Welcome to Studio Barre {strength. defined} Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! …
Susannah grew up in Wilmington, NC as an avid dancer. She went to college at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC where she continued her love of dance in the performing ensemble and the dance team. She also fueled her passion for skiing, adventure, and endorphins where she raced on the alpine ski team. After college, she married her husband and the Marine Corps (haha). They have two daughters and have enjoyed the many moves, adventures, deployments, amazing friends, and anything-but-boring life together for almost 20 years.
Over the years Susannah’s passion for encouraging fitness and community has developed into leading running clubs (while pushing babies in strollers) in both NC and AZ. Supporting and seeing a new mom go from having a newborn or setting a goal after having kids to be more active, to running a marathon or half marathon in the same year is inspirational. While her kids were little Susannah also taught various group fitness classes (indoor cycling, mat Pilates, Pound, and barre) at gyms that had childcare or at a studio while the kids were in preschool. Multiple relocations and personal real estate transactions later, Susannah was also inspired to become a real estate agent and subsequently a transaction coordinator in both NC and AZ, to connect with and help fellow military families with logistis and moves across the country and world. Connecting with people and leading by example for her two daughters has always been her motivation. Merging an uplifting community with fitness and a healthy lifestyle is where Studio Barre Carmel Valley won her heart. She may be a newbie to the area, but she is excited to tone, shake, and tuck with you all! As a family, they enjoy skiing, hiking, running, biking, camping, the beach, and visiting friends around the world.
Brooke grew up in a military family and lived all over the United States while growing up, but settled in San Diego with her family in 2008.
Brooke was a swimmer all throughout her high school and college years, and took up running after moving to San Diego. Being outside and being active is her “happy place”. About 8 years ago Brooke was convinced by a friend to try a barre class, and fell in love with the way it made her feel and the community of people at the Carmel Valley studio. After taking more than 750 classes, in 2024 she decided it was time to take the next step and become a bartender where she had been a client for all those tucks!
When she isn’t teaching or taking barre class, Brooke is a scientist working in the drug discovery field. Or, when she’s not working, she’s with her teenage children, husband and pup, Yogi – either hanging out at home or exploring the horse trails in Poway, where she lives.
It’s Brooke’s goal in her classes to help clients fall in love with barre just as she did, by challenging them to understand how tiny movements make such a big difference in your fitness!
For those that know Megan, you already know she LOVES food! She has been plant based since 2010 and loves to create and share her favorite plant based treats. Whether it’s celebrating a milestone or “just because,” Megan is known to delight staff and clients with healthy sweets. She is our resident Barre{baker}!
Megan joined SBCV as a client in February 2022 and immediately connected with the studio, the staff and the other clients. It truly felt like a home away from home! She joined the SBCV Tribe as a Barre{ista} in June 2023 and has found so much joy in connecting with each client that walks through the door.
Megan previously worked in the banking industry for over 14 years. She “retired” in 2011 to pursue her other passion – yoga. She became a Certified Yoga Teacher where she led preschool and adult classes. After living in Cleveland, Ohio for 30 years, she and her husband Mike moved the family to sunny San Diego in 2017. Megan’s work/passion journey shifted gearsonceagain. ShecollaboratedwithaClevelandbasedfoodcompany(ClevelandKitchen) that was expanding to the west coast and this opportunity allowed her to hold food demos and host workshops in the Lazy Acres Markets Test Kitchen. In 2018, Megan launched her own line of granola (Love, Granola) that she introduced to the San Diego Farmers Markets in 2019. Unfortunately, like many other small businesses, Love, Granola did not survive the pandemic. Nevertheless, her passion for food and connection still thrives!
When outside the studio, Megan is a proud mom of Alex (16) and Maya (13) as well as a proud dog-mom of Baker (3) and Skylar (7 mos). She loves leading an active lifestyle and can be seen either walking the dogs, volunteering, cooking/baking, taking a yoga class, trying out new restaurants or coffee shops in the greater San Diego area.
