Pure Barre studios around the nation provide an effective total body workout focused on low-impact, high intensity movements that lift and tone muscles to improve strength, agility and flexibility for every body. Michelle Keraus, when she took her first class in 2014, witnessed for herself the power of a workout at Pure Barre. Even though she was a busy mom of three small kids at the time, she was hooked and had to find a way to incorporate Pure Barre into her life. Little did she know what would come of it.
Michelle says now that from the moment she put on the mic to teach her first class at a Pure Barre, she knew she was where she was meant to be. She was inspired by watching client's lives change in real time. She witnessed women rising to the best versions of themselves and was excited to empower women in more ways than just their fitness. These instances only fueled the fire in her until she decided to open her own studio in Kansas City in 2015.
The first year and a half proved to be the hardest for the business - and for Michelle. She didn’t live in Kansas City full time yet, and while most owners would have been there 24/7 to help start up and build the business, she had to entrust a lot of the day-to-day operations to her employees. Though not always fun or easy, the team rose to the occasion and helped build Pure Barre Zona Rosa into what it is today. Michelle reiterated to me that without her team, her studio would not have found the success it has and she is more than grateful for them for their constant support of the studio and their community.
Michelle acknowledges that the balance between family and being a business owner can be trying. She knows that it is hard to be a business owner and uphold any relationships you have, be it father, mother, sister, daughter, or friend. Her best advice? “Self-care is not selfish.” Self-care makes you better, and when you are better, you do better. This includes exercise, a massage, or any other activity that re-energizes you.
Pure Barre Zona Rosa’s success is likely tied to the two brightest qualities in Michelle herself: her authenticity and her willingness to do better for her team and her community at all times. She knows the power of the workout they offer, and is truly there to see other women empowered the way she has been. This means always finding ways to accommodate others so they can succeed, and offering the best service at every turn.
“Empowered women empower women,” Michelle says. Her clients show up on their best days and on their worst days, but the point is that they show up for themselves. They show up to get a good workout in, to see each other and to be encouraged - and they leave stronger for it. The community at Pure Barre Zona Rosa is unparalleled, and if you’re interested in being a part of it, or in meeting the inspiring Michelle yourself, we suggest heading in to try a class for yourself.