What began as a humble yoga studio has transformed into a multi-modality health destination serving 4,000 visitors each year.
By Maddie Bess
HQ 131 | AUTUMN 2025
In 2013, Katrina Mailloux and her husband Dr. Rich Mailloux decided to open Brown Dog Yoga, a small yoga studio in downtown Huntington, to help people in the region get fit. What began as a humble venture has grown in size and scope to serve an ever-expanding base of customers.
Rebranded as BDY Studios, the studio has quadrupled in size, added new modalities and opened a second location in Barboursville.
“We have evolved from a yoga studio to a movement space,” Katrina Mailloux said. “Clients are given access to a well-rounded, robustly varied schedule. We offer yoga, barre, indoor cycling, strength training and both mat and reformer Pilates. Our bodies are designed to move, and not everyone chooses to move in the same way. These options allow our clients to keep their wellness plans dynamic and interesting.”
One of BDY’s goals is to create an atmosphere of care and connection. Mailloux said clients become part of the BDY family from the moment they walk through the door, and instructors are taught to prioritize authentic relationships as much as physical results.
“When I moved to Huntington, I didn’t know anyone and was really craving a sense of community,” recalled former client Kelly Ostertag. “BDY far exceeded my expectations. It’s so much more than a workout studio — it’s a place where I found genuine connection, support and lasting friendships. I recently moved to Boston, and I have yet to find anything like it.”
Huntington studio manager Makenzie Stacy said some of her closest friends are BDY regulars.
“I am blessed to be part of something that is more than just a place to work out,” Stacy said. “We have seen each other through some challenging phases of life, and we are here for each other.”
BDY attracts clients from all walks of life, including those juggling jobs, families and various hobbies. Andrea Kelly, a dentist with Valley Health Systems, and Matt Kelly, an attorney, are the parents of two teenagers and longtime members of BDY.
“We make it a point to take classes together,” Andrea Kelly said. “We’ve traveled the world on studio retreats and have made some of our best friends at the studio.”
Mailloux explained that an important part of BDY’s mission is connection through service.
“We are proud of our partnerships that support student wellness and athletic performance at Marshall University,” she said. “From private sessions offered at the studio to onsite mobility work on campus, BDY is keeping Herd athletes in peak condition. In addition, partnerships with Hospice of Huntington, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Tri-State LifeCare keep the BDY staff firmly rooted in service.”
In 2015, the Maillouxs founded the BDY School of Yoga Teacher Training. The couple has trained more than 200 yoga teachers, many of whom have gone on to teach in studios across the country. They also began offering retreat opportunities to their customers.
“Our retreat program is designed to reconnect individuals with movement, nature and community in inspiring settings,” explained Mailloux. “As proud Appalachians, we are deeply committed to highlighting the beauty of our state with retreats in the West Virginia mountains.”
The couple has also led international retreats to Iceland, Tuscany, Greece, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic and Portugal. In 2026, they will host a seven-day retreat in Nerano, Italy, on the Amalfi Coast.
“These destination retreats are the perfect backdrops to embody the BDY philosophy: move your body, clear your mind and feed your soul — while bringing West Virginia to the world,” Mailloux said.
Beyond movement, the Maillouxs are passionate about expanding educational opportunities in the region. The physician and former attorney said they realized that their greatest contributions were outside of their chosen vocations. As such, the couple recently established the BDY Studios Scholarship for Entrepreneurship, awarded through the Lewis College of Business at Marshall University. The scholarship is awarded to students from Cabell and surrounding counties who aspire to open their own businesses.
“Our ultimate goal is to build a future where West Virginia is known for accessible, inclusive wellness, and where fitness is integrated into daily life and community culture,” said Mailloux. “We plan to do that through education, empowerment and creating opportunities for individuals and businesses.”
From humble beginnings in a one-room yoga studio to a burgeoning footprint with nearly 4,000 visitors each year, BDY Studios has come a long way.
“Katrina and Rich Mailloux have built more than a business,” said Marissa Layman, a longtime BDY member. “They’ve built a wellness legacy. With community-first values, philanthropic leadership and transformative experiences, they are elevating lives in Huntington and beyond.”
