Class

Barre & Sculpt

My barre class takes Lotte Berk’s classic barre method and combines it with elements of pilates, yoga & functional fitness to create a well-rounded, high-intensity yet low-impact workout.

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Taking you through a series of small, controlled isolations, eccentric movements and isometric holds to get you feeling the famous barre burn.

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I am super passionate about keeping my clients safe through movement by focusing on form and intention. My goal is to deliver a bespoke studio barre experience, wherever you are in the world.

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Controlled
isolations
Eccentric
movements
Isometric
holds
Barre pose doing crunch twists with pilates ball and legs in the airBarre pose on hands and knees with pilates ball behind knee

Any fitness level

Barre & Sculpt is both challenging and supportive, with something for everyone no matter your experience, age or ability level. In each class, I provide variations to increase or decrease the intensity, so you can progress at your own pace. If you fancy yourself as a barre pro, however, don't be fooled into thinking this will be too easy! I will make you work!

Low impact

A key plus point to barre workouts is that they are low impact, so put less strain on your joints. Lots of holds and controlled movements ensure you still get a challenging workout. I take elements of Pilates, ballet barre and resistance training and wrap it into a full body workout you'll love!

Minimal equipment

There are variations offered in all my workouts for no equipment, but for the best workout I may use any of the following:
A chair or something to hold
2 light dumbbells
Resistance bands
Pilates ball
And of course, a mat to stand and lay on.

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Class

Dance Cardio

If you find the treadmill as dull as I do, then this class is for you! Learn easy to follow, dynamic choreography and mix it up with resistance training to receive a higher impact cardio session that is going to sculpt and tone your body.

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This class is not about being the ‘perfect dancer’ it’s about enjoying and celebrating movement with the bonus of endorphins.

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Dance has always been my favourite form of cardio: it’s creative, fun and always leaves me feeling on top of the world!

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Dynamic
choreography
Resistance
training
High impact
cardio
Dance position with raised hands, leg and balancing on pointed toeDance position mid lunge movement

Any fitness level

The classes include substitutes to certain exercises if they're too challenging, and if you're struggling at any point simply wait out until you're ready to jump back in with me. You're watching, so you're in control!

Any dance ability

The choreography is quite basic, it's more about getting you moving - so don't worry about getting lost in fancy footwork!

What you need

- Supportive Trainers
- Mat
Some movements also use:
- Light weights
- Thigh Band

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Barre & dance cardio
On-demand classes

Sophie

Shanks

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trainer
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instructor
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Barre studio experience
wherever you are

online classes

Workout whenever and wherever you are with my On-Demand subscription! Perfect for travel and home workouts, choose from my extensive library of Barre and Dance cardio classes.

All levels & abilities

Classes for beginner to advanced so there’s something for everyone and room to progress!

Minimal equipment

Dumbbells and resistance bands are all you need, or variations with no equipment too!

15-45 mins classes

Choose from a range of class lengths, so there’s always room on your schedule!

New classes each month

I add new content throughout the month, so there will always be a new class to try!

My Classes

Two kinds of class to get you moving

Class

Barre & Sculpt

Taking Lotte Berk's classic barre method and combining it with elements of pilates, yoga and functional fitness, to create a well-rounded workout that will get you feeling the famous barre burn!

More info
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Class

Dance Cardio

Build your cardio endurance the fun way with dance! Simple choreography based around functional fitness movements for a great workout that will get your blood pumping!

More info
More link arrow icon
What my clients say

"Sophie is the best! I have been training with her for a few months and love her workouts. It's incredible how every session is a different set of exercises, super challenging and rewarding. I see the most results, both mentally and physically, out of any other workouts I have tried!!"

Classpass customer

"Sophie is the BEST! An amazing and attentive instructor. Her class packs a punch!"

Classpass customer

"I love training with Sophie - she is literally the BEST! She always has a big smile and makes training really fun. She is super professional and will adapt the exercises for all levels.

