A fitness and self-care routine helped Allison Falkenberry manage her busy corporate life in New York City, inspiring her to open yoga and Pilates studios in Savannah.
Written by MARY CORNETTA
Photos courtesy ŌTIUM STUDIO
FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, Allison Falkenberry lived in New York City, working as a crisis strategist in publishing. She enjoyed sampling the city’s constant stream of new fitness options, including taking classes in Tribeca taught by the legendary Tracy Anderson, trainer to buff, big-name celebrities.
Falkenberry found that having a consistent wellness plan was a key to her success. “Crisis strategy is a tough job; it’s 24/7, and you’re expected to find solutions to every problem instantly. And that requires a certain balance of your system, sound judgment, and calmness,” she says. Falkenberry was living proof that having a fitness routine made other areas of life more manageable.
When she moved to Savannah for her next life chapter in 2017, she decided to bring that philosophy with her and opened Ōtium Studios, her first yoga and Pilates studio.
The original Ōtium Studios is situated on the ground level of Drayton Tower on East Liberty Street. In October 2023, Falkenberry opened her second location, on Passage Way in Eastern Wharf. At either studio, members can choose from a variety of “vibes” and classes, from restorative slow flow yoga to heated HIIT Pilates and everything in between, including sound baths. More recently, a Pilates Reformer studio was added at the Drayton site, separate from, but connected to, the main studio.
Ōtium, a Latin-derived term that translates to a concept of taking time for oneself, emphasizes more than just physical strength and endurance. Falkenberry explains that the studios organically foster meaningful connections. For example, Falkenberry now oversees more than 20 instructors. “This group of teachers is probably the best possible,” she says, “They support one another and go to each other’s classes all the time.”
For their part, members often feel comfortable sharing their current challenges with each other or staff and receive support in various forms, including doctor, travel, or book recommendations. She points out that a copy of one particular book, “The Pivot Year,” (a popular book of daily meditations) has been circulating at the Eastern Wharf studio, living at the front desk between readers. “The tools and resources that everyone is passing around are almost as important as the classes,” she says.
In addition to satisfying workouts and nurturing new relationships, Ōtium offers a retail area in both studios, with items like high-end and on-trend workout wear, weighted Bala bands, and bundles of palo santo, a wood traditionally used for spiritual cleansing, meditation, and relaxation. Falkenberry selects eco-conscious and socially responsible products for the Ō shops, including drinks such as matcha lattes and adaptogen-infused sparkling water.
When she’s not splitting her time between the studios, Falkenberry enjoys getting out and meeting with the owners of other local businesses, like Java Burrito Co. or massage and wellness practice Peacefully Rooted, to organize collaborations. And although she attends classes, she acknowledges that she doesn’t do so daily. “I listen to my body, and I’m unapologetic about the amount of sleep I get,” she says. “My wind-down ritual is as exciting as anything else I do during the day.” Falkenberry believes in the power of consistency as much as she does self-care, and hopes that her studios make creating routines easier for members.
As for what’s next for the Ōtium community, Falkenberry is setting her sights on a potential third location. With Drayton Tower in an electric area and her Eastern Wharf location in a peaceful zone, she wants to ensure the new studio is in an equally special spot.
Wherever Falkenberry decides on for any future expansion, her goal is to continue making Ōtium feel like a sanctuary and a community, rather than a rigid approach to fitness. “Social wellness is becoming increasingly important,” she says, “so we want it to be the best possible experience for those who come to class.”
