Throughout her life she was always told she would be her own boss one day. That dream has finally become a reality for a woman who just happens to be younger than the majority of her staff.
This is Laura Staron, the new owner of Pure Barre. Photo Credit: Pure Barre Lubbock Facebook
Laura Staron, a recent Texas Tech graduate, is the new owner of the newest fitness trend: Pure Barre. She said after discovering Pure Barre where her parents reside in Kentucky, she became obsessed with the workout and the relationships she made with other participants. Staron said that’s when she knew the decision to open a Pure Barre in Lubbock was the ideal decision for her life post-graduation, even if it meant sacrificing a few things.
“I don’t even know when the last time was that I went out — not that it matters,” she said. “Normally you can suck it up and go out. I can’t. My typical Friday night goes like this: I get done with teaching Pure Barre classes then I go home and go to bed. That’s been quite the lifestyle change as a 22-year-old.”
That’s right. Staron is only 22. She admits it’s odd to think she is younger than over half of her staff at Pure Barre, but at the same time she said they all get along and she could not be happier. Staron said picking her staff for Pure Barre was one of the hardest aspects of opening the business. She said not only was she just responsible for herself, she instantly became responsible for five more individuals. She said she mainly looked at her applicants’ time commitments and if they had a background in dance.
With Staron being so young, she said she gets a lot of questions regarding issues about her being a boss who is younger than her employees.
“Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish when you’re a friend and then the boss, she said. “Some people think I’ll just always want to play the friend role, which is not the case at all. Some things upset me and I’m not going to be a pushover about it. I’ve been very happy with the girls I’ve hired.
When asked what is so different about Pure Barre than a typical athletic workout at the gym, Staron instantly had a list of reasons why Pure Barre works. She said what’s nice about Pure Barre is that it’s based on group fitness. Staron said joining a gym might be cheaper, but when people to the gym, they have to motivate themselves. She said at Pure Barre, the instructors are trained to help motivate the students. Staron said the workout itself is fun, fast and affective. She said majority of people see results within 10 classes, and she thinks that should be incentive itself.
This is the entry room at Pure Barre. Here you can not only work out but purchase workout clothing. Photo Credit: Pure Barre Lubbock Facebook
Staron said Pure Barre is for all ages. In fact, she said there is a 72-year-old who attends some of the classes. Staron said the advice she gives individuals who have never experienced Pure Barre before is to not be discouraged and to work at one’s own pace.
She said is very happy with the success Pure Barre has had in Lubbock so far. After only opening in August of this year, Staron said they’ve had a large turnout and she said she and the other instructors have so much to look forward to.
This is an image from one of the first Pure Barre classes that took place in August. Photo Credit: Pure Barre Lubbock Facebook
Staron said she is also looking forward to being in Lubbock for the next five years. She said she loves the Hub City, and admits she would rather have a job that she loves instead of living in a major city. Staron said people give her a hard time about it, but she said she thinks it’s great. She said the fact that Lubbock’s traffic is minimal and she can get to work in less than 10 minutes is ideal.
Staron said her dreams for owning a Pure Barre came true after her parents said they would help her pay for the project. She said she likes to call her parent’s donation a loan, not a gift.
Staron said she remembers the process of building Pure Barre and how she was nervous, but excited at the same time. She said she is elated with the turnout she and her instructors have had in their classes, and she is has a goal for herself everyday regarding her new business.
“I went into this thinking whether two people or 22 people show up, I’m still doing this,” she said. “I looked going into it in this way – someone once told me you don’t go into something wanting to succeed, you really do something with the intention of not failing.”
To learn more, checkout the Pure Barre Facebook page for a list of all of their classes and what times they are offered.
About Lauren Estlinbaum
