Wildly Inspiring: Interview With Bari Founder Alexandra Bonetti Perez

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When I meet people who are incredibly successful at making their gift and passion a career, I am blown away every time. It takes courage, trust, determination and a whole lot of vulnerability.

The series that started as “Superfood Breakfasts With Wildly Inspiring Women”, are now renamed into “Wildly Inspiring,” and I’m super excited to be introducing some of the people that inspire me most as I chat with them over superfood breakfasts. In this installment, meet Alexandra Bonetti Perez, founder of Bari Studio.

Alexandra Bonetti Perez Interview | Breakfast Criminals
Alexandra Bonetti Perez | Breakfast Criminals

Founder of one of the coolest boutique workout studios in NYC Alexandra Bonetti Perez opened Bari in lower Manhattan when she was only 25. After traveling the world as a consultant (Alexandra has a degree in finance) and realizing that her favorite hour of the day is going to the gym, she decided to create a different kind of workout that would be “ever evolving, fun and addictive”. With three studios on both coasts (you can find Bari in New York City, Summit, NJ and Newport Beach, CA), she’s a hard bird to catch–but I was lucky to have breakfast with the beauty at my superfood breakfast event with Well+Good.

Get to know the young entrepreneur who’s conquering the cutthroat boutique fitness scene in New York (Bari has been named “best hybrid workout in New York City”, after all) and make sure you try Bari to experience the fun and sweaty workout for yourself.

Alexandra Bonetti Perez Interview | Breakfast Criminals

How did you find that your passion lies in wellness?

Prior to falling in love with fitness (and, naturally, deciding I would quit my job and make it a career), I worked in consulting and travelled a lot. Amid a constantly changing environment and very go-go-go life, fitness grounded me. My hour to sweat was always the best part of my day, and my workouts left me centered and energized in such a positive way.

How would you describe the feeling that Bari workouts evoke, and how’s the offering different from other boutique workout studios?

This is one of my favorite questions that we ask in our annual survey. We ask “why do you come to bari?.” It’s an open question with no predetermined answers, and still over 80% of people say the same thing! “Bari makes me feel on top of the world, like I can conquer anything.” Or some variation of that — the gist is always rooted in the feeling you get after an amazing workout.

Alexandra Bonetti Perez Interview | Breakfast Criminals

How did you find the fearlessness to turn your passion into a career and open your own studio at the young age of 25 (especially being not a US native)?

I think when you’re so passionate/excited about something, you don’t really see the risk and it’s not as scary as it seems from the outside. You believe in yourself, in your product and in the need for you and your product, and you just go for it. I think in an entrepreneur’s mind, there’s rarely a chance for failure.

What does a week in you life look like, workout-wise?

I try to work out at least 3 times per week. Sometimes it’s less and sometimes it’s more, but 3 to 4 is really my sweet spot.

What’s your food philosophy?

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Okay, okay, that’s Michael Pollan’s motto — but it’s a good one, and I’d like to think he doesn’t mind that I borrow it. 

The Bari Studio Team at Well+Good Breakfast Criminals Breakfast
Sarah Levy and Alexandra Bonetti Perez of Bari Studio at Well+Good & Siggi’s Breakfast with Heart Bowls

What’s on your workout playlist?

Taylor Swift’s 1989. On repeat.

Do you have daily non-negotiable routines?

My skincare. I’m religious about washing my face and applying moisturizer, and sunblock in the morning.

Words you live by?

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” -Lao Tzu

past present future

A book that’s affected you the most?

I’m an avid reader and have been since a young age. Many books have shaped me, but it’s hard to pick one that has affected me the most. So I’m going to cheat and give you a few. My favorite fiction book growing up was Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger. Business books: I always go back to 7 Habits, The Power of Habit and Setting the Table. Spiritual books: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Rumi Poetry. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few!

Favorite breakfast to eat out?

Joseph Leonard’s avocado toast [170 Waverly Place, New York]. 

Favorite breakfast to make?

I usually start with a smoothie — usually based on what I have on hand and what’s in season. Right now, I’ve been making this pumpkin espresso smoothie that our Method Director, Kara, shared with us.

Connect with Alexandra: baristudio.com, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

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