Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Ried
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I had never gone to a group fitness class until The Bar Method Houston-Montrose and was blown away by the accountability that comes with it. The Bar Method workout has such attention to detail – from the music to the instruction to the order of exercises, that I quickly became addicted. After taking classes for six months, I became a Bar Method instructor in 2015, teaching classes before and after my corporate 8-5 job and on the weekends.
Over the next couple of years, owning a Bar Method location became my dream job, so when the owner of the Montrose studio approached me that she was interested in selling, I was determined to make it work! The studio manager, Claudia Conner, and I went in together to purchase the Montrose studio together and closed in February of 2020. Five days later, my business partner went on maternity leave and a month after that, the whole world shut down due to the pandemic. I went from being the co-owner of a thriving business to needing to adapt and shift in ways the fitness industry never had before.
We were lucky to continue to operate with online classes during the mandated shutdown, and when we reopened about six weeks later, we had a very modified version of classes compared to before. Over the next couple of years, restrictions were peeled back and we started to feel like we were back on decent footing. It was around that time that Dana Abramovitz approached me about selling The Bar Method Houston-Memorial.
Dana was a client at the Montrose location when I was an instructor, and she opened the Memorial location in 2018. Dana did an incredible job keeping a fledgling studio afloat when the pandemic hit but was ready to move on to other business ventures. So, my husband and I became the proud owners of The Bar Method Houston-Memorial in January 2023.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
2020 was by far the most challenging time in my career to date, and I hope to never face anything like it again!
Additionally, when I first became the owner of the Memorial location, I had to teach over 12 classes a week while hiring and training 3 new instructors (which takes 3-6 months each). This was a lot to take on in addition to my other studio and various day-to-day tasks. It was completely worth the hustle though – it was a lot of work upfront but helped me in the long run. Plus, my instructor team is incredible and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Bar Method Houston?
The Bar Method is known for precise technique and exceptional expertise, but more importantly, we are known for making people feel strong. Exercises are carefully crafted under the guidance of physical therapists and taught by instructors who are known for their yes-you-can encouragement, attentive observation, and mastery of The Method.
If you’re worried about not having a dance background or barre experience, don’t be! You can show up as you are, whether you’re brand new to barre, in a fitness rut, or exercising with injuries—we’ll work with you to reach your goals.
Our classic Bar Method class kicks off with a warm-up and upper-body exercises before heading to the barre where your lower body will get familiar with The Bar Method burn and shake! Core exercises on the floor round out class followed by a final stretch. You’ll fall in love with the quick pace and high energy of your first Bar Method class without ever feeling left behind.
In addition to our OG method, we have additional class formats: Bar Strength for weight training, Bar Cardio for an aerobic boost, Bar Flow for a barre/yoga fusion, and Bar Restore for extra stretching.
Starting September 6 to the end of the year, we have an amazing offer for new clients where you can buy 2 weeks of unlimited classes and get 1 week free for $49! It’s the perfect way to try our different classes and instructors over 3 weeks with no commitment afterward.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. A small business owner wears a ton of hats, but if there’s something that you struggle with or doesn’t excite you – find someone who can help! Even if it’s just talking through ideas with someone else. You don’t have to go it alone.
Pricing:
- New Client Special: 3 weeks unlimited for $49
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barmethod.com/houston-memorial
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebarmethodhoustonmemorial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarmethodhoustonmemorial
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bar-method-houston-memorial-houston-2
Image Credits
Vincent Mercer Jr.
