My Story

A little over eight years ago I moved to the Bay Area and was in search of ways to keep my mind, body and spirit satisfied. As someone who has run in the past, I willingly signed up for the infamous San Francisco ½ marathon sponsored by Nike.  

With every business venture, a good story should follow.  I feel as if my journey into barre fitness was a combination of circumstance, reaction, introspection and solutions.  I guess what I am trying to say is, I’m a runner who hates running! I know it may sound a bit crazy and off topic, but for this fitness enthusiast it happens to be the beginning of my story.

I had never run more than a 10K in my life, but ½ marathons were trending at the time … I justified the race as a great way to meet people and I do love the way running shapes my body. The irony is, I adore the excitement of race day and the camaraderie that ensues, but I absolutely detest the act of running!

But this race was different … It was sexy!  First off,  it was held in San Francisco, what a better backdrop to take my mind off of every pace of the run?  Secondly, all finishers receive a Tiffany necklace (maybe that should have been my first bullet point!?) Lastly, there are firefighters in suspenders waiting to party with the runners at the finish line. Oh, and did I fail to mention that Ghirardelli chocolates are given to everyone after they complete the race?  SOLD!

The bummer is, through all of my training for the 1/2 marathon, I unfortunately tore my right hip labrum.  My hip would periodically “lock up” and I would have to endure the most excruciating pain I had ever felt.  I consulted with a Stanford surgeon who noted that the only way to repair this type of injury was with surgery.  The surgery would be evasive, boasted a long recovery period, and required the use of a walker for six months.  Compounding this woeful news, this doctor also shared that there was no guarantee that the surgery could fully eliminate the challenges I was facing.  He recommended trying physical therapy (PT) a minimum of 5-days a week in lieu of the aforementioned surgery. 

Having a degree in physiology & kinesiology, I am familiar with physical therapy and what it entails. PT is neither fun nor engaging for the mind, and it is certainly not built for consistency.  While pondering options, a friend mentioned to me that she had maintained her running weight for an entire year by replacing running with barre classes.  Barre workouts are engaging and focus on building strength in the hips, glutes, and core.  The structure of a barre class is inviting, along with a friendly and welcoming environment which also engages the mind.  I felt more comfortable committing to something that had this type of appeal, plus it’s no secret that PT is expensive and can add up fast! 

Plain and simple, what happened next changed my life.  I joined a local barre studio, took 5+ classes per week, strengthened my hip, avoided surgery, and ran my personal best ½ marathon time! 

​My story isn’t over there.  It continually evolves, like labarre studios which I founded in 2017.  The studio at 1445 The Alameda in San Jose, California has become a testament to shifting and pivoting and allowing people, like you and I, to expand our horizons and give us the best fitness experience around.  Barre, Pilates, Yoga, HIIT, meditation and more are on the menu when you walk in our front doors.  This balanced menu of options is amplified by some of the finest wellness providers in the Bay Area including esthetician and facial services, massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, lashes, skincare and more!

My story has twists and turns and still remains to be fully written.  Are you to write new chapters in your story?  We at labarre would love to be a part of it!