A mainstay in the Buffalo fitness scene since 2011, Barre Centric will become part of the fast-growing barre3 brand

Barre3 continues to expand, announcing an agreement that will see Buffalo, New York-based brand Barre Centric transition its studios into barre3 locations. 

Under the agreement, all Barre Centric studios will sign franchise agreements with barre3, converting their locations. Barre Centric counts three studios, all of which are in Buffalo. 

The Barre Centric locations will transition over the coming months, with all three studios receiving new branding, updated class formats and instructor training to bring them in line with barre3. 

Founded in 2011 by former dancers Giavana De Zitter and Rachael Jarosz, Barre Centric offers full-body, low-impact barre fitness workouts that last for 45 or 55 minutes per session. De Zitter and Jarosz themselves have taught over 10,000 classes, growing Barre Centric into a mainstay in Buffalo’s fitness scene. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Gia and Rachael to our network of owners,” said Sadie Lincoln, the co-founder and CEO of barre3. “What they accomplished together with Barre Centric is admirable, and I look forward to the leadership and insight they will bring to barre3. We’re so excited they are becoming barre3 and are joining us in our vision to redefine what success in fitness means.”

Full Steam Ahead for barre3

The move sees barre3 enter the Buffalo market as it continues to expand across the United States. Last year, barre3 acquired The Barre Code, a Midwest fitness brand, in a major consolidation move in the barre space. 

De Zitter and Jarosz told Athletech News they were encouraged by barre3’s acquisition of The Barre Code, and that the success of the move played a role in their decision to become barre3 franchise owners. 

Barre Centric co-founders Rachael Jarosz (l) and Giavana De Zitter (credit: Barre Centric)

Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, by Lincoln and her husband, barre3 now counts 197 locations nationwide. Lincoln has said she believes the brand can open as many as 1,000 studios across the globe. 

The fitness brand has grown thanks to a focus on sustainable franchise economics, timely acquisitions and premium workout offerings. Bare3 offers workouts including barre3 Signature, b3 Cardio, b3 Strength, b3 Mindful Flow and curated collections. Classes are available in-person and online through the company’s digital platform.

credit: barre3

Barre3 also has a strong retail arm, selling fitness apparel in partnership with Beyond Yoga, along with equipment, accessories and wellness/beauty products. 

More To Come?

While barre3’s absorption of Barre Centric isn’t an acquisition, experts have told ATN they expect to see more consolidation in the boutique fitness sector as some smaller brands struggle amid macroeconomic and industry-specific challenges. 

Lincoln has said barre3 will continue to pursue acquisitions and strategic other deals if the fit is right. 

“If there’s an alignment in our core values, vision and mission, then it’s something I’m proud to say we can do,” she told ATN in July. “It’s not just the bigger brands like The Barre Code – the owner of Spokane Barre just became part of barre3. I’m passionate about the people who have one or two studios but want to join something bigger and get the support they need.”

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The newest brand campaign from the functional fitness company showcases how the A-list celebrity uses the platform to build strength and mobility

Pvolve has launched its latest brand campaign featuring spokesperson Jennifer Aniston. The celebrity credits Pvolve with making her “stronger than ever,” and encourages others to find a workout they love, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level.

“Moving my body has always been important to me, and as we know now from the data, strength training is of the utmost importance to staying healthy and active as we age,” Aniston said.

Credit: Pvolve

The company recently released its Healthy Aging Study, which examines the impacts of Pvolve’s signature fitness method on women between the ages of 40 and 60. The study found that Pvolve delivered more strength, balance, and flexibility to participants than the control group, which participated in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity weekly.

As of last month, the brand has had a 225% revenue increase over the past year, driven by its franchise strategy, scientific studies, and partnerships. In the past year, Pvolve has awarded around 50 franchise licenses and opened around 40 locations across North America. Pvolve’s omnichannel fitness ecosystem also offers 1,400 on-demand classes, over 40 live classes per week through its Live Virtual Studio, and 40+ specialized workout series.