Monica is from a small farm town in Central California. She got her Journalism degree from Long Beach State and had a career in public relations in Los Angeles before taking some time off to have a family. Monica and her family made San Diego their home in 2019 and now can’t ever imagine leaving!
Two years ago when Monica made the big life decision to start a whole new career, go back to school and was in need of an outlet to manage the change, barre fell into her lap through friends! She instantly fell in love with the fun staff, the spicy workouts and the supportive community of the studio and quickly went from client to barre{ista}. Now, Studio Barre is Monica’s home away from home and has truly become her happy place.
Outside of barre, Monica enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children, attending all of their after-school activities, planning fun outings with friends and going to the beach as often as possible. In addition, she is about to graduate from the Forensic Technology program at Grossmont College and is currently an intern at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept Crime Lab where she aspires to start a career in Forensic Investigations.
Maddie was born and raised in San Diego. She grew up in the 4S Ranch area and spent her time in all different sports including dance, cheer & gymnastics. She attended Sonoma State University and graduated with a degree is Business – Marketing. Post-college, she made her way back to San Diego and found her happy place at SBCV when looking for a new workout studio!
She started as a client and fell in love with the workout, community, and all things that Studio Barre embodies. She enjoyed it so much she took the leap to became an instructor and serve up some shakes! After teaching at SBCV for a year, she moved with her husband to Charleston, SC, for his military orders and got to live in a new city! She also taught at a Studio Barre location on James Island and had the best time! Now, she, her husband, and their pup, are San Diego residents again and she is back on the mic here at SBCV!
When she isn’t teaching, she can be found working her full-time job in social media marketing, spending time with friends & family, taking class, at the beach or enjoying a margarita!
I grew up in Michigan dancing and riding horse competitively and moved to southern california after graduating from veterinary school at michigan state university. I am passionate about improving the lives of my patients through traditional and integrative medicine.
Tish grew up in a navy family and has lived all over the united states, from coast to coast. in 1992, she settled in san diego permanently.
Living a healthy lifestyle, being active, and participating in sports and fitness has always been a big part of tish’s life. in high school, she was a cheerleader and ran track; in college she worked at a gym and enjoyed wor
king with clients!
About eight years ago, tish discovered the barre technique and was immediately hooked! Her teaching began at another studio, but she joined the studio barre team when the carmel valley location opened and can attest that it’s the best barre in town! not only does she love sharing her passion for barre, she enjoys coming to class and getting to tuck with all the studio barre clients!
When not at the studio, tish is a registered nurse at children’s emergency department. she loves taking care of the children of san diego and teaching other nurses about pediatric care. health and safety of children is very important to her.
Tish lives in the 4S ranch area with her husband and pups violet & daisy. she has three grown children all living locally. they love traveling, working out, and hanging out with family and friends!
It’s her goal to continue to educate and inspire others to be the best they can be. she’s devoted to wellness and dedicated to studio barre. her classes are fun and energetic, and you might just learn a new fun fact every time you come!
Natalie lives in Carmel Valley with her husband Jesse, son Jason (6), and step daughter, Savannah (15). She was born and raised here in San Diego and came from a really big family. She is one of five siblings, one of them being an identical twin sister (who you may see at the barre from time to time!) She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the event industry. She landed a great job that led me to be a part of lots of amazing events like the Oscars, VMA’s, Kids Choice Awards, private parties etc. It was such a great experience and being in the event industry is truly what she wanted to do, but once she had her son everything changed for them. She really wanted her kids to grow up in San Diego like they did and be closer to family so that they could enjoy their kids too.
Born and raised in San Diego, Penelope has always had a passion for dance, rhythm and active exercise. She has grown up at a dance study since age 3 and still practices on the daily. When she’s not in a studio, she enjoys spending time with her closest friends at the beach and fun dance competitions out of town. At almost 16 Penelope has had amazing opportunities like traveling to Germany twice to share her love for dance with people from all over the world. Two years ago Penelope discovered bar classes with her mom and fell in love instantly because they reminded her of time in the dance studio! Since her first class at 13 years old, she knew she wanted to be a barista for her first job. Because of her passion for music and exercise, Penelope would love to one day become a bartender at Studio barre Carmel Valley, and continue to call it her second home!
