Raising the Barre

This time of year, exercising outdoors is no walk in the park, making Barre—the muscle-lengthening workout favored by models like Jourdan Dunn, Elsa Hosk, and Miranda Kerr—all the more appealing. And now there’s a new place to practice the ballet-inspired method: Barre3 recently opened its doors in the West Village. After launching Barre3 in Portland, Oregon in 2008, founder Sadie Lincoln drew fans like Madonna, who was so impressed she tapped Lincoln to be her personal trainer. Lincoln talked with W about how she keeps looking and feeling bright, even in the darkest months of winter.

It’s hard to ditch the covers and face the cold. Do you have a winter morning ritual? Absolutely! I sit in my kitchen nook with my “happy light,” which mimics sun and helps me wake up, The New York Times, and an endless cup of oolong tea until my family wakes up. I make us all smoothies, drive the kids to school, and then either teach or take class by 8:45 a.m. Nothing warms me up better than our classes. All of our studios have natural light with huge windows or skylights. Our signature color is bright orange. I chose these design elements to combat the Pacific Northwest grey.

How does your workout routine differ in winter? In Portland it rains just about everyday this time of year, so I am mostly inside my studios during the week, but I also incorporate short mini bursts of activity. I am a big fan of 10-minute workouts you can do at your desk, kitchen, hotel room, or anywhere with a waist high surface, which is like a ballet barre. The beauty of 10-minute workouts in the winter is that they elevate your energy without depleting you. I have hundreds of 10-minute videos online and on our app. I also go to Mt. Hood with my kids and ski on the weekends. I am so motivated to keep up with them! They are 9 and 10 and fearless.

What is your winter skincare regimen? I wash my face with the Clarisonic brush and Eminence Coconut Milk Cleanser. It’s super hydrating and smells like a tropical vacation. I just discovered this amazing face cream perfect for winter: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream. It’s like wearing a shield on your face to keep the moisture in. It’s a chemical-free SPF 30 and it gives my skin a nice glow. For my body, I love Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm.

What’s your winter workout uniform? Beyond Yoga leggings with a Nike Victory bra and cotton Barre3 tank. A plus for me is that this outfit easily converts to the office with a sweater and boots.

What is your pre-barre class snack? My current favorite is our barre3 Spiced Winter Greens smoothie with greens, fruit, almond milk, almond butter, warm, yummy spices like cinnamon and more. The recipe is on our website. I take the leftovers in a mason jar with me to class and have it post workout as well!

What’s your favorite healthy winter beverage? Right now, we are in the midst of our barre3 Challenge, which is a four-week program we do twice a year with our owners, clients, instructors, and staff. My husband and I are doing it together, so we are getting super creative with our mocktails. Last night we made a healthy version of a Moscow Mule. Sparkling water, thinly sliced fresh ginger root, lime juice, sprig of mint, and served in a chilled copper mug over ice. It was so refreshing and will definitely be a staple around the fire this winter!