody’s watching. I can’t help but smile as I look in the mirror and see how much fun the trainer is having and how great these dozen or so women look all moving in sync with the music.

About 20 minutes go by, and just when I realize that there’s a pool of sweat at my feet, the trainer tells us to grab our trampolines, because guess what? More cardio! This time, on trampolines, where moving quickly and on the beat proves far more difficult than I first imagined. No, trampoline cardio does not involve jumping as high as you can and star fishing in midair (which, for the record, is what it looked like for me when I was 10 years old).

We start off slowly, trying to stay low while picking up our knees and contracting our abs (easier said than done when the surface below you is bouncy). Then, we pick up the pace; this requires more from both your body and your mind. You need to stay engaged on both fronts in order to stay on beat and master the sequences; this sounds scary, but it’s really, really invigorating. The trampoline part of Hybrid is probably the most challenging section for most of the class, but I love it. My heart is still pounding out of my chest, but my legs are no longer pounding the ground, so while I’m engaging my muscles and burning crazy amounts of calories, I’m giving my joints a break.

Nearly another 20 minutes have gone by, and right as it feels like I can’t move my legs for a second longer, I hear that blessed phrase: “Last song of cardio!” With just a few more minutes on the trampoline, I push myself to really give it my all - until, at last, I can stop jumping, wipe the sweat that’s dripping off every part of my body (sorry, neighbor) and move into the final section of Hybrid: toning.

We grab bands, balls, skimmers or weights (or some combination of these torture devices) and get ready for the final stretch. At this point, my muscles are warm (in fact, they’re shaking), and my body is incredibly receptive to the strengthening and shaping of my muscles. We work on our arms and abs, and depending on the class, we’lll focus on butts, inner thighs, hamstrings, love handles and - sometimes - all of them at once (I know, it’s alarming).

With just a few minutes left of the class, a slow song comes on, the trainer lowers the lights and I lie back onto my mat, feeling simultaneously energized and on the verge of nap. It’s only been an hour, and I have run, skipped, squatted, jacked, bounced, turned, lifted, crunched and stretched. I couldn’t feel better, and after waiting a few minutes for the sweat to dry on various (ahem, all) parts of my body, I waddle down the street, grab a Citibike and head back uptown, stronger than I was when I entered the studio.

Yes, you may walk out of a Hybrid class feeling like superwoman, and yes, it is a completely appropriate comparison.

New to our Class Digest series? Read about the inspiration behind the series — then catch up on our Class Digest archives.

Photo via Bari Studio

As a self-professed Triber, I’m a sucker for all things Bari. But the class that really gets me going is Hybrid: a buffet of Bari goodness that lets me sample every morsel in one happy, sweaty hour. When I take Hybrid, I don’t have to choose between trampolines, toning or sensory cardio; I get it all.

Hybrid starts like any other class: I often think, as I look at myself and my fellow Tribers in the mirror, starting to move and warm up my muscles to the most recently curated playlist of Bari beats. I start out slightly self-conscious, rolling my shoulders back dramatically, trying to mimic the trainer as best I can (why do these moves always look more natural on them?). But within minutes, the sweat starts beading on my skin, we begin to pick up the pace, and before I know it, I’m flying across the floor with reckless abandon and dancing as if nobody’s watching. I can’t help but smile as I look in the mirror and see how much fun the trainer is having and how great these dozen or so women look all moving in sync with the music.

About 20 minutes go by, and just when I realize that there’s a pool of sweat at my feet, the trainer tells us to grab our trampolines, because guess what? More cardio! This time, on trampolines, where moving quickly and on the beat proves far more difficult than I first imagined. No, trampoline cardio does not involve jumping as high as you can and star fishing in midair (which, for the record, is what it looked like for me when I was 10 years old).

We start off slowly, trying to stay low while picking up our knees and contracting our abs (easier said than done when the surface below you is bouncy). Then, we pick up the pace; this requires more from both your body and your mind. You need to stay engaged on both fronts in order to stay on beat and master the sequences; this sounds scary, but it’s really, really invigorating. The trampoline part of Hybrid is probably the most challenging section for most of the class, but I love it. My heart is still pounding out of my chest, but my legs are no longer pounding the ground, so while I’m engaging my muscles and burning crazy amounts of calories, I’m giving my joints a break.

Nearly another 20 minutes have gone by, and right as it feels like I can’t move my legs for a second longer, I hear that blessed phrase: “Last song of cardio!” With just a few more minutes on the trampoline, I push myself to really give it my all - until, at last, I can stop jumping, wipe the sweat that’s dripping off every part of my body (sorry, neighbor) and move into the final section of Hybrid: toning.

We grab bands, balls, skimmers or weights (or some combination of these torture devices) and get ready for the final stretch. At this point, my muscles are warm (in fact, they’re shaking), and my body is incredibly receptive to the strengthening and shaping of my muscles. We work on our arms and abs, and depending on the class, we’lll focus on butts, inner thighs, hamstrings, love handles and - sometimes - all of them at once (I know, it’s alarming).

