Do Barre Arm Exercises Count as Strength Training?

If strong, sculpted arms are one of your fitness goals, you might assume the only way to get them is to perform endless biceps curls and triceps kickbacks. But if you’ve done an at-home barre workout, like Xtend Barre or Barre Blend, you’ve likely felt the burn in your arms.

So can you get a solid strength training workout from those barre arm exercises? Here’s what you need to know.

Does Barre Build Strength in the Arms?

“Absolutely!” says Jen Cordiner, education director for Xtend Barre, an at-home barre program that incorporates cardio, Pilates, and ballet fundamentals to help you burn fat and build muscle.

Barre workouts typically combine bodyweight exercises with high reps to strengthen and build your muscles.

“A focus on proper form and creating your own resistance help lead to a long, lean, sculpted upper body,” Cordiner says. Your target muscles may burn and shake — surefire signs that the routine is working.

Many Xtend Barre workouts also incorporate equipment such as resistance bands or light hand weights to boost the intensity of barre arm exercises. This can really ramp up your upper-body toning results, Cordiner says.

Is Barre Considered a Strength or Cardio Workout?

Traditional barre workouts use small, isometric exercises to help you build total-body strength and definition — minimal cardio included.

However, BODi’s barre programs are unique in that it blends traditional isometric exercises with dynamic movements that get you moving through a full range of motion.

The result: You get strength and cardio benefits in a single session. “Our combination of sculpt and cardio offers a full-body workout, which leads to better results,” Cordiner says.

How Often Should I Do Barre Arm Exercises to Increase Strength?

If you really want to see and feel strength results, Cordiner recommends doing barre three to five days a week. As your strength and endurance grow, you can bump up your weekly sessions to five or more.

Ready to get started? Try an Xtend Barre or Barre Blend workout on BODi. Choose from total-body routines, or give specific muscle groups (ahem, your arms) extra attention with focused workouts.

Don’t have a ballet barre? No worries — a sturdy chair, countertop, or the back of the couch will do the trick, so you can start enjoying the benefits of barre arm exercises.