Fit & Fab with Jessica Felicia

Meet Jessica Felicia, Co-Founder of Barre2barre- the hottest fitness studio in Singapore and Hong Kong for fun and inspiring workouts.

“Fit is the new pretty, strong is the new sexy” has redefined the meaning of beauty. With so many choices lying around, it’s tough to pick one that you will be interested and committed to. If you are contemplating among yoga, pilates and dance classes, you will love what we are going to introduce to you – The hybrid BarreAmped

Influenced by classical and modern dance, with a touch of Pilates, BarreAmped provides you with the perfect mix of movements that help you gain toned muscles, strength, flexibility, and a great posture. Jessica Felicia, Co-founder of Barre2barre, shares more on her fitness experience and the motivation behind it.

Can you tell us more about your background?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where I was first introduced to barre fitness. I began my practice in 2009 and was certified to teach BarreAmped in early 2015 as part of the Hong Kong Barre 2 Barre team. I moved to Singapore to complete my MBA at INSEAD in July 2016 and partnered with co-founders of Barre 2 Barre, Karen and Mylène, on the expansion of Barre 2 Barre into Singapore.

Aside from barre, I love playing tennis and running as part of my cardio regime. I was a tennis instructor at Beverly Hills Tennis throughout my high school and college years in the US. Teaching good form is something that is instilled in my mind to avoid injuries, having injured myself many times playing sports.

What inspired you to start Barre in Hong Kong and Singapore?

My barre practice has brought so many blessings. I met Karen and Mylène in Hong Kong through barre, as a client at first and then as a teacher at Barre 2 Barre Hong Kong. I moved to Singapore to complete my MBA at INSEAD, my husband and I decided to stay and build our lives here as he happens to be Singaporean and we wanted to be closer to his family.

I saw the opportunity of expanding the brand into Singapore and shared my ideas with Karen and Mylène, and the rest is history. It’s hard work, but it was worth it as it feels good to contribute towards the wellbeing of others.

Can you share more on the BarreAmped class experience that newcomers can expect?

BarreAmped classes provide a full body workout in less than one hour. Classes usually start with a warm up and we will run through the various muscle groups such as thighs and legs through seat work, core work and floor work. We end the class with a deep stretch and relaxation exercises.

We focus on form and alignment to make sure everyone is safe and in good posture. Movements are kept small with isometric holds – sometimes until the muscles shake. During the class, the instructor will provide tactile feedback and posture alignment corrections where needed. We keep our classes small so that we can focus on the progress of each individual. Expect a challenge and prepare to leave feeling calmly energised.