With just a few minutes left of the class, a slow song comes on, the trainer lowers the lights and I lie back onto my mat, feeling simultaneously energized and on the verge of nap. It’s only been an hour, and I have run, skipped, squatted, jacked, bounced, turned, lifted, crunched and stretched. I couldn’t feel better, and after waiting a few minutes for the sweat to dry on various (ahem, all) parts of my body, I waddle down the street, grab a Citibike and head back uptown, stronger than I was when I entered the studio.

Yes, you may walk out of a Hybrid class feeling like superwoman, and yes, it is a completely appropriate comparison.

New to our Class Digest series? Read about the inspiration behind the series — then catch up on our Class Digest archives.

Photo via Bari Studio

Just as MICRO was created for the loonies who yearn for more toning after MACRO’s 30 minutes of muscle sculpting ends, and REEL was created for those who think 30 minutes of cardio is for Bari amateurs, BariFOCUS classes were created for the super-loonies (and I’ll own up to being one of them) who still clamor for more cardio and toning even after our full-length classes are over.

Just like the class, this digest will be short and sweet — or quick and dirty, if you prefer.

Though pint-sized, these 30-minute classes deserve just as much recognition as the big boys. FOCUS classes feature one singled-out Bari element. We offer toning-based FOCUS classes that target the butt, arms or abs and cardio-centric FOCUS classes that, ahem, focus on sensory cardio or BOUNCE.

What to expect? In our toning-based FOCUS classes, expect to dig deep into the muscle groups we tap into during MICROs. The beauty of dedicating 30 muscle-quivering minutes to one muscle group is that we can exhaust every muscle - from every angle. (Okay, so we always do this. But 30.minutes.on.one.body.part. Come on.)

Think about the fatigue your muscles feel after each section in MICRO. Now take that, and multiply it by three. Yep. We know. If you enjoy laughing, I’m not sure I can recommend these classes in good faith. On more than one occasion, post BariFOCUS, my abs have literally been too sore to laugh. (Sad for the spirit; less so for your budding six pack.)

And the cardio-based FOCUS classes have that same wham bam thank you ma’am effect. Again, you have 30 minutes to make it count. And, damn it, you will make it count. You’ll spend those 30 sweaty minutes going full force with sensory or trampoline cardio, and you’ll leave on top of the world (and in a puddle of your own sweat). I personally love a sensory cardio FOCUS class tacked onto a MICRO when I have extra time, or on its own when I’m too busy for a full hour of Bari sweat.

This is just one itsy-bitsy little half hour that you’ll feel so good about. Just show up, give it your all for 30 measly minutes, and you’re done. Killer abs? Amazing butt? Stellar heart health? Check, check and check. You will have to work hard for every single minute, but like every other Bari class, FOCUS doesn’t take itself too seriously, so don’t let the intensity intimidate you. At the end of the day, we’re working out, and we’re going to have fun doing it.

Next week, Tribers, I won’t be here to review a class for you. This week is it. (That was dramatic. But it’s back to school time! Sad face.) But I’m hoping that I can leave my Class Digest legacy in your hands. Everyone has such a different Bari experience, and we’d love to hear about what Bari feels like for you — be it your favorite class, the inner dialogue that went down during your BariONE or what you think about the class you love to hate (hi, MICRO).

If you’re up for some friendly sharing, we’ve prepared some questions to guide your response. Email info@thebaristudio.com if you’re interested in writing your very own Class Digest about a Bari class of your choice.

Until then… stay sweaty, Tribe!

New to our Class Digest series? Read Clare’s inspiration behind the series. And if you missed our previous Class Digests, catch up on her breakdowns of BariMACRO, BariMICRO, BariBOUNCE, BariHYBRID and BariREEL.

Just as MICRO was created for the loonies who yearn for more toning after MACRO’s 30 minutes of muscle sculpting ends, and REEL was created for those who think 30 minutes of cardio is for Bari amateurs, BariFOCUS classes were created for the super-loonies (and I’ll own up to being one of them) who still clamor for more cardio and toning even after our full-length classes are over.

Just like the class, this digest will be short and sweet — or quick and dirty, if you prefer.

Though pint-sized, these 30-minute classes deserve just as much recognition as the big boys. FOCUS classes feature one singled-out Bari element. We offer toning-based FOCUS classes that target the butt, arms or abs and cardio-centric FOCUS classes that, ahem, focus on sensory cardio or BOUNCE.

What to expect? In our toning-based FOCUS classes, expect to dig deep into the muscle groups we tap into during MICROs. The beauty of dedicating 30 muscle-quivering minutes to one muscle group is that we can exhaust every muscle - from every angle. (Okay, so we always do this. But 30.minutes.on.one.body.part. Come on.)

