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Studio Owner Spotlight: Mindy Sofro
Mindy Sofro is calm, grounded, and has a killer sense of humor. She also happens to be Sadie Lincoln’s best friend. Today, Mindy shares her strategy for staying grounded and explains how a chance meeting with Sadie in 7th grade led to a fulfilling career as the studio owner for barre3 Santa Barbara. Get to know Mindy in her own words:
Way back in 7th grade, I met a girl in math class who would go on to be one of my best friends. She was warm and funny and so genuine—her name was Sadie Lincoln.
I guess you could say I came to barre3 earlier than most. I was in Portland in 2008 for a visit just before the first studio opened, and Sadie guided me through my very first barre3 class. Wow, I thought, this is so challenging and fun at the same time! When I saw firsthand the high-level buzz that was building in the air, I knew barre3 was going to be special.
I’ve always loved the way barre3 felt on my body but it really resonated with me in 2011 when I had three surgeries in nine months. During the recovery time, I had zero upper body strength and couldn’t hold a plank for more than two seconds. I needed to move and exercise, but everything I was used to doing felt too harsh on my body. So I started religiously doing barre3 online workouts, which was perfect for me because I could modify as needed. I started gaining strength and confidence quickly.
The idea to open a studio here in Santa Barbara had been simmering since 2010. I had visited the Portland studios a few times and knew that the warm, welcoming, community feel in Sadie’s studios would translate here. We needed barre3! After being a stay-at-home mom for years, I knew that if I were to dive back into the working world it would have to be something super special. Barre3 offered the perfect balance of family and career, so I decided to take the leap. I’m so glad I did.
Of course, any new business venture is going to be a little stressful. I’ve found that by coming to class, I can get centered and that carries over into the rest of my day. So many of the concepts we teach in class are applicable to life outside the studio. I’m realizing that more and more all the time.
Fueling up with healthy whole foods is more important to me now than ever before, and our barre3 recipes help me make smart choices every day. My go-to is the Perfect Green Smoothie, which I’ve made my own by leaving out the maple syrup and adding cinnamon and fresh ginger. I also love the Lemon Lentil soup—it is so fresh and tasty! I make a big batch and I have a quick and easy meal on the go throughout the week.
Lately, my favorite thing to do is take class right alongside clients. Not only do I get that awesome barre3 workout (my legs still shake in Power Leg), I also get to connect with this incredible community. People tell me after class that they are waking up with more energy, that their jeans are fitting better, that they feel more grounded and present, and that they are enjoying their workouts more than ever before. Knowing that I’m helping people live healthier and happier lives is what motivates me.
When I’m teaching, I choose to focus on what we at barre3 call “off-scale victories” instead of weight loss. While there’s no doubt about the body-slimming results that we see from a regular barre3 practice, I’d rather highlight increased energy, injury prevention, improved posture, and a strong balanced body. I think my clients appreciate this fresh take on fitness, and I’m proud to deliver the message.
It’s been a long journey from that 7th grade math class where I first met Sadie, and I can tell you that she’s exactly the same person today that she was back then—so real and welcoming. She’s stayed true to herself, and I think that’s been a large part of barre3’s success. I’m so proud to be part of the barre3 journey. It allows me to show my kids that it’s okay to be a mom and have a wonderful family life and also have a career. I can’t think of a better combo.
Are you interested in owning a barre3 studio? Learn more here. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Mindy Sofro is calm, grounded, and has a killer sense of humor. She also happens to be Sadie Lincoln’s best friend. Today, Mindy shares her strategy for staying grounded and explains how a chance meeting with Sadie in 7th grade led to a fulfilling career as the studio owner for barre3 Santa Barbara. Get to know Mindy in her own words:
Way back in 7th grade, I met a girl in math class who would go on to be one of my best friends. She was warm and funny and so genuine—her name was Sadie Lincoln.
I guess you could say I came to barre3 earlier than most. I was in Portland in 2008 for a visit just before the first studio opened, and Sadie guided me through my very first barre3 class. Wow, I thought, this is so challenging and fun at the same time! When I saw firsthand the high-level buzz that was building in the air, I knew barre3 was going to be special.
I’ve always loved the way barre3 felt on my body but it really resonated with me in 2011 when I had three surgeries in nine months. During the recovery time, I had zero upper body strength and couldn’t hold a plank for more than two seconds. I needed to move and exercise, but everything I was used to doing felt too harsh on my body. So I started religiously doing barre3 online workouts, which was perfect for me because I could modify as needed. I started gaining strength and confidence quickly.
The idea to open a studio here in Santa Barbara had been simmering since 2010. I had visited the Portland studios a few times and knew that the warm, welcoming, community feel in Sadie’s studios would translate here. We needed barre3! After being a stay-at-home mom for years, I knew that if I were to dive back into the working world it would have to be something super special. Barre3 offered the perfect balance of family and career, so I decided to take the leap. I’m so glad I did.
Of course, any new business venture is going to be a little stressful. I’ve found that by coming to class, I can get centered and that carries over into the rest of my day. So many of the concepts we teach in class are applicable to life outside the studio. I’m realizing that more and more all the time.
Fueling up with healthy whole foods is more important to me now than ever before, and our barre3 recipes help me make smart choices every day. My go-to is the Perfect Green Smoothie, which I’ve made my own by leaving out the maple syrup and adding cinnamon and fresh ginger. I also love the Lemon Lentil soup—it is so fresh and tasty! I make a big batch and I have a quick and easy meal on the go throughout the week.
Lately, my favorite thing to do is take class right alongside clients. Not only do I get that awesome barre3 workout (my legs still shake in Power Leg), I also get to connect with this incredible community. People tell me after class that they are waking up with more energy, that their jeans are fitting better, that they feel more grounded and present, and that they are enjoying their workouts more than ever before. Knowing that I’m helping people live healthier and happier lives is what motivates me.
When I’m teaching, I choose to focus on what we at barre3 call “off-scale victories” instead of weight loss. While there’s no doubt about the body-slimming results that we see from a regular barre3 practice, I’d rather highlight increased energy, injury prevention, improved posture, and a strong balanced body. I think my clients appreciate this fresh take on fitness, and I’m proud to deliver the message.
It’s been a long journey from that 7th grade math class where I first met Sadie, and I can tell you that she’s exactly the same person today that she was back then—so real and welcoming. She’s stayed true to herself, and I think that’s been a large part of barre3’s success. I’m so proud to be part of the barre3 journey. It allows me to show my kids that it’s okay to be a mom and have a wonderful family life and also have a career. I can’t think of a better combo.
Are you interested in owning a barre3 studio? Learn more here. We can’t wait to hear from you!
