Barre Rev, a new fitness studio, has recently opened on Mercer Island, replacing The Dailey Method in studio space located in the Aviara building in downtown Mercer Island.

If you’ve never been to a “barre” class, one of the distinguishing features is the use of a ballet barre and the incorporation of ballet-style movements, along with aspects of yoga, pilates, plyometrics, strength training, and cardio.

Focused on fitness, massage, and wellness, Barre Rev classes incorporate all types of movement, and instructors use their creativity in designing and leading exercises, while they maintain core barre elements of safety and alignment.

New Studio Owner, Kaelyn Adams

Owner and instructor Kaelyn Adams brings her background in yoga, massage, and coaching into the new workout studio. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology from Argosy University. She has traveled and lived in Italy, Australia, Arizona, and Colorado.

In Arizona, she was an active distance runner and triathlete, and when she moved back to Seattle in 2010, she became a running coach to help others achieve their goals. During her coaching, she discovered she needed to strengthen her running stabilizing muscles and discovered her passion for barre.

“Barre is the balance to my life,” she said. “It’s like light physical therapy, but with music and friends.”

Pictured above, Adams began teaching at The Dailey Method in 2015 and during the subsequent four years as an instructor, she also became certified in teaching spinning in 2015 and yoga – achieving her RYT® 200 certification – in early 2018. In late 2018, The Dailey Method franchise agreement ended, and the former owners decided to consolidate their operations at their Bothell location.

Considering the new ownership opportunity, Adams was at first apprehensive to take on the challenge. Ultimately she decided instead of continuing The Dailey Method brand, she wanted to transform the studio into a new space that allows for instructors’ personalities to shine through their varied class formats. She also wanted the chance to branch out and use her creativity in new ways.

“Everything I do is physical,” said Adams, who also has 12 years of experience as a massage therapist, in addition to being a running coach and fitness instructor. She considered, “What would it look like to create something around all of all of these experiences?”

On January 14th, the Barre Rev studio officially opened, and Adams is excited about the unique space it continues to offer the Mercer Island community.

“Mercer Island already has fitness studios,” she said. “I want to focus on barre and keep a great relationship with [The Dailey Method] clients moving forward.”

Additionally, Adams is excited about collaborating with local studios rather than competing, as Barre Rev offers a specialized experience unlike nearby studios.

“Any way we can cross-promote with other studios and offer supplemental classes is great for everyone,” she said.

Choose the best workout class for you

While many barre studios offer one or two class formats, Barre Rev offers five different fitness classes so everyone can find a class that fits their needs.

If you’ve never taken a barre class, start with the Foundations class, which isolates each movement and walks students through the steps to compartmentalize traditional postures. The movements are led at a slower pace to allow students to focus on the contraction of each muscle.

In contrast, the Sculpt class incorporates more combo movements and requires more coordination with challenging postures. The incorporation of both upper- and lower-body movements helps develop total-body alignment and building lean muscle mass.

Additional class formats include Rev, Core, and Express. Barre Rev also offers a Buti Yoga + Hot Core class and is introducing a men’s-only boot camp that focuses on building stabilizing muscles often overlooked in workouts created for men.

“I want everyone to be able to come to class and feel successful,” Adams said.

Adams plans to add new class formats as her studio community evolves and as requested by her clients. In addition to barre classes, Barre Rev offers massage services as an add-on to their class lineup.

Community involvement beyond the barre

Adams’ vision for Barre Rev spans far beyond the studio doors. Within the studio space, she’s eager to involve clients in the community, from celebrating members’ birthdays to highlighting individual instructors on social media outside of how students may know them in the studio.

Beyond the client community, Adams wants to bring her and her husband’s philanthropy work into play. She’s been involved with fundraising for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and hopes to incorporate fundraising efforts for this foundation and other community organizations. She also envisions initiatives like food and clothing drives or adopt-a-family into the studio community.

“There’s more than fitness; it’s about giving back, too,” Adams said.

Building a strong center for community among clients is crucial for Adams.

You’re invited to the Barre Rev Grand Opening!

To celebrate their grand opening and thank the Mercer Island community for their support, Barre Rev is hosting an open house event on Saturday, March 16 in their studio.

Everyone is invited to stop by from 3 to 5 pm to ask questions, tour the studio, and enter a raffle to win door prizes.

For more details, visit the Barre Rev website >>

[Images courtesy Kaelyn Adams/Barre Rev]