Marine, PT client

"Sophie's classes are fun, effective & engaging - I never get bored! She knows exactly when to give you a little push to achieve the best result!"

Classpass customer

"Her classes are great - challenging but still do-able for a barre first-timer."

Classpass customer
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Hey! I'm Sophie

I am a qualified Barre Instructor and Personal Trainer, with over 9 years experience working in some of London’s top studios. I currently teach at Repose and Bodyism in West London and I'm a Nike athlete with the Well Collective.

My background as a professional dancer has shown me the importance of creating a strong body. Combining my knowledge of dance, barre & strength training I have perfected my own method that I think you’ll love.

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Strengthen and tone your body, high intensity yet low impact

Strengthen and tone your body, high intensity yet low impact

my method

To me, the combo of Barre & Dance is a match made in heaven. Barre is a fantastic way to strengthen and tone the body, as well as increase bone density. Having strong bones is so important, especially for women as we are far more likely to develop osteoporosis in later life.

Dance adds a cardio element into the mix with a long list of health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart & respiratory diseases and improving mental health. The learning of choreography improves coordination as well as improving memory that reduces the risk of neurological diseases.

Photo of Sophie performing rear leg hold exerciseSophie performing a plank holding pilates ball
the platform

Access to my full
class library

Full access to my on-demand library of classes, with new content added each month. Use the filters to find classes by body parts worked, duration or equipment needed.

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High-res classes
on any device

Filmed in full HD, simply login, choose your class and hit play. Works perfectly on mobile, tablet and desktop, or cast to a smart TV for the big screen experience!

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Personalised
dashboard

Favourite the classes you love and quickly find them here, along with my latest classes, news and updates from your personal dashboard.

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Subscribe today for full access

Is this for all fitness levels?

Yes! Whether you are brand new to Barre & Dance Cardio or you are a pro, I know you will love my workouts! Throughout the video, I will be giving you ways to lower the intensity as well as more challenging variations, so you can choose what you need. I like to think of my class as a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ book.

What equipment do the workouts require?

I use a mix of equipment throughout my sessions: light weights (1-2kgs), pilates ball and a resistance thigh band. I do understand, however, that sometimes access to equipment isn’t always available, so in each session I will give you ideas for equipment alternatives. My platform also has a lot of equipment free, bodyweight workouts to get you sweating even when substitutes aren’t available.

Are these workouts suitable for people with injuries?

Whilst my Barre & Sculpt workouts are low impact, it’s important to make sure this type of workout is safe for you and your specific injury or limitations. Modifications are given throughout the workout videos, however they may not be suitable for your specific needs. Please always consult your doctor before engaging in exercise to make sure you are not at risk. Depending on your injury, Dance Cardio is much higher impact so that may not be suitable for anyone with lower body or back injuries. If you have further questions, please email me at info@sophieshanksfitness.com

Are these workouts suitable for Pre & Postnatal women?

Yes! I have a specific Barre & Sculpt Series on my library especially for women Pre & Postnatal. All of these are easily adaptable depending where you are in your pregnancy journey and all 20 minutes and under as I know it can be difficult to find time with a new bundle of joy.

What else do I get by subscribing to Sophie Shanks Fitness?

Not only do you get exclusive access to my Barre & Dance Cardio Workout Library, each month I will be uploading new workouts to keep you on your toes! You will also get early access to any special events, offers, merch & also discount codes to a range of products to round out your health & wellness lifestyle. Plus added extras like access to my monthly SSF playlist, giveaways & more! I have so much planned to share the love with all of you!

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Yes! Just make sure you cancel your subscription before your next payment date to avoid additional charges. On your account page, click 'manage subscription' to go to our payment partner Stripe, where you can cancel. You will still have access for the remainder of your current billing cycle, eg. the rest of the month if you pay monthly. If you have a 7 day free trial and don't cancel before the end of the trial period, payment will be taken and no refunds will be issued.

Keep in touch!