WERQ & PLAY
NORTH SHORE FITNESS PRO HALEY STONE TAKES HER DANCE FITNESS PHENOMENON WERQ TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
North Shore fitness pro Haley Stone takes her dance fitness phenomenon WERQ to the next level.
Teaching fitness classes had long been a “side hustle” for Haley Stone. But when cardio dance videos that the Glencoe resident uploaded to Youtube garnered more than a million views, Stone— then still working full-time at the Environmental Protection Agency—knew she was onto something bigger, and WERQ was born. Five years later, the mother of two’s pop-and-hip-hop-centric program has become a fitness sensation, with classes taught in 36 states by more than 1,000 instructors—and growing.
What makes it WERQ: Mixing charting hits with repetitive choreography lets newbies feel comfortable and free to let loose. “[We] really just focus on the fun of it, because when it’s fun, the calories follow,” says Stone. All in the family: Impromptu predinner dance parties are a regular occurrence for Stone, her physical therapist husband, and their two young daughters. Go-to gymwear: A devoted “fitness chic” fan, Stone can’t live without her muscle tees, Lululemon leggings, or Victoria’s Secret sports bras. Mark your calendar: Stone’s #Getlifted Fitness Festival returns to Chicago for its second annual gathering in September. Current jam: Any routine set to a Bruno Mars song is guaranteed to get classes moving, but “Perm” holds the favorite title for now. Dream pupils: “If Rihanna and Drake were to show up, I would have a meltdown.” werqfitness.com
“IT’S NOT ABOUT CALORIES OR SIX-PACKS. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO WERQ, THEY CAN CUT LOOSE AND ROLE PLAY. THEY CAN BE BEYONCÉ.” —HALEY STONE