Tag: travel

Refined, precise, and sculpting — these Paris studios are devoted to the art of barre. From unique methods created and taught by professional dancers to a detox-inspired version practised in a warm room, discover where form meets discipline in spaces designed for sculpting long, lean muscles.

Barre might be inspired by ballet, but not every studio interprets it the same way. Some lean into flow and choreography, others borrow more from Pilates or cardio work. Having been trained as an instructor for barre myself, I was first drawn to its elegance and close relationship with dance — and what stayed with me was the posture, the grace, and the low-impact intensity that builds up. There is a meditative quality too: small movements that demand total focus, giving me a moment of disconnection after work.

Here are six studios reimagining barre in their own unique ways — perfect for your next low-impact, high-burn session.

1. Kalon

2. Barreshape

BarreShape was created by former professional dancer and certified Pilates instructor Géraldine Werner, after years training and teaching in New York and London. Her method blends classical ballet, yoga, Pilates, and contemporary fitness, all wrapped in a distinct Parisian elegance.

Sessions are dynamic but approachable, designed to lengthen and tone. Its varied class formats cater to a range of moods and goals.  Whether it’s the HIIT-incorporated, high-energy BarreBlast, the choreography-led Dance Sculpt, or the more challenging Barreshape Advanced, the method adapts to support endurance, posture, or a more expressive form of training.

Expect isometric holds, balance work, and light cardio bursts. A favourite among those who want graceful movement with subtle intensity.

Addresses: 86 Rue Quincampoix 75003 Paris & 111 Rue de Longchamp 75016 Paris
Website: barreshape.com
Instagram: @barreshape

3. Aja House

Aja House isn’t just a studio — it’s a holistic sanctuary for movement and introspection. This nature-inspired space in the 7th arrondissement blends refinement with calm, offering over 10 disciplines in serene, spacious rooms bathed in light.

Barre classes here are taught by Shannon Boisson (exclusive Q&A below), a former professional ballerina. Her classes offer a ballet-rooted hybrid workout and intentional practice with a focus on form, sensation, and personal connection.

Small class sizes allow for deep, attentive instruction — a meditative, embodied barre experience unlike any other.

Address: 4 rue Oudinot 75007 Paris
Website: ajahouse.fr
Instagram: @ajahouseparis

4. Burning Bar

Burning Bar presents a full-body, multi-sensory experience. Taught in a gently heated room, barre classes at Burning Bar are set to curated playlists and designed for total immersion.

Valerie, a passionate movement coach and founder of the My Fit Barre method, leads the barre offering here.  This class fuses floor barre, Pilates, muscle strengthening, and stretching. It’s dynamic, detoxifying, and designed to sculpt the entire body while improving posture and flexibility.

This method invites elegance into intensity. Think deep core work and serious sweat — all levels welcome.

Address: 42 avenue Raymond Poincaré 75016
Website: burningbar.fr
Instagram: @burningbarparis / coach: @valeriefitcoaching

5. Hera Club

The newest addition to Paris’s barre scene, opened in July 2025, Hera Club is a calm, design-forward barre specialist studio in the heart of the 16th arrondissement. Their ethos: Her time, her space, her era.

The California Barre method taught here is a modern, sunshine-soaked approach to barre inspired by Pilates, yoga, dance, pelvic floor work, and mindful movement. Each session is low-impact and focuses on tone, posture, and feminine strength.

The space itself includes a boutique activewear shop and a warm, relaxed café offering matcha, adaptogenic lattes, and gluten-free bites. The vibe is elevated yet inclusive — an elegant Paris-meets-California wellness blend.

Address: 87 rue de Longchamp 75016 Paris
Website: heraclubparis.com
Instagram: @heraclub.paris | @californiabarre

6. Fit’Ballet

Founded by professional ballerina Octavie Escure, Fit’Ballet is a uniquely Parisian take on ballet fitness — where classical dance steps meet the intensity of cardio and the fluidity of Pilates. Octavie created her method to reflect her own rhythm: graceful but strong, dynamic yet sensual.

Expect a full-body workout that fuses pliés, grands jetés, dégagés, and even sauts de chat, layered with upbeat repetition, floor barre flow, and toning exercises that refine posture and silhouette. It’s a celebration of ballet’s poetic beauty, adapted for modern bodies — no dance experience required.

More than just a workout, Fit’Ballet is Octavie’s love letter to ballet — a practice she describes as a lifelong source of joy, healing, and personal expression. Her studio is also a creative hub, bringing together a vibrant network of dancers, artists, stylists, and musicians.

Addresses: 58 rue Blance 75009 Paris & 3 rue d’Hauteville 75010 Paris
Website: fit-ballet.com
Instagram: @fitballet_studios

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Q&A with Shannon Boisson de Chazournes

Barre expert and former professional ballerina Shannon Boisson brings decades of movement wisdom into every class she teaches. She has danced with the New York City Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, and the English National Ballet, and is trained in both Pilates and barre. Currently teaching at Aja House, she shares her approach to movement and rituals with Paris Wellness Review in a rapid-fire Q&A.

Your journey from classical ballet to barre?

“If ballet was my launching pad, barre is my magic carpet ride. It has taken me places I never imagined.”

How would you describe barre?

“Barre is a mood altering, head to toe, hybrid mix workout, incorporating basic ballet, Pilates, yoga and stylised fitness moves. For me, it’s elegant athleticism that gives value to each movement. The unique bonus of barre is moving to the beat of the music, making exercises feel more like dance. We also give special emphasis to the feet, hands, neck, and hips which are often neglected in other fitness classes.”

Your wellness philosophy?

“I’m a firm believer that one can rejuvenate and revitalise through movement by cultivating a fluid, dynamic posture and exploring range of motion.”

A personal ritual that help nourish your energy?

“It is what I call instinctive stretching. I lie down on my mat and one thing leads to another. I let my body take the lead and not my mind. I work out the kinks one stretch at a time, not in any particular order, whatever I need on that particular day, for however long.”

Lesson about the body and movement you’d like to share with us?

“Oh, there are so many but the first thing that comes to mind is pleasure. The more pleasurable something is the more likely we will repeat it as consistency is the key, right? When you move you should be looking for sensations, empowerment and the ability to be playful.”

Favourite Parisian spots to recharge and reconnect?

“My personal preference in terms of wellness is getting in touch with nature. Paris is full of beautiful gardens and parks that exhibit symmetry and elegance. I find water hypnotic so I’m often by the Seine doing some kind of version of the ‘hot girl walk’.”

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If you’re looking to move with more grace, intention, or strength, barre classes with Shannon or these Paris barre studios offer a thoughtful place to start. More than just workouts, each class is an invitation — to refine, to realign, to reconnect.

This feature is part of a growing series of insider interviews and studio spotlights centred on wellness in Paris. Subscribe to stay updated and get a first look at the Paris Wellness Review digital directory: our curated directory of the most inspiring movement, beauty and wellness addresses in Paris, launching soon.