Tanya Schneider, Owner of Pure Barre Kitsilano and Yaletown
After experiencing the supportive culture cultivated by the Pure Barre Vancouver team, reading the informative and thoughtful newsletters from the studio owner, and firsthand feeling the positive physical and mental benefits of PB workouts, Barb felt she had to personally get connected with the studio owner, Tanya, to learn about her story.
Tanya’s journey in entrepreneurship is as brave as it is humble and full of gratitude. She holds a self-efficacious outlook on challenges which we know disproportionately affected the fitness industry during the pandemic. Leaning into discomfort in these challenges, Tanya shares her perspectives on mustering the courage to face them and welcoming entrepreneurship as a pursuit for self development.
Just as Pure Barre is a workout style with small movements for large results, we say that the entrepreneurial pathway is alike—small steadfast steps pave the way for a large impact on the PB community. Read on to learn how Tanya’s journey has exemplified just that.
Perhaps the most obvious question to start with is this— how did you begin your entrepreneurial journey with Pure Barre Vancouver? What brought you into the fitness industry? And specifically, barre?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs which I think was a really essential piece of the journey for me because that made the entrepreneurial pathway seem normal and not something out of the ordinary. It felt like a natural way forward to start a business. I also had some savings that gave me something I could use to invest in starting up as well.
My step into specifically owning two Pure Barre studios happened kind of randomly. At the time I was enrolled in my Holistic Nutrition Diploma from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. I was also working as a nanny and as a yoga teacher. I was a couple years post Yoga Teacher Training and fitness and wellness were already at the core of my strengths and passions and where I saw my future in some capacity. During that time, my husband and Mother in Law actually met Pure Barre Corporate at a construction and development conference since they work in that industry. Pure Barre Headquarters was participating in this conference looking for potential landlords and partners to start an expansion into Canada. My Mother in Law knew that it might be of interest to me since I have a dance and yoga background and had some entrepreneurial interest already at the time.
From there, the rest just flowed. My husband and I started heavily researching Pure Barre as a technique and business model and we went for it. I loved the barre technique and quickly saw my own personal results which really convinced me that I would love pursuing this business. We went to South Carolina to interview to own a franchise and eventually we were approved to become owners. We first opened Pure Barre Kitsilano and Yaletown opened just a few months later.
Throughout the years with your businesses (Pure Barre Kitsilano and Pure Barre Yaletown), what has been the most surprising outcome? And, what has been a highlight for you?
What a thoughtful question! I have to say that of course the Pandemic was ultimately the biggest surprise. I was 5 years into small business ownership which means 5 years of hustling, working hard, growing our business and knowing it would take time to turn to a really profitable outcome. Right before the pandemic we had our highest revenue months in history and had really turned the corner, I also had my first baby in 2018 and had managed to carve out a flexible work schedule. Then, the pandemic hit and year 5 became like year 0, taking our revenue back down to nothing over the course of 5 different mandated lockdowns. Having to go back to the beginning in so many ways had been immensely challenging for me and many other business owners as well.
When I think of highlights, I always connect right away to the privilege of connecting with our clients in the studio. One thing that is truly amazing about working in fitness is that for the most part everyone visits us for one of their least stressful hours of the day and I never take that for granted. To get to connect with different people on that level and truly feel the impact we can make in small and big ways in our clients lives, never gets old. The adrenaline and connection I feel after teaching a class is still the same high all these years later. I am so lucky.
You've once shared that one of the best things to do for one's self development is running a business. This likely resonates with many entrepreneurs. How has your own entrepreneurial journey shaped you?
Starting and Running a business must be one of the fastest ways to experience personal growth and development. The reasons are really endless, from having to humble yourself as you learn and master new skills, to having to confront your biggest fears and insecurities in order to show up as you need to, to learning the ins and outs of Human Resources and managing teams of staff and client relations, the growth is infinite. Being the person or persons in charge at the top really forces you to see all your strengths and weaknesses and to not let your insecurities hold you back from success.
I can really see how I've grown just through how some parts of my business that used to feel really hard and heavy just don't have that same feeling attached anymore. I am way more equipped to face and handle any situation that arises (entrepreneurs got lots of practice during covid with this!). And mostly how I now, never shy away from a challenging conversation of any kind as I have really strengthened my ability to face discomfort. In fact, now when we are facing a particular challenging time I can feel myself getting energized internally to actually do the work.
Covid-19 was hard on so many levels not only for entrepreneurs but those in the fitness industry. How were you able to overcome that challenge?
I am incredibly fortunate that my Husband did not face the same systemic challenges I did during the pandemic and has been able to be that steady source for our family through it. To be honest, I think that likely no small business is through the challenge yet. We got through the pandemic by relying on government subsidies which we qualified for as a hard hit industry. With those subsidies finished for a while now, the rebuild is hard and not over. We are still not profitable yet. New challenges, including the post pandemic staffing obstacles, a change in our industry and people's behaviours, and a tough economy all play a piece in this. We are still here today because we believe in our studios and our impact and are committed to staying the course and making it through to the other side of these challenging years.
We'd love to introduce Pure Barre and its benefits to our community! Can you share what makes Pure Barre workouts unique? What are the benefits of this type of workout?
Yes! Pure Barre is a franchise barre fitness studio. Pure Barre is the largest and most successful Barre concept in the states and we are so proud to be offering it in one of currently 3 studios in Canada. Our classes are known for being low impact, accessible for any fitness level but still high intensity offering a truly effective workout which strengthens and tones the entire body. We have 4 different core class concepts which all share some core values but vary in terms of flow and focus. Barre has really lasted past being a trend because the results (especially in the core) are addicting and sustainable and with its low impact it complements any other fitness or movement people have in their lives! Our clients love that they keep seeing and feeling results years into being members of our studios and that barre with its low impact style truly complements any other fitness or movement people have in their lives. You do not need any kind of dance or fitness experience to really see results and learn our technique. I also love Pure Barre for the side benefit of strengthening my mind body connection.
Barre is unique in that you really need to apply mental focus to doing the small movements and the impact is that your 50 minute class keeps your mind focused on your body the entire time with no time to worry about anything else.
Becoming an entrepreneur is no easy feat! Can you share some advice for those looking to make that leap?
I would say you have to know that starting out will really reveal parts of yourself you might not have had to face before so making sure you are talking to other entrepreneurs to support you as you go is really essential. Besides that, I always try to remember that there is room for success for everyone and remind myself to not compare myself to other businesses, rather stay honed in on your personal pathway one step at a time.
Is there anything that you would have done differently in your career, knowing what you know now?
Had I known I would have been in an industry completely shut down in the pandemic I am not sure I would have recommended fitness to myself or anyone!
Is there anyone that has inspired you or is a mentor to you?
Yes! My clients always inspire me with their own personal stories and careers whether they are business owners or other. I also feel deeply inspired when clients tell me how much our classes mean to them. My dad, who is a corporate coach, has also been a huge mentor and inspiration for me in teaching me the ways to not think small. I think for any entrepreneur if you can do any personal coaching or development work of any kind it will only add to your leadership ability.
What do you think is one thing women can do more to support each other?
I think that we have to remember that all of us are truly doing our best. For me, especially in an industry and studio that Is female dominated, I work hard to stay kind and stay humble and remember that there is something I can learn from every person, every woman, even if they seem less experienced or with conflicting values.
Especially as a mom to two young kids and doing the juggle I just know innately how much juggling and multi tasking every woman in every stage is doing in their life and if we can remember that about the people we come into contact with it can hopefully help us naturally lean in to each other and seek out and offer our support.
