2014 — RIO Opens (The Beginning)
R Studios opened its very first space, RIO, on Charles Street in the North End of Halifax. The name RIO stands for “Rock in Opposition,” a nod to a 1970s collective of progressive musicians who challenged convention and redefined what art could sound like.
Designed as a small, open-concept yoga and pilates studio that fit just 16 people, RIO was intentionally created to feel more like a living room than a traditional fitness space. From the beginning, the goal was to break down barriers often found in movement spaces – prioritizing accessibility, connection, and how movement feels, not how it looks.
RIO set the foundation for what R Studios would become. More than just a name, it is a movement and mindset rooted in community, care, and inclusion.
2015 — First Expansion (An Evolution of Movement)
R Studios expanded within the same North End location by adding a second room beside RIO. This expansion marked an important evolution, introducing additional modalities like spring towers and kettlebell classes. While not yet a standalone studio, this moment signalled the beginning of R’s multi-modality approach and its commitment to offering a fuller movement system under one roof.
2017 — ROGUE Opens (Second Location)
Introducing ROGUE, RIO’s first sister location on Lady Hammond Road. Designed as a raw, industrial-style strength and kickboxing studio, ROGUE quickly became a cornerstone of the community. From its opening-day celebration to its final classes, ROGUE was known for packed rooms, deep connection, and an unmatched sense of belonging.
2019 — RIO Relocates (Supporting Growth)
To better support the experience of its growing community, RIO relocated from Charles Street to a new home on Maynard Street. While the original space was deeply loved, the new location, a converted garage with a loft-style studio, maintained RIO’s open, living-room feel while creating more space to move, breathe, and connect.
2019 — REBEL Opens (Across The Bridge)
Later that year, REBEL, the first location in Dartmouth opened, introducing our signature RebelBox classes alongside strength, pilates, and boxing. With REBEL’s launch, the brand officially began operating under the umbrella of R Studios, solidifying its identity as a multi-studio, multi-modality movement ecosystem.
2021 & 2022 — RIVAL, RINSE + REST (Movement Through The Pandemic)
It’s no secret that fitness studios were fraught with challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 we closed our ROGUE location, followed by the closure of REBEL in 2022.
Despite this, the R Studios community proved stronger than ever. In response, R Studios reaffirmed its commitment to its members by expanding thoughtfully and intentionally. RIVAL opened in June 2021 as a dedicated spinning studio. RINSE followed in September 2021, offering hot yoga and hot pilates.
In early 2022 REST ROOM – the recovery zone – opened upstairs at RINSE, adding a sauna, cold plunge, and relaxation spaces. Together, these offerings reflected a deeper focus on holistic health, recovery, and nervous-system care, reinforcing R Studios’ vision of an inclusive membership that supports the whole person.
2024 — RHQ (Our Headquarters)
After losing ROGUE and spending two years sustaining that community, R Studios opened RHQ on Almon Street. This new headquarters brought together strength and boxing under one roof, providing a permanent home for modalities that had long been central to the R experience.
2025 — R Studios BEDFORD Opens
R Studios expanded into a new neighbourhood with the opening of R Studios Bedford, bringing signature offerings like hot Pilates, hot strength, beat-driven training, and intentional movement to a growing community outside the city core.
2026 – RIVAL Closes; Ride @ RHQ Opens
The opportunity to bring spinning to our HQ couldn’t be denied. We said goodbye to the RIVAL location and wheeled the bikes up the street to their new home – the RHQ mezzanine transformed into an intimate spinning studio with an unmatched sound and lighting experience.
