We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalia Stamm. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalia below.

Natalia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

When I came back to barre3 after having my baby, the owner greeted me with a big hug and told me, “I’m so glad you’re back!” It made me feel so special to have a place where I belonged coming out of maternity leave. I purchased the studio a year later, and I have made it my goal to make barre3 a welcoming space for everyone who walks in the door. I want to give my clients the same feeling of belonging as the previous studio owner made me feel.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I have been teaching group exercise classes since 2009, first in Chicago and now in Kansas City. I was a founding instructor at the barre3 Kansas City studio, which opened in 2017, and became the studio owner in 2019. We offer 45- and 60-minute group exercise classes as well as childcare during some class times.

Barre3 is an efficient and effective workout that combines strength, cardio, and mindfulness. Our classes set us apart from others because they are low-impact and adaptable to all fitness levels. We give you a sweaty, challenging workout while encouraging you to listen to your body and take modifications to avoid injury.

Traditional fitness touts exercise as a means to change ourselves, making each workout a battle against our bodies. At barre3, instead of exercising to meet an end goal, we exercise to be present in our bodies. When we exercise to honor our bodies and give them what they need, we create a healthy relationship based on love, not shame.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I purchased my studio in November 2019, 4 months before the shut down due to the Covid pandemic. The studio was closed for 2 months, and right away I had to pivot. We had never livestreamed our classes before, so I had to learn how to coordinate everything, from sending Zoom links to troubleshooting sound and video. I purchased USB bluetooth microphone headsets for each of my instructors and dropped them off at their homes so they could teach in their living rooms or bedrooms. When I was able to re-open the studio, we had to wear masks and our studio capacity was limited, so I had to space out the spots in the studio. I purchased two webcams and a mixer in order to livestream from the studio. I learned a lot of unexpected things in my first year of studio ownership!

Even now, 2.5 years later I am still pivoting as I adjust to my clients needs. The one constant in life is change and as a business owner I have learned that if I can shift and adapt to those changes, I’ll be better off.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I have found that sometimes people are intimidated by barre3 classes, or they think our classes are similar to other barre classes. The most effective strategy I have found for growing my clientele is offering free or low-price pop up classes so that people try barre3 in a less intimidating atmosphere. I have been teaching a free monthly outdoor class at our the Brookside farmers’ market, as well as a monthly pop-up class at a J. Rieger & Co, a distillery in Kansas City. The class at the distillery is $15 and includes a drink. I have found that these classes bring in new people who may have not come to the studio for their first class otherwise, but after they take class they are willing to come to the studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: barre3.com/kansascity
• Instagram: instagram.com/barre3kansascity
• Facebook: facebook.com/barre3KC
• Other: [email protected] 816-569-2078 18 W. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64113

Image Credits
Anna Petrow