After four seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Lauren O’Bryon retired from her NFL cheerleading career but began searching for other dance-intensive workouts to help maintain her fitness level as an athlete. She traveled to Portland, Oregon to try a class at a barre3 studio, and she knew this workout, combining the ballet barre with disciplines of yoga and Pilates, was something she wanted to bring to San Diego. This month marks the second anniversary of the barre3 UTC/La Jolla studio opening, the franchise’s first in California. O’Bryon opened the corporate-owned studio, located at 8895 Towne Centre Drive, with Chargers teammate Giselle McInnis. As studio manager and lead instructor, O’Bryon typically teaches between five and eight classes per week. “La Jolla is such a bright and welcoming community,” O’Bryon said. “I knew barre3 would thrive here because I felt results and transformations in my body. When I felt these positive changes in myself, I was sure there were others out there who would benefit from barre3 as well.” With more than 75 studios across the U.S., Canada and the Philippines, barre3 features a 60-minute workout set to upbeat music using light weights, a core ball, an exercise mat, a yoga strap and, of course, a ballet barre. Designed to burn fat, build muscle and break plateaus, this low-impact workout involves several small movements and isometric holds to build strength and endurance and larger dynamic movements to elevate the heart rate. “Connecting with our client base and hearing their successes reminds me why I opened the studio two years ago,” O’Bryon said. “Whether barre3 has given them more energy at work, improved their tennis game or decreased chronic aches and pains, each of our clients has a unique story and positive impact.” O’Bryon added that a handful of regular clients have continued on to become barre3 instructors. Some unique features of barre3 include amenities like access to daily childcare (except Sundays), cork flooring that doesn’t require special socks like most barre studios, two rooms to accommodate for larger classes and ballet barres at differing levels to support various heights. The “3” in “barre3” name is a symbol of balance in three areas of life, including a healthy body, a clear mind and a positive spirit. Workout apps like ClassPass, which allow members to bounce between multiple workout studios, have increased locals’ awareness of barre3. Attracting a mostly female demographic, barre3 can be modified for anyone, including those who have injuries, are pregnant or are new mothers. For new clients, barre3 offers a three-class package for $40 (single drop-ins are $20) and a one-month unlimited package for $99. More information on pricing, scheduling and studio updates can be found at barre3.com or facebook.com/barre3utclajolla.