Strength · 4 min read

Barbell vs dumbbell: what we do in class and why

Why the Barbell & Dumbbell classes at Sanctuary Fitness use both, which lifts you learn first, and how beginners and experienced lifters train in the same room.

Tuesday 5:40pm and Wednesday 6am are the Barbell & Dumbbell classes. People ask which is better. The honest answer is that they do different jobs, and you need both.

Dumbbells first

Every new client starts with dumbbells and kettlebells. They teach each side of the body to work on its own, they are easy to scale from 4kg to 40kg, and a mistake with a dumbbell is a small mistake. Goblet squats, dumbbell presses, rows, Romanian deadlifts: these are the movements you own before a bar goes on your back.

Then the barbell

Once the pattern is right, the barbell lets you load it properly. Back squat, deadlift, bench and overhead press are where strength really climbs, and they are coached one cue at a time. Nobody is handed a loaded bar in week one.

What a class looks like

  • Warm-up and a movement of the day, taught to everyone.
  • A main lift in small groups with the coach walking the room: technique first, then load.
  • Accessory work with dumbbells and kettlebells to fix the weak links.
  • A short finisher. Out on time.

Beginners and lifters in the same room

Same session, different loads. The beginner goblet-squats with 8kg while the person beside them back-squats 80kg. Both are coached. That is how small groups should work.

Questions

Quick answers.

Do I need to know the lifts already?

No. They are taught from scratch in Personal Training slots and in class.

How heavy will I lift?

As heavy as your technique allows, progressed week by week. Loads are written down.

Is barbell training safe for beginners?

Coached and progressed, yes. Uncoached and rushed is where injuries come from.

Ready to get started?

You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. Send me a message, tell me what you'd like to achieve and we'll have a chat about the best way to start. Free consultation, no pressure, no long-term contract.

WhatsApp Stevie to get started Call instead
WhatsApp Timetable Call
WhatsApp