Pure Barre Reston Builds Strength and Community

By Ellyn Wexler

Pure Barre Reston fosters a sense of belonging that keep their members coming back for more. Photo by Isadora Guerreiro.

When Sam Nims walked into her first Pure Barre class in 2018, she had no clue it would change her life. The longtime Reston resident and former Fairfax County Public Schools teacher was just hoping to find a workout she didn’t dread. What she found instead was a passion, a purpose—and eventually, a new career as the owner of Pure Barre Reston.

“I hated my first class,” Nims admitted, describing how she tried to blend into the back of the studio and struggled through every movement. “But something about it stuck with me.” By the end of a 10-class pack, she was hooked. “I felt stronger. The mental health benefits alone were worth it,” she added. “I upgraded to an unlimited membership and never looked back.”

Fast forward to today, and Nims is not only teaching two to three classes a week, but also running the entire operation at Pure Barre Reston—technically located in Herndon, but serving both communities. With no prior fitness or dance background, Nims immersed herself in Pure Barre’s rigorous teacher training, ultimately becoming certified in all four class formats the studio offers: Classic, Empower, Align, and Define.

More than a love of fitness drove Nims’ journey from client to owner. “During the pandemic, Pure Barre saved my sanity. When the previous owner announced she was selling, I couldn’t stand the idea of losing the community that had meant so much to me,” she recalled. “So, I bought the studio.”

Since taking over, Nims has introduced several new offerings, including Engage, a free 30-minute introductory class for first timers that emphasizes proper form and comfort for beginners. “It’s so important that people walk in and feel like they belong,” she observed. That spirit of inclusivity has helped Pure Barre Reston attract a wonderfully diverse client base. “There’s no ‘typical’ member here,” said Nims, who proudly describes herself as a Gen X grandma. “We have teens, retirees, working professionals—you name it.”

The workouts themselves are high-intensity, low-impact, and designed to challenge people at every fitness level. But Nims emphasized that it’s the community, not just the calorie burn, that keeps people coming back. “We celebrate every milestone, from 50 to 2,000 classes. We know our members by name. We want you to feel like you matter.”

Pure Barre Reston has also deepened its ties to the greater community. Nims and her team have held pop-up classes at local businesses like Kendra Scott and Aslin Brewery, and they’re planning a free outdoor class and open house at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 28, to celebrate their back-to-back wins as Northern Virginia Magazine’s “Best Barre” studio. “We’re working with other businesses at Woodland Park Crossing to make it a fun, festive event,” said Nims, who hinted at a few surprises in store, plus visits from Meanwhile Coffee and a permanent jewelry artist.

Even as she has expanded the studio’s offerings and client base, Nims remains grounded in her original mission: building community and helping people feel better, both physically and mentally. “I didn’t come into this with a business background,” she said. “I came in as someone who needed this place. And I know how powerful it can be when you feel like you’ve found your people.”

Looking ahead, Nims hopes to grow the studio’s reach even further. “We’re a luxury brand in an uncertain economy, so we’re always working to strike the right balance,” she said. “But we believe now, more than ever, that people need a space to reset, recharge, and reconnect.”

Whether you're a seasoned athlete or haven't worked out in years, Nims wants you to know you're welcome. “If I can go from crying on the mat after my first class to owning the studio, truly, anyone can do this,” she said. “You just have to take that first step.”

For more information, visit purebarre.com/location/reston-va/ or follow @purebarrereston on Instagram.