Meet Heather Daye of Studio86 Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Daye.

Hi Heather, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Studio86 began in 2019 as an online video library subscription as a side hobby while living in Los Angeles. I spent six months learning how to build a subscription website, and how to film, edit, and upload videos before launching the website on April 1st, 2019. Only two months later after a decade in Los Angeles I moved back to my hometown of Columbus, Ohio and decided to open a brick-and-mortar location of the studio. After searching for a while I ended up signing a lease agreement for the same space my mom’s dance studio used to be located in, so it was a nice full circle moment. On March 1st, 2020, I opened the doors to a packed schedule of classes for a whole two weeks before the Covid shutdown happened. I was definitely in a better place than many established fitness studios concerning the pandemic as I was already accustomed to being on camera and teaching to a screen. Clients also had zero expectations of how the studio should operate and I was able to get through it with minimal issues.

During those first years I taught 60 hour weeks and grew the studio schedule as much as I could. From 2021-2023 I worked on creating a Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training program and Barre Teacher Training program. After the launch of those programs I was able to certify the majority of instructors who now teach at Studio86. In late 2024 with the original location being now well established with teachers other than me I was able to expand to a second location. Both studios offer traditional Pilates, Trampoline, and Barre classes with many Pilates and Barre classes having livestream options. The video library, while no longer the main focus, still exists and we are filming more classes to add to it. Between both locations we have about 3,000 clients and our livestream clients that found us during the shutdown still with us from Ohio, California, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, and Montana. It has been exciting to see the growth and changes over the last 7 years.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing worthwhile is ever a smooth road. Obviously, we had the Covid shutdown right at the moment we opened the first location. Before the teacher training programs launched finding certified instructors was the biggest hurdle. Any studio can tell you that is one of the biggest challenges. Especially at that time Pilates and Barre were not as popular as today, and still, no one really teaches trampoline.
Now you see Pilates studios opening with a full roster of certified instructors but just a few years ago that would not have been possible. Most small studios opened how I did with the owner teaching everything alone as established instructors are not really inclined to take a risk on an unestablished studio because they are usually already teaching somewhere and there is no reason for them to leave.
In many ways it was a blessing to create an education side of my business and train new instructors. It really helped to solidify the brand and the community that grew from it.

We’ve been impressed with Studio86 Fitness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Studio86 is a boutique Pilates and fitness studio with two locations in Columbus, Ohio. We offer private and group instruction in traditional Pilates, Trampoline, and Barre with a community-first focus. Our instructors are all comprehensively educated and trained on injury prevention and can work with populations pre/post therapy and surgery, pre/post-natal, and athletes needing to cross train. One of the best achievements has been the ability for our prices to stay affordable and contributing to breaking down the financial gate-keeping of the Pilates and boutique fitness industry.
In today’s boutique industry of larger and larger class sizes we retain small class sizes of 5 in Equipment Pilates, 8 in Barre, and 12 in Trampoline/Mat Pilates. This will never change just for a larger profit margin as it really gives clients a lot of individual attention in each class, and allows the teachers to be able to correct proper form and connect with the clients. Being able to create community rather than a factory of come and go clientele is important to how Studio86 has grown and become a place where clients know they can come as they are and find support.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
You could say it has played a pretty large role considering it was fairly bad luck to open two weeks before a pandemic, but other than that none of this has been luck, good or bad. On the outside it may look like luck but everything I have done, choices made, or creations launched has been thoughtfully planned out and worked on for months or years before anyone sees it.

Pricing:

• $28- Drop-in Class
• $225- 10 Class Package
• $205- Monthly Membership
• $75- Single Private
• $720- 10 Private Sessions

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studio86fitness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio86fitness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio86fitness
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@studio86fitness42