We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Body Sculpting Bar?

By Shelby Miller
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,621
Share

Sold under such brand names as Gaiam®, Valeo®, and Body Bar®, a body sculpting bar is a piece of strength training equipment that is available in a variety of weights and can be used to perform a wide range of exercises, from lunges to bicep curls. It is offered in weights ranging from three to upwards of 25 pounds, is usually three or four feet long and up to two inches in diameter, and often is encased in rubber for a comfortable grip. This kind of workout equipment is popular in health clubs and home gyms for its convenience because it stores easily and does not require attaching weight plates to a bar. It is also widely considered to be user-friendly and is favored by novice and advanced exercisers alike.

The body sculpting bar can be incorporated into a strength training workout as a substitute for other free-weight equipment such as dumbbells. It can be placed across the shoulders when performing squats or lunges, for instance, to add external resistance to one’s own body weight. When performing presses, rows, tricep extensions, or bicep curls, the body sculpting bar can be used exactly like a barbell. Because it is much shorter than a conventional barbell, however, it can be held in one hand like a dumbbell during unilateral, or one-sided, moves such as single-legged squats. Finally, it can be added to core exercises such as crunches to provide additional resistance.

Though the bar is commonly used in strength-training exercise classes, it is also popping up in hybrid yoga sculpting workouts. Yoga body sculpting classes and videos are gaining popularity through promotion by celebrity trainers such as Tanja Djelevic. In these workouts, the body sculpting bar may be used in conjunction with core-strengthening exercises or used for support during balance moves. For instance, while holding a pose with arms overhead, one can hold the bar in the air for external resistance, or while performing an abdominal-strengthening move such as a core rotation, in which one sits on the floor with knees bent and rotates the torso from side to side, the bar can be held in front of the body for an added challenge.

Body sculpting bars are relatively lightweight. Because of this, the bar is considered versatile enough to tone and strengthen in yoga-inspired workouts as well as more traditional strength workouts. More experienced exercisers, however, are advised to upgrade to heavier free weights once the body sculpting bar no longer provides adequate resistance.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-body-sculpting-bar.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.