Think about the fatigue your muscles feel after each section in MICRO. Now take that, and multiply it by three. Yep. We know. If you enjoy laughing, I’m not sure I can recommend these classes in good faith. On more than one occasion, post BariFOCUS, my abs have literally been too sore to laugh. (Sad for the spirit; less so for your budding six pack.)

And the cardio-based FOCUS classes have that same wham bam thank you ma’am effect. Again, you have 30 minutes to make it count. And, damn it, you will make it count. You’ll spend those 30 sweaty minutes going full force with sensory or trampoline cardio, and you’ll leave on top of the world (and in a puddle of your own sweat). I personally love a sensory cardio FOCUS class tacked onto a MICRO when I have extra time, or on its own when I’m too busy for a full hour of Bari sweat.

This is just one itsy-bitsy little half hour that you’ll feel so good about. Just show up, give it your all for 30 measly minutes, and you’re done. Killer abs? Amazing butt? Stellar heart health? Check, check and check. You will have to work hard for every single minute, but like every other Bari class, FOCUS doesn’t take itself too seriously, so don’t let the intensity intimidate you. At the end of the day, we’re working out, and we’re going to have fun doing it.

Next week, Tribers, I won’t be here to review a class for you. This week is it. (That was dramatic. But it’s back to school time! Sad face.) But I’m hoping that I can leave my Class Digest legacy in your hands. Everyone has such a different Bari experience, and we’d love to hear about what Bari feels like for you — be it your favorite class, the inner dialogue that went down during your BariONE or what you think about the class you love to hate (hi, MICRO).

If you’re up for some friendly sharing, we’ve prepared some questions to guide your response. Email info@thebaristudio.com if you’re interested in writing your very own Class Digest about a Bari class of your choice.

Until then… stay sweaty, Tribe!

New to our Class Digest series? Read Clare’s inspiration behind the series. And if you missed our previous Class Digests, catch up on her breakdowns of BariMACRO, BariMICRO, BariBOUNCE, BariHYBRID and BariREEL.

Swing. Turn. Swirl. Twirl. Sway. Roll. Rock. Reel. Reel! Our team loved it the moment they heard it. REEL (and all its perfect synonyms) just describes this class so well. When you finish, you’ll find yourself giddily reeling from all the cardio you’ll have done in this 55-minute cardio-packed class.

BariREEL is a mashup of the major cardio elements featured in our other classes, sensory cardio and trampoline cardio. If these terms seem unfamiliar to you, it’s likely that you’ve just stumbled upon this series. In which case, I’m stopping you here and sending you back to GO: read about BariMACRO and BariBOUNCE to get the scoop on these primary Bari elements.

Or perhaps you think you’re a MACRO and BOUNCE hot shot (okay, you probably are!). But, Triber, I need to tell you that — no matter your MACRO and/or BOUNCE brilliance — REEL is a whole different ball game. This class is all cardio. And you need to enter it with a totally different mentality. With REEL, you’re in it for the long haul. At the end of the floor cardio half, you don’t get to stop/throw your hands up/thank baby Jesus for the next thirty minutes of toning. Nope. You get to roll out that trampoline and keep going.

On one hand, this is the most simple, exhilarating and cleansing workout: all you have to do is keep moving! On the other, it’s the most demanding and exhausting workout; all you have to do is keep moving! You have no option but to bring it (and Triber, we know you can, so we expect Queen Bey-status brilliance).

Some people LOVE cardio. To them, cardio is play. I’m endlessly fascinated by the idea that for some (very fit) people, moving their bodies around quickly, in cool ways and in different directions just feels good and is fun. For them, the physical activity is a really awesome bodily experience.

Surprise! This is not me. I can make my iQniter heart rate monitor go into the warm colors just by jumping up and down for 30 seconds. I’m the one wheezing and feigning “oh, I was supposed to move my arms along with that?” This summer, I’ve started to chip away at my terrible fitness, holding these mystical, cardio-loving creatures as my golden ideal. If you’re a part of this breed of cardio fiend, you’re already convinced. You’ve already signed up for REEL in advance for the next ten weeks. This is your moment. You go, Glen Coco.

If you’re the more, uh, sedentary type, you might be saying “OK Clare, real talk: what’s all this cardio hype really about?” If you don’t usually gravitate towards cardio, there’s still so much to love about REEL (so much!). There’s the whole health spiel, which I’ll mostly save for now, because you know it already. If you need a quick refresher: cardio = good heart health.

“But even so,” some of you may protest. “Cardio just turns me off. I can’t help it.” It’s okay. I used to think so, too. Some repetitive, unstimulating cardio workouts couldn’t even tempt me if I knew Ryan Gosling would be running alongside me. But REEL is a whole different story. This cardio shouldn’t even go by the same name. I can’t promise you Ryan Gosling, but I can promise that you’ll find spurts of excitement in the wonderfully curated, highly-varied sequences. And as you come back more and more, these spurts will become more frequent and less spread out. And then, suddenly, you will become an awesome cardio-annihilating machine. Cool, right?

