Barre and brunch event makes working out easier and more sociable in Cork
Emma Barry Murphy at her 'Barre and Brunch' event at Penrose Dock, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan
“Getting people to try Barre once is my main mission in life,” says Cork woman Emma Barry Murphy.
The 29-year-old has been teaching Barre for over three years. In that time, she has helped people discover the benefits of exercise — and created a tight-knit community along the way.
Since qualifying as a Barre instructor, Emma has set up her own online and in-person classes and seasonal events to allow more people to try Barre, make new friends and, of course, have some fun too.
Inspired by ballet, Barre was first developed in London in 1959 by ballerina Lotte Berk who after injuring her back, had the idea to combine Barre ballet with her rehabilitative therapy. It is not dissimilar to Pilates, but according to Emma, it is unique — as is her decision to merge it with another popular pastime: brunch.
“The way that Barre differs from nearly everything is that you’re focusing on different movements that will be either full range or half range. There’s going to be a lot of pulses and a lot of holds. You’re exhausting your different muscles — smaller muscles — to the point of failure so that they get stronger,” she says.
“I describe it as a range of movements that will target those smaller muscle groups in your body.”
A tough workout followed by brunch sounds like the perfect combination, so I head to one of Emma’s Barre and Brunch events in Cork. Prior to the class, she tells me that she often gets feedback like: “I’ve used muscles I didn’t know existed.” “I’d never expect anyone to complete 100% of their first class,” she adds.
It’s early on a cloudy Saturday morning as I set off — slightly scared — to see whether Emma can successfully convert me to a Barre-lover.
Following the success of previous events, she has teamed up with café Naturally Nourished to create a Winter Sculpt Event (tickets are available from €44, including the class and brunch). Admittedly, the promise of a delicious meal, tasty mocktails, and mimosas is my main motivator, but I’m also excited about a new challenge.
Our Saturday morning class kicks off at 9.30am, overlooking spectacular views of Cork city from a balcony at Penrose Dock. I’m the first to take to my mat but within minutes, the place is buzzing as groups of women of all ages appear chatting, some greeting each other with hugs and warm hellos.
While some are regulars, others — like me — are new here. We start on the mat, lifting our legs and squeezing our glutes before moving up to our feet, using chairs as a makeshift ballet barre. There’s a lot of pulsing and lifting our limbs for eight reps at a time and it’s not long before I feel the burn in my legs — closely followed by my arms.
But Emma is a professional motivator. She encourages us to push through the pain, reminding us of the delicious feast that awaits us downstairs.
For our final challenge, she blasts music and prompts us to keep going until the song ends. We squat up and down, up and down. With my thighs on fire, I look out onto the city and can’t help but laugh at the madness of it all. What must the people on the street below think of the 24 women neatly lined up, pulsing along to Mariah Carey on a balcony above them? Somehow, this moment is the most challenging and enjoyable part of the class. There’s nothing like a bit of laughter to pull you through the pain.
After a cool-down stretch and a chat about what everyone is doing for the weekend, I feel refreshed and relieved. It’s nice not to be completely winded after a workout, but still have the same rush of endorphins. I also realise the hour-long class flew by in no time. No counting down the minutes, longing for it to end. Instead — while it was tough at times — Emma guided us through the whole process with ease.
I join a group of women downstairs for the moment we have all been dreaming of for the last hour: brunch. From banoffee pancakes to avocado and toast, we are spoiled for choice with the food selection at Naturally Nourished, not to mention the delicious seasonal mocktails to help quench the post-Barre thirst.
All around me, women are chatting, laughing and making the most of their morning, plotting their plans for the hours ahead, knowing they have already completed a workout and (perhaps more importantly) had a good laugh amongst friends – old and new.
The benefits of group exercise have long been documented. According to a study from 2017, “regular group exercise contributes to balanced health in older adults”. Being surrounded by people during the class was the motivator to keep going, but having the time to sit and chit-chat over eggs and pancakes is a bonus.
“The community aspect is so important because it gives people an outlet,” says Emma. “For many people, classes -no matter what type it is – is a way for them to escape, a way for them to get a little peace of mind, whether its mental clarity, just a little bit of stress relief…and then having the ability to meet likeminded people.”
While some people are there for fitness, others are there for the food, but one common theme is the connections between attendees.
Emma says while some women attend alone, they always have at least one friend by the end of the class and this occasion was no different.
“I’d like to have everyone try Barre at least once and I think attaching the social element and a lovely, tasty meal or some goodies is definitely a way to get people to think of it as a day out,” she says.
As for the fitness side of it, Emma’s Barre classes are suited to all levels. As she points out, ballet dancers are among the strongest people, so taking their training regimen into a universal class is a recipe for a great workout.
It’s easy to see why Barre has become increasingly popular, with classes popping up in cities worldwide. According to ClassPass’s 2022 fitness trends report, Barre was the fifth most popular workout in 2022.
“People get different benefits from [Barre]. It could be building core and glute strength or getting your mobility – if you’re a runner, for example, you might never stretch- you might never make these smaller moves that will help you. It’s also just exposing people to try it once so that they maybe find a way that it integrates into their life,” she says.
After my Saturday morning session, I decide to return to Emma’s in-person classes in Ballinlough for round two. Even without the promise of brunch, I am confident I will enjoy my second attempt at Barre just as much as my first.
“I’m on the Barre bandwagon”, I tell her.
- See: @barrebyemma
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