At the heart of Belden Village, one woman has turned her passion for fitness into a thriving community that has left a lasting mark on Canton’s wellness scene. Here, strength is nurtured, confidence is built, and everyone is welcomed exactly as they are. When you walk into Pure Barre Belden, intimidation is gone. You’re met with smiling faces at the front desk, a bright, open space, and a sense of instant belonging that is only crafted by intentional choices made long before a grand opening. For owner Stacia Waffen, these choices were at the core of her vision to create an inviting place where anyone could feel at home regardless of pilates experience.
Married to her husband Keith for five years and a devoted mother to four children, Stacia balances family, fitness, and entrepreneurship with grace and determination. Her kids keep her busy with travel sports. Likewise, for Stacia, being active isn’t optional; it’s a complete lifestyle, one she has been able to carry forward into her career at Pure Barre Belden.
What started as a personal journey in fitness quickly evolved into a mission for a studio that could bring together her love for movement and her commitment to family. Traveling frequently with her corporate job left her disconnected from her own family. With some encouragement from loved ones and close friends at Pure Barre Hudson, the leap happened.
“My dad was driving me to the airport, and I was emotional about leaving again, and he turned to me and said, ‘well, if you weren’t doing this, what would you do?’ I told him I’d open my own Pure Barre.” Stacia said.
Within hours of arriving at her hotel, she had filled out the intake form and scheduled a meeting with the corporate Pure Barre team to explore opening a studio. The team, intrigued by her vision, was supportive. From that moment, Pure Barre Belden began to take shape.
What sets Pure Barre Belden apart isn’t just the classes, it’s the family-oriented, community-first foundation that Stacia has so carefully curated. Her children are part of the studio’s daily rhythm. Her daughter helps in retail and daily tasks while her son works the front desk, and her husband played a hands-on role in constructing the studio itself. “This is truly a family business,” Stacia says. “I get to teach my daughter’s gymnastics team, have my son next to me in class, and know that if there’s ever an issue, my husband is just a call away. That doesn’t happen in any old job.”
Pure Barre Belden has become a cornerstone of the Canton fitness community, offering classes for all levels. The Pure Barre Classic is the original 50-minute barre workout using light weights, resistance tubes, and small balls, perfect for anyone from those recovering from injury to beginners. Empower blends classic barre with high-intensity interval training for cardio and strength, Align emphasizes flexibility and balance, and Define fuses barre technique with heavier dumbbells for full-body strength. “You can meet all your fitness needs in one place with cardio, strength, recovery, stretch, and resistance training under one roof,” Stacia says.
When envisioning Pure Barre Belden, she recognized that fitness can be intimidating, and she aimed to create a space where everyone could feel comfortable. Early pop-up classes in parks and local venues allowed the community to gather even before the studio doors opened. “Watching men and women come together in the middle of a park or at the airport to invest in themselves was so special,” Stacia recalls. The studio itself reflects that vision so beautifully. It’s simple, clean, open, and big enough to feel spacious but warm enough to feel inviting.
Transitioning from client to owner presented both challenges and pleasant surprises, Teaching, she says, has been among the hardest yet most rewarding experiences of her life. Certification is rigorous, and she owes gratitude to fellow owners, teachers, and the wider Pure Barre community for their support and guidance.
Looking ahead, Stacia’s dream is for Pure Barre Belden to leave a lasting imprint on Canton’s wellness culture. Beyond individual transformations, she hopes the studio’s influence extends through local schools, youth sports programs, and charitable initiatives like Love Our Community. Members aren’t just clients, they are advocates, volunteers, and supporters, creating ripples of positive change throughout the area. “True strength isn’t just built in the studio,” Stacia says. “It’s built through service, generosity, and showing up for each other. That’s the legacy I want us to build.”
Pure Barre Belden is more than a fitness studio. For Stacia, it’s a reminder that passion, persistence, and a leap of faith can transform not only her own life, but the lives of everyone who steps through the studio doors. “I can never adequately convey my gratitude for leading this community,” she says. “We wouldn’t be this amazing place without every member, every teacher, and every person who’s supported us along the way.”
“True strength isn’t just built in the studio,” Stacia says. “It’s built through service, generosity, and showing up for each other. That’s the legacy I want us to build.”