BARRe KREWE
Brooke is mom of 5 and Nicholls State University nursing graduate who began her health and wellness journey at a young age. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis left her exhausted all the time, and she was determined to feel better. Fast forward a decade and this fitness fanatic stumbled into her first barre class. She quickly saw results like never before, and this new-to-her workout helped heal Brooke's postpartum core. She instantly fell in love with the method which gave her space to gain physical strength and empowerment in every aspect of her life. Expanding her reach, she completed Power Pilates' rigorous 600 hour Comprehensive training in 2022 and is currently training in The Dailey Method's Level 1 Certification. Brooke's l'Essentiel Pilates offers a classic mat and reformer experience paired with the warmth and fun of our welcoming community. Brooke's calm demeanor will leave you feeling blissfully challenged.
Having always led an active lifestyle, Samantha began her barre journey while living in Houston circa 2015. Arthritic knee pain prevented her from running and other high-impact workouts she previously enjoyed. She loved how the gentle movements made her feel strong and inspired. Samantha began teaching with Bayou Barre in 2019. Since then, she has had two babies and developed an even greater appreciation for barre, crediting the practice to giving her strength and stamina during pregnancy as well as postpartum.
Samantha enjoys sharing her love of barre with others, which is reflected in her teaching. She keeps classes fun, challenging and upbeat, and will encourage you to do your best through the entire class. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University and an MBA from the University of Houston.
Betsy began her barre journey in Greater Boston in 2015 when she had two toddlers. She instantly loved the welcoming community and effective workout, which was a huge change from her on-again, off-again high-impact solo workouts. Betsy continued barre throughout her third pregnancy and used the method to strengthen her postpartum body both physically and emotionally. Eager to bring barre to her new town of Thibodaux, LA, she founded Bayou Barre in 2018 and joined Brooke Ellender in 2019, bringing the Bayou Barre Method to a permanent studio space. She loves sharing The Original work of Lotte Berk and Esther Fairfax to Thibodaux and beyond as a current TLM teacher trainer, and strives to create a seriously fun, challenging class in a low-stress environment.
Lisa has been on a continuous health and wellness journey for most of her adult life. After becoming a mother, she dedicated herself to a consistent yoga practice. She found increased strength, energy, and mental clarity and soon felt inspired to share that with her peers. She appreciates the ways in which yoga and healthy movement practices benefit both mind and body. Her pursuit of pre and postnatal training comes from the joy she has helping expectant mothers ease their way through the changes of pregnancy.
While she has been an avid barre fan for the past two years, her love of the exercises was ignited during her first Original class. Luckily for us, she trained and was certified with Kelly and Pam of The London Method and is approved by the Esther Fairfax. She's continued to explore barre and is currently training in The Dailey Method's Level 1 Certification.
She encourages her students to meet themselves where they are in their practice each day, working toward progress, not perfection.
Catherine was introduced to barre in 2012 while living in Houston and studying for the Texas bar exam. She was an immediate fan of the low impact exercises blended with effective stretches and became a regular client. When she married and moved back to her hometown of Thibodaux in 2013, she fell out of her regular barre routine until becoming a client at Bayou Barre. Her love of the workout was revitalized, especially after experiencing the benefits of continuous pre and postnatal barre conditioning.
She was introduced to the Original Lotte Berk technique through online classes with The London Method and Betsy’s Preservation Barre classes. She found the exercises were more challenging and more effective than anything she had experienced before. She especially appreciated that the exercises were designed for women and aimed at achieving a strong but feminine result. After only a few weeks of regular classes, she noticed a decrease in back pain and a significant improvement in her core strength, which she had been working to regain after having her second child. She decided to train with Kelly and Pam of The London Method and is certified in the Original method, having her certification approved by Esther Fairfax, daughter of Lotte Berk, who has been teaching the technique for over 50 years in England. Catherine is an attorney who practices part time while raising her two daughters and co-owning Thibodaux's House of Fashion. She is excited to share her love of this amazing technique with you.
Kasey is a public health nurse, a Nicholls graduate, and mom of 2. She's always had an active lifestyle working out at home or the gym and eagerly started running half-marathons in 2015. After her first full marathon in 2016, she was left with an IT band injury. After spending time in physical therapy and lacing up her running shoes again, she fell a little out of love with the sport, Then after her mom passed away in 2018, she fully lost her desire to workout. She decided to try a barre class and immediately fell in love with the exercises and began feeling more and more like herself again. She loves the small movements of barre and the fun that happens in each and every class, noting that barre is not only good for the body, but also for the soul.
Lauren is a librarian from Thibodaux who loves to read, write, and travel with her family. While she has always led an active outdoorsy lifestyle, exercise was never really Lauren's thing, until she was introduced to barre at Bayou Barre. She fell in love with the movements, stretches, and strength-building results. She took her first ever Pilates class at Bayou Barre, and famously hated it. With consistency and practice, Lauren discovered the benefits Pilates provided to her outdoors life: core strength for kayaking; spine strength for biking; and stamina for hiking. Teaching Pilates at Bayou Barre melds Lauren's love of teaching others with her goal of being a life-long learner.
Lauren holds an undergrad in English from Nicholls State University and Masters in Library and Information Science from LSU. She is a wife and mother, and her family is her greatest joy. When not outside or exploring a new locale, she can be found curled up in her favorite chair in her sunroom reading a good book.
Rebecca is a mom of three who works as a speech language pathologist during the day and as a barre teacher in the early hours of the morning. She started going to barre classes in Baton Rouge almost fifteen years ago where the seed of possibility (teaching barre!) was planted. She moved to Thibodaux with her barre DVDs in hand to use when she wasn't running. After her mother-in-law raved about the new barre classes in Thibodaux and a work event brought her into the Bayou Barre studio, she was hooked. She loves the way barre makes her feel healthier, both physically and mentally.
The positive atmosphere, wonderful teachers, and "Barre Krewe" community inspired her to finally pursue training with the Barre & Soul Academy and The London Method. She loves a challenging class--both as a student and a teacher--and likes to bring the heat at 6am!
Sarah stepped into her first barre class as a new mom when she’d found herself in a slump both physically and mentally and wanted to try something new. Many of the exercises and graceful stretches reminded her of the precise movements she performed as a former gymnast, and the positive and welcoming environment at Bayou Barre kept her coming back. Sarah’s love for the Original technique (aka Preservation Barre) was immediate. And since 2020, she has had 2 more children and credits the class for all the strength and stamina needed to keep up with her three little ones. Sarah trained with tLM in July 2023, and luckily for us, she is now certified in the Original class.
Sarah is a pain management nurse, and when she’s not working, she enjoys traveling with her husband and reading a good book. Most days, she can be found outside playing with her kids or inside the kitchen baking. She is excited to bring a fun, energetic vibe to her classes and strives to accommodate each student’s individual needs. Sarah aims to inspire her students to achieve their fitness goals while fostering a sense of body awareness and confidence. Come join Sarah on the mat!
our trainings
barre & soul academy
the london method
esther fairfax
the dailey method
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