ANNIE TRUAX-DUNN

It’s About Balance
Achieving Your Fitness Goals at the Barre

story by KAREN SNYDER

“I call it the mind-body-sweat connection,” laughs Annie Truax-Dunn about staying fit and reaching your wellness goals. As a fitness enthusiast and owner of Beaufort’s popular exercise studio Balance Boutique Fitness, Annie says, “Reaching your fitness goals is about finding a supportive community of friends who lift you up and have some fun!”

Recently celebrating its fourth anniversary, Annie and her team of 15 instructors have worked hard to establish a community where all are welcome. Whether someone is new to fitness and looking to get started on their wellness journey or an advanced athlete looking to try something new, Annie recommends that everyone put aside time for self-care and their own health.

“Barre is a combination of Pilates, yoga, and dance,” says Annie, quickly adding that no dance experience is needed. “I think people see the ballet barre and assume a dance background is required, but that is not the case!” Instead, she explains, barre is about using small, isometric movements with high repetition, sometimes using props like resistance bands and light two- or three-pound weights, until muscles are fatigued.

“We combine traditional dance movements such as pliés and relevés with strength training to develop a longer, leaner, and stronger physique,” says Annie. “You won’t find any beginner, intermediate, or advanced classes on our schedule,” she says, “as our instructors are trained to customize the workout to each individual’s fitness level.”

Offerings at Balance Boutique Fitness range from classic barre to “Endurance Barre,” which Annie describes as “boot camp meets barre.” The 50-minute class marries barre with cardio bursts to elevate heart rate and increase caloric burn.

New to the studio line-up is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), which is taught as a circuit-style class, combining heavier weights and cardio. “The class is offered at 5:30 a.m., so it’s definitely a committed group of people dedicated to their fitness!” says Annie, adding that achieving your personal fitness goals means finding what works best for you.

Annie, a certified barre and yoga instructor, says another popular offering is Yoga-Barre, which is done completely on the mat and blends Vinyasa yoga with common barre movements. The studio also offers three additional group classes: Pilates-Barre, Power Flow Yoga, and Barre Express, a 45-minute version of the signature Balance Barre orkout.

“Our approach to yoga is very much power-based,” she adds, “combining the mindfulness and attention to breath from yoga with a physical challenge.” Clients are offered the opportunity to incorporate hand weights in their Yoga-Barre practice to sculpt the body. “I think they’re surprised when they leave yoga with a little sweat,” she laughs.

Annie’s road to fitness studio ownership may not have been something she predicted for herself but happened somewhat authentically. A native of Baltimore, Annie graduated in 2010 from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. She returned to Baltimore to work in marketing at Under Armour Global Headquarters.

Annie first discovered a love for group fitness and running when working for a childcare center of a local gym during her college years. Upon her return to Baltimore, she says, “I found an incredible sense of community in the local fitness scene. I met some of my closest friends through a local workout group that met early on Friday mornings before work,” adding that it was when she was training for her first marathon that she discovered yoga.

“I started yoga to prevent injury while running, but something about it kept me coming back for more,” she explains.

However, it was an important turning point in Annie’s life eight years ago when she lost her mother to lung cancer. She recognized the value of exercise as a way to practice self-care. Unfortunately, just three years later, Annie also lost her father, an athlete himself and long-time college basketball coach.

In dealing with the caretaking of her mother and grieving the loss of both parents, Annie realized the importance of having a healthy outlet to take care of yourself.

Having moved to Beaufort in 2018 due to her husband’s job, Annie now credits her grief process for forming a guiding principle of her studio. “I remind our instructors that you never know what someone is personally going through. The time spent in our studio needs to be all about them and what they need to take from class.”

Annie also recognizes that her growth as a new business owner is due to the mentorship and support of Balance Boutique Fitness’s former owner Hayley Dawson, who remains an instructor at the studio. “Hayley built a strong foundation and a wonderful community. I’m incredibly honored that she trusted me to carry out her vision.”

Thinking back on time spent on the basketball court as her dad coached, she recalls: “I remember him telling me I’d make a great coach myself. I had no idea then, but essentially that is what I do now.”

Annie’s advice for those who are trying to improve their fitness, “Find what you enjoy and stick to it. Mix it up! Beginners should try to work out at least 3 to 4 times a week and choose a variety of classes to achieve a mix of cardio and toning.”

For those more advanced, she says, “The nice thing about barre is that it’s low-impact, so you can do it 5 or 6 times a week with little recovery time.” To stay motivated to achieve your goals, Annie recommends finding an “accountability partner” or a friend who will head to class or hit the gym with you.

“Don’t let life’s obstacles get in your way. Life gets busy, but fitness will keep you balanced, physically and mentally.”