Jennifer Rubino and Natalie Luquette are a mother-daughter duo who are combining their fitness and business knowledge to open a new fitness concept, BODYBAR Pilates, blending its focus on strength, toning, and modern movement with a warm, welcoming, upscale spa-like studio. Their new studio in Pine Market has four different apparatuses and seven different class formats, which include Reformer, Chair, Tower, and Jump. They encourage all ages and skill levels to attend.
“Workouts go beyond traditional Pilates,” Rubino said. “We build strength and endurance while challenging athletic intensity in a group workout. We meet members where they are and challenge them to raise the bar for tomorrow.”
They also want their studio to be more than a place where people work out.
“We want to be our members’ third place behind home and work. A ‘third place’ is a gathering place where individuals feel connected, fulfilled, and part of something bigger than themselves,” Rubino said. “For some people, this might be a local coffee shop, place of worship, or a social club. Our members’ third place should be BODYBAR.”
From the atmosphere being created in this third place to the team behind it, the experience is based on family.
“There are three generations: my mother, my sister, me, and my daughter,” Rubino said. “Natalie and I are the face of all our members and the daily operators. My mother, Kathy Gott, and sister, Stephanie Moore, are silent investors. My sister teaches kindergarten in Fort Bend ISD, and my mother retired from commercial real estate, bringing a wealth of operational and real estate experience to the table as an advisor. She has been instrumental in helping us make this dream a reality.”
Rubino is a physical activity enthusiast with a background in competitive tennis and a CrossFit athlete. She currently plays in a tennis league and enjoys a game of golf when she has the time.
She and her daughter have worked more than a year getting their business ready to open for the new year, researching various Pilates franchises, building out the new location on the Green at Pine Market, and hiring and training ten instructors before the grand opening.
Her daughter recently graduated from the University of Colorado, where she was captain of the collegiate swim team, a former high school swim team captain, and a cheerleader. Luquette has a background in recruitment marketing and graphic design. She is currently working on her certification in Comprehensive Classical Pilates through Real Pilates, a renowned New York City Pilates Studio.
“Natalie will be an asset as a partner with her ability to create graphics and market a product, combined with her knowledge of social media management,” Rubino said.
Rubino said they chose BODYBAR Pilates because of its values, exploding growth, and the culture they foster among all their franchises.
“BODYBAR offered us the opportunity to open a business using our combined skills and experience, which aligns with our lifestyle preferences – to be healthy, have fun, and help others reach their fitness goals,” Rubino said. “Our mission is to build a community of people who love, respect, encourage, and motivate one another to be strong, healthy, and happy human beings. The BAR in BODYBAR stands for Balanced, Athletic, and Real, and that is truly who we are,” Rubino said.
Their Mission:
B – Balanced – At BODYBAR, we find balance by embracing our Pilates roots and elevating them to deliver our signature workouts.
A – Athletic – At BODYBAR, an athlete is someone who embraces the concept of the “inner athlete.” We believe that everyone possesses an inner athlete – a source of strength, resilience, and determination that can be tapped into through the practice of Pilates.
R – Real Community – At BODYBAR, we foster real communities. We meet people where they are on their fitness journey, understanding that everyone has unique starting points, goals, and abilities. We aim to create a space where individuals feel comfortable being themselves while encouraging them to push beyond their comfort zones.
Kicking off the New Year, BODYBAR has hired ten new instructors. They are Alexis Summerlin, Chassidy McAfee, Erin Coffey, Eve Coniguliaro, Janelle Romano, Kaylee Pffers, Robbye Gee, Thida Baker, Brittany Roden and Hannah Anderson.
If you are looking for a fierce, effective workout experience in 2024, then try one of the fastest-growing fitness trends of this New Year. Be a guest and take a free class at the new BODYBAR Pilates, at 900 New Day Avenue, Suite 1100, in Montgomery, which opened on January 2nd.
For the class schedule and calendar of events, go to their website at BodyBarPilates.com/Woodforest. Follow them on Instagram @bodybarwoodforest or call 832-941-0583.
"BAR in BODYBAR is Balanced, Athletic, and Real, and truly who we are,” Rubino said.