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Barre3 Bellingham Owner, Caitlin Walker, Shares Her Story
In our Studio Owner Stories series, we’re looking at the journeys of women who took the leap to barre3 studio ownership and getting a behind-the-scenes peek at the steps they took to thriving in a position they love. Below, Caitlin Walker, owner of barre3 Bellingham, shares how she went from doing aerobics in her living room to making the barre3 studio her home.
BARRE3: Have you always been into fitness, or is it something you came into as an adult?
CAITLIN WALKER: I began exercising regularly as a teenager. My mom, my sisters, and I took aerobics classes together and eventually hired an instructor to teach us at home. Fitness turned into a career for me when I was 22, and my YMCA aerobics teacher said I had the potential to teach. I was nervous, but decided to pursue it.
Even as an introvert, I found myself loving the opportunity to motivate and serve my clients. It was the creative outlet I needed as well as the emotional outlet that helped me navigate life as a newlywed in a new town with a new job. It was also important for me to find meaning in my work, and I pursued my curiosity of a career in fitness both with my head and my heart.
BARRE3: What was it about barre3 that made you want to become an owner?
CAITLIN: I was working in mortgage lending for a number of years and took time off as I began having children. When I decided to go back to work, I got my personal-trainer certification. But after a couple of jobs as a personal trainer, I knew it wasn’t the right fit. Sometimes, failure is the best thing to lead you to what’s next. I knew I needed flexibility and that I wanted to work in a capacity that would allow me to be available for my family.
I also knew that I wanted to offer something better than what was available to me locally. I wasn’t sure if I could build a fitness business from the ground up, but if I had the right tools, I knew I had the grit I needed to be successful.
The barre3 franchise model was just the right thing. I was able to fulfill my desire to have my own business, and with the support of barre3, I could do that while staying true to my values.
BARRE3: Did you have any hesitations about taking the leap?
CAITLIN: When it came to barre3, I felt confident that if I was passionate about it, others would see why and follow suit. Anna Wintour once said, “Let data inform you, not lead you,” and I found myself thinking about that quote when opening my studio. Bellingham is a small town, and though its size and the data may have deterred me from opening the studio, I let my heart lead me and help me make the decision.
BARRE3: One of our core values is Make it Your Own—and that applies to everything from modifying a move to bringing your authentic self to your role as a studio owner. How do your personality and values come through in your studio?
CAITLIN: I love to entertain and cook, and my house is often filled with great friends and good food, and I want that same feeling in my studio. I love spending time after class chatting with clients, offering the gift of time. Investing in those around me is something I treasure and enjoy. Outside the studio and in my community, I now feel that I have friends wherever I go!
At different times, various barre3 Core Values have spoken to me, but the one that I feel is “mine” is “Everybody Matters.” I love engaging and learning from people of different ages and in different stages of life, and I want my team and my clients to feel that they’re a part of something bigger (because they are!). By listening and holding space for others, I believe I am making a difference in my community.
BARRE3: What is some of the feedback you’ve received from clients about barre3, your studio, and the barre3 community?
CAITLIN: I always hear people say how welcoming we are in the studio. No matter your shape, size, gender, or age—everyone is accepted equally. We also receive positive feedback about our instructors’ supportive spirit. Clients talk about the kindness they’re encouraged to extend toward their bodies and that they can respect their own limits without focusing on anyone else’s.
Feeling inspired by Caitlin’s story? You can learn more about becoming a barre3 studio owner here.
In our Studio Owner Stories series, we’re looking at the journeys of women who took the leap to barre3 studio ownership and getting a behind-the-scenes peek at the steps they took to thriving in a position they love. Below, Caitlin Walker, owner of barre3 Bellingham, shares how she went from doing aerobics in her living room to making the barre3 studio her home.
BARRE3: Have you always been into fitness, or is it something you came into as an adult?
CAITLIN WALKER: I began exercising regularly as a teenager. My mom, my sisters, and I took aerobics classes together and eventually hired an instructor to teach us at home. Fitness turned into a career for me when I was 22, and my YMCA aerobics teacher said I had the potential to teach. I was nervous, but decided to pursue it.
Even as an introvert, I found myself loving the opportunity to motivate and serve my clients. It was the creative outlet I needed as well as the emotional outlet that helped me navigate life as a newlywed in a new town with a new job. It was also important for me to find meaning in my work, and I pursued my curiosity of a career in fitness both with my head and my heart.
BARRE3: What was it about barre3 that made you want to become an owner?
CAITLIN: I was working in mortgage lending for a number of years and took time off as I began having children. When I decided to go back to work, I got my personal-trainer certification. But after a couple of jobs as a personal trainer, I knew it wasn’t the right fit. Sometimes, failure is the best thing to lead you to what’s next. I knew I needed flexibility and that I wanted to work in a capacity that would allow me to be available for my family.
I also knew that I wanted to offer something better than what was available to me locally. I wasn’t sure if I could build a fitness business from the ground up, but if I had the right tools, I knew I had the grit I needed to be successful.
The barre3 franchise model was just the right thing. I was able to fulfill my desire to have my own business, and with the support of barre3, I could do that while staying true to my values.
BARRE3: Did you have any hesitations about taking the leap?
CAITLIN: When it came to barre3, I felt confident that if I was passionate about it, others would see why and follow suit. Anna Wintour once said, “Let data inform you, not lead you,” and I found myself thinking about that quote when opening my studio. Bellingham is a small town, and though its size and the data may have deterred me from opening the studio, I let my heart lead me and help me make the decision.
BARRE3: One of our core values is Make it Your Own—and that applies to everything from modifying a move to bringing your authentic self to your role as a studio owner. How do your personality and values come through in your studio?
CAITLIN: I love to entertain and cook, and my house is often filled with great friends and good food, and I want that same feeling in my studio. I love spending time after class chatting with clients, offering the gift of time. Investing in those around me is something I treasure and enjoy. Outside the studio and in my community, I now feel that I have friends wherever I go!
At different times, various barre3 Core Values have spoken to me, but the one that I feel is “mine” is “Everybody Matters.” I love engaging and learning from people of different ages and in different stages of life, and I want my team and my clients to feel that they’re a part of something bigger (because they are!). By listening and holding space for others, I believe I am making a difference in my community.
BARRE3: What is some of the feedback you’ve received from clients about barre3, your studio, and the barre3 community?
CAITLIN: I always hear people say how welcoming we are in the studio. No matter your shape, size, gender, or age—everyone is accepted equally. We also receive positive feedback about our instructors’ supportive spirit. Clients talk about the kindness they’re encouraged to extend toward their bodies and that they can respect their own limits without focusing on anyone else’s.
Feeling inspired by Caitlin’s story? You can learn more about becoming a barre3 studio owner here.
