UPDATE (Jan. 21, 2026) Due to threat of inclement weather this weekend, barre3’s grand opening celebration has been rescheduled to Jan. 30 through Feb. 1. This story has been updated accordingly since originally being published on Jan. 13.
One woman’s path from survival to studio owner, shaped by love, faith, and the power of community.
ROCKWALL, TX (Jan. 13, 2026) When Kelly Bryant first imagined opening a barre3 studio, she never could have known how deeply that dream would intertwine with love, loss, healing — and ultimately, purpose.
Her story begins like many modern love stories do: online. After years as a single mother who put dating firmly on the back burner, Kelly finally dipped a toe into the dating world and met Jeremy on Bumble. Their first date was Valentine’s Day 2020 — just weeks before the world shut down.
“It felt like we were dating in a bubble,” Kelly said. “Everything closed, and suddenly we had all this time. We’d lay blankets by the lake in Rockwall, talk for hours, and really get to know each other.”
There was just one catch: Jeremy lived in San Angelo — a four-hour drive away. Undeterred, he made the trip every weekend for a year.
“He didn’t miss a single one,” Kelly said. “That’s when I knew.”
Love, Interrupted
Just four months into their relationship, Kelly received a life-altering diagnosis: Stage 3 colorectal cancer.
“I went into autopilot,” Kelly recalled. “Within two weeks I had a port, and within two weeks I was starting chemo.”
At the time, Kelly had already lost her job as a nurse practitioner due to COVID closures and was questioning what came next. But one constant remained: barre3 — a fitness community that became her lifeline during the loneliest moments of the pandemic.
“Even when everything was virtual, barre3 made me feel connected,” Kelly said. “That sense of belonging — it carried me.”
So much so, that even before her diagnosis, Kelly and Jeremy had begun early conversations about opening a barre3 studio in Rockwall, a community they had grown to love. When cancer entered the picture, that dream was quietly set aside.
“I truly thought it was over,” Kelly said. “I never thought about it again.”
A Journey of Healing — and Unwavering Love
Kelly’s cancer journey was long and grueling: months of chemotherapy and radiation, multiple surgeries, the removal of 18 inches of her colon, and seven months with an ostomy bag.
Through it all, Jeremy never wavered.
“I had an ostomy bag on our honeymoon,” Kelly said. “I lost most of my hair. I gained weight from steroids. And he never once made me feel anything but beautiful.”
Two weeks after her diagnosis, Jeremy asked her to marry him. They were married in January 2021.
“The aftermath of cancer is harder than the journey,” Kelly explained. “You’re left with a different body, new pain, and there’s no bell to ring for that.”
Asking ‘Why Not?’
As Kelly healed physically and emotionally, the question of “what’s next?” loomed large — especially after neuropathy made returning to her medical career impossible. It was during counseling that a simple question changed everything.
“Why can’t you still open that studio?” her counselor asked.
“I remember thinking, why can’t I?” Kelly said. “So I went home and asked Jeremy, and we called barre3 corporate again.”
Doors began opening — one by one, at exactly the right time.
barre3 Rockwall: Built on Belonging
Now, nearly four years later, barre3 Rockwall is set to open its doors at the Ridge Road and Horizon shopping center, bringing not just fitness, but community, accessibility, and heart to the area.
“I want people to walk in and feel welcome,” Kelly said. “I want them to leave better than they came.”
Barre3’s signature approach blends strength, cardio, and mindfulness, with modifications offered in every class — making it accessible to all ages and fitness levels. Barre3 Rockwall will offer seven days a week of classes, a robust instructor team, and a Play Lounge providing on-site childcare.
The studio will celebrate its grand opening with a full weekend of complimentary offerings January 30–February1, including free classes Friday through Sunday, a free Play Lounge, and more than $600 in gift cards from local businesses — all designed to invite the community in and share the heart behind the space.
More Than a Studio — A Calling
For Kelly, this studio represents far more than exercise.
“This isn’t just my job,” Kelly said. “It’s my purpose. I want to be God’s hands and feet — to love on people the way barre3 loved on me.”
As Valentine’s Day approaches, her story is a reminder that love isn’t just found in grand gestures — sometimes it’s in four-hour drives, unwavering presence, and the courage to dream again.
“This is a lot of pinch-me moments,” Kelly said. “But I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News. barre3 is a Blue Ribbon News advertiser. Photos submitted by Jeremy and Kelly Bryant.
Ridge Road & Horizon (near Kroger)
Grand Opening: Jan. 30-Feb. 1
@barre3rockwall
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