To quell any worries about making it through the first time, let me share one major hint. There are two key moments during which just a little extra effort will make the entire class significantly easier to nail.

The first is the song before the last song of floor cardio. The last song is easy. And by easy, I mean it’s still damn hard… but also the most exciting thing ever. For one, you’re almost done. And if you’re like me, you have an automatic crazy-person response to “LET’S-GO-GO-GO-GIVE-ME-ALL-YOU’VE-GOT!” where you get really over-the-top stoked to do literally anything at high-speed. The second to last floor cardio song gets no such hurrah. The second to last song is the where I have fully realized, wow, I. Am. Really. Freaking. Tired. I realized that if I allow the trainer to pump me up, I feel so much happier-even proud-about the first half of the class and consequently, about the whole thing. Also, I don’t flip out entirely during the following song and completely sap my energy reserve.

The second key moment is the first song of the trampoline cardio. If you can get pumped for this song, you’ll so easily set an amazing tone for the tramp series. You focus your energy here, and then you’ll ride that wave all the way through to the end. This seems like a given, but many times I have not taken my own advice and ended up riding a whole different wave. Just this little attitude shift can make all the difference.

Armed with these two moments to where you’re going to intentionally shine, I know you’ll just love REEL, dear first-time Triber. You’ll float on through and fall in love with this breathtaking (in both senses of the word) workout.

Join me next week (my very last week!) for the last Class Digest. Sob. I’m not even going to tell you what I’m writing about, just to make it that much more exciting.

Until then, stay sweaty, Tribers!

New to our Class Digest series? Read Clare’s inspiration behind the series. And if you missed our previous Class Digests, catch up on her breakdowns of BariMACRO, BariMICRO, BariBOUNCE and BariHYBRID.

Swing. Turn. Swirl. Twirl. Sway. Roll. Rock. Reel. Reel! Our team loved it the moment they heard it. REEL (and all its perfect synonyms) just describes this class so well. When you finish, you’ll find yourself giddily reeling from all the cardio you’ll have done in this 55-minute cardio-packed class.

BariREEL is a mashup of the major cardio elements featured in our other classes, sensory cardio and trampoline cardio. If these terms seem unfamiliar to you, it’s likely that you’ve just stumbled upon this series. In which case, I’m stopping you here and sending you back to GO: read about BariMACRO and BariBOUNCE to get the scoop on these primary Bari elements.

Or perhaps you think you’re a MACRO and BOUNCE hot shot (okay, you probably are!). But, Triber, I need to tell you that — no matter your MACRO and/or BOUNCE brilliance — REEL is a whole different ball game. This class is all cardio. And you need to enter it with a totally different mentality. With REEL, you’re in it for the long haul. At the end of the floor cardio half, you don’t get to stop/throw your hands up/thank baby Jesus for the next thirty minutes of toning. Nope. You get to roll out that trampoline and keep going.

On one hand, this is the most simple, exhilarating and cleansing workout: all you have to do is keep moving! On the other, it’s the most demanding and exhausting workout; all you have to do is keep moving! You have no option but to bring it (and Triber, we know you can, so we expect Queen Bey-status brilliance).

Some people LOVE cardio. To them, cardio is play. I’m endlessly fascinated by the idea that for some (very fit) people, moving their bodies around quickly, in cool ways and in different directions just feels good and is fun. For them, the physical activity is a really awesome bodily experience.

Surprise! This is not me. I can make my iQniter heart rate monitor go into the warm colors just by jumping up and down for 30 seconds. I’m the one wheezing and feigning “oh, I was supposed to move my arms along with that?” This summer, I’ve started to chip away at my terrible fitness, holding these mystical, cardio-loving creatures as my golden ideal. If you’re a part of this breed of cardio fiend, you’re already convinced. You’ve already signed up for REEL in advance for the next ten weeks. This is your moment. You go, Glen Coco.

If you’re the more, uh, sedentary type, you might be saying “OK Clare, real talk: what’s all this cardio hype really about?” If you don’t usually gravitate towards cardio, there’s still so much to love about REEL (so much!). There’s the whole health spiel, which I’ll mostly save for now, because you know it already. If you need a quick refresher: cardio = good heart health.

“But even so,” some of you may protest. “Cardio just turns me off. I can’t help it.” It’s okay. I used to think so, too. Some repetitive, unstimulating cardio workouts couldn’t even tempt me if I knew Ryan Gosling would be running alongside me. But REEL is a whole different story. This cardio shouldn’t even go by the same name. I can’t promise you Ryan Gosling, but I can promise that you’ll find spurts of excitement in the wonderfully curated, highly-varied sequences. And as you come back more and more, these spurts will become more frequent and less spread out. And then, suddenly, you will become an awesome cardio-annihilating machine. Cool, right?

To quell any worries about making it through the first time, let me share one major hint. There are two key moments during which just a little extra effort will make the entire class significantly easier to nail.

