About Us

We started Studio in the Heights over a decade ago with the idea of creating a small fitness and wellness space for our neighbors in Upper Manhattan. Our first program was our Green Feast. What we built grew beyond anything that we could have imagined. Our Studio became a warm, dynamic community—with people of all ages and from all walks of life—that came together to learn more about creating a solid foundation for health.

With a combined 50 years of experience in the fitness industry, we’ve developed a philosophy of wellness that we incorporate into each aspect of our business and lives. As we see it, the core tenets of health spring from a holistic perspective that incorporates nutrition, exercise and mindfulness. Attention to these elements, in conjunction with scientific-based research, form the foundation for all of our programs and classes at the Studio.

Our offerings have grown significantly over the years in response to input from our community—we’ve created more robust nutrition programs, incorporated mindfulness and breath work in all of our programs and designed comprehensive resistance training programs. We find the balance—the working out and working in—and incorporate it into our programming. As our offerings and community began to expand beyond what we could accommodate, we knew it was time to make a change.

After a decade in the small studio where it all began, we’re ready for a new start. We’re excited to welcome the Studio in the Heights community into a new, state-of-the-art facility on 181st Street. Now that we have more space and more expert coaches on staff, we’re excited to build new programs and offer more classes, and we’re looking forward to welcoming new members to our Studio in the Heights family.

- Lisa and Roderick “Priest” Priestly