From Head Cheerleader to Business Owner, ALHS Grad Opens Fitness Studio in Avon

It’s been a winding path for Avon Lake High School graduate Lori Standen who has gone from head high school cheerleader to business owner.

After graduating from ALHS in 1999, she earned a degree from Miami University (Ohio), before launching into a career as a pharmaceutical representative for Eli Lilly.

“That field really changed,” Standen said. “I got out of it.”

Before leaving Florida to return to the Cleveland area, she began taking classes at Pure Barre in Sarasota. Soon after, Standen was teaching the class.

“I took it for about six months, and then taught for six months,” Standen, a natural athlete who began dancing at age 4, and played soccer, basketball, softball and golf growing up, said.

After meeting the founder of the nationally franchised Pure Barre, fitness guru Carrie Rezabek Dorr, Standen moved back to Ohio and in February, opened a Pure Barre location in Avon.

Her original plans were to open a location in Westlake, where she now lives, but a delay in earning approval from the city of Westlake for a location in the Promenade prompted her to open shop in the Drug Mart plaza in Avon, on the corner of Lear Road and Detroit.

“Avon was really helpful in helping me open,” the now-Westlake resident said.

Pure Barre is a technique that incorporates moves—many which include a ballet barre—and aerobic moves into a workout.

To be clear, the Pure Barre technique isn’t dance.

Using small isometric movements at the ballet barre set to motivating music, Pure Barre claims to “lift your seat, tones your thighs, abs and arms and burns fat in record breaking time.”

One class may use small weights and small controlled movements while others might mean faster-paced moves in the center of the newly refurbished main room in front of a mirror that spans one entire wall.

“Everyone works at their own pace,” Standen said, noting that the class age ranges from 18 (a minimum requirement) to clients who are well into their sixties. A class can have up to 22 people in it.

The concept is popular. After prospective clients found themselves waitlisted, Standen added 6 more classes last week to bring the total number to 37 classes per week. Classes are held every day.

“I’ve really been blessed,” she said.

Including Standen, the Avon Pure Barre location has seven instructors who start classes as early as 5:30 a.m. She just added an 8:15 p.m. class.

“Everyone works at his or her own pace,” she said. “It’s important that everyone who joins feels comfortable.”

The low-impact technique is popular for strengthening, weight loss and general physical improvement. It is also safe for pregnancy and post-pregnancy, including one workout that helps tighten abs after a C-section. Standen has been working with the Cleveland Clinic's OB/GYN group to help patients before, during and after pregnancy.

She also works with a physician from Tri-City Medical who refers patients recovering from injury and in need of health living and exercise options.

Class times depend on day. Click here for a complete schedule and specials.