“Our method is designed to address the unique needs of women, who often face hormonal changes and life transitions that require special consideration in fitness, with an emphasis on building lasting strength,” stated Julie Cartwright, President of Pvolve. “Historically, many workouts have been built around men’s physiology, with women expected to adapt. So, we decided to take a different approach, though the workout is equally effective for men.”

The brand’s growth has been accelerated, likely due to Aniston’s support. The A-lister’s endorsement led to a 650+ increase in branded searches and a 40% boost in social media followers.

“After training with Pvolve for almost four years, I’ve learned there’s so much we can do to counteract the natural changes our bodies experience, and with the Pvolve Method, we can become stronger than ever,” Aniston said.

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The Chris Hemsworth-founded brand continues to grow its equipment line: the Centr Inspire Series brings pro-grade quality to home gyms

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Centr, the wellness platform co-founded by actor and fitness enthusiast Chris Hemsworth, has grown extensively in the last year, investing in innovative equipment used across homes, gyms and fitness competitions to complement its online content.

The brand’s most recent launch, the Inspire Series, offers professional-grade equipment for at-home use.

“It’s a big step forward for us, and honestly, it’s all about raising the bar when it comes to both performance and design,” Centr CEO Andrew Sugerman tells Athletech News.

Centr CEO Andrew Sugerman (credit: Centr)

At the heart of the Centr Inspire Series is the FT2 Pro Smith Functional Trainer, a multifunctional piece of equipment that has generated considerable buzz.

“The FT2 Pro is a 2-in-1 machine designed for the serious fitness enthusiast,” Sugerman explains. “Building on the legacy of Inspire Fitness’ world-first selectorized Smith Machine, it offers more ways to train in a safe, compact setup for your home, studio, or gym.”

Inspire Series FT2 PRO Smith Functional Trainer (credit: Centr)

The F2 Pro is paired with the FID7 Pro Adjustable Bench, which is designed with a unique split back to allow safer exercises and more flexibility during workouts.

“These products are game-changers for fitness enthusiasts looking for commercial-grade quality at home,” Sugerman says.

Inspire Series FID7 PRO Adjustable Bench (credit: Centr)

Centr Hits the Road With Hyrox

Earlier this year, Centr also made a significant entry into the functional fitness and competitive training space through its partnership with Hyrox, a global fitness race held in cities around the world. The collaboration resulted in the Centr x Hyrox Official Competition Equipment, designed specifically for performance-grade, functional training.

“Since the launch of our Hyrox line, we’ve signed over 13 new distributors and are tracking toward 20 by the end of the year, representing a 60% growth in total distributors,” Sugerman reports, adding that the expansion has placed Centr x Hyrox equipment in gyms worldwide. “We’re now supplying hundreds of gyms around the world, helping them meet the growing demand for specialized training equipment.”

International, Domestic Growth Plans

Centr’s hybrid approach to product distribution, balancing both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and commercial channels, has been a key factor in its rapid growth.

“Our strategy has been about making high-quality, affordable, specialized fitness equipment accessible across both consumer and commercial channels,” Sugerman explains. “Domestically, we’ve built a robust DTC presence, while also focusing on supplying our full line of strength equipment, including the Inspire Series, to specialized fitness retailers and commercial distributors.”

Centr x Hyrox equipment (credit: Centr/Hyrox)

Internationally, Centr’s presence has also grown significantly since 2019. The brand has secured partnerships with key distributors like Wolverson Fitness in the U.K. and Perform Better in Germany, allowing its products to enter European markets. Centr currently has distribution in over 60 countries and will be rolling out the Inspire Series globally as well.

Investing in the Future

Centr also continues to invest in its digital platform, where it’s finding success with short workouts.

“Short, body-targeted training is some of our most engaging content,” Sugerman shares. “We’re listening closely to our customers and adapting to provide them with more ways to personalize their fitness routines.”

