Reading's Core Barre Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Core Barre on Woburn Street in Reading celebrated their one year anniversary in town last week. The studio offers classes that incorporate ballet, Pilates and general fitness concepts, Owner Kasie Sullivan said.

"But, by no means do you have to be a ballerina to take a class," she added.

Sullivan, a Reading resident, opened the studio last year on Sept. 12 in honor of her sister who passed away on the same day four years ago.

"For me personally it signifies a place for me to celebrate her," Sullivan said.

She decided to start the business because her background was in gymnastics and within the sport she had to take ballet classes.

"It was a little piece of everything that I liked about exercising," she said.

The Core Barre creator is from North Carolina, so Sullivan headed to Charlotte to get certified. As a prerequisite, she had to be certified as an athletic trainer by the American Counsel of Exercise (ACE).

Core Barre is low impact and high energy, according to Sullivan, and she "knew if people tried it, it would catch on."

She decide to take a chance at opening her own studio and now has over 100 clients who take weekly classes.

"It's a place where people can get a little bit of everything," she said.

They offer several different classes, and always have something new, but they are all barre focused. The studio provides a great environment for customers and is very comfortable, Sullivan said.

"It's like a family there," she told Patch.

The studio offers a monthly membership and customers choose a certain day of the week to take their class. One class per week costs $60 per month, two classes per week costs $105 per month and three classes per week costs $150 per month. If you would like to try out a class, drop in on Saturday at 7:30 or 8:30 a.m. and take one single class for $15.

They are flexible with makeup classes, Sullivan said. They try to keep about 15 people in a class to ensure an intimate setting in the studio that Sullivan and her staff call their "sanctuary."

"Visit our studio and you will experience a fun and unique workout that focuses on toning and sculpting the entire body in a safe, comfortable environment," Sullivan said.

Visit their website for more information and the class schedule and follow them on Facebook.