RAISING THE BARRE

MARIEL V. PAIN is raising the barre. Discovering barre3 Online while at home, she did the full body, balanced workouts right at her very own kitchen counter with her toddlers and newborn in tow. The former marathon runner, triathlete, and yoga instructor fell in love with how challenging and uplifting the workouts were so much so that in 2017, she opened a barre3 in Clarendon Hills—right in her own neighborhood.

What has been the most significant barrier in your career and how have you persevered? The pandemic encouraged me to think beyond our studio walls and reimagine ways our community could grow. Embracing that growth mindset has been essential to our resilience. Clients can livestream classes and bring us with them during travel thanks to our extensive on-demand library. We added two new class styles—strength and cardio—to supplement our signature classes. These changes have elevated the value of our membership.

What are you most proud of doing? I’m proud to be a rebel within the fitness industry. The intention behind our classes extends far beyond the mirror image. Our classes demonstrate and redefine the joy of movement and our instructors help people feel uplifted, encouraged to grow, energized, and empowered from within.

What meaningful lesson did you learn in your first job? Prior to opening barre3, I was a school social worker. In that role, I committed to honor the value of genuinely listening to connect with others. As the studio owner of barre3, it’s important that my team members and my clients feel seen and heard. I have compassion for the story behind each person whom I have the privilege to meet at the studio.

For more information, visit barre3.com/clarendonhills.