The emerald circle

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

Inactivity, repeated injuries, weak muscles, feeling low, a twinged back every time I lifted a finger in the garden... does this sound familiar?

That was me in January 2023 and am I ever happy I found BCTO:  an incredible team of highly trained instructors, a genuinely inclusive and judgment-free environment, a great mix of fun classes, and a spotless and beautiful space. 

The instructors deliver such thoughtfully designed sessions and personal guidance, they helped me build my strength and balance without injury (500+ classes and counting!).  I'm back to living without constant aches and pains, and love every minute of moving with this crew (even when Bethany breaks out the sliders 😄).

It's rare to find a place that delivers the goods in such an honest way and where you can just be yourself no matter where you're at on any given day.

I’m delighted to serve on the Emerald Circle Board to help support this community and welcome even more members to it.

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

My journey with Barre Collective Toronto began when I became a member in the summer of 2022. 

When I first joined the studio, my goal was simple: to improve my fitness routine. But what I found here went far beyond exercise. The instructors are incredible - knowledgeable, motivating, and genuinely invested in helping each member succeed. The classes are ALWAYS FUN and challenging, which keeps me coming back.

What truly makes this place special to me, though, is the community. Over the past 3 years, I’ve built friendships that I never expected when I signed up. It’s a welcoming environment where everyone supports each other, and that sense of belonging means a lot to me. This studio isn’t just where I train - it’s where I connect, grow, and feel at home.

As a member of the Emerald Circle Board of Directors, I am committed to supporting Shelley-Anne’s vision for BCTO and helping her keep this place thriving for others to call their second home too.

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

My connection to BCTO began with Shelley-Anne’s Beginner Dance on Saturdays. I was nervous to try choreography that first day, but Shelley’s energy, creativity, and welcoming vibe drew me in instantly. I called my partner as soon as I left, barely able to contain my excitement: “I’ve found joy — and it’s this amazing place.” 

Thanks to BCTO, I’ve reclaimed movement as a core part of my identity — and tapped into a youthful version of myself I didn’t realize I’d been missing.

As a member of the Emerald Circle Fund Board, I’m deeply committed to contributing my time and resources in support of BCTO and Shelley’s vision for our beloved inclusive movement space. I’m grateful to be part of this community. 

When I think about my time at BCTO, I’m struck that what started as a simple interest in adult dance has become a transformative life experience.

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

I’ve really come to cherish this community, from a smile and a “Hi!” with the Front Desk Crew, to a chat after class with other BCTO regulars about where to get the best ice-cream in the city. We run into each other in the neighbourhood, “Oh, I’m so sore from Bethany’s Strength class yesterday!” we complain-brag. The older I get, the more I see how rare and valuable a community like this is.

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

I have been a member of BCTO from the very beginning. In June 2021, a small group of passionate, talented instructors, including my daughter Bethany, saw the fitness studio they worked at close its doors permanently due to the pandemic. 

Determined not to give up on their collective love of movement, fun and community, together they launched The Toronto Barre Collective. It started off with streamed online Zoom Barre and Pilates classes. It was a lifeline for me to keep moving from my living room.

With Shelley-Anne’s vision the doors to this incredibly beautiful and welcoming space opened in April 2023 and I got a second home. Nothing lights up my week more than walking into the studio to take a class. The variety of classes and the caliber of instruction is unlike any other fitness studio I’ve been to. 

The vision for BCTO keeps growing with workshops, education, training and The Clinic. There is nothing like it in Bloor West or the wider west end.

I am honoured and determined to support Shelley-Anne and the BCTO community as a member of the Emerald Circle Board. There is no option to fail. Where else would we all go?

INSTRUCTOR
EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

As an Instructor,  I've worked at many places and nothing beats the beautiful environment and culture that Shelley has created with BCTO and its community.  For the last 2 years, it is truly my happy place and I instantly feel lighter and at ease when I walk up those stairs to the studio.  Being a Board Member, I hope to offer the knowledge I've gained as an instructor, studio manager and small business owner, and support the longevity of this true Runnymede gem, which I hope is here for many more years to come.

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

I first walked through the doors of BCTO in May 2023.  I had decided years before that I was finished with fitness clubs, treadmills and weight machines.  I wanted to get back to the things I loved and that was dance.    

So, I started my search for a studio in the neighbourhood.  It literally took me years but eventually I found BCTO.  I am so glad I did!  It felt so great to get in the groove again and Shelley-Anne’s energy is infectious.

We talk about community at BCTO but that is not just a cliché.  Every time I walk through those doors, not only do I have a smile on my face but the greeting I get from everyone (staff and members) is so welcoming and nothing I have ever experienced. 

The decision to support Shelley-Anne and her vision was an easy one.  If BCTO wasn’t here, all I thought to myself was ‘what am I going to do on a Tuesday night at 7:45pm or a Saturday at 12:15pm’.  The answer was simple…nothing.   

I am extremely honoured to be a member of the Emerald Circle Board and am committed to providing support, guidance and advice so BCTO remains in our community and we all keep walking through those doors for many years to come.

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

Initially I joined BCTO to help me rehabilitate, following therapy treatments to address crippling sciatica in 2022. After starting to take yoga, pilates, and stretch/release classes from a restorative approach, I progressed to strength and choreography classes. Who knew……. me in dance! Now I can focus on proactive maintenance and injury prevention - critically important in retirement years!

I look forward to extending my BCTO relationship via the Emerald Board, because BCTO made a huge impact on the physical and mental health of both myself and my partner Marc.  No other fitness studio or facility seems to offer BCTO's unique product mix, including class variety, instructor quality, community sense, and props/mats amenities - all at a convenient neighbourhood location (walking distance from house, and/or TTC).  This combination is worth preserving, evolving, and improving.

FDC (Front Desk Crew)
EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

EMERALD CIRCLE FOUNDER

My goal had been simple. In November 2024 I wanted a place within walking distance to get fit and maybe a few Pilates classes … 

What I found at BCTO was incredible instructors that teach, inspire, and celebrate your success. From my first class I felt welcomed and encouraged, excited to try new types of classes with so many to choose from! 

I love my community at BCTO - the positive uplifting energy, the new friendships I have made, and as a member of the Emerald Circle Fund Board I want to help ensure my happy place continues to thrive as a beautiful inclusive space.