LITTLE ROCK INSTRUCTORS

Catherine Thorpe, Founder & Owner

Hey Hey! I am a momma times 3 to my precious kiddos, Alice, Jude and Oliver, and wife to my wonderful man, Wes. I created FOB out of a desire to see women get the most out of their workouts in every way. Putting years of dance experience and 20 years of teaching with the best of barre and high intensity training, and doing it all in a crazy fun sweaty studio, landed us where we are today.

I have a passion to see women comfortable in the skin they are IN, right now, before anything changes. We can change the outside all day, but if that inner monologue doesn't improve, the battle has already been lost.

I started FOB to create a safe space for women to sweat in a body positive environment, with options for all fitness levels, and make the most of their time in a busy and hectic world.

My favorite thing about my job (and life) is the people. I love love this staff and this tribe. It's a JOY to get to do what I love with people I love even more.

Ashley Trover, Instructor

I am wife to Michael, and mom to three precious children: Mary Grace (7), Henry (5), and Hudson (3). I have been staying home with my kids since I had my first in 2010. My husband and I enjoy outdoor activities together such as running and cycling, and we also enjoy creating healthy food together in the kitchen. Motherhood has been the most incredibly rich, challenging, messy, beautiful, life-changing, and fulfilling job I have ever had, but mama needed an outlet. I found that in group exercise classes. I love FOB because it makes me stronger and keeps me healthy, but I keep coming back for the community. Standing alongside other strong people and cheering each other on to keep going and get in just one more burpee has filled me up in a way I wasn't expecting. I am so excited to join this incredible team and be a part of sharing the experience, strength, and joy that I have been privileged to enjoy.

Mitzi Tiffee, Instructor

Mitzi is a fitness fanatic, commercial real estate investor and mother of 2. She fell in love with FOB 2 years ago and has been hooked ever since. Mitzi is the BEST and gets us through early mornings with energy, fun music and lots of love!!

Kaitlyn Jensen, acsm - Certified personal trainer, Instructor

Lover of all things movement, energy, and fun! Native Arkansan, wife to Gordon, Christ follower, Enneagram Type 3, travel junkie, and Trader Joe’s regular.

I’ve always had a love for movement. First through sports, then through various outlets of exercise. My cup gets filled when I am able to come alongside another person and help them reach that thing they’re trying to reach. I’m a Health & Wellness Coordinator and personal trainer, so luckily I get to do this on the regular. However, I found myself missing that “team” feel that sports used to afford me…

Enter Full Out Barre! I felt an instant connection with this incredible community. The challenge it brings combined with the unparalleled comradery and energy is an easy “yes” to be a part of. I am so excited to be on this team of rockstar instructors and get to form relationships with each person that walks into class. I can’t wait to meet YOU!

Jessica Hathcock, Instructor

Hi friends! I have to be honest, talking about myself is not my strength. You might not believe it after you meet me but I used to be extremely shy. As long as I can remember I have always been the quiet one in the group, at least until now… haha.

I grew up here in Little Rock and started breaking out of my shell when I took my first cheerleading and tumbling class. I was instantly hooked and continued to cheer competitively and for school for almost 8 years. Cheer was life. I loved everything about the community, camaraderie, learning what it was like to be apart of a team and work together for a greater purpose. Cheerleading instilled so many valuable life lessons for me growing up. I’m incredibly thankful for the experience.

I started studying nutrition at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). Let’s be honest, I realized after high school that maintaining my metabolism and physical activity was a lot harder when you are not going to a two hour cheer practice everyday. I started focusing on understanding the importance of the relationship between nutrition and fitness. I became super intrigued about how the body worked and it was amazing to see what all we are really capable of. Really though, the human body is literally amazing. I went on to study integrative holistic nutrition after college where I experimented with many different kinds of food lifestyles and how much our mind-body connection and personal relationships can affect our overall health. Finding a overall balance in life and health is what I hope I can help others find for themselves.

Full Out Barre has been one of the biggest blessings. I remember the first time I took Catherine’s class, I was instantly hooked. I had never taken barre before and had little experience with ballet and dance but I knew I had to get in on this amazing community of people. The moment you walk into FOB you will feel it, the love, the passion, the energy, it draws you in like big hug. I have made lifelong friends with FOB and I can’t wait to meet you too!

