Barre None

Fitness studio barre3 brings empowerment, positivity to their workouts

When Nicole White found herself driving to Lake Oswego multiple times a week, just to visit a barre3 fitness studio, she knew she’d found something special. 

“The second I walked in, I was like, ‘This it. This is my thing. These are my people,’” said White. 

White is a pharmacist by day and owner of the barre3 studio in downtown Salem by, well, any other hour she’s not at the hospital. She ran across barre3 workouts at a time when her own life felt off-balance. After finishing graduate school and entering the workforce, White began looking for new ways to focus on her own health and “fill [her] cup.” After falling in love with the studio’s workouts and mission of “teaching people to be balanced in body and empowered from within,” she began looking for ways to bring barre3 to Salem. 

It took two years, but White’s dream finally came to fruition on the corner of State and Commercial Streets. The studio has room for 30 participants and even includes shower rooms and a play lounge for kiddos during classes. The workouts themselves are a combination of strength conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness. All equipment is provided at the studio and cleaned between classes.

In the communal areas, pieces by local artist Rachel Wood hang beside the company’s core values, accompanied by ample bench seating and storage. The space feels akin to walking outside on a sunny day—warm, fresh, and invigorating. Clients gather before and after class, lingering to extend what White hopes is “the best hour of their day.” 

First-time attendees receive a heartfelt welcome and complete tour of the studio. White will often walk new clients to their workout space along the barre herself, making sure they feel comfortable and understand what to expect. Now with seven employees, Salem’s barre3 offers 23 classes to choose from, with start times extending from 5:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. 

Married to a successful local entrepreneur in his own right, White credits networking and word-of-mouth connections for the studio’s quick growth. “I feel like Salem is a very unique community for small business owners,” she said. “There’s such a strong presence and support for one another.”

For others looking to “take the leap” into entrepreneurship, White’s advice is simple: Just do it!

“I opened a fitness studio in the pandemic; that’s like the worst time you could have opened up a fitness studio! Don’t wait until you feel like you’re ready because you’re never going to feel ready and you’re never going to have it all figured out,” she advised. “But just take it one step at a time and lean on the people around you.”

White’s circle of support has extended beyond the business community to the very clients she serves. As her self-described “happy place,” the studio offers White a unique opportunity to provide holistic health and meet people where they feel most comfortable. The inclusive environment brings an energy that feels like family.

“Are you going to see results from our workout? Absolutely,” explained White. “But you are also going to feel so strong when you walk out of here. I think it’s definitely unusual for people to go to a fitness studio and hear nothing about weight and the way you look. . . We understand that it can take a lot to show up here and however you’re feeling—whether you’re excited or you’re feeling self-conscious—we want to let you know that you’re exactly where you need to be and on your own timing. We’re just happy you showed up here.”

Interested in trying barre3 for yourself? Sign up for your free first workout at barre3.com/studio-locations/salem.