New Business: Juanita Fitness Studio Represents Kirkland Woman's Dream

A new fitness studio has opened in downtown Juanita, tucked into a corner near newly rising condominium structures and representing the dream of a young Kirkland woman entranced by movement and dance all her life.

The Union Method studio at 9718 NE Juanita Drive offers classes in Pilates, Yoga, barre and cardiovascular exercise - a combination designed by owner Tami Jones to unite the mind, body and soul.

Jones opened the studio last September after an eye-opening experience in finding a location and obtaining city permits, and says it has seen significant growth in the last two months.

“I love the community. I love helping people get fit,” she says. “The studio is small. I wanted small classes and a community feeling. I know everyone’s name, which is harder when you have a larger studio.”

Jones grew up near Kirkland in the Bellevue area of the Bridle Trails neighborhood, and from a very young age loved to dance.

“I grew up as a dancer and went to Arizona State (University) on a dance scholarship,” she says. “Then I got hurt and had to quit dancing, and started doing Pilates as physical therapy.”

She earned a degree is business and communications and works part-time now in accounting with a local company. But she is at the studio six days a week, teaching 15 classes, and her dream is to make it a full-time occupation.

“It would be cool if I could do it full-time,” she says. “I would love to have multiple locations” some day.

Finding her first spot was tough though, selecting one location on Rose Hill and then learning it wouldn’t meet city code for a fitness studio. As a new small business owner, she found the permitting process exasperating. But she feels the location in Juanita works just fine.

It’s next to Spud’s, the fish and chips spot, and adjacent the condominiums being built that will complete the Juanita Village project.

“It’s right across from the park (Juanita Beach), which I would love to use in summer if it’s OK with the city,” Jones says. “And with all this residential, it will be within walking distance for a lot of people.”

Classes are offered in Pilates mat and Pilates mat flow, using classic principles of flow and precision; Barre and Barre express, a “complete body workout” using small, isolated movements targeting each muscle group; and Vinyasa Yoga.

The combination is designed to result in a toned, long and lean physique, Jones says, and the classes can be modified to help those of all fitness levels.

“It’s really excellent strength training. It’s a pretty intense workout. We get lots of range in fitness, every age, every fitness level. The cool thing about the classes is that anything can be modified and everything explained. We have only 10 people in a class.”

Jones is also now introducing limited strength training  for those who want to build muscle. A few other instructors also work at the studio with their own specialties, such as pre-natal yoga and pre- and post- natal fitness.

The studio also offers fun combination classes on Friday to build relationships among clients, Belly up to the Barre, which is a barre workout followed by socializing over “Skinny Girl” cocktails and Vinyasa and Vino. The later is a Yoga session followed by a tasting session with various local wineries.

“I want people who have never done this not to feel intimidated,” Jones says.

For more details see the studio Website here or call 425-298-8504.