Meet the Barre-Up Team

Leah Ward | Co-Owner

Winter Holbrook | Co- Owner

Winter has been part of the Barre-Up family since the doors opened in 2013. From day one, she fell in love with the small classes sizes, friendly instructors, and the supportive, empowering community of women. Many years of expensive gym memberships & studio bouncing were over, because THIS WAS IT! She was getting all the benefits of a leaner, stronger body, but more importantly, her mind & soul did a complete reset and it changed her overall perspective on life. In 2014 she got certified in her passion, Buti Yoga, and then subsequently followed with her 200hr YTT, Barre, POUND and Mat Pilates Certifications. In August of 2017, she had the opportunity to team up with her bestie and take over as the studio’s new Co-Owners.

Winter is super passionate about helping others and has worked hard to build a strong, supportive community here in Raleigh. She firmly believes "empowered women, empower women" and that we can all wear crowns!

Music is Winter’s love language! She lives for anything with a good beat and is known to bring all the musically driven energy to her classes. Her biggest love is when she helps her students connect their minds with their bodies in a fun and approachable way. Outside of the studio, she works in Procurement for a nationally based construction management firm and loves spending her free time with her husband (Sam), her bonus kids (Pierce + Lauren), and their adopted dog from China (Winston)! You can follow her at @wintermarie_

Leah teamed up as business partners with her best friend and took over as Co-Owner of Barre-Up in Fall of 2017. She grew up playing soccer, tennis, running and riding horses. Years of physically demanding sports and playing soccer in college at WVU took its toll on her body and she knew she needed to try something different. Once Leah moved to Raleigh from Washington DC in late 2013, she discovered Barre Up and it didn't take her long to fall in love with everything the studio stood for. In early 2014, she decided to challenge herself and become certified to teach Buti Yoga, helping Barre-Up become one of the first prominent studios to offer these empowering, strong classes for women around the Triangle area.

Leah has since been able to become immersed in her passion for motivating and helping all levels achieve their own individual goals and is continuously inspired by the magic that Barre Up brings to the community. Her quirky, upbeat personality and always fun 'Rhythm and Poetry' music choices are a favorite among our wonderful clients. If she's not in the studio, you can typically find her stop, drop, and yoga'ing around Raleigh with her corgis and camera in tow. In 2017 Leah was graciously voted among the "Best Fitness Instructors in Raleigh". She is currently 500 hr RYT Buti, Buti Flow, Vinyasa, Yin, Hatha, Hot Core/Sculpt, POUND, Pilates Mat and Barre certified. Leah is the co-creator of Pro Power Yoga Teacher Training, helping others achieve their goals of being yoga instructors or just expanding their own practice and owner of LivingWild™ Yoga. She is an exclusive seller of Moonchild Yoga Wear which you can find in the studio or on her website: livingwildshop.com

Our Instructors

  • Lisa

    Barre + Pound Instructor

  • Margaret

    Barre Instructor

  • Jenn

    Yoga, Barre, Sculpt + Flow Instructor

  • Elisabeth

    Yoga + Sculpt + Flow Instructor

  • Amanda

    Yoga + Barre Instructor

  • Orla

    Barre Instructor

  • Megan

    Barre + Sculpt + Flow Instructor

  • Jaimee

    Pop Pilates Instructor

  • Tiffany

    Yoga Instructor

Our studio is an open space layout with a small retail area carrying Barre-Up Merchandise and Moonchild Yoga Wear. If classes are not in session and you have questions, please reach out to winter@barre-up.com. If you would like to purchase retail, please visit here: Shop Retail.