What does it take to walk away from a “safe” career and build a thriving fitness brand from scratch? In this episode of Top Rated Gym Podcast, Chad Underwood, owner of Modo Yoga Columbus, breaks down the hard-won lessons behind building a sustainable yoga brand from one packed studio to multiple owned properties. Here are five powerful takeaways from his story that every gym and studio owner should hear.
From Passion to Profession – Without Burning Out
Chad knew he wanted to combine his love for teaching, business, and yoga. But he also knew that turning passion into a job can burn people out. His fix? Keep yoga at the center, always. The business grew because the practice stayed personal.
Free Classes Fill Studios – But They Don’t Pay Bills
The opening week was packed. Then reality hit. Once pricing started, class sizes dropped fast. That forced Chad to slow down, build real systems, and focus on community feedback. It laid the foundation for long-term growth.
Want Control? Buy the Building
Instead of renting like most gym owners, Chad bought his studio buildings. That gave him locked-in costs, long-term stability, and the ability to build real wealth outside of memberships.
Systems Make Scaling Simple
From check-in to cleaning, everything at Modo Yoga runs on documented checklists. That made it easy to open new locations, onboard staff, and deliver the same experience everywhere, with less chaos.
Don’t Try to Be Everything – Be Known for One Thing
They tried to add barre, Pilates, CrossFit, and more. It diluted their brand. Once they refocused on one thing (hot yoga) everything clicked. Clear brand = stronger referrals and loyalty.
For more insights on managing and expanding multiple yoga studio locations, listen to our episode featuring YogaSix franchisees.
Listen Now
Chad’s story is proof that discipline, process, and a deep sense of purpose can turn a local studio into a powerful brand. Listen to the full episode to hear how he built his business, learned from the early stumbles, and created something bigger than himself.
