Where Fitness Turns into Friendship
By Elizabeth Bobbitt | Photography by Lucero Salinas
When owner Kristin Fay began attending Smart Barre classes as a client after a knee injury forced her to reconsider her goals as a self-confessed “fitness junkie,” she never imagined she would come to own three COREFIT Pilates and Barre locations across San Antonio. However, since taking over Smart Barre, lending her Pilates expertise to the business, and rebranding as COREFIT Pilates and Barre, Fay has always understood the importance of a strong community in guiding clients on their wellness journeys.
“I’ve always found my dearest friends through fitness. My goal is for anyone, no matter where they are on their fitness journey, to experience COREFIT as a friendship-based community.”
From Client to Owner
As San Antonio’s first boutique fitness studio, COREFIT is right at home amongst the locally-owned businesses of Sunset Ridge. Celebrating thirteen years in September, Fay bought the business from two Alamo Heights women who recognized her as an excellent fit. Their offer came at the perfect time for Fay.
“When I made the decision to buy the business, I was just getting back to work after being a stay-at-home mom. This is a dream job for me. Not only do I love fitness, but, as a former corporate accountant, I have a finance background, and I love building community. Opening COREFIT has brought me so much joy.”
The 78209 Effect
Originally from Atlanta, Fay recognizes 78209 as a vibrant, close-knit community that complements her own professional ethos at COREFIT. “The 78209 studio is the heartbeat of our business. This part of town is a special place and a very generational community. I see a lot of mother-daughter duos come into class or friends who have known each other since elementary school.”
Why Choose COREFIT?
Fay’s enthusiasm for building personal connections through her fitness community at COREFIT is contagious, and the results are evident in the longevity of Fay’s client base.
“If you were to come into the barre class and ask how long each client had been coming to the studio, more than half of the class would say more than five years. It’s their home away from home, and that doesn’t happen a lot in the fitness world.”
Clients at COREFIT also benefit from the only state-of-the-art Xformer Pilates machines in San Antonio, which offer low-impact, high-intensity workouts that build endurance, strengthen the central core, and improve muscle tone. With Pilates classes of ten and barre classes of twenty-two, clients benefit from personalized instruction and a wide selection of classes, including yoga.
COREFIT offers over 80 classes a week that are appropriate for any fitness level, along with special events that cater to particular client demographics. The studio has offered “Mom and Baby” classes and has even hosted bachelorette parties. Currently, there is a 40/60 ratio of men to women who take classes at COREFIT.
“The men that come stay. We had a Fathers’ Day event, where one of the news shows in town came and videoed an all men’s class. They enjoyed a beer after class, and it was a ton of fun.”
New clients are able to take advantage of an unlimited two-week barre trial for $39.00, or an unlimited two-week Pilates trial for $50.00. A combination package is also available for those who are interested in trying both modalities. The first barre class is free. “Many members do both,” Fay says. “That’s been my work out for years.”
Fay is always looking to take her community-based fitness approach out to the wider community. Currently, she is working on a collaboration with the Thompson Hotel to bring a “Wellness Reboot” to hotel guests.
Whether Fay is sitting next to her clients in a barre class or greeting them at the door, she sees it as a privilege to watch her clients grow in confidence and to “shrine brighter.”
“I find joy in welcoming new people and helping them find a fitness home. I don’t take for granted that clients allow us to be part of their wellness journey. We are thrilled to be part of it, and we are going to make sure that we challenge, support, and encourage our clients along the way.”
Find COREFIT on Instagram: @corefitsa
Other locations: Castle Hills at Alon Tower Center and Boerne at Napa Oaks
