Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Studio located?
Our beautiful studio is located at 924 Hunter Street, Newcastle West (in the same building as Air Locker). You can enter through the glass door with the Barre Effect logo, and we will show you to a secure place to leave your belongings.
Where can I park?
We do have free on-site parking available, however this is limited. There is plenty of street parking on Hunter Street and surrounding streets. We suggest Railway Street or Denison Street.
It’s my first class! What do I need to know?
We’re so excited to see you in the studio! Since you’re a first timer, we recommend you purchase the Introductory 5 Class Pass for $50. This will give you a chance to participate in a range of classes that we have on offer at Barre Effect over a 2 week period. You can purchase this via our website or through the Mindbody app.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of your first class, as we would love to welcome you properly and show you around our beautiful space. We supply mats and any equipment you will need, so all you need to do is bring a water bottle and wear your active wear… Something you would wear to yoga, Pilates or the gym will do perfectly. We wear bare feet for all classes, but you can wear socks if you wish.
If you are unsure which class to start with, we recommend that you start with our signature BE Strong class. For more detail on our class styles, click here. Our classes are designed to cater for a range of ability levels. They do not require you to have any previous experience in Dance, Yoga or Pilates, however we are sure you will love our workouts if you do!
Expect the first class to be a challenge. While the movements may be small and low impact, we promise they are highly effective and you will more than likely experience some muscle soreness in the days to follow. Trust us when we say, it’s the kind of pain you learn to love!
What age do I need to be to participate?
Anyone over 16 years of age can participate in our Barre Effect classes. If you are 16 or 17, you may only participate with a parent/guardian's consent. Please download and complete the Parental Consent Form here and bring it along to your first class with us.
Do I need to pre-book classes?
Yes. Due to class sizes being limited, you must pre-book your place in the class online. This can be done through our website by simply clicking on “Book a Class” and selecting your preferred day and time. Follow the prompts to purchase the class, we look forward to seeing you there!
What is the cancellation policy?
We understand that life happens, which may mean you need to cancel or change your booking. We ask that you do this at least 4 hours before the start of the class to avoid any late-cancellation or no-show fees. If you cancel less than 4 hours before, or fail to show up to the class the following fees apply:
- Intro pass, Single class, 5 and 10 class pass – charged for the class
- Lifestyle and Unlimited members – charged a $10 fee
The fees are in place because after the 4-hour cancellation window, the system does not automatically add clients to the class from the waitlist. This generally means that clients who have requested to be on the waitlist have missed out on a spot in the class. We appreciate your understanding.
How does the waitlist work?
If the class you wish to attend is full, please sign up to be added to the waitlist. More often than not, a space will open up for you and you will be notified via email or text that you have been added to the class. To ensure that you are signed up for email and text notifications, update this in your preferences on your Barre Effect account (My Info > Profile > Personal > Reminders and Schedule Changes).
When you sign up to be added to the waitlist, please be prepared to attend the class. Late cancellation and no-show fees will still apply to you, even if you were added from the waitlist. This means that if your plans change and you are unable to make the class, you should remove yourself from the waitlist.
If you are signed up for the waitlist for an early morning class, but have not yet been added by the time you are going to bed the night before we suggest you take one of the following options:
- Remove yourself from the waitlist so you can enjoy a sleep in. The reason is that if someone cancels in the early hours of the morning and you are automatically added to the class, you may not see the notification and could land yourself a no-show fee. We don’t want this for you!
- Alternatively, you set your alarm knowing there is a chance you may be automatically added from the waitlist throughout the night/early morning. This way, you may get your early workout in, and you will definitely avoid any late-cancel or no-show fees… Win-win!
What is the expiry on the class passes?
The Introductory 5 Class Pass is valid for 14 days from the date of your first visit. We really hope you make the most of this offer and get to all of your 5 classes! If not however, please note that no refunds, transfers, suspensions or extensions are available. This offer is available for new clients only, and each new client is limited to only one of these passes.
Single Classes are valid for 1 month from the date of the purchase. 5 Class Passes are valid for 2 months from the date of your first visit on the pass, and 10 Class Passes are valid for 3 months after your first visit on the pass. This means that even if you are only able to get to one class per week, you will be able to use up all the classes on your pass before it expires. Please note that all Class Pass purchases are non-exchangeable, non-refundable or non-transferable. We are unable to refund, exchange or transfer any unused portions of class passes.
Terms and Conditions for casual class passes can be accessed here.
What memberships are available?
We have two different memberships available: Lifestyle and Unlimited. Lifestyle members are able to attend 2 classes per week on any two days that you choose. Unlimited members are able to attend unlimited sessions throughout that week.
Your membership begins on the day you make the purchase, and payments are processed fortnightly via direct debit. Please note that any unused classes do not roll over to the following week.
More information on the membership Terms and Conditions can be accessed here.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes, you can cancel your membership at any time once you have completed the 8-week minimum term period. We have the minimum term period in place because we want you to experience the full effect of regular practice at BE. However, we don’t want you to feel trapped in a contract that’s not for you. To cancel your membership, please email us hello@barreeffect.com.au with 14 days notice so that we can arrange this for you.
Please see our T&Cs for more information.
Can I suspend my membership?
Yes, you can. In the event you are going on holidays or are unable to attend class for a period of time, you have the option to suspend your membership for up to 3 months per year without a fee. If you need to extend the suspension there will be a holding fee of $10 per week. To suspend your membership, please email us at hello@barreeffect.com.au with a minimum of 14 days notice so that we can arrange this for you.
Please see our T&Cs for more information.
I am Pregnant! Can I still participate?
The great thing about Barre is that you can still participate in our classes all the way through your pregnancy! Our trained instructors will provide you with appropriate modifications to the exercises so that you can feel safe and supported in your practice of Barre. We just ask that you get clearance from your doctor first.
If you are newly pregnant, please speak with your instructor before you participate in the class. They will talk you through movements to avoid, and be able to offer advice on how to modify the exercises they have planned for that particular lesson. It is such a beautiful time of transformation, so we really encourage you to listen to your body and go gentle on it. BE Strong and BE Limber classes are safe for you to participate in during the first trimester. For the second and third trimester we suggest sticking to the BE Limber classes as they are slower paced and integrate more rest. We promise to look after you and your beautiful growing baby!
I am a new Mum! Can I bring my baby?
Babies are absolutely welcome at our designated Mums & Bubs class! We are thrilled to be able to offer this option to our new mums. We ask that you bring something for your bub to lay in or on, and a couple of toys for them to play with to keep them occupied. This class is only suitable for babies up to around 1 year old, as it can become difficult and unsafe when they are on the move. Please keep this in mind when booking in to this class.
Can I bring my children to the studio?
We adore children, but unfortunately cannot have them in the studio while you work out (except babies up to 1 in our Mum’s and Bubs class – please see above). We do not have a crèche available and it can be unsafe for the children to be at the studio when they are not being actively supervised.
Do you have gift cards available for purchase?
Yes, we do! You can purchase a gift card via our Mindbody Online Store which can be accessed here. You can create a custom amount or select from either $50, $100 or $200, and these will be sent to the recipient via email. The recipient will then need to email hello@barreeffect.com.au with the gift card ID and the credit will be applied to their account.
