Better Together
In January of 2013, my husband Rich and I took a leap of faith and opened Brown Dog Yoga with one small studio space. I had been teaching in my little backyard studio which I still affectionately refer to as "the Nest." My at-home yoga classes initially filled with my personal training and group fitness clients who needed a good stretch for sore muscles. Many others joined my classes, including those brand new to exercise and avid fitness enthusiasts. My students knew my commitment and dedication to fitness as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor, but soon learned the reasons why my truest love was for yoga. Yoga healed not only a physical injury, but provided deep emotional healing for me as well.
My initial plan was to always teach yoga out of my little home studio on evenings and weekends. I wanted to continue with my personal training business in the mornings, because I am a firm believer in strength and cardiovascular training. I am also a firm believer that yoga is the glue that pulls it all together. I was determined to find a way to create a community that met the needs of many, and ultimately bring to them the gift that healed me, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. So Brown Dog Yoga was born, offering 15 classes per week.
In 2015, several people started asking me about barre fitness, so I checked into it. After taking several classes, I determined that this ballet/pilates/yoga-infused technique was just what we needed at the studio. Shortly thereafter, Plan B evolved. We began to offer barre classes and various other fitness classes, including BDY Sculpt. Around that time, a second space was offered to us, but still nothing that would allow us to create a community which welcomed those who might be wary of coming to the studio just for yoga and classes filled primarily with females.
Around this time, our city was invited to participate Frontier Communications' America's Best Communities contest, which inspired Mayor Steve Williams to come up with a mantra for Huntington, "Make No Little Plans." Also around that time, the space between the two studios became available. When we were offered that space, I was hesitant, and frankly downright scared. But I saw this as an opportunity to make Brown Dog Yoga bigger, brighter and accessible to everyone. And after all, we as a community make no little plans.
Plan C was born on May 20, 2016 when Brown Dog Yoga opened Tailwind Indoor Cycling. Coming up on our one year anniversary and over 10,000 visits later, that little plan has brought an abundance of energy and life to our space. Consequently, many of our yoga teachers (myself included) also teach at Tailwind and are ever so grateful for our time on the mat that Brown Dog Yoga provides.
Together, Brown Dog Yoga and Tailwind Indoor Cycling has created an all-inclusive community that welcomes everyone- every size, shape, interest, and ability. We know that there is no one-size-fits-all plan for us on our journey to better physical, mental, and spiritual health. We believe that the journey has many paths, and that all paths ultimately lead to finding a bright flame of love and light within us. We offer experiences for anyone seeking to tap into into their inherent potential, whether it be on a yoga mat, on a bike, or at the "barre." With every inhale as the door opens to the last exhale as it closes, we invite those that grace our space to unleash their inner calm, embrace the journey ahead and unleash the power within. We now offer 52 classes per week so our students can do just that.
And that was a plan worth making.
We thank you for your continued support and love. You are the driving force and inspiration behind all of our plans. May we continue to create and inspire a better community together.
