Meet Stefanie Barboza of The Barboza Method in West Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Barboza.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Stefanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Barboza Method is a one-hour workout done on the floor. I created the method myself, and it combines elements of Pilates, yoga, and ballet—but it is very different from each of those. I started The Barboza Method for one 60-year-old woman.

Her health was failing due to thyroid issues. She had no energy, and couldn’t build up her strength because she couldn’t make it through a traditional workout class. What she could do is lie on the floor, so that’s how we started. In time, her health improved and what was private training with her began to spread to others through word of mouth.

I started teaching group classes about five years ago. While the class was created for someone in poor health, my method proved to be great for all fitness levels—even professional dancers have said that training at my studio has helped them improve their fitness.

In 2016, we opened The Barboza Method Studio at 7611 Sunset Blvd. We expanded the scope of the studio to include ballet dance classes, yoga, cardio classes, and stretch sessions. We like the studio to be an all-inclusive place for our members, membership to the studio grants you unlimited access to all classes.

The past few years have been a wild ride, and we keep growing! It’s so exciting to be in the heart of West Hollywood and spend all day with amazing people getting in the best shapes of their lives.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course! There are things that we’ve experienced that you can only know after you’ve started a business. Our first struggle is getting people to know what we are about—This isn’t a pilates studio or a yoga studio—those classes are ones that everyone knows about.

The Barboza Method was created by me, so it’s new to people. I’ve found the best way to get someone into my classes is to have them try it—once they spend an hour with me, they GET it!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Barboza Method – what should we know?
The Barboza Method is a boutique fitness studio located at 7611 Sunset Blvd. (Next to the Pikey bar and Samuel French). We are in the heart of West Hollywood. I started teaching my own method to help people get in the best shape both in and out of my class.

We focus on body awareness and posture that you take with you outside of my class and in your daily life. My philosophy is this—you’re in class for an hour a day (or maybe you miss a few days!), but you’re a physical being living life every minute of every day. My goal is for my clients to take the posture techniques from class and use them as they go about their day.

What sets us apart is that we do not use any weights or machines. Just you, me, and the mat! We focus on posture, form, and technique. I believe it’s not necessarily what you do in a workout class that makes the biggest difference but HOW you do it. How is the form? Is the technique correct?

I’ll make corrections for clients as they do—so even in a group class, you get that personal attention, and it feels like a personal training session. I’m a stickler for form—it’s my dance background coming out!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I went to Cal Arts, and I have a background in dance. Training as a dancer for so many years gave me the knowledge about the body and the commitment to hard work that I needed to create a workout method and open my studio.

I’ve trained with some amazing dancers including Hinton Battle (Three-time Tony Award Winner, actor, singer, dancer and choreographer), Debbie Allen (Tony Award Winner, Emmy Award Winner, actress, singer, dancer, producer, director, choreographer), John Clifford (Former Principal dancer and choreographer with George Balanchine), Susan Jaffe (Former Principal dancer at American Ballet Theater).

Pricing:

• Studio membership (unlimited classes per month) $120 per month
• Single Class $35
• 5 Class Pack $125
• 10 Class Pack $225
• 20 Class Pack $380

Contact Info:

• Address: 7611 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles 90046
• Website: www.TheBarbozaMethod.com
• Phone: 323-545-8151
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @barbozamethod
• Facebook: facebook.com/thebarbozamethod
• Twitter: @barbozamethod
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-barboza-method-los-angeles?osq=the+barboza+method

Image Credit:
Jackson Berlin

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