Exploring Life & Business with Ashtyn Pharis of Pilates by Ashtyn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashtyn Pharis.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 15 years, but Pilates by Ashtyn was built from a much deeper place than just fitness. Movement has always been a huge part of my life — I grew up playing competitive soccer for 16 years, trained heavily in traditional gym settings for years, and eventually built and scaled an online fitness business where I worked with women all over the country. From the outside, everything looked “healthy,” but over time I realized I was completely disconnected from my body. I was constantly chasing intensity, aesthetics, and burnout disguised as discipline.

Finding Pilates changed everything for me.

It completely transformed not only my body, but also my relationship with movement, confidence, and femininity. I became obsessed with the precision of it, the anatomy behind it, the intentionality, and the fact that you could build incredible strength without destroying your body in the process. That led me to pursue comprehensive certification across multiple Pilates apparatuses and eventually create my own teaching style and method.

When I opened Pilates by Ashtyn in Columbus, I knew I wanted it to feel different from a typical fitness studio. I wanted women to walk in and immediately feel empowered, welcomed, challenged, and inspired. I wanted to create a space that combined luxury, community, intentional movement, and education — while still delivering truly hard, effective Pilates classes rooted in proper technique and anatomy.

What started as one studio quickly grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined. We’ve built an incredible community of women, expanded our team, launched our own instructor certification program, and are now opening our second location. Along the way, one of the things I’m most proud of is that we’ve stayed deeply committed to quality and authenticity. Every instructor at Pilates by Ashtyn is highly trained and certified, and we care deeply about creating an experience where clients feel seen, supported, and genuinely transformed — physically and mentally.

At the end of the day, Pilates by Ashtyn has never just been about workouts. It’s about helping women reconnect with themselves, build confidence, and realize they’re capable of so much more than they think.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not, and honestly, I think that’s what makes the journey meaningful.

From the outside, people often see the beautiful studio, the growth, the packed classes, and now the expansion, but there were so many moments behind the scenes where I had no idea if things were going to work. Building a business, especially in wellness and fitness, can be incredibly challenging mentally, financially, and emotionally.

One of the biggest struggles was learning how to grow without compromising the vision. Early on, I realized very quickly that if I wanted Pilates by Ashtyn to feel different, I couldn’t cut corners. That meant being extremely intentional about everything — the instructors we hired, the quality of education, the client experience, the branding, the class programming, even the music and energy in the room. Maintaining that level of excellence while also trying to scale a business is not easy.

There were also a lot of moments where I had to trust myself before anyone else fully understood the vision. I built Pilates by Ashtyn to feel elevated, feminine, empowering, and community-driven at a time when a lot of fitness spaces still felt intimidating or transactional. I had very big ideas for what I wanted it to become, and there were definitely moments where people questioned whether it would work the way I envisioned it.

On a personal level, balancing entrepreneurship, leadership, motherhood, and simply being a human being has been one of the hardest parts. When you own a business, especially one you care deeply about, it never really “turns off.” There are constant decisions, problem-solving, setbacks, staffing challenges, financial risks, and pressure behind the scenes that people don’t always see.

Opening our second location has been another huge learning experience. There are so many moving parts with construction, permits, city approvals, budgeting, and timelines that are completely outside of your control. I’ve learned that entrepreneurship requires a level of resilience and adaptability that nobody can really prepare you for.

But I also think every challenge has strengthened the business and strengthened me as a leader. The struggles forced me to become more confident, more disciplined, and more grounded in the “why” behind what I’m building. At the end of the day, seeing the impact this studio has had on women in our community makes every difficult moment worth it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Pilates by Ashtyn is a luxury Pilates studio based in Columbus, Ohio, built around the idea that movement can completely transform the way women feel — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. We offer reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, strength-based classes, private training, and a nationally recognized instructor certification program, all rooted in true Pilates principles, intentional programming, and anatomy-focused teaching.

What really sets us apart is that we are incredibly committed to quality and education. Every instructor at Pilates by Ashtyn is highly trained and certified, and our classes are intentionally designed to be both challenging and purposeful. We are known for our cueing, our attention to detail, our energy, and the overall experience we create in the studio. Our clients often tell us that they can immediately feel the difference when they take a class with us — not just in the workout itself, but in how supported, welcomed, and empowered they feel walking through the doors.

I think one misconception about Pilates is that people assume it’s easy or just stretching, but what we do is very intentional, strength-driven, and technique-focused. Our classes are hard in the best way possible. We focus heavily on precision, control, proper form, breathwork, and creating intelligent movement patterns that help clients build real strength and confidence. Whether someone is completely new to fitness or has years of experience, we meet them where they are while still challenging them to grow.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Pilates by Ashtyn has become more than just a place to work out. It has truly become a community. We’ve created an environment where women support one another, build friendships, gain confidence, and reconnect with themselves. There’s something really special about seeing women walk into the studio intimidated or unsure of themselves and then watching them become stronger, more confident, and empowered over time.

I’m also incredibly proud that we’ve stayed authentic as we’ve grown. From the branding and aesthetic to the class quality and instructor standards, everything has been built with intention. We are a women-owned business with an all-female team, and every detail of the experience is designed to make women feel strong, elevated, and inspired.

As we continue expanding, my biggest goal is to keep creating spaces where women feel challenged, cared for, and connected — and where movement feels like something empowering rather than punishing. I want readers to know that Pilates by Ashtyn is not just about fitness; it’s about creating an experience and a community that genuinely changes lives.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are honestly so many people who deserve credit for the growth of Pilates by Ashtyn because no business is built alone.

First and foremost, my team deserves an incredible amount of recognition. The women who work at Pilates by Ashtyn care so deeply about the studio, our clients, and the experience we create every day. From our instructors to our leadership team and front desk staff, they have helped bring this vision to life in ways I could never do on my own. One thing I’m especially proud of is that we’ve built a team of women who genuinely support one another and are deeply passionate about what they do. That energy is felt the moment someone walks into the studio.

My COO, Sara, has also played a huge role in helping the business grow behind the scenes. She helps keep so many moving parts organized and functioning as we continue to expand, and having someone who believes in the vision as much as I do has been incredibly valuable. Michelle, our Chief of Staff, has also been a huge support in operations, client experience, and helping us continue building systems as the business scales.

I also have to give so much credit to our clients and community. The women who show up to our classes every day, trust us with their health and movement, tell their friends about us, share their experiences online, and support us through every stage of growth are truly the reason Pilates by Ashtyn exists. Watching clients gain confidence, get stronger, and find community through the studio has been one of the most rewarding parts of this entire journey.

On a personal level, my family has been a huge support system. Entrepreneurship can be incredibly demanding, and there are so many sacrifices that happen behind the scenes that people don’t always see. Having people around me who encourage me, support me, and believe in what I’m building has made a huge difference.

I’ve also learned from so many mentors and experiences throughout my career — both inside and outside of the fitness industry. Some of the biggest lessons have honestly come from simply being willing to stay curious, keep learning, and not being afraid to evolve. Building a business has humbled me in a lot of ways, and I think every person who has supported, challenged, encouraged, or believed in me along the way has played a role in shaping Pilates by Ashtyn into what it is today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pilatesbyashtyn.com
• Instagram: @pilatesbyashtynstudio