Bar Method: 10 YEARS STRONG
After 10 years in business, Bar Method Fairfield continues to be a staple in our community. Sisters Bridget McBride and Caitlin Giambalvo opened their doors to Fairfield on New Years Day 2014, excited and extremely nervous for the future ahead. Believe it or not, barre was not a familiar workout style for the east coast at the time. Bridget, a lover of fitness, had been teaching barre for six years in Hermosa Beach before she had the idea to bring this amazing workout home to Fairfield.
The method combines a low impact mix of yoga, pilates and ballet to strengthen and lengthen muscles. Everything is to a beat. Everything is repetition. Everything is isometric. Because, as you know (if you’ve ever taken a class), tiny movements create big results!
“Not only does it reshape your entire body, but it allows you to channel your inner strength and leave class feeling strong, confident and posed.”
Bar Method actually had its beginnings in Westport. So the Fairfield location became almost like a rebirth of the brand for our communities. Bridget recalls stepping into the empty studio space which lives in the Sportsplex at 85 Mill Plain Road in Fairfield. Everything was bare, cold cement walls and piping lining the ceilings—but the vision was clear. What was most touching was how the community rallied to help them get off the ground. The gymnastics center next door let them run classes in their facility while the studio was being built out. They offered free classes to introduce the public to the “barre method”, garnering client registrations on the spot! That way, come opening day, they already had nearly 150 clients signed up! A clientele that has remained loyal, and has only continued to grow.
“This is a special place. It’s a safe space. It’s a place for people to feel strong and empowered, but also to feel vulnerable and be able to lean on each other. So, it’s become so much more than exercise.”
The studio continues to run like a well oiled machine. And that’s a direct result of our wonderful front desk crew and rockstar manager, Kitty, along with a dream team of instructors who motivate our clients and support each other. Whether it’s being a shoulder to cry on, covering a last minute class, or just being there for a chat—women supporting women is more important than anything in the workplace.
So, what’s next for Bar Method Fairfield? The lease is freshly signed for the next 5 years (holler!) and they’re waiting for you to join the next class! What’s even more exciting is that Bridget and Caitlin have taken their workout offerings to the next level. While their classic Bar Method will always be taught, the girls have realized that students are getting stronger and seeking even greater challenges. So be sure to check out their new formats: Bar Strength which includes weighted exercises from start to finish, and Bar Cardio, a heart-pumping sweat sesh.
Never to worry, Bar Method Fairfield will continue to offer their popular Express class, where you get an intense workout in a swift 45 minutes! Trust me, once you experience any Bar Method Fairfield classes, you’ll walk out ready to tackle your day — even those 5 laundry baskets overflowing with clean clothes that have been waiting for you to fold them for the past week….or two.
Ready to check them out?
Sweet! Not only can you get your first class FREE (use code FFDFREEBAR when purchasing a drop-in), but there’s a HUGE special going on for new Clients where you get your first month of unlimited classes for $75! Um, hello!!!!!
There is also an Open House slotted for February 3, 2024 from 8:30am - 11:30pm. Bridget and Caitlin will be teaching three Express classes that day, which are open to all levels. And, being the community supporters that they are, they have invited some amazing vendors to join them and showcase their products! As part of the lineup they have Ellie from Here For You, letter.story.bracelets, Box Of (crystals, vintage jewelry), Kelly & Crew, and Jessica representing oHHo CBD products! It’s going to be a blast. Register to join the Open House classes today!
Cheers to 10 years, Bar Method Fairfield — “TUCK YEAH!”
Be sure to follow:
https://barmethod.com/locations/fairfield/
Bonus…
Have you ever wondered what your fitness instructors do outside of teaching class to support their bodies on their wellness journey?
Caitlin:
“It’s a lot of work to run a fitness studio, and I absolutely love teaching, so it’s important that I make time for myself to take class 4-5 times a week. I also love treating myself at home with a very inexpensive, but beneficial, experience: epsom salt baths. It’s my peaceful little ritual a couple nights a week, and my husband and kids know to leave me be when I’m relaxing (moms and business owners know that doesn’t happen often!).”
Bridget:
“I am obsessed with chair massages. I go to this place, it’s just a nail salon, but they do the most amazing work. I drink a full 34 ounces of water before I even drink my first cup of coffee. CBD oil, magnesium, I’m into all of it. And finally, walking! I have found walking to be so therapeutic. I walk every day and try to do anywhere between three and five miles. I just love being outside (just bundle up and do it)! In the end, this is my time. Finding balance and prioritizing yourself is a huge deal. We spend so many years taking care of other people, that it’s a journey to come back to having to take care of yourself and be happy about it. Whether that’s through exercise or anything else in life, I feel like everybody needs to find that balance for themselves.”