Body Sculpt Barre Studio is expanding and opening a second location at 18564 Magnolia Bridge Road, near Greenwell Springs Road, in Central.
The new studio is a franchise of the original Body Sculpt Barre Studio located at 17900 Airline Highway, Suite B, in Prairieville.
Morgan Russell, who also is a barre instructor, owns the Central location. She is aiming to open the studio on Sept. 26, but says that date is tentative at this time.
“The flood had really pushed it back. I wanted to open it earlier,” Russell says, adding that the suite she leased took on about 11 inches of water during last month’s flood. Three feet of drywall had to be removed, but the project is back on track, she says.
The Body Sculpt Barre Studio, a brand founded by Shelly Saurage, incorporates yoga and pilates with barre, an element of dance used for balance while performing the exercise.
Central was chosen for the studio’s second site after an informal poll was conducted via Facebook, Russell says. Customers, some of whom travel from locations as far as Zachary, French Settlement and Walker to attend classes at the Prairieville location, were asked to choose their preferences out of five possible cities for a new studio.
“Central far exceeded the other areas,” says Russell says, who plans to teach three different classes of 18 students each day there. The classes include a body sculpt class, a pound class that is a fitness workout inspired by drumming, and a 45-minute express sculpt class.
Russell says the first class is complimentary. To promote the brand, Body Sculpt Barre Studio is having an all-day tailgate under the LSU clock tower during the Oct. 15 LSU home football game.
The Prairieville location also is hosting a Barre Mixer from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 25. The community can try barre classes at the event, meet local vendors and sign up for raffles and giveaways.
—Alexandria Burris
