Prior to becoming a Bar Method owner, I earned a master’s degree in Sociology from UC, Irvine and a Master of Public Administration degree from USC. I found that my extensive education and subsequent work experience did not lead to the career trajectory I wanted or anticipated. The only solution was to start my own business.
Just over two years ago, I had a job that included the world’s worst commute - I was driving from the valley to the LAX area in the mornings, and back to the valley in the evenings. I tried every route imaginable to avoid the 405 freeway, but there was no way to substantially reduce my drive. I was spending 2.5 to 4 hours a day in the car, and I woke up every day in tears.
I had already fallen in love with The Bar Method (barre fitness) as a client, and when I realized it was a franchise, I decided to investigate. One Wednesday morning, as I traversed the 110 freeway on my way to work, I spoke to the manager of franchise development at the Bar Method and we asked each other a million questions. When she told me how much money I would need to start the business, I asked, “Are all the people who do this rich?” She replied, “No, not at all,” and that’s when I realized I just might be able to pull this off.
I started the process of becoming a Bar Method owner in July 2018, long before the coronavirus was a speckle of thought in anyone’s mind. In November 2019, I left my corporate job to work full time toward opening my business. My plan was to open in April or May of 2020. But by April, it was starting to look like I wouldn’t be opening a Bar Method studio at all. I pressed through countless obstacles and setbacks, and now my studio is slated to open in November, although no one knows what “open” will look like by then. It’s ok - I’ll figure it out.
There’s nothing in the world I care about more than women’s safety and health. The Bar Method is a place not just to work out, but to be part of a community of supportive women who uplift one another. It’s a place where your stress and worries don’t follow you, and you get strong muscles too!
