Movement has been a grounding force for Lauren Winchell for as long as she can remember. Before becoming the owner of Pure Barre Collierville, she was a collegiate golfer at the University of Tennessee, training alongside her now-husband, a former UT swimmer. What began as two student-athletes pushing each other soon became a partnership shaped by discipline, faith, and a shared love of fitness.
When they returned to Memphis for graduate studies, Lauren and her mom tried Pure Barre to stay fit before the wedding. The workout clicked instantly. “I absolutely fell in love with the effectiveness and consistency of Pure Barre,” she reflected.
And then what began as a routine soon became a passion.
In 2018, her husband forwarded an email about instructor auditions and encouraged her to try. She joined the team, balancing newborn twins, teaching, and a growing desire to lead. In 2024, when the opportunity to purchase Pure Barre Collierville arose, Lauren and her husband prayed over the decision and said yes to the next chapter.
From athlete to studio leader
Lauren’s golf background still shapes her approach to fitness today. Golf taught her discipline, precision, and body awareness, lessons she now applies in the barre studio. “In golf, one tiny shift can change the entire outcome of a shot. In Pure Barre, one small activation can completely transform the way a movement feels,” she explained.
While athletics taught her consistency, faith taught her purpose. “My faith plays a huge role,” she added. “Golf taught me discipline, but faith taught me where my strength truly comes from.” That blend, rooted in something deeper, now defines her leadership style.
The heart work behind the business
Stepping into boutique fitness ownership surprised her in unexpected ways. She anticipated schedules, operations, and teaching. What she didn’t expect was how personal it would feel. “I didn’t expect to become part of a community where relationships matter just as much as results,” she recalled. Studio ownership required a new type of being present, encouraging, and willing to grow alongside her members.
Lauren sees each class as an opportunity to uplift someone who may be carrying more than she knows. “Every person who walks through our doors is someone I get the opportunity to encourage, support, and speak life into,” she remarked.
A studio built on purpose
Pure Barre stood out to Lauren because it offered something she couldn’t find anywhere else: intensity without impact, precision without pain, and a technique that challenges athletes and beginners alike. The four class formats keep bodies progressing while honoring safety and alignment.
The reward is seeing lives change physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She also loves that her four children witness her doing something meaningful. “They see me doing something hard, something that requires sacrifice, discipline, and courage,” she observed. Through her example, they see movement, faith, and service woven together.
Redefining balance
With four kids and multiple family businesses, balance looks more like intention than perfection. “In this season of life, I’ve learned that ‘balance’ isn’t about giving everything equal time. It’s about giving the right things my full presence,” she emphasized.
Carving out time for her own workouts remains essential. She treats her Pure Barre classes like non-negotiable appointments, time that fuels her ability to show up fully for her family, her members, and her team. A pulmonary embolism last year only deepened that commitment, reminding her that movement is stewardship and gratitude for the gift of a healthy body.
Strength shared
Lauren hopes every person who walks into her studio feels supported and capable, regardless of their starting point. “I hope every woman who walks into our studio leaves feeling stronger, more confident, and encouraged,” she said.
Her advice for anyone struggling to begin: “Start. You don’t have to do it all at once, and you don’t have to be perfect. Every small effort counts. You can do it.”
What began as a love of movement has evolved into a full-circle mission to help others embrace their own strength. With each class, Lauren’s passion inspires her community and reminds every person of their potential.
Purebarre.com/location/collierville-tn
By Beth Wilson
Photo by Tindall Stephens
