Meet Brooke Burnside

We were lucky to catch up with Brooke Burnside recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

When I launched Barnyard Fitness, I had no prior teaching experience anywhere, no following, and no real roadmap to running a fitness studio. I was literally texting friends, my family, my parents’ friends—anyone I knew—and asking them to come take class. It was a full-blown grind and an all-day, every-day hustle.

At the same time, I was working through some heavy personal stuff—postpartum depression, body dysmorphia, divorce—and newly navigating life as a single mom. I was rebuilding my life while trying to build a business, and it left me feeling totally exposed. I kept asking myself, “Who do you think you are to open a studio?” “Why do you think you can do this?” That little voice in my head was relentless.

But little by little, I started shifting the way I spoke to myself. I leaned into gratitude. I started reading the reviews my clients were leaving and using their words as fuel. I began writing gratitude lists every morning. I wrote affirmations, repeated them every morning, and fully committed to the power of manifestation. I reminded myself: You’re doing it. You’re creating something real, something important and people are showing up for it.

Barnyard was born out of everything I wanted in a fitness space—somewhere strong, supportive, and community-focused. Now I get to share that with others every single day. I still thank my clients at the end of every class, because they’re the reason this studio exists. Without them, I’d be leading no one.

I’m coming up on one year in business. I was recently invited to teach at a beautiful resort in Mexico, in the same small town I used to vacation in as a kid. It feels like everything is coming full circle. I have the most loyal clients, the most supportive family and friends, and a little girl who gets to see her mom show up and build something from the ground up.

Imposter syndrome still pops up now and then—but now I meet it with confidence. I’ve earned my place. And I’m just getting started.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Barnyard Fitness is a strength-based Pilates fusion studio at The Barn in Bridgehampton that’s all about core, control, and real movement that makes you feel STRONG. My method is heavy on core work because I believe that’s where everything starts. As an athlete myself, I’ve always known that your powerhouse drives everything—how you move, how you perform, how you feel. That foundation is literally the foundation of my method and runs through every class I teach.

What sets Barnyard apart is that it’s not just about showing up to sweat. It’s about showing up, with intention, for the whole process—movement, recovery, community, and growth. I’m big on recovery. I genuinely believe what you do for your body before and after class is just as important as the class itself.

In the off-season, I volunteer with the varsity athletes at Bridgehampton High School—my old stomping grounds. I run them through strength training, mobility work, Pilates fusion, stretching—you name it. I even travel with the varisty basketball team to games to make sure their bodies are 100% to compete. This year our basketball team made it all the way to the final two in the State Championships in Binghampton, the first time in a decade, and I was right there with them with my three year old daughter. I don’t do this for publicity—I do it because that’s my hometown and I care.

This summer, I’m leveling things up even more. I’m launching a new activation called FORM, which brings all the best reformer-inspired movements to the mat using Heroboards. It’s core-focused, controlled, and a serious burn in all the best ways. I’m so pumped to bring this to the studio and give my clients a whole new way to move. It is also a great way to build strength ahead of jumping into a reformer class if you’re new to it and looking to gain some confidence and practice.

I am also hosting my first wellness event, Barnyard Bash —a three-hour wellness event consisting of two 45 minute back-to-back classes, recovery experiences like cold plunges, and local vendors bringing their best. We’re also rolling out IV drips, vitamin shots, to showcase our newest collaboration with Casa Health founded by Dr. Fidel Garcia. An important addition in my opinion. It’s a full vibe and the energy is unmatched. The response has already been so strong that I’m hoping to make it a monthly thing at the studio—something clients and the community can look forward to regularly throughout the high-season in the Hamptons.

Barnyard is constantly evolving, but my mission stays the same: strong bodies, clear minds, and a space that feels real. No ego, no fluff—just people showing up and putting in the work, and most importantly, having fun together.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

In hindsight, three things that made the biggest impact along my journey were perseverance, compassion, and trusting my gut.

Perseverance got me through some seriously challenging moments where I felt like giving up. Nothing about building Barnyard was handed to me—I had to figure it out as I went along, and there were plenty of setbacks. But, nevertheless, I kept showing up and moving forward.

Compassion, for me, doesn’t mean sugarcoating things. It means holding space for individuals to show up exactly as they are. My studio welcomes all levels, all backgrounds, and people come in carrying a lot. Life doesn’t pause just because you booked a class. So I meet people where they’re at, challenge them, and make sure they leave feeling stronger than they came in—physically and mentally. That’s the environment I’ve created, and it’s what keeps people coming back.

Intuition!!! Trusting my gut has guided me through every decision I make across the board. From how I teach to who I partner with. There’s a lot of noise when you’re building something. Everyone has an opinion they want you to hear. But no one knows your vision better than you! The more I’ve listened to that inner voice, the clearer everything’s become.

My advice for anyone just starting out… Don’t wait for “the perfect time.” There is no such thing! You build confidence through action, not by standing on the sidelines overthinking it so just start-anywhere- and things will start to fall into place as they’re meant to. You just have to believe.

Show up like it matters—even when there are only two people in the room. Those two people are everything. Give them the best class you’ve got. That’s how you build trust, word of mouth, and momentum. I teach every class, regardless of how many participants I have, with my whole entire being.

Do not try to be like everyone else. People show up for YOU and the experience you give them. Find your voice. Develop your method. Know your “why” and let that drive everything you do—from programming to how you talk to clients.

Care about the experience you are creating. Be prepared. Be present-leave all that personal stuff your going through at the door. The energy you bring into the room is contagious and sets the tone. That is what clients feed off of! People may not remember the exercises, but they will ALWAYS remember how you made them feel.

Lastly, and most importantly—disregard fear. Fear is always going to be present, but it doesn’t deserve a seat at the table. You get one shot in your life. Who cares what people think? Take the risk. Bet on yourself. Be yourself! Back it with the hard work you put in and don’t look back. Theres a reason the rearview mirror is so much smaller than a windshield, right?

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

In the year, my biggest area of growth has been learning how to truly take care of myself—not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. I’ve done a lot of healing through therapy, started creating more balance, and finally gave myself permission to have a quality life outside of my work.

I’ve carved out time for more one-on-one bonding with my daughter, taken actual vacations without feeling guilty, and I’ve started to say no to things that drain me. That includes friendships that no longer feel aligned, old habits, even material stuff that just takes up space. If it doesn’t serve me, it’s out! I’ve learned that protecting your peace is a full-time job but one that is just SO worth it.

This past year has also been about softening in some ways, but also standing stronger in who I am. Choosing what feels good and fully letting go of what doesn’t feel good. Trusting that life doesn’t have to be chaotic in order to be meaningful.

I am finally, at the age of 31, stepping into a version of myself that feels entirely authentic! Lighter, clearer, more grounded. Now that I’ve gotten to this point, I’m not looking back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barnyard-fitness.com
• Instagram: minstasinsta

Image Credits

Kristin Gray Photography