Studio Owner Stories
STUDIO OWNER STORIES: ALISHA WIATER, BARRE3 BEND
Meet Alisha Wiater, owner of barre3 Bend. When a friend invited Alisha to her first barre3 class in 2013, she didn’t expect it to stick. But the experience surprised her in the best way: a workout that kept her engaged, supported her love of hiking and climbing, and gave her a community she wanted to return to again and again. By 2017, when the opportunity arose to purchase barre3 Bend, Alisha saw a chance to carry the studio forward and expand its reach across Central Oregon. Backed by a strong team and a clear vision, she stepped into ownership – and has been shaping the community ever since. As she puts it: “The barre3 class meets every client exactly where they are. There is no stigma. There is no competition.”
In our interview, Alisha shares why barre3 stands apart – from its science-backed workouts to the powerful network of studio owners – and how values like authenticity, humility, and courage guide her as a leader.
B3: Thanks for chatting with us today, Alisha! To start, can you share more about your personal and professional background before owning a barre3 studio?
Alisha: I was born and raised in South Carolina and lived there until I moved to Oregon in 2002. As much as I love Oregon and consider it my home, I will always carry a love for the South in my heart – the warmth, Southern hospitality, comfort food, and love of college football! Before becoming a barre3 studio owner, I earned my Masters in Social Work and worked closely with students struggling with the transition from high school to college. I also taught psychology, values clarification, and human development courses. Through these experiences, I came to appreciate and value the concept of community and belonging.
B3: What first led you to discover barre3, and why did you stay with barre3?
Alisha: A friend invited me to a barre3 class at the Bend studio in 2013. From the very first class, I was hooked. It surprised me in the best way! Group fitness never really held my interest for long, but with barre3, I found a class that kept me engaged and active while providing a community and a sense of belonging. And, it supported me in other activities I love: mountain biking, hiking, and climbing. I could come to class and know that I would leave feeling better than when I arrived. This is still true after 12 years.
B3: What inspired you to transition from client to franchise owner?
Alisha: I had been exploring what to do professionally after I left my job working with college students, and once my kiddos were in school. I had grown close to a group of clients and staff at barre3 Bend, and it had crossed my mind that I should open a barre3 studio of my own. It was at this time that the previous owner of our Bend studio announced that she was selling the business. I had no prior experience as a business owner, but I knew in my heart that I wanted to take this studio in my arms and carry it forward. I knew there was an amazing team of instructors, customer support, and team leaders already in place, and I wanted the chance to extend the studio’s reach to more folks in Central Oregon. I was excited for the chance to join the team and I officially purchased barre3 Bend in 2017.
B3: How does the barre3 Home Office support your success?
Alisha: Since the start of my journey to barre3 studio ownership, the Home Office has been a constant support. I’ve always felt that my success as a studio owner was important to them and that they would do what they could to help me reach my goals. I appreciate that the Home Office team is willing to build and hone unique skills of individual owners. They’ve provided me with the guardrails and infrastructure to run a successful barre3 franchise while also allowing me to grow my business in a way that works best for my community.
B3: What do you want people to know about the barre3 studio owner network?
Alisha: I am so grateful for the wise women I’ve met through the barre3 studio owner network. It’s truly a group of women that wants to see everyone succeed. I am comfortable asking for feedback and advice, and I’m comfortable sharing my own successes and challenges. I love that there are so many different ideas and experience shares within this community. The collective wisdom that this group so graciously shares with one another cannot be underestimated.
B3: What excites you most about owning and operating your own barre3 studio?
Alisha: I love finding the strengths of our team and our community and letting those individual strengths shine, and I am eager to expand our service to our community. It’s important to me that we share the joy of movement with everyone who enters our studio.
B3: How do you structure the day-to-day operations of the studio?
Alisha: I have an amazing team that handles most of the day-to-day operations, which allows me to focus on our strategic growth. With my team at the helm, leading customer service and teaching remarkable classes, I am able to step back and assess our financial and socioemotional health to ensure we continue to thrive and be a nurturing space in our community.
B3: What differentiates barre3 from other fitness brands and concepts?
Alisha: Barre3 has to be the best franchise model. The support and resources that are provided by our Home Office are second to none. The class is unmatched. The thought and research that goes into our classes provides the fitness routine that meets the needs of everyone – from professional athletes to those who are just starting their fitness journey. The barre3 class meets every client exactly where they are. There is no stigma. There is no competition. I would say it is magic, but barre3 is intentional in their class development and instructor training and owner development. The magic is in watching it all come together for our community.
B3: What kind of impact do you hope to have in your greater community and on your clients?
Alisha: I want every client to know that they will always have a place in our studio. I want to be the family for those who need a family; the challenge for those who are ready to push past preconceived limits; the moment of rest for those who need to slow down; and the cheering squad for those who need to be celebrated – and everything else in between. I want people to know that we care about them and welcome them on their good days and the not-so-good days.
B3: What excites you about the future of barre3 and your role in it?
Alisha: Barre3 has the ability to evolve and transition to meet the needs of clients and franchise owners and studio teams. It’s a special experience to be a part of something that models authenticity, humility, and courage at every level of the business.
B3: What would you say to someone considering franchise ownership with barre3?
Alisha: This is an exciting time to make the leap and join a stellar franchise. My advice would be to do your research and know your community. Looking back on my experience, there were some key pieces in play that made my ownership story successful. I had a passion for barre3 and a strong team in place, and I had a vision for where barre3 needed to be in my community. I am humbled to see what the barre3 Bend studio has become, and I would choose this adventure over and over again.
B3: Thank you, Alisha!
Interested in exploring barre3 studio ownership? Our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s connect and explore what’s possible – together. Learn more about becoming a barre3 studio owner today.