The first is the song before the last song of floor cardio. The last song is easy. And by easy, I mean it’s still damn hard… but also the most exciting thing ever. For one, you’re almost done. And if you’re like me, you have an automatic crazy-person response to “LET’S-GO-GO-GO-GIVE-ME-ALL-YOU’VE-GOT!” where you get really over-the-top stoked to do literally anything at high-speed. The second to last floor cardio song gets no such hurrah. The second to last song is the where I have fully realized, wow, I. Am. Really. Freaking. Tired. I realized that if I allow the trainer to pump me up, I feel so much happier-even proud-about the first half of the class and consequently, about the whole thing. Also, I don’t flip out entirely during the following song and completely sap my energy reserve.

The second key moment is the first song of the trampoline cardio. If you can get pumped for this song, you’ll so easily set an amazing tone for the tramp series. You focus your energy here, and then you’ll ride that wave all the way through to the end. This seems like a given, but many times I have not taken my own advice and ended up riding a whole different wave. Just this little attitude shift can make all the difference.

Armed with these two moments to where you’re going to intentionally shine, I know you’ll just love REEL, dear first-time Triber. You’ll float on through and fall in love with this breathtaking (in both senses of the word) workout.

Join me next week (my very last week!) for the last Class Digest. Sob. I’m not even going to tell you what I’m writing about, just to make it that much more exciting.

Until then, stay sweaty, Tribers!

New to our Class Digest series? Read Clare’s inspiration behind the series. And if you missed our previous Class Digests, catch up on her breakdowns of BariMACRO, BariMICRO, BariBOUNCE and BariHYBRID.

Flashback to day one of my summer internship at Bari.

“Take a HYBRID!” Sara, Bari’s director, suggested.

“A what?” I had no idea what was happening. Did Bari have a logo-laden hybrid car that I was supposed to drive around the city? I mentally flipped out, my intern world crumbled down around me and I regretted jumping the gun to tell all my friends that I had the coolest summer job.

Sara quickly recognized my confused-intern look and reminded me that HYBRID was one of Bari’s class offerings. Fantasy intern world reverted back to its normal state with chirping birds, butterflies and ripped, shirtless dudes mid-scorpion series. Phew.

Since then, BariHYBRID and I have gotten to know each other a little better. I’m not sure whether HYBRID is afraid of commitment, suffering from multiple personality disorder or just a classic overachiever. But — whatever the diagnosis — I love the result: an all-star, comprehensive smorgasbord of Bari delights. This mixed-modality class is a combination of the three major elements of Bari’s method; it incorporates sensory cardio sequences, high-adrenaline trampoline cardio and a toning and strengthening series.

The class is 55 minutes long, and with more material to cover than in other Bari classes, you move more quickly (and, if your game is on point, more vigorously!) through each section. There’s still enough time to break down and build up floor and dance sequences, but not a second is wasted along the way. The call to actions — you know, those high points in class when it’s time throw everything you learned together and #NAILIT — are just that much more intense and rewarding.

For anyone with exercise ADD, taking this class for the first time will be like finally kissing the right (albeit sweaty) frog. As the poster child of this (cough) completely valid medical condition, allow me to vouch for this: I literally was weirded out by my mid-class mental dialogue (or lack thereof) during my first HYBRID. Compared to my typically rampant mental babble, I felt peacefully and harmoniously overstimulated. I wasn’t drifting off to wonder about 100 other things. Everything was simplified. Because I so badly wanted to master the combinations, and we only had a few shots to get it right, I was able to focus all of my energy on the challenge. There wasn’t any room left for whining and boredom.

And even if you’re not into Bari for those intense spurts of ‘let’s gooooooo!’ the momentum ensures that the class will never spend more than 15 minutes doing any one thing. This swift flow is what sets this class apart from the others. First-time Tribers, don’t let this intimidate you; the pace allows HYBRID to be the perfect sampler course. You get the chance to come face to face with all three main elements of Bari’s method in a regular-length class. It’s like having your Bari Overnight Oats and eating them, too.

On the more technical front, here’s what to expect. First, you’ll see the very same athletic floor cardio you’ll find in MACRO. You’ll learn and perform the innovative sequences that are constructed by linking together traditional athletic cardio moves in a dynamic way. Then you’ll move up to the trampoline for the same sequences featured in BOUNCE. Like MACRO, the class will close with an ‘I didn’t know that muscle existed’ toning and strengthening portion, drawn from MICRO. By the time HYBRID wraps up, you’ll have worked every type of muscle in the body. And you’ll be drenched.

We didn’t reinvent the wheel to create HYBRID. It was kind of the opposite. We took everything we loved about all of our classes and just melded them into one. In general, we think hybrid anythings are awesome. Just Google “liger” or “pixie bob.” And it, if we’re going to drop the c-bomb… cronuts. See what we mean? Kick. Ass.

Now, I’m not explicity saying that HYBRID’s the best Bari class… but it’s a close race. Very close. Almost as close as I was to touching the floor during stretches today. (Which was SUPER close, guys. Seriously. Like I almost did it.) But anyways, HYBRID rocks. I mean, that’s all you really need to know, right?

