Inspiring Conversations with Colleen Issel of Pure Barre Ann Arbor Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Issel. 

Hi Colleen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born & raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I truly think it’s the greatest place. Pure Barre came into my life 7 years ago, before I could even drive. My mom had to come into Pure Barre to sign the waiver that said it was okay for me to take class. I was 15 at that time, and Pure Barre truly has been a constant in my life ever since. From Client to Desk Girl to Teacher to Owner— I’ve held every role & seen every perspective. 

I became the Owner of Pure Barre Ann Arbor Downtown in the final days of August 2021 & re-opened the studio on September 20th, 2021. I was 22 years old when I bought the Franchisee & was the youngest Owner in 2021. 

Pure Barre invites everyone to join a full-body workout with us at the barre. Our group class workouts focus on low-impact, small movements that strengthen and tone your entire body in 50 minutes or less. Over the course of the past year, I’ve taught 400 classes to clients of all walks of life, ages, sizes, etc. & the strength every single person brings is beyond admirable. A huge goal of mine was to always have space that welcomes anybody and everybody, and Pure Barre Ann Arbor Downtown strives every day to do just that. 

So much of my Entrepreneurial spirit comes directly from my mom, who celebrates 27 years in October as a Small Business Owner in Ann Arbor. She has taught me just about everything there is to know about running a business, and arguably during some of the very hardest times to do so. She’s the very proud owner of Brown & DeLine Salon & is everything I aspire to be as a leader. From signing that first waiver to becoming Business Owner in the same community, I owe so much of who I am to her. 

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?
I truly believe that nothing worth having comes easy & the same goes for owning a business. The highs are high & the lows are low— but this has been the most rewarding year of my life. Being able to pivot & stay flexible has proved to be the answer to most challenges & rough patches. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Small movements, full-body benefits. Pure Barre is a full-body workout that transforms you physically and mentally. Our musically driven group classes focus on low-impact, high-intensity movements that strengthen and tone your body in 50 minutes or less. What’s so unique about Pure Barre Ann Arbor Downtown? The community. The clients feel much more like longtime friends. When I became a Pure Barre Owner, my goal was to be a client-first studio. To put the client experience first. The ability to connect with our clients on a deeper level than just a workout that is what sets us apart. 

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is in the little things. The daily wins & small celebrations— that is what defines success to me. 

A new client taking class, watching a member reach a milestone, a waitlisted class, training a new teacher, being able to support local charities— all of these small wins make up the big picture, and finding pride in the small things is what fuels success day in and day out. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.purebarre.com/annarbordowntown
• Instagram: @purebarreannarbordowntown

Image Credits
nikita artinian photography