Fitness
Millennial finds success with Pure Barre Fitness franchise
At just 21 years old, Ashley Allen began her entrepreneurial journey and now owns two Pure Barre fitness franchises. Pure Barre, a part of the Xponential Fitness family of brands, is a boutique fitness concept that mixes Pilates, yoga and ballet to supply a spread of low-impact, high-intensity full-body workouts targeting strength, agility and adaptability for people of all levels.
In 2023, Allen’s first studio, Pure Barre Greenwich, celebrated 11 years in business, and her second studio in White Plains, New York is approaching five. Now, at age 33, Allen has achieved more entrepreneurial success than most individuals twice her age.
“I knew from a young age that I wanted to study exercise science,” Allen said BLACK ENTERPRISES. “I taught at the local Pure Barre for about a year and started thinking about having one during my senior year (Fall 2021) at Temple University.”
While continuing her undergraduate studies, Allen earned her B.A National Academy of Sports Medicine personal training certificate and Certified Strength and Condition Specialist (CSCS) certificate to expand your knowledge on this field. “After college, the thought of being in a big city was appealing, so I chose Greenwich, Connecticut to open my first studio – just 45 minutes from New York!”
Allen has entrepreneurship in her blood and uses much of what she has learned in her own business. Her father owned a clothing store for a few years and currently owns a boutique hotel in Jamaica. “My father always held monthly team meetings for his employees on Sundays. I attended this meeting several times a year,” he recalls. “It was great to see him lead and connect with his employees. He was extremely motivating and positive, even when the company was struggling. These meetings were a great example of how to be a strong business owner.”
Allen also worked at an area arts and crafts store in highschool. “I liked the commitment of the owner of this store and how much she cared about her employees. She was another inspiration for me as an entrepreneur.”
From instructor to owner
The journey from instructor to franchise owner is sort of unique and has provided Allen with precious insight into understanding the business. “I first tried the class at an instructor training course in Denver, Colorado. I really had no idea what I was getting into, but I was excited nonetheless and luckily, I really enjoyed the training,” says Allen.
He continues: “Having experience as an instructor and being one and being so deeply connected to the brand allows me to set an example for my employees. Because I do know programming and teach great classes, I can train good teachers, which may be seen within the amazing classes in our studio. “I didn’t get to learn the real ins and outs of running a business until I actually took on the role – it’s a lot of work – but being able to understand my employees from my own experience really helps the ‘people’ and ‘community’ front.”
Overcoming obstacles
Fortunately, financing wasn’t one in all the challenges Allen faced in purchasing the Pure Barre studio — she had support from her family and a enterprise capitalist. But that does not imply it didn’t face other challenges.
“Hiring employees has been a big challenge, as it is for many small businesses. Finding and retaining top talent, especially when you need instructors who can command a room of more than 20 members, is difficult. COVID was also a huge challenge. “My studio in White Plains was closed for six months and my studio in Greenwich was closed for three months,” he recalled. “We had to get creative and keep our community engaged despite the shutdowns. We held virtual classes, engaged with members on social media, and eventually moved to pop-ups and outdoor events before business could return to normal. Anything we could do to keep the doors open!”
Another challenge Allen had to beat was opening her first location in an area where she wasn’t a part of the community. Deciding to open a business within the strong market or community where you reside may be difficult – each has its benefits and drawbacks.
“It was a challenge not being from the area where I opened the studio. Since I didn’t have roots in the community or had many relationships with people as a newbie, it was difficult for me to establish myself and build enough connections early on to expand my study community. In retrospect, I was so focused on the people who were within the four walls of my studio that I ignored many potential prospects outside the studio. I should have done more community outreach and made my presence known in the area,” Allen says.
For now, she has no development plans, preferring to give attention to the 2 studios and clients she currently has, but she is open to future ventures.
Allen’s advice BLACK ENTERPRISES for entrepreneurial readers is to explore the boutique fitness sector. “As people become more health-conscious post-pandemic, I would recommend boutique fitness as an entrepreneurial option,” she offers. “We are fortunate to live in a time where dozens of fitness and wellness concepts have a proven method. If you connect with a brand or workout and think others in your community will too, opening a studio is certainly value considering because you’ll be able to be your individual boss and have a positive impact in your community. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to do that day by day in my Pure Barre studios.
Fitness
The new Apple Fitness Plus offers recordings of exercises conducted by carefully selected trainers who are designed to inspire and motivate – the essence
If your property workout routine is starting to feel a bit redundant, Apple’s latest creation will make your week successful. New for Apple users who are searching for new ways to get fit from the comfort of their very own home Apple Fitness+ The service has been designed together with your needs in mind, especially when it comes to the diversity of the group of trainers they select to lead your movement.
Apple Fitness+ launched on Monday, bringing studio-style workouts right to your iPhone, Apple TV or iPad. Popular workouts comparable to HIIT, yoga, dance, core exercises and cycling are just a few of the extensive training offerings led by an all-star team of passionate trainers who have been selected not only because they are leaders of their respective fitness spaces, but additionally because their approach to fitness is friendly to everyone.
“Inclusion is very important to us,” says Jay Blahnik, senior director of fitness for health technologies at Apple. “We wanted to create a team where people see themselves in the coaches, obviously finding their favorite coaches, but also falling in love with the team as a whole.”
Expect to feel that love throughout as you join pre-recorded workouts led by coaches like dance instructor and choreographer LaShawn Jones, who was honored to learn she was chosen to inspire others to discover dance as a source of well-being.
“Fitness+ allows me to share my love of dance on a platform and in an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all. “I think this experience will inspire people from all walks of life to dance and get healthy and strong,” says Jones (shown above).