Next time, I’ll describe and review REEL, Bari’s other combo class.

Until then. Stay sweaty, Tribers

Flashback to day one of my summer internship at Bari.

“Take a HYBRID!” Sara, Bari’s director, suggested.

“A what?” I had no idea what was happening. Did Bari have a logo-laden hybrid car that I was supposed to drive around the city? I mentally flipped out, my intern world crumbled down around me and I regretted jumping the gun to tell all my friends that I had the coolest summer job.

Sara quickly recognized my confused-intern look and reminded me that HYBRID was one of Bari’s class offerings. Fantasy intern world reverted back to its normal state with chirping birds, butterflies and ripped, shirtless dudes mid-scorpion series. Phew.

Since then, BariHYBRID and I have gotten to know each other a little better. I’m not sure whether HYBRID is afraid of commitment, suffering from multiple personality disorder or just a classic overachiever. But — whatever the diagnosis — I love the result: an all-star, comprehensive smorgasbord of Bari delights. This mixed-modality class is a combination of the three major elements of Bari’s method; it incorporates sensory cardio sequences, high-adrenaline trampoline cardio and a toning and strengthening series.

The class is 55 minutes long, and with more material to cover than in other Bari classes, you move more quickly (and, if your game is on point, more vigorously!) through each section. There’s still enough time to break down and build up floor and dance sequences, but not a second is wasted along the way. The call to actions — you know, those high points in class when it’s time throw everything you learned together and #NAILIT — are just that much more intense and rewarding.

For anyone with exercise ADD, taking this class for the first time will be like finally kissing the right (albeit sweaty) frog. As the poster child of this (cough) completely valid medical condition, allow me to vouch for this: I literally was weirded out by my mid-class mental dialogue (or lack thereof) during my first HYBRID. Compared to my typically rampant mental babble, I felt peacefully and harmoniously overstimulated. I wasn’t drifting off to wonder about 100 other things. Everything was simplified. Because I so badly wanted to master the combinations, and we only had a few shots to get it right, I was able to focus all of my energy on the challenge. There wasn’t any room left for whining and boredom.

And even if you’re not into Bari for those intense spurts of ‘let’s gooooooo!’ the momentum ensures that the class will never spend more than 15 minutes doing any one thing. This swift flow is what sets this class apart from the others. First-time Tribers, don’t let this intimidate you; the pace allows HYBRID to be the perfect sampler course. You get the chance to come face to face with all three main elements of Bari’s method in a regular-length class. It’s like having your Bari Overnight Oats and eating them, too.

On the more technical front, here’s what to expect. First, you’ll see the very same athletic floor cardio you’ll find in MACRO. You’ll learn and perform the innovative sequences that are constructed by linking together traditional athletic cardio moves in a dynamic way. Then you’ll move up to the trampoline for the same sequences featured in BOUNCE. Like MACRO, the class will close with an ‘I didn’t know that muscle existed’ toning and strengthening portion, drawn from MICRO. By the time HYBRID wraps up, you’ll have worked every type of muscle in the body. And you’ll be drenched.

We didn’t reinvent the wheel to create HYBRID. It was kind of the opposite. We took everything we loved about all of our classes and just melded them into one. In general, we think hybrid anythings are awesome. Just Google “liger” or “pixie bob.” And it, if we’re going to drop the c-bomb… cronuts. See what we mean? Kick. Ass.

Now, I’m not explicity saying that HYBRID’s the best Bari class… but it’s a close race. Very close. Almost as close as I was to touching the floor during stretches today. (Which was SUPER close, guys. Seriously. Like I almost did it.) But anyways, HYBRID rocks. I mean, that’s all you really need to know, right?

Next time, I’ll describe and review REEL, Bari’s other combo class.

Until then. Stay sweaty, Tribers

Boing, boiiing, boiiiiiiiing… BOING BOING BOING!

Nope, this is not the sound of your kid’s cartoons. Dear, sweaty, Triber, this is the sound of the trampoline, reclaimed from suburban cul-de-sacs and restored to its fateful glory as the star of BariBOUNCE. (Aside from you, obviously.)

BariBOUNCE came to fruition as our founder solved for x in an equation that looked something like:

(buckets of sweat)(low-impact cardio)(high-calorie burn)=x

In brainstorming ways to get the heart rate up while minimizing impact on the joints, the trampoline stood out as our x-factor. A trampoline-based workout, one that could produce MACRO-like quantities of sweat (plus some!), could serve as a supplement to or substitute for the higher-impact floor cardio featured in MACRO. And so, drum roll pleaseandthankyou, BariBOUNCE was born. Being the hopeless adrenaline and sweat junkies we are, we immediately fell in love with this high-energy cardio workout, and it quickly became a core pillar of the Bari method.

