Best Barre Workout at Home: My Review of The Dailey Method

I have been curious about barre and pilates for ages, but just never got around to trying it out because I didn’t know where to find a good class that I could do from home.

That’s why I was so excited when I was asked to try out The Dailey Method’s online barre classes, so I could get a taste of everything this style of fitness has to offer. 

And I wasn’t disappointed!

If you are interested in barre-style workouts, this is my review of The Dailey Method and why I think it’s the best barre workout at home you can find online.

Disclaimer: I was given free access to The Dailey Method for the purposes of writing this review. I am also an affiliate, which means if you make a purchase after clicking on the links in this article, I may make a commission (at no extra cost to you.) However, these are my own honest thoughts and opinions. Click here for the full disclosure. 

The Scoop on Barre

Before we get into my review of the Dailey Method, you might be wondering what it is and if barre is good for weight loss. 

Barre workouts are full-body exercises based on traditional ballet barre workouts. It’s very low-impact and helps you increase strength without needing to lift heavy weights. I find there are lots of isometric “holds” (think plank) and “pulsing” type movements. 

Weight loss isn’t really the primary benefit of Barre. Although certain types of Barre workouts can be cardiovascular enough to result in weight loss, there are more efficient exercises for burning calories and facilitating weight loss, like high-intensity interval training. 

However, barre can help you build strength, tone your muscles, and improve your posture. Plus it’s pretty fun!

Background on The Dailey Method 

The Dailey Method was founded by Jill Daley, a kinesiologist with a passion for fitness.  Her passion for helping people on their fitness journey led to her opening The Dailey Method studio in 2000. 

Today, TDM has grown to 60 studios across North America. 

Her group classes aim to condition the core and strengthen the muscles through a combination of barre, pilates, and orthopedic exercise. 

The biggest difference between The Dailey Method and other workout classes is that there it puts movement first, with a strong focus on education and proper alignment. 

The end result is a strong, sculpted, and aligned body with better posture and movement. 

The Dailey Method has taken their classes online so that anyone from anywhere can become a member and become part of TDM experience.

Image provided by The Dailey Method

What The Dailey Method Online Offers

TDM online offers a multitude of classes – currently over 150 videos – featuring barre, pilates, and cycling. And they add new content all the time! 

There are 11 different types of classes to be found, but here are a few examples of ones that caught my eye:

Dailey Barre – This class is meant for beginners and advanced students alike, and is a great place to work on your form and alignment. 

Dailey Interval – These classes are fast-paced, 45-minute classes that integrate high-intensity intervals for cardiovascular exercise. It’s a good choice if you like to get your sweat on!

Dailey Fusion – These are hour-long classes that fuse barre with cardiovascular exercise. 

Dailey Release – This is a restorative class designed to improve mobility and flexibility and is made of three segments: myofascial release, stretching, and meditation. 

Dailey Cycle – These are indoor cycling classes that are 40-minutes long and designed to kick your heart into high gear for an impressive calorie burn. 

The number of classes may seem a little overwhelming at first, so I like the fact that they include a “Dailey 101” series of videos for beginners. These classes are great for helping you get a grasp on the barre basics. 

Format

The Dailey Method online is a web-based subscription that can be streamed through your computer.

From the user dashboard,  you can search for classes by class format, structure, teacher, or length. There are also series of classes you can participate in like the 101 series and the mediation challenge. 

Lastly, you can view the upcoming classes schedule and stream live classes. It’s pretty easy to navigate!

However, there’s no way to download the videos, so you can’t workout somewhere that has a spotty internet connection.

Also, they don’t seem to have an app for the online users. I did find an app for The Dailey Method but I believe it is meant for in-studio classes only as my login and password didn’t work with the app. 

Another thing worth noting is that the videos are not of the highest production quality. They are Zoom recordings of previous live classes, so the quality of the picture isn’t as high as say, a DVD. 

Production value isn’t a big deal for me, as long as I can see what I’m supposed to do and hear the audio clearly, but it’s worth mentioning in case you were expecting HD videos. 

Image provided by The Dailey Method

Subscription Costs

The Dailey Method costs $20 USD per month. It’s a reasonable fee and in line with most online fitness subscriptions. 

Even better, you can start with a 14-day free trial to make sure it’s right for you before plunging into the monthly subscription.

The only thing I thought was a little odd was the lack of subscription options. Most fitness subscriptions off at least two payment plans – monthly and annual. 

I was never one for annual subscriptions anyway as I prefer paying month-to-month for things, but some people prefer an annual plan as you can usually save money in the long term that way. 

Equipment Required

The term “barre” of course brings to mind the ballet barre that dancers use during their ballet practice. So is a barre – or any other equipment – required for TDM online?

The short answer is, no, you don’t need to hammer a barre to your living room wall to do these workouts, nor is much other equipment used.

You will want an exercise mat, but beyond that you should be good to go. Some classes do use things like straps and small dumbbells, but you can easily substitute these items with things you have around the house, like a twisted up towel in lieu of a strap, or soup cans instead of dumbbells. 

Also, it goes without saying but if you want to participate in the cycle classes, you’ll need an indoor bike. 

Image provided by The Dailey Method

My Experience with The Dailey Method

I was on the hunt for the best barre workout from home so I jumped right into an hour long Dailey Barre class instructed by Jill Dailey herself. 

The class opens with Jill and a student who demonstrates all the exercises as Jill talks through them. 

The first thing I noticed was how much constant instruction there is throughout the class.  This goes to show how important alignment is during the workout. 

It reminds me of a yoga class but more focused on strengthening movements, and there are lots of isometric and “pulsing” exercises. 

The class had us using a strap but I just used a booty band and it worked fine. 

The workouts are very low impact – no jumping or jarring activities, which is ideal if you’re prone to injury. 

By the end, I definitely felt tired and a little sweaty, with some shaky muscles for my hard work!

Other classes I tried were much short, like the 15-minute “thigh focus” workout with instructor Val Goffin. The class may have been brief but once again I was really feeling it by the end. Like Jill’s classes, Val has contagious high-energy and is constantly talking you through how to mindfully perform each exercise while maintaining proper form. 

I own an indoor bike so I also decided to check out an hour-long Dailey Cycle class, just for kicks. This class was also with Val and definitely got my heart pounding and focused me to work way harder than I do when I’m cycling on my own. 

Interestingly, the entire class wasn’t spent on the bike. For the last 20 minutes we hit the mat and do some yoga poses with light weights for some upper body work. 

Review Summary – The Dailey Method is the Best Barre Workout at Home

Overall, I really enjoyed all the classes I tried and really appreciated the in depth instruction and focus on form. I can definitely see myself doing these classes a couple times a week to work on alignment and restorative work on my non-weight training days. 

Anyone interested in barre exercise will definitely benefit from the online subscription!

What did you think about my review of The Dailey Method? Have you ever tried home barre workouts before? Discuss in the comments!

Pros

• 14-Day free trial
• Barre workout at home, no equipment required!
• Ideal for beginners
• Low-impact workouts
• Wide variety of classes to choose from
• Live classes
• Cycling classes included
• Detailed instructions that focus on alignment and form

Cons

• Videos are not high production quality (Zoom-quality videos)
• Live stream from your computer only – No download or app options
• Due to the nature of the workouts, may not be the most efficient way to lose weight if that is your goal

FAQ