Katie became a client of SBCV in 2016 while searching for a local and convenient place to exercise after giving birth to her second child. She was immediately drawn to the low-impact, effective workouts, but even more so to the sense of community she felt walking through the doors. Growing up playing soccer and used to high intensity workouts, she was also surprised by how quickly she saw positive changes after starting barre. One of the many reasons why Katie loves being a Barre{ista} is seeing new and returning clients walk through the doors and finding a connection with them though SBCV.
Outside of being a part of the SBCV tribe, Katie is busy driving her kids around to their after-school activities, beach camping with her family (husband, 2 kiddos, and a French Bulldog), and working her full-time job as a college counselor and professor.
Kaitlyn is a San Diego native who grew up playing competitive soccer. She moved to Washington where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Special Education. When Kaitlyn is outside of the studio, you will find her as a Special Education teacher in the area. She is passionate about teaching, working out, and spending time with family and friends.
Janelle is a Chicago native who followed her family to sunny San Diego two years ago.She grew up a competitive dancer and followed her dreams of sharing that love with others by teaching dance starting at the age of 15.
After leaving Illinois and her decade-long career in teaching dance, she found a new home as a Barre{tender} at Studio Barre.
She immediately fell in love with the barre technique and has a strong passion for the community of women that Studio Barre brings together. Being with her tribe at SBCV makes every shake & tuck worth it.
When she isn’t in class or on the mic, you can usually find her spending time at the beach with her husband, 2 toddlers, and their big pup!
Bio coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
Emiley was born in ventura county and moved down to san diego almost a year ago.
What she loves about barre:
“I love barre because it makes me and our clients feel confident in themselves and with the way their body looks! every woman deserves to feel beautiful in their own skin and i’m so lucky to be able to see these women (and sometimes men) be happy with the way they look and feel!”
Emiley’s favorite barre position:
“My favorite barre position is definitely back dancing. i love it not only because it means that i’m almost done with class, but it really works everything. especially when the lights go off i can really push myself to finish.”
Emiley’s favorite non-barre activity:
“when i’m not at barre i like to dance, swim/surf in the ocean, box, travel, go to concerts and hangout with my friends.”
More fun facts about emiley:
“I can speak spanish. i’ve been pooped on by a bird nearly every time i go to the beach, its really fun.”
Marah was born on the farm in northern ca, rooted in long beach ca. she transplanted to maryland for a hot second, but moved back to the west (best) coast as soon as she could and is currently living it up in carlsbad with her husband, 2 adorable kids and 2 just as equally adorable labradoodles. she is our resident good girl who describes herself as an introvert disguised as an extrovert. however when she gets on the mic, her inner starlet comes out (think sasha fierce ala beyonce). you will more than likely see her dance mid thigh when she’s feeling the music. marah is the go-to girl for anything holistic, natural or diy. she knows anything and everything about essential oils and can brew an epic strawberry basil kombucha.
Marah first walked into studio barre back in 2009. with a childhood of competitive sports, dance and ballet, marah was looking to find her roots again. being active has always been very important to her, but she felt she was stagnant in her routine at the gym and other fitness studios and was looking for something that would bring her back to her roots with dance. barre sounded too good to be true! yet after the first class, marah was of course hooked. the results that she got from just that first month were better than any other fitness routine she had experienced. getting into the best shape of her life was a direct result of attending studio barre. fast forward a few years and a couple of kids later, marah decided that she wanted join the studio barre family as a barre{tender}!
Marah loves studio barre for so many reasons, but the community and culture is what sets studio barre apart from any other barre studio. teaching at studio barre allows marah to be a cheerleader and encourage each client to obtain the undeniable results that studio barre provides. there is no other class that can give you a slim, toned physique with a round perky booty like studio barre can.