BDY Studios: 13 Years of Wellness, Growth and Community
From Yoga Studio to Multi-modality Wellness
Brown Dog Yoga (BDY) Studios has never stayed still—and that willingness to evolve has contributed to the studio’s success, one studio leader said.
For 13 years, BDY Studios has been a steady presence in Huntington’s wellness community. What began as a small yoga studio at Heritage Station has evolved into a multi-modality fitness space focused on accessibility, education and connection, owner Katrina Mailloux said.
“Yoga was awesome in 2013 and the following years, but we started to notice that people wanted more,” Mailloux said. “Lots of people wanted strength classes, cardio and barre and over the years we have added all of it.”
Today, BDY offers yoga, barre, indoor cycling, Pilates, strength training, and small group reformer Pilates, creating an environment where members can build a balanced and sustainable fitness routine.
Adapting to the Community
That willingness to evolve has been central to BDY’s success, said studio director Lauren Vega.
“I think what makes us different is we’ve continued to change with the environment,” Vega said. “We started as yoga, but then we realized people wanted a balanced lifestyle that didn’t always involve doing yoga every single day and we have adapted in that way.”
The studio’s adaptability became especially important during the pandemic, Vega added.
“When COVID hit, we had this community of people who still wanted to move their bodies, so we offered classes online,” she said.
Likewise, continued education also plays a key role in how BDY approaches growth.
“I think for us we are constantly looking for more ways to take our training up a level and then we’re also training with the community,” Vega said.
A Welcoming Space for All Levels
As BDY has grown, its mission has remained rooted in inclusion and accessibility, ensuring students feel supported no matter where they are in their fitness journey, Vega said.
“It’s not a place where you have to come and know what you’re doing,” she said. “It is a place where you come and you learn and where we learn with you.”
BDY’s classes are intentionally designed so participants of all experience levels can move together.
“We give different modifications and alterations of the class so that the person who has never lifted a weight before can be in the same person who wants to get five more pounds up on their shoulders,” said Vega.
Mailloux added that BDY embraces movement in all forms and at all stages of life.
“We have individuals who come in bigger bodies, with diabetes, cancer, cancer recovery or going through chemotherapy and still coming to classes,” Mailloux said. “Movement is medicine.”
Community Connections
Beyond the studio walls, BDY actively partners with local businesses and organizations to support the broader Huntington community.
“We’re always reaching out and actively trying to not just market our business, but help other businesses downtown as well,” studio manager Mackenzie Stacy said.
These efforts include pop-up classes, business partnerships and collaborations with other wellness-focused groups throughout the area.
In addition, BDY operates a nonprofit foundation that reinvests into youth wellness and leadership development.
“The nonprofit allows us to do that outside of the business bubble, but it is still very much a part of the mission of the business,” Vega said.
Looking Back—And Ahead
After nearly 13 years, BDY’s leaders point to relationships rather than routines as the studio’s greatest achievement.
“The number of messages and cards that I’ve received saying that this studio has changed lives is unbelievable,” Mailloux said. “It’s more than fitness, it’s more than the physical aspect, it’s about the connection.”
That trust, Vega added, is what continues to guide the studio forward.
“There is a trust we have from our students where whatever it is that we do, our students truly trust us to deliver the highest quality experience for them,” she said.
Looking ahead to 2026, BDY plans to expand class offerings, provide additional instructor training and to continue to explore ways to grow the studio.
“We’ve stopped playing small,” Vega said. “In order to grow, we’re going to put ourselves out there.”
As BDY Studios enters its next chapter, it’s evident the team’s commitment to movement, education and meaningful connection remains as strong as ever.
Those interested in learning more about BDY Studios can drop in for a class at 210 11th Street, Suite 10 Huntington, WV 25701 or visit their website at https://www.bdystudios.com/.