Cycling coach Ty Désean says the importance of continuing to grow to be more integrated into the fitness community has not been lost on him.
“When I was growing up, there wasn’t always someone like me on screen,” Désean tells ESSENCE. “Being a black gay man, being at the table, being able to contribute, be heard and seen in worship was amazing. I can’t wait to spread love and joy and help everyone feel a part of their health journey with Fitness+.”
Sherica Holmon, also an Apple Fitness+ Cycling trainer, shares Désean’s sentiments and looks forward to fitness newbies finding new inspiration after they join her in her at-home classes.
“I can’t wait to represent any boy or girl, no matter how they identify,” says Holmon. “I hope they see Ty, they see LaShawna, they see me and not only are they inspired to improve their health thanks to the Fitness+ team, but I hope they stay inspired to follow their dreams.”
You don’t need anything greater than a membership to take Apple Fitness+ classes, although some courses require bikes and other equipment. Apple Watch customers can subscribe to Fitness+ for $9.99 per thirty days or $79.99 per 12 months, and for families looking to save, there’s excellent news: you possibly can share your subscription with up to six other members of the family using Family Sharing, and Fitness+ can also be available on Apple One Premier Plan, which, when available, gives customers access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and 2TB of iCloud storage for $29.95 per thirty days and could be shared between up to six members of the family.
Music lovers will enjoy the integration of their favorite jams into their fitness classes, and when you don’t need an Apple Music subscription to listen while exercising, you possibly can later download playlists and songs out of your classes to your Apple Music library. you wrap.
Fitness beginners haven’t got to be afraid. Whether you come for the music, scholarship, or to honor your commitment to getting fit, Fitness+ trainers have one common goal – they’re eager to inspire you to find new and exciting ways to simply rise up and move more.
“One of my favorite quotes is: ‘Be afraid and do it anyway.’ With Fitness+ you have got many alternative durations and trainers to select from, and you possibly can experiment with different workouts to find what you want,” says Jones. “Nobody judges you. It could also be new, it might be different, it is probably not easy at first, but you possibly can get there.
Apple is hosting a fitness event in your property and you are invited – just grab your phone and a membership to join trainers like Jones, Désean and Holmon and get one step closer to your health goals.
“With Fitness+, everyone is welcome to the party,” says Holmon. “That includes you. That’s what I love about the coaching team – each of us is committed to inclusion and making sure everyone feels welcome.”
Fitness
10 Fitness Apps That Give You a Good Workout in 20 Minutes or Less – Essence
Close-up of a young woman stretching
Between work, child care, cooking and errands, finding time to go to the gym can seem almost unattainable for a lot of working adults. Various time constraints could make it tempting to skip exercise altogether. We get it, sister!
However, a busy schedule should never force anyone to place their health and well-being on hold. As an actor, entrepreneur and family man, Boris Kodjoe knows this struggle all too well. That’s why he and his wife, Nicole Ari Parker, decided to launch the KOFIT app to provide people just five minutes a day of fitness. During the ESSENCE 2019 festival, Kodjoe talked in regards to the application’s compatibility with mobile users. “The time factor is of great importance to people,” he explained. “We all have jobs. We all have families. We have careers. We have something to do. We never find time to go to the gym. We do not have equipment. We do not have access.”
If you browse the app store, you will find that KOFIT is just one in all many apps that get your heart rate and endorphins pumping in 20 minutes or less. So before you wake the children up for college or while dinner is in the oven, you possibly can get your day by day cardio workout in without leaving the door.
Scroll through the gallery and take a look at ten fitness apps with workouts that last 20 minutes or less.
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Fitness
Logan actress Elise Neal shares diet and fitness tips on how to look young at 50 | [site:name]
J. Countess
Elise Neal sticks to a rigorous training regimen whether she’s preparing for a task or not.
“I started dancing when I was 6, so fitness is something I do regardless,” Neal, 50, who stars alongside Hugh Jackman within the film (in theaters March 3), tells PEOPLE. “I train and practice really hard, whether I’m acting in a movie or I have to do something physical for a project or not. All my life I liked to be in good shape.”
Neal credits being a dancer at a young age with giving her the discipline crucial to stick to her day by day exercises.
“As a dancer, I could take six classes a day and that’s the lifestyle,” she says. “Exercising an hour or an hour and a half a day is the norm for me, unless it’s very, very intense. I just love it. I feel better, I sleep better, I don’t get so angry at people. It helps me a lot. I want this feeling to continue, so I try my best to maintain it.”
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The actress says that as she gets older, strength training has turn out to be an increasingly integral a part of her workout routine.
“I think as you get older, you have to do more weight training,” he says. “My metabolism isn’t the identical. My body has the identical problems as anyone who gets older – I’m just more actively trying to fix it. Everything is achievable, you simply have to be willing to do the work.
In addition to strength training, Neal practices treadmill running, squats, squats, cardio dance, yoga, and Barry’s Bootcamp classes.
“I mix it,” he says.
Neal believes that when it comes to diet, moderation is vital.
“I’m still a girl who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, so I eat meat and things like that from time to time,” she says. “If I need a hamburger, I’ll eat it and the subsequent day I’ll just exercise really hard. But I’m not going to have five bags of chips or a full plate covered in food and sauces. I’ll take a small plate of things I like to eat. I like salads and eat quite a lot of fruit and vegetables.
In addition to a healthy lifestyle, Neal follows one easy skin rule to maintain a youthful appearance: all the time remove makeup before bed.
“In my opinion, it’s the easiest thing you can do for your skin.”
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