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

Emily , appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

My name is Emily Moody and I am a mom, a wife, an exercise and adventure enthusiast, and now – a business owner. A wanna-be lawyer turned editor, it seems very far-fetched that I would now be a part of a global fitness brand but that is where I find myself today; and I couldn’t be more in awe of or more grateful for my path. My journey down this road started in 2012 when I started taking barre-based fitness classes at a new little place in Savannah, GA called Pure Barre. And fell IN LOVE, with both the workout and the community. I stuck with it, sneaking in as many classes/week as I could find time for, and started down the path to being the strongest and most fit version of myself. The super-effective workout and even more amazing community won my heart and I realized: women (moms, wives, daughters, sisters, workers, etc.) do NOT take care of themselves. We pour into others and give until there is nothing left. And that is not OK – Pure Barre showed me that self-care is not selfish – it’s survival. Not only am I able to keep up with the physical demands of raising 4 kids and hang with them on all sorts of adventures, but I have a healthy outlet for my stress and a place to go that is MINE. The community is a sisterhood, a family, of encouragers and motivators, and cheerleaders. Are we a clique? YES, WE ARE! But the beauty of Pure Barre is…anyone can join! We are inclusive community and anyone who walks through our doors is valued and supported. And who doesn’t need that in their life?!

So that brings me to the fall of 2019 when I began to feel restless, like I was missing something. My publishing career was going well, I had a steady gig and some fun side freelances projects. But I felt the universe calling, and one day in November, it hit me: open a Pure Barre studio! I immediately did some digging (googling!) and got the ball rolling. Before I knew it, I was on a plane to LA, going to interview with Xponential Fitness, the parent company of Pure Barre. It was surreal – the headquarters was everything you would imagine a cutting-edge fitness company in Orange County to be and the business plan seemed doable. I was hooked, totally sold, and there was no going back!

I hit it off with the corporate team, had an absolute blast with everyone out in CA. I applied for the franchise and was quickly approved – everything seemed so perfect! I had applied for a couple of smaller towns close to Savannah, all within an hour, and I had already started planning how I would pull it off. But then the bomb dropped – no open territories near Savanah. The closest? Summerville, SC, a suburb of Charleston. WHAAAT! I could NOT believe this was happening, it seemed so crazy that after so many green lights, I’d hit such a roadblock. I made the trip to Summerville as soon as I was able to and started to explore this little town. And of course, it was love at first sight! Summerville is a booming southern town, close to Charleston, but with a personality all her own. Totally alive with so many fun community events, traditions, and opportunities – I knew fairly quickly that Summerville was for me. However, to those on the outside, it sounded INSANE. How was I going to open and run a business 2 hours from my home, with my 4 kids and husband’s insane schedule!? I would be lying if I didn’t say I had a lot of naysayers and doubters, even among my close friends and family. But I knew that my studio was meant for me, and I was determined to make it happen! With my family’s support, an army of good babysitters, and a whole lot of prayer, my 5th baby, Pure Barre Summerville, was born. We purchased the license for Summerville on 12/31/19 and I immediately started working to find a location to begin the build-out. And then in late February/early March the pandemic hit and my dreams and plans, along with those of the rest of the world, came to a halt. But nevertheless I persisted, and in May of 2021, our doors opened for classes. But now looking back, I can see the beauty in the timing of it all as now there is an unprecedented focus on health and wellness as well as a critical need for community and connection. The Pure Barre life affords both, and it is a true honor and privilege of my life to have started this Pure Barre family in Summerville. My best advise to anyone starting out is to follow your gut and do what you love. No way not to win!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Pure Barre is a boutique fitness brand on its 21st year, dominating and setting the barre (ahem) for barre fitness classes. In the most simple terms, we are a fifty-minute, full-body workout in an inspiring and motivating community. Our mission is simple: we want EVERYONE at Pure Barre Summerville to find their strong and know: You ARE stronger than you think! The following is on all employment contracts and it perfectly expresses what we are all about:

“The Pure Barre community is unique in its interest in and support of each and every member and employee, seeking to make a positive impact on individuals and the community in all areas of life. The signing of this agreement constitutes a deep commitment to this community and its mission and work, where kindness, inclusivity, and positivity guide all behaviors and decisions. We will work together to make Pure Barre Summerville a place of great strength, progress, encouragement, and growth for everyone who comes our way.”

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Managing a team was the area in which I was least prepared to tackle (that and the books!). I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a book called Everyone Deserves a Great Manager by Scott Miller, and it changed my life. My philosophy is more “employees come first” than “clients” come first, and it has paid off. I’ve made a few bad calls, waited a little too long to let people go, and had some hard conversations but at the end of the day, I have a team of strong, motivated, FUN, and incredibly strong women who are all united in their love for each other and the studio!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Of course the pandemic. Everyone’s favorite pivot story. BUT in my case it’s truer than true. I planned to open my studio in the late spring of 2020, attending what would end up being the last in person owner training at our corporate headquarters in CA in mid-February 2020. A few weeks later, everything stopped. My plans were on an indefinite hold. But I was more fortunate than some – my doors were not open, I was not incurring any cost or debt, and when my studio finally opened in May of 2021, people were more ready than ever to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, take care of themselves, and find community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.purebarre.com
• Instagram: Purebarresummerville
• Facebook: Pure Barre (Summerville)
• Linkedin: emily-moodyPureBarreSummerville
• Other: https://pbsummerville.com/