SPA MAGAZINE • BEING WELL TRENDS March/April 2004

Hip-Hop Ballet by Laurel W. House That slim, svelte dancer's body you covet may be within reach. CARDIO BARRE®, developed by New York-trained dancer Richard Giorla, fuses ballet, weight training, Pilates, and yoga in an hour-long workout that tones arms, glutes, legs, and core, while strengthening the cardiovascular system. Set to energy-boosting hip-hop music, half the class is spent in a heart-pumping routine of leg lifts at the ballet bar, which provides a stabilizing force for optimal focus on targeted muscle groups.

After ten minutes of light weights, sweat-soaked students hit the mats for some high-energy, Pilates-style moves and core-toning crunches. With the workout's long, lean, sculpted results, it's no wonder celebrities like Lisa Rinna, Jenny Garth, and Tiffani Thiessen are getting in the groove. CARDIO BARRE®, the studio, is located in Studio City, California, but videos and portable bars are available at www.cardiobarre.com.