Health and wellness is big business today between 2013 and 2015, the global wellness industry grew nearly 11 percent from 3 point 3 trillion to more than 3 point 7 TRILLION dollars. And it is continuing to grow. For local entrepreneurs, that is creating a lot of opportunities but that also means there s a lot of competition. Nicole Cummins is owner of Barre 3, a boutique fitness studio that s part of a Portland, Oregon based chain with more than 130 locations around the country. Barre 3 offers a full body, low impact cardio workout that incorporates deep long hold, micromovements and the traditional ballet bar. Nicole brought Barre 3 to baton Rouge in January 2017, when she opened the first and so far only studio in the Acadian Village Shopping Center. Today some 300 ot 500 members a week come through the studio to take one of the dozens of classes offered. Kirk Vidrine is a nutritionist and kinesiologist. Kirk recently left a position as a corporate wellness director for a major petrochecmical company to branch out on his own with a new company, V Well Solutions, that is marketing wellness programs to small and mid sized companies in the region. In conjunction, Kirk also has created a healthy eating and weight loss program called Fit Foodies, that teaches users through videos, blogs and detailed recipes how to cook and eat healthful meals that will help you lose wieght in eight weeks. And, equally remarkable, this life changing experience is, intentionally, seriously affordable. Photos at Mansurs on the Boulevard by Karrry Hosford.

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