NASHVILLE, Tenn. — West Nashville is welcoming a new kind of fitness experience, one built on balance, community, and growth both inside and outside the gym: The Yard West Nashville. 

Opening in March 2026, The Yard is a boutique fitness studio founded by husband-and-wife duo Zach and Kellie Babischkin, who bring a passion to the fitness space.

Rather than coming from personal training or gym ownership, the couple entered fitness entrepreneurship unexpectedly.

“I actually do not come from a health and fitness background. Neither does my wife,” Zach said. “For us, we actually both come from sales leadership.”

That background shaped the way the couple views fitness, not just as physical training, but as a spark that fuels growth in every area of life. “What we love so much is seeing people grow and seeing them progress in their daily lives,” he said. “Not only within their job, but outside of that. When you start seeing people do well, physically, they really do progress in all aspects.”

That same mindset has transformed both Zach and Kellie’s lives as well. “We’ve seen fitness impact our lives tremendously, and it benefits so much across the board.”

When Zach came across The Yard, he also found the culture to follow the same mission too.

“The Yard originated in Australia. Dan Bova is the founder,” Zach explained. “He really wanted to build a place that functioned from both the strength side and the cardio side, but also a place that people felt different being a part of.”

After the initial interest to own and operate The Yard in Nashville, Zach was set up with all the bells and whistles to succeed in this space.

While they are based in Australia, Zach says the down under team is always ready to assist in anything they need.

“They are always there for us. All of the setup, all the social media, the programs behind the workouts and overall, everything is already built for you.

To keep everything cohesive, you will experience exactly what it feels like to work out at The Yard Australia, no matter which location you choose.

What sets The Yard apart is its dual-zone setup, offering two distinct but complementary training programs under one roof.

“It’s uniquely designed, Zach explained. “One side is called Rig, and the other side is called Turf.”

The Rig focuses on strength training, emphasizing compound lifts, functional bodybuilding, and core stability. The turf side centers on conditioning and aerobic fitness.

Both workouts run simultaneously, allowing members to choose what best fits their needs each day.

On the strength side, the goal is to place participants into an eight-week program designed to progressively build toward attempting a one-rep max by a designated week. Zach explained that the Turf workouts incorporate a variety of hybrid-focused equipment, including dumbbells, kettlebells, bodyweight movements, and running.

However, The Yard caters to every and all fitness levels.“It does not matter if you’re a day one athlete or a day 100 athlete,” Zach said.

In addition to strength and conditioning classes, The Yard will also offer Pilates and yoga each week to support recovery and mobility.

“That’s an opportunity for another class based off of your training program,” Zach said. “Being able to cool the body down when you’ve been doing cardio and lifting weekly.”

But beyond the workouts, Zach believes the true differentiator is the culture.

“It’s a place for you to come and feel a part of something bigger while also embracing it with others,” he said.

The standardized global programming also allows coaches to focus more on each individual member and his or her needs’.

“Our coaches are going to be more like personal trainers,” Zach said. “They’re going to be making sure that your form is great and making sure that you’re hitting the right depth.”

Although it seemed like an easy decision, Zach and his wife, Kellie took their time before entering the fitness space, professionally.

Zach jokes that he “dated” the franchise before committing.

After attending The Yard’s VIP experience in San Diego — completing workouts and meeting directly with leadership — they were sold not just on the programming, but the culture.

That global consistency means that every Yard location runs the exact same workout on the exact same day, from Australia to California to Tennessee.

The couple knew that this space and format would do very well in the Middle Tennessee area.

“With so many expats that are coming to Nashville, they would just love something like this!” Zach expressed.

Nashville isn’t just growing, it’s transforming. The city has become a landing place for ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and corporate relocations. That population shift has changed what people expect from their wellness experiences.

And The Yard is built for exactly that demographic.

Does this sound like the right fit for you?

The Yard officially opens March 21, with a grand opening celebration that weekend. The studio is currently offering VIP memberships to the first 100 founding members.

VIP members will receive early access events leading up to opening, including exclusive previews of the space as it’s being built.

At its core, The Yard isn’t just about sets and reps. It’s about growth. “We want to make you better, not only in the gym, but outside of it,” Zach said.

Author: Tala Shatara