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BARRE3 OWNER STORIES: SARAH GRANTHAM, BARRE3 CHARLOTTE
Sarah Grantham began her barre3 journey as a client in Portland, Oregon. After multiple moves and years as a dedicated barre3 client, Sarah started working at barre3 Brentwood outside Nashville, Tennessee. Her dream of opening her own studio became a reality when she and her husband moved home to Charlotte, North Carolina. Sarah celebrated the grand opening of barre3 Charlotte in February 2024. With a passion for both teaching and taking classes, she is thrilled to bring the workout that has guided her through so many seasons of life to her hometown community.
B3 MAGAZINE: How did you find barre3?
SARAH: I found barre3 while living in Portland, OR shortly after college. I was teaching preschool at the German immersion school there, a long way from my home and family in North Carolina. Barre3 Portland donated a 5-class pack to my school’s fundraiser and I won it in the silent auction (thanks Sadie and Chris!). I started taking classes and fell in love immediately with the energy and positivity of the studio plus the strength and balance I felt in my body. It was a beautiful way to make friends in a new city, too!
B3 MAGAZINE: What made you decide to open a barre3 studio?
SARAH: Barre3 has led me through so many seasons of life. When I first started taking barre3 classes in Portland, it gave me community and self confidence as a young girl, lonely in a new place. Later, it fueled my mental health and work-life balance during a stressful job that required long hours and weekly travel.
When my husband John and I got married and put down roots in Nashville, barre3 became a necessary part of my daily routine. At the time, I was struggling with infertility and miscarriages. I spent 23 hours of every day hating my body for what it seemed incapable of doing, but for 60 minutes in class, I felt strong and I felt like I was enough. After becoming heathfully pregnant, I worked at the Brentwood, TN studio (love you Jessie and Francie!) and took class just about every day until my due date. Once my son Wiley was born, we made the decision to move home to Charlotte, closer to family. I was devastated to imagine life without a barre3 studio in my backyard. So the motive to open barre3 Charlotte was slightly selfish, but I also knew firsthand what this workout and this community can do for people who are struggling. I needed to bring that healing balm to my Charlotte neighborhood. Here I am now, holding two sweet healthy boys (hey Griffin!), getting to hug and care for clients and their families each day as they walk into the studio. It is a literal dream come true.
B3 MAGAZINE: What do you find most gratifying about opening your studio?
SARAH: I could cry (and usually do) when I talk about this. It’s the stories, smiles, and tears I receive from clients after class as they tell me how good the workout felt in their body or how empowered they felt by something the instructor said to them. Clients walking through seasons of disappointment, loss, a difficult diagnosis, recovering from an injury, newly pregnant or adjusting to postpartum life, haunted by a negative exercise experience in their past, struggling with their body image, managing a stressful job, or just looking to make friends in an unfamiliar city—I want this studio to be a home away from home for them. My team is incredible. From the dynamite classes our skilled instructors lead, to the thoughtful support the front desk team offers, to the care and safety provided to the kiddos by our play lounge team—I am beyond blessed to be surrounded by strong and giving women who have a passion for barre3. I am so grateful that they make time in their own busy lives to share their strengths with our barre3 Charlotte family.
Thank you, Sarah! Sign up for class at barre3 Charlotte and follow along on Instagram for studio news and updates.
Share your passion for barre3 with your local community—learn more here.
Sarah Grantham began her barre3 journey as a client in Portland, Oregon. After multiple moves and years as a dedicated barre3 client, Sarah started working at barre3 Brentwood outside Nashville, Tennessee. Her dream of opening her own studio became a reality when she and her husband moved home to Charlotte, North Carolina. Sarah celebrated the grand opening of barre3 Charlotte in February 2024. With a passion for both teaching and taking classes, she is thrilled to bring the workout that has guided her through so many seasons of life to her hometown community.
B3 MAGAZINE: How did you find barre3?
SARAH: I found barre3 while living in Portland, OR shortly after college. I was teaching preschool at the German immersion school there, a long way from my home and family in North Carolina. Barre3 Portland donated a 5-class pack to my school’s fundraiser and I won it in the silent auction (thanks Sadie and Chris!). I started taking classes and fell in love immediately with the energy and positivity of the studio plus the strength and balance I felt in my body. It was a beautiful way to make friends in a new city, too!
B3 MAGAZINE: What made you decide to open a barre3 studio?
SARAH: Barre3 has led me through so many seasons of life. When I first started taking barre3 classes in Portland, it gave me community and self confidence as a young girl, lonely in a new place. Later, it fueled my mental health and work-life balance during a stressful job that required long hours and weekly travel.
When my husband John and I got married and put down roots in Nashville, barre3 became a necessary part of my daily routine. At the time, I was struggling with infertility and miscarriages. I spent 23 hours of every day hating my body for what it seemed incapable of doing, but for 60 minutes in class, I felt strong and I felt like I was enough. After becoming heathfully pregnant, I worked at the Brentwood, TN studio (love you Jessie and Francie!) and took class just about every day until my due date. Once my son Wiley was born, we made the decision to move home to Charlotte, closer to family. I was devastated to imagine life without a barre3 studio in my backyard. So the motive to open barre3 Charlotte was slightly selfish, but I also knew firsthand what this workout and this community can do for people who are struggling. I needed to bring that healing balm to my Charlotte neighborhood. Here I am now, holding two sweet healthy boys (hey Griffin!), getting to hug and care for clients and their families each day as they walk into the studio. It is a literal dream come true.
B3 MAGAZINE: What do you find most gratifying about opening your studio?
SARAH: I could cry (and usually do) when I talk about this. It’s the stories, smiles, and tears I receive from clients after class as they tell me how good the workout felt in their body or how empowered they felt by something the instructor said to them. Clients walking through seasons of disappointment, loss, a difficult diagnosis, recovering from an injury, newly pregnant or adjusting to postpartum life, haunted by a negative exercise experience in their past, struggling with their body image, managing a stressful job, or just looking to make friends in an unfamiliar city—I want this studio to be a home away from home for them. My team is incredible. From the dynamite classes our skilled instructors lead, to the thoughtful support the front desk team offers, to the care and safety provided to the kiddos by our play lounge team—I am beyond blessed to be surrounded by strong and giving women who have a passion for barre3. I am so grateful that they make time in their own busy lives to share their strengths with our barre3 Charlotte family.
Thank you, Sarah! Sign up for class at barre3 Charlotte and follow along on Instagram for studio news and updates.
Share your passion for barre3 with your local community—learn more here.
