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A new exercise craze hits Houston: Are you tough enough for the Bar Method?

Bar Method, exericise, January 2013
The Bar Method incorporates muscle isolations techniques and ballet bar routines. Photo by Joel Luks
Bar Method, exericise, January 2013
Owner Rachel Good first got hooked on the technique in California.  Photo by Joel Luks
Bar Method, exericise, January 2013
The one hour work out includes dance, physical therapy, interval training and stretching. Photo by Joel Luks
Bar Method, exericise, January 2013, Whitney Radley
Whitney Radley dropped by the sunny Montrose studio for more information on the exercise.  Photo by Joel Luks
Bar Method, exericise, January 2013
The Bar Method is a low-impact, full-body workout — great for building muscle and core strength and increasing flexibility.  Photo by Joel Luks

As I sit at my desk, my legs are weak, my shoulders sore, my abs aching. No, I didn't get in a fender bender. Didn't run a marathon, either.

I just attended an hour-long Bar Method class before dawn.

The fitness technique was first conceived of in the 1950s by Lotte Berk, a German dancer who, after sustaining a back injury, combined her ballet bar routines with rehabilitative therapy for a system that incorporated strength and flexibility training.

The original concept has gone through some tweaking since those early years to become the Bar Method, a system that has built a strong following in 18 states and Canada — and Houston is the latest city to get in on the fitness craze. 

CultureMap stopped by the Bar Method-Montrose studio, which opened in a sunny space next to Roots Bistro last November, to talk with owner Rachel Good about the benefits of the low-impact exercise. Watch the video above for more details.