See you at the barre!

Melanie Smith, Instructor

I was born and raised in beautiful South Africa but always had an itch to see the world and broaden my horizons. After high school I traveled to the US and met my husband while living in San Francisco. The only thing I have been completely certain of my whole life was that I wanted to be a mom! I now have a 21 year stepson, 11 year old twins and an 8 year old. I absolutely LOVE being a mom. I think it is the most rewarding and sometimes challenging thing I could ever do, and my number one goal in life is to raise kind, empathetic, generous and happy human beings. Actively pursuing health and fitness has always been a part of my life. I am a certified Health and Life coach. I LOVE to cook healthy meals and to inspire others to do so. I'm a runner at heart; I started taking FOB classes to strengthen and add lean muscle for speed in running. I experienced all those benefits from FOB but also found so much more. FOB is a community of loving and supportive women (and sometimes bros) who raise each other up. For me, FOB is and intense and challenging work out, but more than that, it is place where I feed my soul and I feel safe to be me. I hope that you find the same support and community in this wonderful place!

Paula Toney, Instructor

I grew up in Southern California loving gymnastics, ballet, Jazz, cheerleading, bodysurfing and skiing, over about an 18 year period. My husband JT and I, married 30 years, began raising our three amazing children (I became a pretty avid runner with a running stroller). Running has included full and half marathons. I really enjoy teaching and have homeschooled in the past and now teach Literature at a co-op. I love Jesus, my family, friends and fitness! My passion is for overall health physically, spiritually and relationally.

Jerrilyn Jones, Instructor

Wife. Mother. Doctor... at times trying to balance all three leaves little time for me. Since discovering FOB 2 years ago, sweating with my tribe has become that much needed time.

I grew up as a classically trained dancer and cheerleader. Entering college as a pre-med student changed that and a sedentary lifestyle became the norm. I started exercising again in medical school to stay awake during lectures and ultimately fell in love with running while serving as an officer in the United States Air Force. However, when baby number 1 came along with my residency, exercise ground to a halt. The pause continued through babies 2 and 3. After moving to AR, I decided to reclaim my time by taking care of my body again. I discovered FOB and I was hooked after the first class! It perfectly combines the technique of dance with the energy of cheerleading. What better mix is there?

The best part of FOB, however, is the amazing group of women I get to work out with. The classes are challenging, but there is no doubt that you’ll make it through them because everyone is so encouraging! What is poured out physically gets replaced emotionally as you are constantly reminded of your beauty, your power, and your tremendous worth that comes from simply being you. I leave every class feeling stronger both physically and mentally. As an instructor, I am excited to return to the FOB community a portion of what it has given to me.

Kimberly Corbett, Lt. Colonel, US Army, Instructor

I grew up in Connecticut taking dance classes, cheerleading, and playing softball. I attended the University of Connecticut to major in Slavic & East European Studies. After graduating from college, I joined the United States Army to serve as a Military Intelligence officer. I wanted to be a spy. I know it sounds funny today but that was at the end of the Cold War (yes I’m old). I initially planned to serve about six years but I fell in love with the military and retired 23 years later. I served in the states and all over the world in places like Germany, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

I met my husband, a southern boy from Arkansas, while serving in Heidelberg, Germany. He retired after 26 years and, after my retirement, we moved to Sherwood to be close to his family and put down roots after all those years. Being physically fit is part of military life, and we achieved it as a team through organized physical training. So I love to work out as a group and help one another achieve their fitness goals. Back in 1999, I joined the spinning craze and got certified as an instructor. I would teach spinning classes on military bases and in the communities where I lived.

Retiring was harder than I had anticipated. I had lost my sense of identity - the military is not just a career, it’s a way of life. I also lost that sense of community. Then I found Full Out Barre. This is an extraordinary group of mostly women, a drastic difference from serving in a majority male profession. Full Out Barre is full of women who are so welcoming, real, and non-judgmental. Not to mention it’s an amazing workout. I’ve done some incredible workouts over the years, but my body has toned in places I never thought possible. I feel so strong and powerful and ready to serve the Full Out Barre tribe.

MADDIE SCHMIDT, Instructor

Hi! My name is Maddie Schmidt and I love helping others. As an enneagram 2w1 I am all about making sure you are taken care of and you are doing the best you can in the moment you are in!

