08/31/2026
Props: Less Can Be More
The OG barre method with Lotte Berk didn’t use props. And the first classes at the Lotte Berk Method studios didn’t have props either.
As barre has evolved, we’ve added light dumbbells, balls, straps, yoga blocks, resistance bands, gliding disks—and more.
Props absolutely have their place. A thoughtful prop can assist us in a position, provide support, or add resistance.
But there must always be a WHY.
Why are we using this prop for this movement?
I typically use zero to two props in a barre class, depending on what I’m teaching and who is in front of me. It starts getting hairy when we have three, four, five different props scattered around.
Are they all necessary?
In an effective classic barre class, I’m betting we don’t need five different props cluttering the space, interrupting the flow, and adding chaos.
Keep it super simple.
More props don’t necessarily mean a better workout, and they may point to a less than authentic barre class. Sometimes, the most effective tool is the one we’ve always had: our own body.
