My friend Jess from Junior League recently opened up her own Pure Barre studio in Burlington, MA. On Sunday, I was able to finally take my first class. Jess has a similar story to many boutique studio owners. They only know one speed and that is full throttle.
She graduated from law school, passed the bar and practiced at a few different firms while teaching spin class before and after work. She became a Pilates certified instructor teaching privates at Equinox and continued to instruct group classes despite working full time as a lawyer. Finally, she realized fitness was her real passion and began researching franchise opportunities. She applied and was approved to open her own Pure Barre studio. Since someone had already applied for the rights to open up shop in Boston, Jess opted for the up and coming Burlington area which is pretty close to where she grew up in near by Lexington. Jess is one of the first bar boutiques in the area. I wore my inspirational tank from Lorna Jane to honor Jess’s road to becoming a business owner!
My class was taught by Becca and Jess took a few pictures for me! We began class with a traditional barre warm up and then moved into a series of planks to warm up our core. We then flipped over for some Pilates inspired core moves like the teaser. Next was the arm section of class. Unlike at The Bar Method, I used 3 lb weights for the entire arm series. It was tough and I was glad I didn’t grab the 5 lb dumbbells. When it came to our pushups, we were not told in advance how many we had but the instructor told the class to do the first few on our toes, and then suggested dropping down to our knees for a modification most, if not all, of us needed.
We moved onto thigh work at the bar which was very challenging. My legs were shaking by the second set pretty heavily. It was similar to what I experience at The Bar Method but was slightly harder than the average class (similar to hard McKenzie day). We did a version of the chair pose that made my legs burn than usual and then it was over. There was no warning as to when the sets would end but the last ten or twenty counts were announced.
Next, we moved onto our seat aka butt. We used the little red balls for our seat work. We did two sets featuring different moves (at Bar Method you just do 1 long set). I will admit, seat work is my least favorite part of class at The Bar Method because it’s very challenging for me to hold the tuck. My Pure Barre class broke up this set into two different positions. The instructor was not as diligent about holding the tuck, this might have been the instructor or the Pure Barre method… I’m not sure since it was my first class.
Afterwards, we grabbed our mats and sat under the bar for a quick set of the straight leg pull in series. Then we sat with our backs completely against the mirror for some deep ab exercises. The entire class was just as, if not more, challenging than The Bar Method except for this part.
Lastly, we did our low curl crunches and back dancing. Overall, I really enjoyed class but I have to admit it was very similar to The Bar Method. I love Bar so it shouldn’t be surprising that I also loved this class. The studio was clean, bright and had lots of parking. Location is key when it comes to your studio. If it’s not convenient to get to and doesn’t offer classes at convenient times, you are not going to go. I love that the studio in Burlington has classes throughout the the day and not just during the pre and post work rush like big box gyms.
I am so proud of and happy for Jess for following her passion and turning it into a booming business. Lots of people have ideas. Very few actually know what they are passionate about and even less follow through on those ideas.
Lorna Jane, Australian fitness apparel designer, has a blog called Move Nourish Believe that shares inspiration and motivation to live your best active life. I thought this was a good post to feature Move Nourish Believe, because Jess is a great success story of what we are capable of achieving. Today, I’m giving away the identical tank featured in the picture above with Jess that I’m wearing. To enter, leave a comment below answering the following question:
Why do believe in living an active life?
Side note: Right now they are having a contest on Instagram promoting you to be your own fitsporation using hashtag #LJFitspo to win a $2000 Lorna Jane activewear wardrobe. Think Lululemon but unique!
Living an active life simply makes me feel better. I love waking up each morning and getting a good workout in before I start my day. It gives me so much energy and it’s also very therapeutic. It’s my “me” time and gives me peace of mind.
I live an active life b/c it gives me energy, gives me determination, helps me look great :), and b/c I love it!
I believe in living an active life because I am so much happier now that I am active than when I was sedentary all the time!
