Do you have bad or weak knees? Today, we are sharing with you Barre workouts for bad knees.

I have always been impressed, amazed, and totally in awe of Ballet dancers.

When I was in high school, I started taking dance as an elective to get my PE credits in, and I fell in love with dancing in general.

But after being diagnosed with RA at the age of 10, I really thought I would never be able to do anything like that let alone exercise like that!

After I started doing Pilates at my studio, I discovered Barre classes. We offer them at The Fit Lounge, and I couldn’t believe how LOW impact the workouts were! The possibilities are endless for Barre workouts, but people with bad knees can really benefit from it.

Let me show you!

Barre Workouts For Bad Knees

When I joined The Fit Lounge a few years ago, I fell in love with the reformer. It was a fantastic workout, gentle on my joints, and I was in better shape than I had been since Jr High! Our studio also had a back room for Barre classes. I just assumed I couldn’t take it because of my bad knees.

After I sat in on a class, I was a little surprised how simple the movements were! In fact, it reminded me a little bit of aerobics classes from the 80s and 90s. I figured I would give it a shot!

I am so glad I did because I truly discovered a fantastic full body, low impact workout that I can also do at home! I love doing Barlattes at my studio, but I also do a Barre workout from home a few days a week.

The possibilities are endless on what you can do with Barre classes!

I love Barre so much, I decided to get certified to teach it last year. In the middle of certification, I had that bad knee injury which set me back about a year. I finally got back to practicing Barre, and now I am a certified Barre instructor…just a little fun fact 🙂 Join me on instagram for more videos and pictures with behind the scenes.

So, How Can I Do Barre With Bad Knees?

There are different levels of Barre workouts, so you can simply choose a beginners class. Most beginner Barre workouts don’t involve much knee movement. There will be slight bending into plies, but nothing harsh.

The awesome thing about Barre is you can also modify any movement by not bending as much! It is one of the most easily modified workouts I have done.

If I am taking a class that bends too far, I simply don’t bend much. You still get a great workout!

Do I have to have a Barre at home to do the workouts?

No, you don’t need one at all! You can use a chair, bar stool, counter, even the back of the couch! Any surface works fine!

Do I need any equipment to do Barre at home?

You actually don’t need anything. Many Barre workouts will use a 1-2 lb weight for arms, but you don’t even need that. I always do a workout, and just eliminate the arm weights. I still get a great workout in!

Amelia and I did a Barre workout on the beach last month, and we didn’t use anything. You can do a Barre workout anywhere!

Yoga VS Pilates VS Barre for Knee Issues

Many readers have asked me this question because there are so many of us with bad knees! I have seen people in yoga classes I have taken that really struggle getting onto the ground because they have had knee replacements, arthritis in the knees, or their knees are just worn out. Well, you DON’T have to be stuck getting onto the ground to workout.

If you are a yoga lover, I recommend switching to chair yoga if you have bad knees. My mom has been teaching chair yoga for seven years, and she has great tips for seniors with bad knees. She recommends doing all things in a chair to minimize bending down onto the ground. If anyone would like a post from my mom, she has some amazing knowledge. Let me know!

Pilates is one of the best workouts for bad joints in general, but the reformer is really the best for that. Mat Pilates is very challenging, but it is an option for home workouts. I would say that the reformer is probably the most gentle and easiest for bad knees. Pilates from home on a mat is going to be a little more difficult for knees.

Barre from home is a great option for bad knees or bad joints in general. Many Barre workouts don’t even requiring sitting down onto the ground! I have collected some good videos below for that.

Barre Workouts For Bad Knees You Can Do From Home:

Below are some of my favorite Barre workouts you can do with bad knees from home! These are great for beginners, gentle on joints and knees.

I am writing this post for you today to share with you better options for those who also have bad joints and knees like me! You can still workout and be in good shape regardless of physical limitations!

Even going through knee surgery last year, I am still in good shape and stronger than ever with simple workouts like this!

I hope this can help motivate you too!

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