Looking to the future, Sugerman hinted at even more innovations coming from Centr, including an expansion into the cardio space later this month.

“Moving forward, our focus is becoming even more data-centric—creating highly personalized experiences that go beyond what standard generative AI can offer,” Sugerman says.

“Centr is more than just a fitness brand—we’re about total well-being,” he adds. “From movement to nutrition to mindfulness, our goal is to empower people to live healthier, more balanced lives.”

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Expected to ship in early 2025, Amp has finally released the price for its debut at-home gym

The at-home gyms of the (near) future are compact, powered by AI and accessible – key features at the core of Amp, a new home-based fitness device now available for pre-sale.

The fitness brand has found a fan in actor Terry Crews, who recently promoted Amp in a TikTok video.

Built with simplicity in mind, Amp offers a minimum weight of 5 pounds with the flexibility to increase up to 100 pounds of digital resistance, allowing users to adjust workouts in real time. There is also the option to manually adjust the resistance with the turn of a dial.

Three smart resistance modes are available: Fixed, Band and Amplify. While Fixed mode maintains constant weight throughout the entire range of motion, Band adds resistance the further a user gets from the starting position. Amplify mode adds resistance when returning to the starting point.

credit: Amp

“I’ve always been passionate about fitness and technology,” Amp founder and entrepreneur Shalom Meckenzie said. “My vision was to create an innovative solution that combines the two and empowers users to achieve their goals while making sure it is accessible for all. I am excited to see this vision coming to life.”

The accompanying Amp app guides users through engaging, gamified and personalized workouts with a social component that allows users to engage in challenges and compete on the leaderboard. The Amp gym comes with a one-year complimentary subscription to the app. After the first year, the app is available for $23 per month. Although the app is currently only available on iOS, the fitness company says compatibility with Android is coming soon.

The Amp system, $1,795, is estimated to be delivered in early 2025 (right in time for New Year’s fitness resolutions) and can be reserved with a $99 deposit. The price includes delivery, installation and accessories, such as a T-Bar, two ankle straps, a handle, dual handle and rope.

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Xponential’s franchised yoga brand has made its entry into the European market in Frankfurt

YogaSix, a franchised yoga brand within the Xponential Fitness orbit, is set to open its first yoga studio in Frankfurt, Germany, later this month.

Additional YogaSix openings are also in the works for Germany.

The new studio —the boutique yoga brand’s first outside of the U.S. — is slated to open on September 27. Behind YogaSix’s push into Europe are LifeFit Group’s Christophe Collinet and Daniel Hoffman, who have also introduced Club Pilates to the German market.

“We are thrilled to bring YogaSix to Germany and expand our reach globally,” said Bob Kaufmann, Xponential’s president of international. “This milestone is a testament to the growing demand for the YogaSix style of yoga around the world. YogaSix’s mission has always been to make yoga accessible, and we’re excited to team up with our accomplished master franchisee to see YogaSix’s experience come to life, starting in Frankfurt with more markets in 2025.”

The boutique yoga franchise, which has over 200 open locations in the U.S., is also launching in Japan.

“YogaSix is a modern yoga boutique concept that has the potential to conquer the market,” Collinet, LifeFit’s CCO, said. “Yoga is more popular than ever, precisely because it strengthens physically but also mentally, relieves tension, and reduces stress. We are excited to work with franchisees who are aligned with our mission to make yoga accessible to all and create an inclusive community.”

YogaSix offers both heated and non-heated yoga classes and has integrated strength training into its approach, including TRX straps.

“We were discussing the popularity of our sculpt and flow class that combines yoga, weights and cardio and wanted to add another option for members that was in a similar realm,” explained Lindsay Junk, YogaSix president. “Xponential already had a relationship with TRX, so we went to work to create a class that made use of their incredible equipment in a way yoga students typically aren’t exposed to. Our education department partnered with theirs to create a truly unique experience.”

Lindsay Junk (credit: Xponential Fitness)

Xponential Fitness is expected to report earnings early next month.

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