BOUNCE features controlled, energy-charged movements downward. So if you come to class expecting the lazy-day, high-drifting upward bounces of your childhood, you’re in for a sore surprise (literally). When your instructor tells you to bounce or ground down, the intention is for your upper body to remain stable (“Pull your belly button to your spine!” will become too familiar a phrase) while your lower body moves quickly and dynamically against the resistance of the trampoline. Hint: this seemingly leg-centric movement is actually powered by your core. So when you’re told to contract your abs, just trust me and do it.

The goal here is to use the resistance of the trampoline to your advantage, working against it for the most demanding cardio and strengthening workout. As you decrease the air-time between bounces, you maximize the challenge. This gets really exhausting really quickly, but the rush that accompanies each jump never, ever gets old. The neighborhood kids may have actually been onto something.

Just like with MACRO, don’t expect BOUNCE to be all up-down-up-down-up-down. At even its most fundamental level, you can dissect this class into combinations and sequences.

This mostly-cardio class is broken up by a few songs dedicated to toning and strengthening. The trampoline is often used for balance while you do planks, squats or lunges. Trainers use all the same props in BOUNCE as the other classes (you didn’t really think you could escape Skimmers that easily, did you?). And if your trainer is really crazy (and they all are, lucky you!), she may even call on you to use three-pound weights or the resistance bands while you bounce.

This all just means that the moment of “ah, I get it!” is all the more sweet (and sweaty) in a BOUNCE class because when you get it, you get it. The trampoline is a beast that can be tamed, and when you figure out how to own that torture device, BOUNCE becomes your sweat-soaked playground.

BOUNCE veterans will know this “a ha” moment well: The skies open above you and light shines from the heavens as you find yourself in harmony with the trampoline. It gives exactly when it’s supposed to, and is perfectly taut right at the moment when you want to explode up. When your bounce is perfectly coordinated — on time, in rhythm and on beat — you swing fluidly from movement to movement, and you may just feel a full-toothed smile sneak out as you complete each perfect sequence. No, really. This happened to me this morning, and I got sweat in my mouth. So… yeah.

So that’s what it feels like to get it, but what about your very first time? My first BOUNCE class was nothing like I expected, but I instantly found myself at home on the trampoline. Though I spend little time outside of Bari hanging out on a trampoline, many of the movements are actually familiar. I found the movements which emphasized lateral hip and leg movements with a stable, centralized core amazingly similar to skiing. Just minus the killer frostbite. And the whole torn ACLs thing. (But also minus the hot chocolate… hint, hint Bari Food Society.) So even if you’ve never tried BOUNCE before (and even if you’ve never skied), you’ll quickly realize that you’re more prepared than you thought.

Still, BOUNCE hails from a whole different workout universe than anything else I’ve tried. Namely, it doesn’t leave me crippled by an all-consuming desire to get the heck out from the moment I start. (Um, hi there, treadmill. I’m definitely not talking about you). I relish the moments when I’m totally on point and in the groove, and I love learning the steps that work up to the longer sequences and building the muscle memory to internalize the movements. Then it’s time to play.

My favorite moment of class is the last song, which is usually a final spurt of cardio following a quick toning portion. At this point, I’ve got some sequences fresh in my brain, have taken a moment to cheat on all the toning in order to regain my breath and am ready to throw down like only Channing Tatum in Step Up can truly do (don’t lie, you’re not too cool that you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about). The last-chance, this-is-it mentality is infectious and no matter how many sprints are thrown at me (do not take this as incentive, trainers), I am beyond stoked about them. I liken the feeling to a bottle of Red Radical; once all the best parts of me are shaken awake and all stirred up, I am so ready to go.

Then, I leave class with a literal bounce in my step (think sea legs, but awesome) and a desire to turn right back around into the studio for round 2. Even on a Monday morning. After I have already dragged myself out of bed early. Either I’ve finally lost it, or BOUNCE is a serious miracle-worker (I’m that girl who schedules all her college classes to start after noon). I’m not sure. Both are equally possible, but I’m kinda leaning towards the latter.

I’ll see you soon, Tribers, either in class or next time when we tackle the mysterious jack-of-all-trades, Hybrid.

Until then, stay sweaty.

New to our Class Digest series? Read Clare’s inspiration behind the series. And if you missed our previous Class Digests, catch up on her breakdowns of BariMACRO and BariMICRO. Ready to BOUNCE at home? We’re die-hard fans of our beloved (yes, really) Jumpsport trampolines, which you can buy on BariMARKET.

Boing, boiiing, boiiiiiiiing… BOING BOING BOING!

Nope, this is not the sound of your kid’s cartoons. Dear, sweaty, Triber, this is the sound of the trampoline, reclaimed from suburban cul-de-sacs and restored to its fateful glory as the star of BariBOUNCE. (Aside from you, obviously.)

