Is Barre Enough Exercise? What Heart-Rate Data Shows

Updated November 2025 with current heart-rate data and exercise-science insights.

Is Barre Enough Exercise? (Quick Answer)

Barre improves strength, posture, and balance — but it doesn’t deliver enough sustained cardio intensity to meet CDC/AHA recommendations. Most classes sit below the moderate heart-rate zone, yielding under ~20 cardio minutes per class. For full aerobic benefits, pair barre with a workout that hits vigorous heart-rate zones — like HupSix.

If you’re comparing barre to other cardio, check out Best Cardio Workouts to Do at Home Instead of Running.

Watch: Does Barre Really Count as Cardio?

We tested a 50-minute Cardio Pure Barre class with a Garmin chest strap and compared it to a 30-minute HupSix session. Here’s what happened.

Watch on YouTube • Read the full article

Garmin Heart-Rate Data: Barre vs HupSix

During a 50-minute Cardio Pure Barre class, the heart-rate data showed:

• Peak HR: 132 bpm
• Moderate zone: 9 minutes
• Vigorous zone: 5 minutes (counts double)
• Total cardio credit: ≈ 19 zone minutes

That barely scratches a day’s cardio goal. To hit 150 moderate minutes weekly (or 75 vigorous), you’d need roughly eight of those classes. By contrast, a 30-minute HupSix session typically delivers 40–50 zone minutes thanks to sustained moderate work and bursts that reach vigorous.

Why Barre Feels Hard But Isn’t Cardio

Barre feels tough: you sweat, shake, hold isometrics, use a stepper and weights. That’s the trap — perceived exertion vs actual heart-rate response. Muscular burn from static holds isn’t the same as keeping your heart working at a moderate-to-vigorous level for long enough to create aerobic adaptation. A chest-strap monitor tells you the truth so you invest time where it counts.

Heart-Rate Zones: Why Vigorous Minutes Count Double

Across the CDC, Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, Dr. Benjamin Levine, and the Norwegian 4×4 lineage, the signal is the same: your heart adapts when you challenge it often at higher intensities. Vigorous minutes receive 2× credit because they drive stronger cardiorespiratory improvements. Practically, you’re building real cardio strength — your body handles bursts and recoveries better over time.

How to Make Barre “Count”

• Pair it with vigorous cardio: Add 20–30 minutes of HupSix intervals on the same or alternate days.
• Wear a chest strap: Stop guessing. Track zone minutes to hit the weekly minimums consistently.
• Chase zones, not sweat: Aim to accumulate 10+ continuous minutes in moderate-to-vigorous zones where possible.

Results: Which Workout Wins?

• Workout: Cardio Pure Barre
  Time: 50 min
  Peak HR: 132 bpm
  Zone Minutes: 19
  
  
• Workout: HupSix
  Time: 30 min
  Peak HR: 158 bpm
  Zone Minutes: 45
  

Barre is valuable for strength and control. It’s just not cardio — unless you pair it with something that actually drives your heart into the right zones.

Try HupSix free for 30 days and you’ll understand why people stick with it. One class in and you’ll wonder how you ever did cardio any other way.

Related Reads

• Best Cardio Workouts to Do at Home Instead of Running
• Best Cardio Equipment Under $300
• HupSix vs TRX, Peloton, and Tonal

FAQ

Does barre count as cardio?
Not on its own. Most barre classes stay below the moderate heart-rate zone required for aerobic improvement.

How can I make barre count?
Pair barre with vigorous cardio (like HupSix) and use a chest-strap monitor to ensure you’re actually logging moderate-to-vigorous minutes.