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The Darien location is the third Pure Barre opened in Fairfield County by Laura Laboissonniere, who also has studios in Westport and Fairfield. Laboissonniere co-owns the Darien studio with Kristin McClutchy, a Darien resident and a former teacher from the Westport studio.
“Pure Barre combines pilates, strength training and yoga in one 55-minute exercise,” Laboissonniere said. “It’s based around a series of isometric movements that lengthen, shape and tony the body, utilizing a ballet barre for resistance and support.”
The workouts at Pure Barre are designed for any fitness level and any age group, she said. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, Laboissonniere first tried Pure Barre when she was living in Florida and said it offered her something she hadn’t found in other workout routines.
“I loved it. I went about 26 times in 30 days and I was in the best shape of my life,” she said. “It’s such a different workout. It really just changed my life.”
She moved to Connecticut and opened her first Pure Barre in Westport in 2013. She said the classes have been popular and well-received.
“We host a lot of community events. A lot of people will stay around afterwards and hang out. It creates kind of a community around fitness, people do really make friends at Pure Barre.”
While the Pure Barre method is primarily directed at women, some men also do it and are surprised at the intensity of the workout, she said. There are also modified Pure Barre classes for women who are pregnant but do not want to have to give up their fitness lifestyles. McClutchy is currently pregnant and said that she has been able to continue to work out up to four times a week.
“It’s definitely helped me maintain my weight. I haven’t had back pains and I’ve been able to strengthen my muscles,” McClutchy said.
The Darien Pure Barre studio opened in November and celebrated with a ribbon cutting this week. The studio is located in the Noroton Heights Shopping Center and is open seven days a week.
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