Connie Crane is bringing one of the hottest new fitness routines, Barre Strength, to Saratoga Springs. Attracting a celebrity clientele, this mishmash of trending exercises is all the rage in California and New York City and Crane said Spa City is the perfect place to start spreading it to the Northeast.
The sophistication of the routine is what makes it attractive to a wide range of people, said Crane, and also what makes it the perfect fit for a region known for its classy and quaint atmosphere.
People are running, walking, jogging through Saratoga and everyone is so into health. I wanted to bring this here because it’s so sophisticated and I think would fit in with the setting, said Crane.
Crane grew up in Saratoga and went to Skidmore College. She spent several years in the consulting and lobbying business, which is where she discovered fitness routines that kept her relaxed.
`I always found working out had been a major stress relief in the male dominated world of lobbying. I’d gone to spas and found it essential and calming to keep healthy and focused,` said Crane. `I had an office in Manhattan and kept hearing about a studio called Physique 57. Then I went to Kentucky and did my first barre strength workout at a similar studio. I said ‘Oh my God, what is this?’ I went online and decided to open a studio of my own.`
It was around this time that she got ill and switched her focus from what she was doing for the rest of her life to doing nothing else but living. She said this turned out to be something of a turning point because she buckled down to make her dream happen. She picked the place that feels `most like home` as ground zero and secured 468 Broadway right above Max London’s as the spot for a mirrored studio with hardwood floors.
`Anyone can go in and take this, even if they’ve never done it before; that’s how I started. They will walk out and say ‘this is all the things I’ve done or heard about in one hell of a workout.’ We do some things on the ballet barre that are very complimentary to all the areas a woman is concerned about,` said Crane.
If Crane was going to do this, she was going to do it all the way, she said. This meant training her instructors with the very best`a woman named Andrea Fornarola who worked at Physique 57 before founding her own fitness center.
`It’s pretty user friendly and good to have what we call a mind-body connection. The best part is that [Crane’s] instructors are really well trained and all great at explaining exercises, which makes taking classes a much better experience to people new to this,` said Fornarola.
Fornarola has taught clients like Kelly Ripa, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kirsten Dunst, as well as other successful women like photographers and Vogue editors. She said the routine is geared toward women but men do it too.
`It’s similar to dance but without the pressure of performing well and you really don’t need to know how to dance to do it. Once I started I wanted to do it as often as possible because it never gets easier and you see quick results,` said Fornarola.
Quick results and sophistication are what makes Fornarola sure Barre Strength will take off in Saratoga Springs.
`It’s fun and that’s what attracts. All you need is an hour and you can get a total body workout. You use your own body’s weight to reshape and define muscles and the music is fun,` said Fornarola, who designed the routine herself.
The workout is a combination of Pilates, yoga, isometrics and a little weight and mat work. Barre Strength will be open seven days a week and has four instructors.
Crane will offer a free class on Thursday, May 27, at noon and is looking to offer a couple others before the studio officially opens on June 1. On Friday, June 11, Barre Strength will host an opening party at 7 p.m.
Crane said she encourages people to check out barrestrengthny.com to get a sense of what the workout is all about, and she’s excited to see how her first clients like it.
`It’s been a long journey and it’s kind of my baby. Exercise is so important because men and women need a place to go where they can focus on something that makes them feel and look good; somewhere they can go and leave their stuff at the door and leave happy,` said Crane. `I want the studio to have good karma, I’m a big believer in that.`
Crane said the classes are appropriate for anyone 18 and up and 16 year olds can come with a parent. While the program garners high profile enthusiasts with deep pockets, Crane said she wanted to be sure she didn’t charge more than residents could afford. Classes are $17 and $10 for students. Package deals for 10 days, a month or even small private classes are available at a cheaper price.
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