Kim Butters was invited to teach a beginner Pilates class for the Sewanee Community at the Fowler Center Gym at the University of the South in September, 2007. The class of 10 people met twice a week, and private sessions in personal training and Pilates were quickly added.

By the fall of 2010, Kim was teaching a full schedule of classes—private and duet sessions—three days a week. Two sections of Beginning Pilates had been added to the University’s physical education classes. In January of 2014, Kim reserved the dance studio five days a week. The allotted time in the dance studio quickly filled, and a waiting list for private and duet sessions began to form. Kim felt led to open her own studio to accommodate the growing demand.
After investigating existing available spaces around campus and finding nothing suitable, she decided to investigate building her own. Kim met with Frank Gladu, Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor in charge of the Village Development Project, as well as Town Planner, Brian Wright, in February, 2016.
The proposed location for the studio changed several times as the Village Development Project evolved. Finally, two leaseholders agreed to donate part of their land leases to make a lot large enough for the proposed 1,800 square foot studio in downtown Sewanee. Local architect, Clayton Rogers, was hired to design the building.
We received the final approval from the University's Lease Committee and Town Planner in April, 2020, and we are looking forward to groundbreaking soon. Until then, private classes, as well as group classes continue at the American Legion Hall and via Zoom.