The worlds of food, shopping, and now fitness are moving in two different directions. Either big-box style, tons of options, catering to the lowest common denominator — or niche, unique, catering to a particular clientele.

In fitness, that means the mega-gym (e.g. Equinox, Sports Club/LA, Crunch, Gold’s Gym, etc.), that offer lots of activities under one roof. Or instead of going big you can go boutique at one of the increasing number of store-front fitness studios that focus on one activity — spinning, yoga, pilates, barre, and even novel choices like trapeze, capoeira and hoop classes.

Boutique gyms offer a more intimate setting for a close-knit community of members. If you’re a creature of habit, then boutique fitness classes offer the predictability of similar moves, music, and the same environment day after day. Want more variety? Sign up for ClassPass and a $79- $99 monthly subscriber fee that will let you sample different boutique classes in your area. This is a great way to break out of a rut, not just in fitness, but the pass will help you learn about different neighborhoods and meet new people.

Boutique gyms are increasingly selling more than a fitness class. They’re selling an experience, a vibe, an identity. You may not be able to afford to go to SoulCycle every day, but for $50 you can buy the Boyfriend Burnout T-shirt with the big, bad-ass skull and crossbones logo and wear it all week long.

Franchise operations like Pure Barre and Core Power Yoga allow members to get their specific fitness fix at hundreds of locations nationwide. While many boutique chains are still concentrated on the coasts, small business entrepreneurs with a passion for martial arts, can open anywhere, and leverage local ties to gain devotees. Even the biggest boutiques, like CrossFit or Jazzercise, started with one person, in one place, with one idea.

Fortunately, as more people decide they want to feel better, look better and live a more active, engaged life, the market for fitness options — mega and micro — will only grow.

Take barre class, for example. Want to squeeze ‘n tuck your booty into better shape? Then grab your grippy socks and embrace the shake!

Barre Basics

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To the outside observer, watching a barre class is like watching paint dry. Down an inch, up an inch. Squeeze. Tuck. Little circles. “Cut it in half,” is a barre class mantra, a directive to make movements smaller, tighter, more internal. Done right, many barre moves are barely perceptible. Ironically, like spinning, it’s a class where only you know how hard you’re really working. But done right, you’ll definitely feel the burn and get results.

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The classes of mostly women employ melon-sized bright pink rubber balls squeezed between the thighs (really, we don’t want men watching us do this). The main target areas are rear, thighs and abs. Here’s what to expect:

• Exercises start facing the mirror: warm up leg lifts, with arms crossed Indian-style in front.
• A bit of matt work: modified yoga and Pilates moves like plank.
• Grab your little weights in pretty colors and tiny circles: squeeze, lift.
• Then off to the main attraction: the “barre.” Stand at a long wooden pole running the length of usually two or more walls of the studio.
• Some basic ballet moves: plías, relevés, etc. Lots of tucking, some rotating, and lots of shaking muscles.
• Next, abs. But again, not wild sit ups and flailing scissors, but tight, almost internal moves (can you say Kegel?).
• A stretch or two and you’re done.

The tightly regimented sequence, the hip music, the camaraderie of gals delivers a fun fast-paced class that’s over before you know it, and keeps you coming back for more.

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About Barre3

There are 75 locations in all major U.S. cities. Like other classes, the focus is on isometric holds aimed at building muscle, layering on one-inch movements, then flushing it out with large, dynamic cardio. We visited Barre3’s beautiful flagship location in Washington, D.C.