Discover Booty Barre Fitness at Ismini Studios, Tonbridge

If you’ve strolled down Tonbridge High Street, you’ve probably passed the Medway School of Dance without realising that tucked away inside, in the lower ballroom, is one of the town’s most award-winning fitness studios.

Ismini Studios, founded by local powerhouse Ismini, is the proud holder of the Tonbridge Business Awards Health and Wellbeing accolade. Inside, you’ll find a weekly schedule packed with Pilates (in all its many guises), movement classes, and — once a week — the rather intriguingly named Booty Barre.

A little background

When I asked Ismini what inspired her to open a studio in Tonbridge, she told me:

“In 2017, I moved to Tonbridge from Dartford for my daughter’s education and was commuting daily to teach Pilates/Booty Barre classes and private sessions in Chislehurst. I had to make a change and wanted to open classes in Tonbridge as I noticed that the town did not have what I was offering.”

With over 18 years’ experience in body movement, Ismini decided to share her knowledge through Pilates, Booty Barre®, and her own creation, Intuitive Pilates — a fusion of Pilates and The Feldenkrais Method®. As she explains,

“Intuitive Pilates is my creation — a fusion of Pilates and The Feldenkrais Method® — which means results are meaningful and long lasting. I also wanted to build a community because through my ongoing interest in movement, the nervous system, mental health and overall wellbeing, I learnt that people fare better when they feel they belong.”

And community really is at the heart of what she does. Many of her clients have become firm friends inside and outside of class — something I definitely felt when I joined.

My first Booty Barre experience

Interior of Ismini Studios showing blue mats arranged on a polished wooden floor, large windows with curtains, and a ceiling fan.

I went along to try it out one Wednesday evening at the very handy time of 5:15pm. I’d been warned in advance to bring water, a towel, and some energy. As someone who knows her way around the gym, I figured I’d be fine. Reader, I was not fine.

The warm-up alone left me puffing — at one point I muttered “cor, that was spicy” to Ismini, who just laughed knowingly. This was the moment I realised I was in for a very sweaty hour.

Booty Barre is exactly what it sounds like: a fast-paced fusion of ballet, Pilates, and dance fitness that will have your thighs trembling and your core on fire, all to a soundtrack of pumping music. There were moments of serious graft at the barre, but also little bursts of wiggling and dancing that made the whole class feel joyful rather than punishing. At one point, spotting our exhausted faces, Ismini grinned and said:

“Seeing your faces makes me smile.”

The class was a mix of veterans and newbies — one woman told me she had been coming for 13 years and seemed to know every move by heart. I, as the first-timer, was hauled up to the front so I could see exactly what was going on (translation: nowhere to hide). My legs shook, my thighs burned, and when it was time for “last orders at the barre,” I nearly cried with relief. Even the abdominal section on the mat felt like a break.

But here’s the thing — for all its toughness, the class was genuinely fun. People laughed, smiled, and cheered each other on. The regulars wore Booty Barre vests like badges of honour, but the atmosphere was more welcoming than cliquey — more like joining a club you didn’t know you wanted to be part of.

Why regulars keep coming back

That sense of camaraderie isn’t accidental. Ismini actively encourages consistency, as she explained to me:

“Movement is so important for people’s overall wellbeing – physically, emotionally and mentally. Many people struggle to make friends. Attending the same class each week helps to build camaraderie. By having a permanent space in a particular class, and by committing to that class, attendees are more likely to keep up their practice because they feel accountable to themselves and they know their fellow attendees… We need to create good habits and break bad habits. Having a specific class to attend helps you create a good habit, and the longer the habit goes on for, the easier it is to maintain and the faster you will see results.”

As someone who has dabbled with various fitness regimes, I can see exactly what Ismini means – it’s easy to go along to one class, but turning up regularly needs a bit more of a habit change. It’s an approach that clearly works — the energy in the room spoke volumes. And my sense is that people keep returning to Ismini’s class, not just because they’ve made a commitment , but because it’s a lot of fun!

Favourite moments

When I asked her about her favourite memories from running classes in Tonbridge, Ismini couldn’t pick just one:

“My clients bring so much warmth and fun to my classes. They are so supportive of each other as well as of me and this means so much to me. I love it when I see clients giggling in class because they’ve achieved a challenging exercise, or because I’ve ‘tricked’ them into doing more reps by talking to them about the benefits of the exercise and forgetting to keep up with the counting!”

That mix of encouragement, humour, and expertise is what makes her classes so distinctive.

Thinking of giving it a try?

If you’re tempted but nervous, Ismini reassures newcomers:

“My classes are small, fun and varied. You don’t have to have any experience or be super flexible, you just need to start. All my existing clients are welcoming and encouraging of new joiners because we are a community and our intention is to make everyone feel welcome and special.”

By the end of my class, I was exhausted in the best way. I walked out buzzing, if a little wobbly, and with the sense that Booty Barre is one of those classes that makes you work hard and want to come back.

So, if you’re looking for something that’s equal parts fitness challenge and fun night out (without the cocktails), Booty Barre at Ismini Studios might just be the class for you. Bring water, bring a towel, and prepare to meet the smiling assassin of Tonbridge fitness.

If Booty Barre doesn’t sound like the right one for you – check out Ismini’s comprehensive timetable of Pilates. I’m sure there’s something for everyone!