Pure Barre McLean
By: Nyomi Fox
Pure Barre is a well-known company to exercise enthusiasts, as it was founded nearly two
decades ago. But Pure Barre was not native to McLean, at least not until its opening on Valentine’s Day
2014. In order to learn more about Pure Barre in McLean, we interviewed General Manager and Lead
Instructor Gabrielle Marrapodi.
With Pure Barre, Marrapodi oversees all operational and marketing aspects of the studio, with the
intention of bringing “the best” to McLean. She has been a teacher for Pure Barre for three years now,
being certified to teach all forms of the class.
But what exactly is Pure Barre? According to Marrapodi, the company is “for any body, any
fitness level” — as long as the participant is at least 16-years-old. The classes are “more than a workout”
in which “women and men share a sense of community that inspires and empowers each other’s fitness
and lifestyle goals.” The company’s wish is that each participant feels stronger and more empowered than
they did when they walked in the doors.
For Marrapodi personally, the most rewarding aspect of being a part of this business is exactly
that: watching people become more “empowered, confident, and strong” — mentally and physically. The
audience is far from homogenous, as Marrapodi describes the various characters who show up to class.
“We see the working parent that gets to recharge, the school student that closes their laptop to
focus on their mental health, the person staying after class to socialize with others leaving with a smile
and a glisten of hard earned sweat on their face.”
People who don’t know the company well tend to assume it is just one of those workout classes
that are for specific body types, specific athletic abilities, and specific genders. Contrary to those
misconceptions, Pure Barre is fully accessible for anyone. Their technique, in Marrapodi’s words, is to
“meet your needs.” Another misconception is that Pure Barre only offers one type of barre class. There
are actually other classes designed to train peoples’ bodies in other forms. These alternative classes
include Classic, Pure Reform, Pure Empower, and Intensives.
With all of their current success, what does Marrapodi hope for the future of Pure Barre?
“I hope that we continue to offer a safe and welcoming space for the McLean community. We
have an incredible team and group of members who have supported us through the past few years, so we
hope we can continue to support our community right back with exceptional classes, studio events, and
celebrations!”
