"Effective. Evolving. Electric!” That’s how Catie Miller, the founder of London’s first dedicated Xtend Barre studio describes the workout that has changed her life. And the former dancer, who holds daily fitness classes at the Marylebone flagship, counts Carmen among her growing group of students.
A combination of dance and Pilates, Xtend Barre was created by another former dancer, Andrea Rogers, who after leaving the profession struggled to find a fitness regime that combined serious conditioning with artistic movement. And a decade after launching in Florida, her method is now practised in studios worldwide.
Catie Miller, founder of Xtend Barre London
Based on the fundamentals of Pilates and the flair of dance, Xtend Barre fuses cardio-driven choreography with conditioning exercises. And while other barre programs focus on small movements, Xtend Barre’s diverse programs are full-body workouts, which deliver in terms of cardio, strength and endurance, as well as flexibility, and burn serious calories. “You can burn anything from 250 calories to 600 calories in a 55-minute session,” says Catie.
Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, Catie embarked on her Xtend Barre journey back in 2012, after walking out of a studio following her first class and thinking, “I need to bring this to London,” which by then she called home. Having tried every other barre method, the main difference Xtend Barre offers for Catie is the emphasis on dance as well as cardio in every class.
However, there is no need to have had any formal dance training or be at a particular level of fitness to attend Xtend Barre as the method has been designed for all abilities, and ages. In fact clients at the London studio range from athletes and individuals trying to achieve a personal best, to people in the process of building or re-building their confidence, losing weight, overcoming illness or entering a new phase of life.
Xtend Barre focuses on working from the inside out, working on the core and then strengthening the rest of the body. “It incorporates all my loves,” says Catie, “Dance, fitness, community, and soul, and is so much more than a phenomenal workout!”
Xtend Barre
49 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HJ