You only have one life to live, and only one body in which to do so. And if you don’t take care of it, well…. Plus, exercise gives me such a confidence boost. It just feels good!
That class sounds awesome, I wanna try it! Love the motivation! I love living an active lifestyle because I love the feeling of being healthy, not just physically, but mentally as well: I think clearer, I’m more productive, and I’m pretty sure I’m friendlier as well haha.
I believe in living an active life because a strong body makes for a strong soul! When you are physically fit and healthy you are simply a better YOU inside and out! When you feel good, you exude happiness, confidence, and strength. When you are all those things you are better able to conquer life’s challenges and be a source of encouragement for those around you. Happiness is contagious, and a healthy person is a happy person!
because its what makes me HAPPY. I was sick for about 8 weeks after summer…nothing serious, just some virus and flu stuff but I couldn’t work out or even go for walks being incredibly tired all the time. at the end i was so unhappy with myself and the whole rest of the world: immunesystem, fitness, body,mood, friends, school….and that after only 2 months-i know I could never ever live not being active! A girls gotta do what makes her happy right ?
There is a pure barre by my house in cincinnati and i’ve really wanted to check it out! I have heard great great things! Im also going to try power yoga.. im really excited. Hope you will check out my blog for some awesome workout routines!
As a nurse, I believe in living an active life to stay healthy and keep our mind, body, and spirt moving in a positive direction. Being lazy does nothing for your well being. I have a father who has heart problems and a father in law you has had triple bipass so I know being active even in a small way, making small changes, can help!
I believe in living an active life to keep myself healthy. My boyfriend is in the military and he has been a huge inspiration for me to keep up a healthier lifestyle!
Living an active life means that you are taking time out of your busy schedule to do something positive for YOU. It means that you are giving yourself permission to be happy and healthy and to love the way you look and feel.
Living an active life allows me to take some time for myself while also benefiting all those in my life. When I’m active, I’m less stressed, more patient, loving, and generally happier which makes my life and my friends and families lives that much richer.
I tried Pure Barre in Burlington this past weekend and have to admit I’m hooked!!! I’m a nurse and firmly believe in living an active lifestyle to live a long healthy and happy life. It keeps you well from the inside out!!!!
I love to be active because it gives me more energy for myself and my kids
I believe in living an active life because we only get one body and it is magnificent! Your body is made to be active and you have to show it some love 🙂
Because I CAN! I’m lucky to have a body that can push itself when I want it to and the feeling after a good hard workout is hard to beat!!
I believe in an active life because I’ve been given this one shot and I plan to make the most of it. I try to live without fear and take any opportunity I get.
P.S. I finally tried the Bar Method in Roslyn, NY and it rocked! Signed up for a month of unlimited so if anyone lives in the area I completely recommend it.
Oh Yay!! Glad you loved it!!! I did the month unlimited and then they offered a great deal to continue that I couldn’t pass it up. I workout more now than ever and love it.
I believe in living an active life because it feels so good to take care of my body!
I believe in living an active life because I have seen my parents do it all their life and now they are in their 50s healthy, active, and don’t feel a year older than in their 20s. They have taught me that being active will not only keep me healthy but allow me to live a very productive life!
I believe in living an active life because of the mental and physical benefits that it provides. Not only does activity make me look toned and healthy, it makes me feel amazing. The mental clarity that I achieve from a long run is akin to therapy, and the endorphin rush is like the sugar high from a bowl of jelly beans 🙂
I believe in living an active life because it is what makes or break your health. Yes, diet is important, but working out, or being active, is what makes you feel good or bad. It is also what burns fat and helps you loose weight and get in the best shape you’ve ever been. If you are not active, you could become over weight and lose all motivation on being productive. Trust me, it is hard to get that motivation back. Find a workout you love, and do it. Do something that you won’t only want to do today, but tomorrow and the next day as well! Being active will make you feel so much better in the long run, or even as you finish that workout of the day! 🙂
I believe in living an active life style simply because it makes me a better ME! Going to the gym after work is my time to unwind from the day and take the stress away
I believe in living an active life to be a role model for my family/parents and those that I love. I think we can all benefit from being a little more active and taking advantage of our mobility right now!
