Cardio Barre Hollywood

Few professionals can credit Flashdance with rerouting the course of their careers. In fact, Richard Giorla could be the only one. The unconventional dance moves he saw in the film motivated the former Pennsylvania Ballet member to hit the streets of his new home, Manhattan, and learn break dancing from dancers at the heart of the movement, trading his own dance expertise as payment. Richard’s career was in full swing when, struck with an injury, he started teaching a ballet-barre class. Though he appreciated its stretching and toning components, Richard craved a more aerobic workout. So he created his own solution—Cardio Barre.

The unique workout consists of high-energy, zero-impact movements that sculpt the long, slender body of a dancer without a student ever having to step foot in a traditional dance studio. As they balance on the ballet barre, or whichever classmates are closest, pupils direct all their focus to one muscle group at a time while the entire body stays in motion for maximum fat burning. His approach’s pudge-busting abilities have made the fitness method a favorite of many health magazines and celebrities.

Denise Cohen, Cardio Barre Hollywood's owner, decided to share the effective fitness method. She grew up on a working farm, and continued living an active lifestyle when she joined the corporate world through skiing, mountain biking, yoga, and Pilates. But it wasn't until she moved to LA that she discovered Cardio Barre and opened her own location dedicated to the workout's fusion of cardio, balance, strength, and core exercises.