The path from devotee to studio owner was logical. Lauren Stone was a 1st grade teacher -living in California - when she first tried a Barre3 class with her fellow elementary school teachers.
“We had a Groupon for this new fitness class that sounded interesting,” Stone said. Right away, she was hooked, going to the Barre3 studio regularly. A few months later, Stone and her husband, Darrell, found out they were expecting their first baby. Stone continued her workouts through pregnancy until pre-eclampsia forced her to stop.
With baby Evelyn to care for, Stone left teaching and was looking for ways to stay in shape mentally and physically. “I did occasional running with the baby stroller or an at-home video workout solo -but I really missed my community at Barre3.”
To combat that new mom isolation, Stone went back to Barre3 not only because she liked the method but because of the childcare available during class. “It was an outlet socially and physically- a total game changer in how I felt. I decided to train to become an instructor just shy of Evelyn’s first birthday.”
Two years after her first daughter was born, Stone was pregnant again with daughter Madelyn. This pregnancy was easier, and Stone continued to take and teach classes until the day before giving birth!
“Barre3 really helped with labor and delivery, for sure. We do a lot of squats, lunges, deep core work, pelvic floor exercises - I felt a big difference in the birthing process with my second child.”
With two small children and no family support close by, the couple felt the pull back to the East Coast where they both are from. With a six-week-old and two-year-old, they moved across the country, settling in Westfield for its walkable neighborhoods and downtown.
Deciding to open her own studio, Stone found a great location and signed the franchise agreement in February of 2020. Then… Covid.
Stone became a one-woman show - holding virtual and outdoor classes in September 2020. The studio doors officially opened in November 2021, and currently teaches 30 classes per week with many offering a childcare option for less than the cost of a babysitter.
“We accept babies as young as six weeks with a maximum of five kids per class and a dedicated childcare person. Even an hour’s break for a mom can be huge in the course of a day. By joining a studio, you’ll meet other moms you wouldn’t necessarily meet working out on your own.”
Modifications are a pillar of Barre3 classes with different options for every body. The workout is low impact, focusing on building strength through slow intentional movements.