The first thing you notice when you walk into Marni Chaikin's studio is the friendly vibe. Upon entering the lobby, I see that her instructors are greeting clients and talking with them like old friends. I too, am welcomed warmly and immediately offered bottled water.

Before coming to the class, I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive. I've heard the stories about snobby dance studios and uptight private Pilates centers, but my fears were unfounded here at Pure Barre.

"We know our clients by name and it becomes like a community here. It's important to me because I moved out here from New York seven years ago and it was very hard for me to find a community here. In New York you're out walking around and you can meet a hundred people in a day, but here in LA, you're in your car, your apartment, and you're at work and there's not an opportunity to meet a ton of people," says Chaikin.

Although she's been dancing since the age of two, Chaikin made everyone in the class feel comfortable, no matter what level of fitness they came in at. She's a professional dancer and fitness instructor who taught Pilates for the five years prior to opening her Brentwood studio in February and she's absolutely thrilled to be bringing Carrie Rezabek's Pure Barre Technique to the people of Los Angeles.

The Pure Barre Technique is an intelligent exercise technique that fuses dance, Pilates, and Lotte Berk exercises, while utilizing the ballet bar. The intense, hour-long, total body workout lifts your seat, tones your arms, flattens abs, thins thighs, and defines waistlines. The workout is completely safe for your joints because there is no bouncing or jumping and each strengthening section of the workout is followed by a stretching section. The result is strong, long, lean muscle without the bulk, with the added bonus of increased range of motion.

The studio itself is unique, an angular-mirrored room with a ballet barre that runs the length of the wall. Chaikin put on a mix of hip-hop and dance to get the energy high and we began class. Within the first 60 seconds, I realize that this is a different kind of workout than what I have ever experienced. The majority of the movements are small and focus on muscle control (think isometrics.) We "pulsed" different muscles throughout the class and broke up the intense moves with yoga-like poses.

Chaikin was helpful and encouraging throughout my hour-long struggle to keep up and afterwards I couldn't believe how great I felt. I take yoga three times a week and feel good about that, but after seeing what I could accomplish in the same amount of time, I've been converted. I had a boost of energy and literally felt thinner and stronger when I left the studio that day.

If you're wanting to give Marni and the Pure Barre workout a chance, you should plan on coming out on Saturday, July 25th for the Pure Give Celebrity Charity Event. Pure Give has teamed up with the Dove Self-Esteem Fund to help as an agent of change to educate and inspire girls on a wider definition of beauty. The class is $25 (donations accepted as well) and you need to be RSVP'd by July 17th as space is limited.

LA2DAY giveaway contest!!

LA2DAY has teamed up with Pure Barre to giveaway 5 free classes to our readers. Send your favorite thing about LA2DAY to editor@la2day.com for your chance to win one of the classes!

DETAILS:

Pure Barre Brentwood
11819 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 213
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 463-7873

Complimentary parking in the lot beneath the structure.

Easy sign up for classes is available online!

Bonus trivia: Marni's cute little rescue-dog, Phinaes, lounges behind the desk during classes and loves having his belly rubbed ☺

Story by Aubrey Nicole.

Photos by Ryan Miceli.