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Westport Woman Sets The 'Barre' For Fairfield Fitness Community

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- As residents head into the final stretches of 2014, many may begin to consider New Year's resolutions to eat better, live healthier and get into shape in 2015. And a new fitness facility in Fairfield may be the answer. 

Owner Laura Laboissonniere sets her Pure Barre studio apart from others by hand picking all of the clothing and accessories available for purchase at her studio in Fairfield.

Owner Laura Laboissonniere sets her Pure Barre studio apart from others by hand picking all of the clothing and accessories available for purchase at her studio in Fairfield.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
The new Pure Barre studio is in the Brick Walk in Fairfield.

The new Pure Barre studio is in the Brick Walk in Fairfield.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
The new Pure Barre studio is in the Brick Walk in Fairfield.

The new Pure Barre studio is in the Brick Walk in Fairfield.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio

Laura Laboissonniere of Westport believes her newest Pure Barre studio at the Brick Walk in Fairfield, will provide fitness newcomers and junkies alike with a great workout.

“The Pure Barre workout combines Pilates, strength training and yoga in one 50-minute class,” Laboissonniere said.

From triathletes to pregnant women, and 18- to 70-year-olds, she and her 15 professionally trained teachers have you covered.

“One of the best things about Pure Barre is that it is low impact, and you will start seeing results in about 10 classes,” Head Trainer and Assistant Manager Nicole Buyskes said. Both she and Laboissonniere said the workout, with a core based in ballet, is so low impact, many clients will take the class before work without having to shower after because “they don’t break a sweat and still get a great workout.”

According to Buyskes, who taught ballet for more than 20 years, the Pure Barre workout helps build strength, tone muscle and can help burn 500 to 800 calories in one session.

“It’s a great way to stay in shape without bulking up,” she said.

Laboissonniere believes in the Pure Barre workout so much so that she moved to Westport last year from Florida for the sole purpose of bringing the growing franchise to the area. As a former client, Laboissonniere has seen her work transform her clients' lives, many of whom have either come on board to work with her or who are simply “like family now.”

Fairfield’s Pure Barre had a soft opening in June and is the second of three franchises Laboissonniere has opened in the last year, with other locations in Darien and the first in Westport.

Susan Martin of Westport, who helps run the front desk at the Fairfield studio, said she was once a client of the Westport Studio before becoming an employee.

“I always wanted to try Pure Barre, but the closest one was in Greenwich which is too far for me to drive to every time I wanted to work out,” Martin said, before walking into the studio for Wednesday’s noon class. “As a person who exercises, I saw results in the first four classes, and was immediately hooked.”

And while Laboissonniere said the majority of her clients are working women and mothers, the classes are open for men as well.

Paul Faucher said he has been working out for 15 years and is a certified personal trainer who admits the ballet-inspired workout is harder than many may think.

“I’ve been working out my whole life… I’ve bulked up, I’ve been one of the strongest people you’ve ever seen and even I was intimidated by [Pure Barre’s] workout,” Faucher said. “It’s difficult, but you want to be challenged when you work out, otherwise, what’s the point?”

For more information on Fairfield’s Pure Barre Studio, including a complete list of classes, click here.

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