I believe leading an active lifestyle improves all aspects of my life. I’m able to share my love of fitness with my friends and go on active healthy “day dates” and it makes me a happier and more productive employee. I also love the sense of accomplishment I get from fitness. I’m able to watch myself get stronger and faster and I love it!
Beacuase it makes me a happier momma and wife. I feel good about myself which in turn makes me a better mother, wife and person overall. I wasn’t an active kid growing up, so it is very important to me that my kids grow up always being active and the best way to teach them that is to show them.
I believe in staying active for several reasons but the top two include to stay young forever and to be able to survive a zombie acopolypse (Lol! Can you tell I am a Walking Dead fan?).
My belief in being active started because I saw running and making dietary substitutions could significantly impact how I felt, how I looked, and how my body performed. Since then, I’ve become an exercise advocate. I’m currently in graduate school and now learning all of the science behind using exercise as medicine and I’m still continually amazed at the benefits of physical activity and proper nutrition. An active lifestyle has allowed me to be healthy, enjoy life, be a collegiate athlete, choose a full filling career path, and hopefully in the future share all of my knowledge with others to lead an active lifestyle.
I believe in living an active life because life is so much better! I used to live an UNactive life, and it was unfulfilling. This active life makes me feel good, and I am hoping to get my parents to jump on the bandwagon!
I believe in living an active life because I can’t imagine living any other way! I love how exercise makes me feel and of course, I like the results that come with all the hard work!
I believe in living an active life because when I feel strong and healthy it makes me a better daughter, girlfriend, friend and someday a better mother to my child.
I believe in living an active life because it keeps me balanced. When I’m active I feel better, think better and find that I am more patient and kind in my daily interactions.
Congrats to Jess! I know her through Equinox and I’m so excited it’s all coming together for her:)
I believe in leading an active life because it keeps me inspired and motivated in the other areas in my life.
Thanks so much Shannon!! 🙂 And thanks so much Sarah for coming out to visit us at Pure Barre Burlington! xoxo
I believe in leading an active lifestyle because it keeps me focused, happy and inspired. After graduating college and finally losing the college weight, I found a healthy fitness routine keeps me going. I feel better mentally and physically and those 5am gym sessions wake me up and help me start my days fresh!
I started taking classes are Pure Barre in Newton Center recently and I am hooked. It is a different workout than I am used to and a nice change from the cardio/weight training. I’m still getting in my cardio sessions, but for my one month unlimited promo, I opted to stop weight training and see how my body responds to barre! For the one hour class, I let go of all my other stresses and just try to remember to stay tucked!
I believe living an active life allows you to fully enjoy life. My fit body allows me to be able to move and do {almost} any activity I want to try. It makes life even more exciting and amazing <3
I believe in living an active life because it just makes you feel good. It allows you to get up and move about without having aches and ailments. It makes you feel not as guilty for indulging in treats every now and then. It allows you to take your dog for a walk or chase after your kids. In my mind it is just common sense and should be a natural part of our lives.
Love your blog and all you do Sarah, please don’t stop!
I believe in a healthy lifestyle because a healthy lifestyle is important for the mind, body, and heart. A healthy lifestyle boosts a person’s self-esteem and gives them a positive perspective on life. Although everyone has challenges and obstacles in their life, people who live a healthy lifestyle are able to work through these challenges with a positive mindset rather than think negatively. A healthy lifestyle creates for a longer life and can inspire others to begin and continue a healthy lifestyle as well!
Which class did you prefer? Pure barre or bar method?
I haven’t gone to Pure Barre enough to compare.