I was so excited to meet Katie in-person when I took my first barre3 class a couple of months ago. She was SO sweet and her studio was amazing. The staff was friendly, the amenities are so nice and they even offer childcare! Best of all, the class was fun, HARD and you felt the energy from the packed room. I have done other Barre classes previously, but nothing beats this type of class. It’s more upbeat and fast-paced, which I love. Oh and the music was also engaging which made the class fly by! Bottom line, I highly recommend taking trial class. Enjoy reading Katie’s full interview below. She and I have the same taste when it comes to our favorite restaurants.
Instagram Handle / Facebook Page
@ktheaps // @barre3belleviewstation
Briefly introduce yourself!
I’m a busy Mom of two amazing children, wife, lululemon ambassador, and small business owner in South Denver.
How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
2 kiddos: daughter, Morgan, age 6 // son, Nolan, age 2
Where do you live in South Denver exactly? If not South Denver, where?
We live in the Wellshire neighborhood of South Denver. My daughter Morgan started Kindergarten at Slavens this Fall and my son just started pre-school. We feel so lucky to live in a neighborhood with such an amazing (Blue Ribbon) DPS K-8 School!
What’s your favorite family friendly activity in South Denver?
We have pretty young kids, so for us it’s tough to beat all the amazing parks in South Denver (our favorite is Westlands), but our family also loves to attend events and games at DU. Both of our kids are part of the DU Gymnastics program, so we love to spend time on campus on the weekends cheering on the athletes and even watching them practice!
What’s your favorite kid friendly restaurant in South Denver?
Our weekend favorite is Devil’s Food for breakfast! The service is fast, my kids love their mickey mouse pancakes, they provide crayons, and it’s loud 🙂 We also love Homegrown Tap & Dough and Patxi’s Pizza – the kids love to play with the pizza dough while we wait.
What’s your favorite date night restaurant in Denver (not just South Denver)?
This is so tough! We’re big foodies, so getting out on the town to eat is a big treat for us. Tavernetta is probably our very favorite, followed closely by some of our other loves like Fruition, Potager, and Mercantile.
What’s the best mom and/or parenting advice you’ve received?
Everything is temporary – teething, illness, tantrums, etc. The hard times don’t last forever so take a deep breath and get through the moment.
What inspires you?
I opened barre3 Belleview Station in February of 2017. It’s been an incredible journey from client to studio owner — full of sacrifice, risk, grit, and personal growth. But the rewards are endless and my cup (and inspiration) overflows daily with profound purpose, joy, and fulfillment. I have been blessed with the most talented, hilarious, and down-to-earth staff of amazing humans — they make it all happen. Not only am I inspired by them, but equally by the most kind-hearted, whip smart, gracious community of clients who have made barre3 Belleview Station what it is today.
You started barre3. Tell us more!
Where do I begin! Barre3 has changed my life. First as a client — where I felt connected to a community with a higher purpose and fell in love with a workout that was challenging, fun, adaptable, and most importantly — felt GOOD and sustainable for my body. The next chapter as a studio owner has been nothing short of transformational on both a personal and professional level. Barre3 is a second home to many of our clients who come not only take a remarkable class that leaves them feeling sweaty, empowered, strong, and centered, but it is also a place where they can count on being accepted and seen for who they are, a safe space for healing and growth, and a community that supports them as they strive to become the best version of themselves.
What inspired you to start barre3?
As a competitive Division I tennis player and a business major in college, it was always my goal to work in the sports marketing field. I first fell in love with barre3 as a workout (and as a wellness brand) when I started as a client over 7 years ago.I was fortunate to be able to practice barre3 throughout my pregnancy which I fully attribute my ability to recover quickly post-baby. Barre3 offers modifications for not only pre/post-natal, but for injury recovery, and any athletic ability. But it is the empowering, supportive, and kind community that inspired me to grow barre3 in South Denver.
What is the best career/business advice you’ve ever received?
Find what it is you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.
What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?
In my case, it’s living out my passion. My “work” doesn’t ever feel like work. Barre3 Belleview Station is a passion project and a labor of love. I feel eternally grateful that I have found my calling and that I get to live out my dreams alongside my favorite people – my staff.
What has been your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?
Work-life balance is by far the greatest challenge I have as a small business owner. It’s difficult for me to hold myself accountable to boundaries. I do most of my computer work from home and it’s challenging for me to shut it down at night, over the weekends, or even on vacation. My business is very personal and means a great deal to me, so everything *feels* important. Some days are better than others in this department!
What do you do for self-care?
I work my body pretty hard as a fitness instructor, so I do my best to maintain it. I get deep tissue massage therapy twice a month to keep up with my tight, sore muscles. My other body self-care includes pedicures, hair, and skincare. I would include taking classes as “a client” in my own studio as a huge part of my self-care weekly regimen. It’s important for me to be able to unplug, sweat, and be present for an hour of my day. I have an amazing, hilarious, and supportive group of friends and fellow Moms who I can always rely on for support, lots of laughs, and wine!
What is your best mom hack?
We turned our formal dining room on the main floor of our house into a Play Room for the kids. It was a room that was hardly ever used, and with their own dedicated play space it keeps the rest of our main floor toy-free. We can keep an eye on them while we cook, do laundry, etc. I love that our home doesn’t feel like it has been taken over by Fisher-Price!
Is there anything else about you and/or your business you want to highlight?
At barre3 we offer childcare! We have a dedicated and loving staff who cares for babies as young as 6 weeks and up to age 6. We offer Play Lounge at 22 of our 36 classes, Monday – Saturday, for as low as $4 per child per visit.
