Pure Barre, Ann Arbor

Carrie Rezabek Dorr founded Pure Barre in 2001, and it has since grown its low-impact, high-intensity, ballet-inspired workouts to locations across the country. Certified Pilates instructor Carrie Bristol—who has an MA in French language and culture—operates the Ann Arbor location. Here, she welcomes students to a total-body workout that blends isometric exercise with therapeutic stretching to burn fat and build lean muscle mass. Although a soundtrack of upbeat music lends rhythm to each session, the absence of jumping, bouncing, and jack-hammering prevents damage to joints. The only equipment is a ballet barre used for stability and the meditative focus that turns a single hour into a boon for the body's health.