BariBOUNCE came to fruition as our founder solved for x in an equation that looked something like:

(buckets of sweat)(low-impact cardio)(high-calorie burn)=x

In brainstorming ways to get the heart rate up while minimizing impact on the joints, the trampoline stood out as our x-factor. A trampoline-based workout, one that could produce MACRO-like quantities of sweat (plus some!), could serve as a supplement to or substitute for the higher-impact floor cardio featured in MACRO. And so, drum roll pleaseandthankyou, BariBOUNCE was born. Being the hopeless adrenaline and sweat junkies we are, we immediately fell in love with this high-energy cardio workout, and it quickly became a core pillar of the Bari method.

BOUNCE features controlled, energy-charged movements downward. So if you come to class expecting the lazy-day, high-drifting upward bounces of your childhood, you’re in for a sore surprise (literally). When your instructor tells you to bounce or ground down, the intention is for your upper body to remain stable (“Pull your belly button to your spine!” will become too familiar a phrase) while your lower body moves quickly and dynamically against the resistance of the trampoline. Hint: this seemingly leg-centric movement is actually powered by your core. So when you’re told to contract your abs, just trust me and do it.

The goal here is to use the resistance of the trampoline to your advantage, working against it for the most demanding cardio and strengthening workout. As you decrease the air-time between bounces, you maximize the challenge. This gets really exhausting really quickly, but the rush that accompanies each jump never, ever gets old. The neighborhood kids may have actually been onto something.

Just like with MACRO, don’t expect BOUNCE to be all up-down-up-down-up-down. At even its most fundamental level, you can dissect this class into combinations and sequences.

This mostly-cardio class is broken up by a few songs dedicated to toning and strengthening. The trampoline is often used for balance while you do planks, squats or lunges. Trainers use all the same props in BOUNCE as the other classes (you didn’t really think you could escape Skimmers that easily, did you?). And if your trainer is really crazy (and they all are, lucky you!), she may even call on you to use three-pound weights or the resistance bands while you bounce.

This all just means that the moment of “ah, I get it!” is all the more sweet (and sweaty) in a BOUNCE class because when you get it, you get it. The trampoline is a beast that can be tamed, and when you figure out how to own that torture device, BOUNCE becomes your sweat-soaked playground.

BOUNCE veterans will know this “a ha” moment well: The skies open above you and light shines from the heavens as you find yourself in harmony with the trampoline. It gives exactly when it’s supposed to, and is perfectly taut right at the moment when you want to explode up. When your bounce is perfectly coordinated — on time, in rhythm and on beat — you swing fluidly from movement to movement, and you may just feel a full-toothed smile sneak out as you complete each perfect sequence. No, really. This happened to me this morning, and I got sweat in my mouth. So… yeah.

So that’s what it feels like to get it, but what about your very first time? My first BOUNCE class was nothing like I expected, but I instantly found myself at home on the trampoline. Though I spend little time outside of Bari hanging out on a trampoline, many of the movements are actually familiar. I found the movements which emphasized lateral hip and leg movements with a stable, centralized core amazingly similar to skiing. Just minus the killer frostbite. And the whole torn ACLs thing. (But also minus the hot chocolate… hint, hint Bari Food Society.) So even if you’ve never tried BOUNCE before (and even if you’ve never skied), you’ll quickly realize that you’re more prepared than you thought.

Still, BOUNCE hails from a whole different workout universe than anything else I’ve tried. Namely, it doesn’t leave me crippled by an all-consuming desire to get the heck out from the moment I start. (Um, hi there, treadmill. I’m definitely not talking about you). I relish the moments when I’m totally on point and in the groove, and I love learning the steps that work up to the longer sequences and building the muscle memory to internalize the movements. Then it’s time to play.

My favorite moment of class is the last song, which is usually a final spurt of cardio following a quick toning portion. At this point, I’ve got some sequences fresh in my brain, have taken a moment to cheat on all the toning in order to regain my breath and am ready to throw down like only Channing Tatum in Step Up can truly do (don’t lie, you’re not too cool that you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about). The last-chance, this-is-it mentality is infectious and no matter how many sprints are thrown at me (do not take this as incentive, trainers), I am beyond stoked about them. I liken the feeling to a bottle of Red Radical; once all the best parts of me are shaken awake and all stirred up, I am so ready to go.

Then, I leave class with a literal bounce in my step (think sea legs, but awesome) and a desire to turn right back around into the studio for round 2. Even on a Monday morning. After I have already dragged myself out of bed early. Either I’ve finally lost it, or BOUNCE is a serious miracle-worker (I’m that girl who schedules all her college classes to start after noon). I’m not sure. Both are equally possible, but I’m kinda leaning towards the latter.

I’ll see you soon, Tribers, either in class or next time when we tackle the mysterious jack-of-all-trades, Hybrid.

Until then, stay sweaty.

New to our Class Digest series? Read Clare’s inspiration behind the series. And if you missed our previous Class Digests, catch up on her breakdowns of BariMACRO and BariMICRO. Ready to BOUNCE at home? We’re die-hard fans of our beloved (yes, really) Jumpsport trampolines, which you can buy on BariMARKET.