Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Moody.
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?
My name is Emily Moody and I am a mom, a wife, an exercise and adventure enthusiast, and now – a business owner. A wanna-be lawyer turned editor, it seems very far-fetched that I would now be a part of a global fitness brand but that is where I find myself today; and I couldn’t be more in awe of or more grateful for my path. My journey down this road started in 2012 when I started taking barre-based fitness classes at a new little place in Savannah, GA called Pure Barre. And fell IN LOVE, with both the workout and the community. I stuck with it, sneaking in as many classes/week as I could find time for, and started down the path to being the strongest and most fit version of myself. The super-effective workout and even more amazing community won my heart and I realized: women (moms, wives, daughters, sisters, workers, etc.) do NOT take care of themselves. We pour into others and give until there is nothing left. And that is not OK – Pure Barre showed me that self-care is not selfish – it’s survival. Not only am I able to keep up with the physical demands of raising 4 kids and hang with them on all sorts of adventures, but I have a healthy outlet for my stress and a place to go that is MINE. The community is a sisterhood, a family, of encouragers and motivators, and cheerleaders. Are we a clique? YES, WE ARE! But the beauty of Pure Barre is…anyone can join! We are inclusive community and anyone who walks through our doors is valued and supported. And who doesn’t need that in their life?!
So that brings me to the fall of 2019 when I began to feel restless, like I was missing something. My publishing career was going well, I had a steady gig and some fun side freelances projects. But I felt the universe calling, and one day in November, it hit me: open a Pure Barre studio! I immediately did some digging (googling!) and got the ball rolling. Before I knew it, I was on a plane to LA, going to interview with Xponential Fitness, the parent company of Pure Barre. It was surreal – the headquarters was everything you would imagine a cutting-edge fitness company in Orange County to be and the business plan seemed doable. I was hooked, totally sold, and there was no going back!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I hit it off with the corporate team, had an absolute blast with everyone out in CA. I applied for the franchise and was quickly approved – everything seemed so perfect! I had applied for a couple of smaller towns close to Savannah, all within an hour, and I had already started planning how I would pull it off. But then the bomb dropped – no open territories near Savanah. The closest? Summerville, SC, a suburb of Charleston. WHAAAT! I could NOT believe this was happening, it seemed so crazy that after so many green lights, I’d hit such a roadblock. I made the trip to Summerville as soon as I was able to and started to explore this little town. And of course, it was love at first sight! Summerville is a booming southern town, close to Charleston, but with a personality all her own. Totally alive with so many fun community events, traditions, and opportunities – I knew fairly quickly that Summerville was for me. However, to those on the outside, it sounded INSANE. How was I going to open and run a business 2 hours from my home, with my 4 kids and husband’s insane schedule!? I would be lying if I didn’t say I had a lot of naysayers and doubters, even among my close friends and family. But I knew that my studio was meant for me, and I was determined to make it happen! With my family’s support, an army of good babysitters, and a whole lot of prayer, my 5th baby, Pure Barre Summerville, was born. We purchased the license for Summerville on 12/31/19 and I immediately started working to find a location to begin the build-out. And then in late February/early March the pandemic hit and my dreams and plans, along with those of the rest of the world, came to a halt. But nevertheless I persisted, and in May of 2021, our doors opened for classes. But now looking back, I can see the beauty in the timing of it all as now there is an unprecedented focus on health and wellness as well as a critical need for community and connection. The Pure Barre life affords both, and it is a true honor and privilege of my life to have started this Pure Barre family in Summerville.
We’ve been impressed with Pure Barre Summerville, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our mission is simple: we want EVERYONE at Pure Barre Summerville to find their strong and know: You ARE stronger than you think! The following is on all employment contracts and it perfectly expresses what we are all about:
“The Pure Barre community is unique in its interest in and support of each and every member and employee, seeking to make a positive impact on individuals and the community in all areas of life. The signing of this agreement constitutes a deep commitment to this community and its mission and work, where kindness, inclusivity, and positivity guide all behaviors and decisions. We will work together to make Pure Barre Summerville a place of great strength, progress, encouragement, and growth for everyone who comes our way.”
How do you define success?
First of all, we want everyone to get stronger, first physically, then mentally. Our job is to support and coach, and watch the transformation that takes place when busy people—mostly women—make the commitment to good health. It changes lives. Secondly, I believe that you are only as successful as the people on your team. At PB Summerville we have THE BEST team. I have been very careful about who I bring on and have mostly followed my heart. And so far, it’s been amazing to see it come together. We have an incredible team who are all united in the mission but we all bring different strengths and experiences to the table. Empowered women empower women and we want to be a place where the people of Summerville can come and grow, make themselves proud, and be a blessing others.
Contact Info:
- Email: Emoody@purebarre.com
- Website: www.purebarre.com
- Instagram: Purebarresummerville
