The popularity of barre-style workouts aren’t dying down anytime soon. Pippa Middleton loved doing them throughout her pregnancy, Martha Hunt is using them as part of her “Operation J.Lo Booty” challenge, and then there’s Jennifer Garner, who’s most recent routine made her sore for days.
Largely as a result of working with all-star trainer Simone De La Rue on the regular, Garner has solidified her status as a total fitness queen. And it turns out when she’s not doing in-person sessions, like she did all throughout her preparation for her high-energy action flick Peppermint, she’s doing what the rest of the world does: sweating it out to whatever workout the Body By Simone founder shares via Instagram. (Celebs—they’re just like us, #amirite.) And the trainer’s latest mini barre series was no joke. In fact, even Garner admits she got sore from all those pulses, leaving a comment on the workout post: “I can barely walk thanks to this little treat.”
What was so challenging anyway? Well, let’s just say it’s understandable that star couldn’t walk afterward: The series was designed to target the lower body in the best way: “These exercises work the quads, hamstrings, calves, glutes, and adductors,” De La Rue writes. “I’ve placed my BBS Pilates ball in between my thighs to keep my adductors and glutes engaged.” Ready to try it out for yourself?
Try the 4-move mini barre series that even made Jennifer Garner sore.
1. Calf raises
How many: Three sets of 10 reps
2. Calf raise to squat
How many: Three sets of 10 reps
3. Squat pulses
How many: Three sets of 10 reps
4. Heel drops
How many: Three sets of 10 reps
Yes, pizza night at Jennifer Garner’s house is just as great as you’d imagine—here’s her go-to recipe. Or, find out the straight-up #goals reason why her feed is full of ballerinas.