I have always been the girl that loves to count the eight counts and catch the beat in any song. I started exercising regularly in college to cope with stress and fight through anxiety and also relive my childhood memories of dancing and choreographing dances to my favorite songs. Now a class is a time I don’t have to worry about doing the dishes or what I forgot to do at work. I quickly became a lover of group workouts that created a safe space for women to encourage each other and build each other up.

As a Little Rock native, there is something so sweet about working out at Full Out Barre with people from every stage of my life - whether it be someone I graduated high school with (Go, AB Eagles), someone I went to college with (Go, Ouachita Tigers) or someone I've met in this new stage of life through church or work, it’s all about coming together as one tribe. I’m honored to have the privilege to workout with you!

Natalie Freeman, RD, Instructor

I’m Natalie. I taught aerobics all through college and grad school, but gave it up when I started my career as a critical care dietitian. I did this for 5 years before having my first daughter and beginning my life as mommy. Three kids later, and YEARS of focusing on everyone else and I realized I had lost me. I didn’t do anything to take care of myself. I had tried to go to the gym here and there but I never committed. I felt awful about myself and beat myself up for not looking like I used to (ahem..three kids and 15 years will do it). And I just wanted to feel good again. To be honest, barre terrified me. But I finally gave it a try. After the first day, I was hooked. Don’t get me wrong, my body was screaming, but I kept coming. Everyday. I fell in love with the upbeat feel of it, the challenge, and the dance bent (I danced as a kid). What I didn’t expect was the mental transformation that was taking place. It’s about strong not skinny...if it doesn’t challenge you it won’t change you...not to mention the community and friendships it’s created. I knew I needed to jump in and become a part of the movement. It’s made me better and I want to be a small part of giving that gift to others.

MELANIE 'MEL B' BUCHANAN, Instructor

Hi! I’m Melanie. I am an artist, educator, and a mom to three beautiful girls. My husband Matt, and I moved to Little Rock after we got married in 2005, and we love our town. As a Christian, I feel called to use all my gifts to make the world more whole—that’s one reason why I love Full Out Barre. I love the support, encouragement, and healing this community offers each other every day.
I’ve always been pretty active. I played multiple sports in high school and cheered. As a young adult, I coached volleyball and discovered a love of running, but as a young mom, finding the time to workout and stay active was really hard. Running was really the only thing I could make work, but then a series of injuries (probably because I wasn’t incorporating any strength training) and then a bus wreck forced me to have to pause the running. While I was recuperating, I discovered Full Out Barre. At the barre, I’ve gained the strength and endurance I had lost while also allowing my body to completely heal.
I am raising three daughters, I grew up with sisters, and I come from a long line of a whole lot of strong ladies! Empowering women with the confidence and strength we all need to make it through whatever this life throws our way is incredibly important to me. At FOB we’re working to get that strength!

Barb McDonald, Instructor

I am a first generation American born and raised in New York City. I grew up with a love of sports, running cross country and then swimming in High School and my first year in college. I moved to NC and decided to join the Navy which I then separated from so I could go on to get my Nursing Degree.

I am a single mom with 5 wonderful kids (4 boys and a girl) who are my love
and joy. After 9/11 happened I decided to go back into the USAF and ultimately moved to Little Rock to finish my last tour (retired). During my time in the military, I was afforded the opportunity to get my Master’s in Science Family Nurse Practitioner.

I have always enjoyed helping others. I believe that preventative medicine is an integral part of being a provider. Encouraging others to improve their health through fitness and following good dietary habits. The USAF allowed me to do this by becoming a PTL (leading physical fitness sessions) to our Active Duty members. I have coached my kids in soccer and swimming which has lead them to develop a love of sport and health. I currently work as a Family Nurse Practitioner at UAMS as the lead APRN in the COVID screening unit.

When I retired I lost my sense of community and sense of family, until another swim mom (Melanie Smith – instructor) invited me to try out a FOB class. Everyone was so kind, receptive and the work out was amazing. FOB helped me get stronger physically while nourishing my soul and need for community. I couldn’t sign up to be an instructor soon enough because it is providing another avenue to make a difference in our community. I hope that you are able to
feel the love and support that this community has provided for me.