It’s no secret that boutique studios and specialty programming are gaining prominence across the fitness industry. These programs allow members to tap into the type of movement they crave. Among the innovators creating practical solutions for fitness professionals and everyday participants is Stacey Seward Vandiver, founder of SoulBody Fitness. Her approach brings mind-body programming to gyms and studios, focusing on accessibility and thoughtful movement.

SoulBody Fitness emerged from Stacey’s personal journey and entrepreneurial spark, positioning itself as a solution for fitness facilities looking to enhance their programming and instructors seeking supportive career opportunities. With international reach and a growing brick-and-mortar presence, SoulBody illustrates how strategic programming can create sustainable fitness experiences.

From Pilates to Programming Pioneer

Stacey’s fitness journey began in the Pilates world, where teaching came naturally to her. Her entrepreneurial instincts awakened when a local gym approached her about training their instructors in barre techniques. This moment triggered a key realization about the group fitness landscape: traditional gyms needed programming upgrades to compete with the emerging boutique studio trend.

“I discovered barre and that was like that, ‘Holy shit, it’s Pilates on steroids’. It’s an effective workout,” Stacey explains about her early inspiration. This enthusiasm led to the creation of SoulBody Fitness, initially offering barre programming with a no-licensing, pre-designed format set to music specifically for gyms and associations like YMCAs. The approach gave these facilities the consistency they needed to enhance their group fitness schedules.

Over ten years, SoulBody expanded from one program to five different formats, establishing a solid foundation through coursework and subscription models. The programming deliberately focuses on mind-body spaces, offering complementary options to existing workout schedules. This strategic positioning allowed SoulBody to grow alongside rather than compete directly with established programs.

Multi-Modality Under One Roof

Three years ago, SoulBody took a significant step by launching its first brick-and-mortar location in Southwest Florida. This change allowed Stacey to implement a comprehensive vision that addresses fragmentation in the boutique fitness world.

“Let’s put all these boutique modalities under one roof so people can have one membership,” Stacey says about the concept. Think about it: yoga, Pilates, barre, recovery—[normally] all these are different memberships.”

The SoulBody studio model incorporates diverse offerings, including their signature programs alongside traditional Pilates mat classes, Total Gym reformer sessions, and yoga. Perhaps most notable is the addition of science-backed recovery options that align with their “moving smarter, not harder” philosophy.

This approach delivers multiple benefits. For members, it means comprehensive programming without juggling multiple studio memberships. For the business, it creates an efficient model that maximizes a modest footprint. Stacey notes that a 3,000-square-foot space can accommodate reformer studios, group fitness rooms, and recovery areas while maintaining the personalized atmosphere that distinguishes boutique experiences from big-box gyms.

“Personalization at its best,” Stacey emphasizes. “Yes, you can go to LA Fitness and get an Asana, but you’re in LA Fitness, and they don’t know who you are.”

Empowering Women in Fitness

Beyond programming innovations, SoulBody prioritizes mentorship and advancement opportunities, particularly for women in the fitness industry. Stacey recognizes the importance of supporting female professionals in a field that can be male-dominated at the corporate level.

“If you are looking to expand or you are looking to build your profession in this industry, I can provide that for you. There’s opportunity,” Stacey explains about her approach to mentorship. “I’ll introduce you to someone. Tell me what you wanna do.”

This commitment to supporting women manifests throughout the organization. SoulBody proudly operates as a women-owned business with female leadership across all teams and departments, from operations and direction to sales.

This creates a particularly supportive environment for instructors to develop professionally. Unlike the transactional relationships common in the fitness industry, SoulBody focuses on providing genuine pathways for career advancement while maintaining reasonable expectations around workout intensity and instructor burnout. Available careers with SoulBody are currently available in Marketplace by Coach360.

Final Thoughts

The fitness world sometimes loses its way amid increasingly intense workouts and complex programming. SoulBody returns to fundamentals with accessible, effective options that serve instructors, facilities, and participants. Their “moving smarter, not harder” philosophy acknowledges that most people need sustainable fitness habits rather than extreme physical challenges.

SoulBody’s dual focus on business viability and genuine participant needs makes it particularly valuable within the industry ecosystem. By creating programming that works for real people while delivering operational efficiency for facilities, Stacey has developed a framework that serves multiple stakeholders simultaneously. The result demonstrates how thoughtful solutions can create space for both business success and authentic community building in fitness.

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.