Meet Alisha Wiater, owner of barre3 Bend. When a friend invited Alisha to her first barre3 class in 2013, she didn’t expect it to stick. But the experience surprised her in the best way: a workout that kept her engaged, supported her love of hiking and climbing, and gave her a community she wanted to return to again and again. By 2017, when the opportunity arose to purchase barre3 Bend, Alisha saw a chance to carry the studio forward and expand its reach across Central Oregon. Backed by a strong team and a clear vision, she stepped into ownership – and has been shaping the community ever since. As she puts it: “The barre3 class meets every client exactly where they are. There is no stigma. There is no competition.”
In our interview, Alisha shares why barre3 stands apart – from its science-backed workouts to the powerful network of studio owners – and how values like authenticity, humility, and courage guide her as a leader.
B3: Thanks for chatting with us today, Alisha! To start, can you share more about your personal and professional background before owning a barre3 studio?
Alisha: I was born and raised in South Carolina and lived there until I moved to Oregon in 2002. As much as I love Oregon and consider it my home, I will always carry a love for the South in my heart – the warmth, Southern hospitality, comfort food, and love of college football! Before becoming a barre3 studio owner, I earned my Masters in Social Work and worked closely with students struggling with the transition from high school to college. I also taught psychology, values clarification, and human development courses. Through these experiences, I came to appreciate and value the concept of community and belonging.
B3: What first led you to discover barre3, and why did you stay with barre3?
Alisha: A friend invited me to a barre3 class at the Bend studio in 2013. From the very first class, I was hooked. It surprised me in the best way! Group fitness never really held my interest for long, but with barre3, I found a class that kept me engaged and active while providing a community and a sense of belonging. And, it supported me in other activities I love: mountain biking, hiking, and climbing. I could come to class and know that I would leave feeling better than when I arrived. This is still true after 12 years.
B3: What inspired you to transition from client to franchise owner?
Alisha: I had been exploring what to do professionally after I left my job working with college students, and once my kiddos were in school. I had grown close to a group of clients and staff at barre3 Bend, and it had crossed my mind that I should open a barre3 studio of my own. It was at this time that the previous owner of our Bend studio announced that she was selling the business. I had no prior experience as a business owner, but I knew in my heart that I wanted to take this studio in my arms and carry it forward. I knew there was an amazing team of instructors, customer support, and team leaders already in place, and I wanted the chance to extend the studio’s reach to more folks in Central Oregon. I was excited for the chance to join the team and I officially purchased barre3 Bend in 2017.
B3: How does the barre3 Home Office support your success?
Alisha: Since the start of my journey to barre3 studio ownership, the Home Office has been a constant support. I’ve always felt that my success as a studio owner was important to them and that they would do what they could to help me reach my goals. I appreciate that the Home Office team is willing to build and hone unique skills of individual owners. They’ve provided me with the guardrails and infrastructure to run a successful barre3 franchise while also allowing me to grow my business in a way that works best for my community.
B3: What do you want people to know about the barre3 studio owner network?
Alisha: I am so grateful for the wise women I’ve met through the barre3 studio owner network. It’s truly a group of women that wants to see everyone succeed. I am comfortable asking for feedback and advice, and I’m comfortable sharing my own successes and challenges. I love that there are so many different ideas and experience shares within this community. The collective wisdom that this group so graciously shares with one another cannot be underestimated.
B3: What excites you most about owning and operating your own barre3 studio?
Alisha: I love finding the strengths of our team and our community and letting those individual strengths shine, and I am eager to expand our service to our community. It’s important to me that we share the joy of movement with everyone who enters our studio.
B3: How do you structure the day-to-day operations of the studio?
Alisha: I have an amazing team that handles most of the day-to-day operations, which allows me to focus on our strategic growth. With my team at the helm, leading customer service and teaching remarkable classes, I am able to step back and assess our financial and socioemotional health to ensure we continue to thrive and be a nurturing space in our community.
B3: What differentiates barre3 from other fitness brands and concepts?
Alisha: Barre3 has to be the best franchise model. The support and resources that are provided by our Home Office are second to none. The class is unmatched. The thought and research that goes into our classes provides the fitness routine that meets the needs of everyone – from professional athletes to those who are just starting their fitness journey. The barre3 class meets every client exactly where they are. There is no stigma. There is no competition. I would say it is magic, but barre3 is intentional in their class development and instructor training and owner development. The magic is in watching it all come together for our community.
B3: What kind of impact do you hope to have in your greater community and on your clients?
Alisha: I want every client to know that they will always have a place in our studio. I want to be the family for those who need a family; the challenge for those who are ready to push past preconceived limits; the moment of rest for those who need to slow down; and the cheering squad for those who need to be celebrated – and everything else in between. I want people to know that we care about them and welcome them on their good days and the not-so-good days.
B3: What excites you about the future of barre3 and your role in it?
Alisha: Barre3 has the ability to evolve and transition to meet the needs of clients and franchise owners and studio teams. It’s a special experience to be a part of something that models authenticity, humility, and courage at every level of the business.
B3: What would you say to someone considering franchise ownership with barre3?
Alisha: This is an exciting time to make the leap and join a stellar franchise. My advice would be to do your research and know your community. Looking back on my experience, there were some key pieces in play that made my ownership story successful. I had a passion for barre3 and a strong team in place, and I had a vision for where barre3 needed to be in my community. I am humbled to see what the barre3 Bend studio has become, and I would choose this adventure over and over again.
B3: Thank you, Alisha!
Interested in exploring barre3 studio ownership? Our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s connect and explore what’s possible – together. Learn more about becoming a barre3 studio owner today.
