Meet Khetanya Henderson | Founder of KKRU Pilates Studio & Wellness

We had the good fortune of connecting with Khetanya Henderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Khetanya, how does your business help the community?
KKRU helps the community by making high quality wellness accessible in a neighborhood that has not historically had it. We are rooted in the West End, and our work is about creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and empowered through movement.
We offer classical Pilates, yoga, strength, and sound healing in a way that is culturally aligned, inclusive, and welcoming to all bodies, especially Black and Brown communities who are often left out of the wellness conversation.
Beyond classes, we invest deeply in education. Our teacher training and apprenticeship pathways help diversify the Pilates industry and give emerging instructors real mentorship, lineage based training, and meaningful community teaching opportunities.
We build partnerships with local businesses and community organizations to reinforce that wellness is not just individual, it is collective. Through our programming, we help people regulate stress, build strength, reconnect with themselves, and live the spirit of Keep Reaching Up, which guides everything we do.
In short, KKRU is redefining what wellness access looks like and creating a community rooted, culturally grounded model of movement that impacts lives far beyond our studio walls.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work centers on creating accessible, culturally grounded wellness experiences through classical Pilates, yoga, strength training, and sound healing. At KKRU, I focus on helping people build strong, resilient bodies while also cultivating emotional balance, nervous system regulation, and a deeper sense of self. What sets my work apart is the way I blend lineage based classical Pilates training with my background in dance, performance, and the holistic practices I grew up with in the West End. Wellness has always been a part of my life. Meditation, movement, and sound healing filled my childhood home, even when chaos was happening outside our front door. Those early experiences shaped everything I do today.
I am most proud of two things: the community we are building and the teachers we are developing. KKRU is helping shift the wellness landscape in a neighborhood that has historically been overlooked. To see people walk into our space and feel seen, safe, and supported is the greatest reward. I am equally proud of our teacher training and apprenticeship pathways, which uplift new instructors and diversify the classical Pilates industry. Watching trainees grow into confident, thoughtful teachers is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
Getting here was not easy. My path moved from professional performance to teaching, to entrepreneurship, to building a full studio from the ground up. At every stage, I faced setbacks, financial uncertainty, personal doubt, and the pressure of carrying a big vision on my own shoulders. What helped me overcome the challenges was my ability to return to practice. Movement, meditation, and sound allowed me to stay grounded and keep moving forward. I also leaned on my community and the belief that I am meant to serve in this specific way.
The biggest lessons I have learned are to trust timing, stay aligned with your purpose, and keep your ego out of the way. Nothing grows before its season. And if the work is meant to reach people, it will, as long as you stay consistent.
What I want the world to know is that KKRU is more than a Pilates studio. It is a place built with intention, lineage, and love. We exist to bring wellness back to the West End, to create opportunities for people who have been left out of these spaces, and to remind our community that wellness is not a luxury. It is a birthright. My story is rooted in resilience, creativity, and the belief that movement can change lives. That belief is woven into every class, every training, and every person who walks through our doors.
Above all, I want people to know that KKRU stands for Keep Reaching Up. It is not just a mantra. It is a way of living, a way of healing, and a reminder that no matter where you begin, you can rise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting Atlanta for a week, I would plan an itinerary rooted in good food, creativity, movement, and the kind of intentional moments that reflect the heart of the city.
We would start with a meal at Paya Thai Restaurant. It is some of the freshest food I have ever had and always sets the tone for a beautiful day. For coffee, we would head to Portrait Coffee in the West End, where the energy, community, and creativity are unmatched.
Since Atlanta is a city under the forest, we would make time for a local hike to soak in the nature that lives right alongside the city. We would also explore our creative sides with a ceramics class at Molly’s Ceramics and then spend an afternoon vintage shopping in Little Five Points, where you can always find something unique and meet the most interesting people.
And of course, we would take a class at KKRU. I would want them to experience the space, the community, and the intentional way we move together. To complete our week, we would end with a sound bath at KKRU, allowing everything to settle into the body with calm, clarity, and grounding.
This blend of food, nature, creativity, movement, and community is what I love most about Atlanta, and it is exactly what I would want to share with someone I care about.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a very special shoutout to the team of KKRU. Nothing in my journey happens alone, and every idea, challenge, and success is shaped by the people who stand with me. My husband, Michael Schuler, Roxie, Joni, and Sankar have each offered unwavering support, belief, and encouragement in their own meaningful ways. They have been steady forces through every season, contributing love, insight, creativity, and strength exactly when it was needed most. I am deeply grateful for all of them. Their presence and dedication make KKRU possible.

Website: https://www.k-kru.com

Instagram: @thekkru

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kkru/posts/?feedView=all

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekkru/

Other: email: info@k-kru.com

Image Credits
Visual Renaissance Photography