A new fitness and wellness business has opened its first Canadian location in downtown Penticton, B.C., as independent operators behind the venture look to expand beyond traditional gym offerings with a community-focused studio concept.
Lark Lagree and Social Wellness Club opened at 233 Main St. in Penticton earlier this month, marking the debut of the brand in Canada with a 3,800-square-foot facility featuring Lagree fitness equipment, social spaces and wellness amenities.
The founders say the studio was developed to serve a broader range of customer needs while creating a destination that blends fitness programming with wellness and social gathering spaces.
The location includes 10 Lagree Megaformers, a coffee and tea bar, athleisure apparel, private infrared sauna facilities, custom-tile showers, lounges and grooming amenities. The business said the studio’s design incorporates locally sourced furnishings, architectural lighting and materials intended to reflect the surrounding Okanagan Valley environment.
Founders Vanessa Jahnke and Carl Nystrom said the project was shaped by their experience operating gyms and by what they viewed as changing expectations among consumers seeking more than conventional fitness services.
“As longtime gym owners, we wanted Lark to reflect a calm, grounded environment where people have space to connect, move together, and feel part of a supportive community,” said the local entrepreneurs.
The company worked with Texas-based Barbara Chancey Design Group on the project. The design firm, which specializes in fitness facilities, has completed more than 200 projects globally, according to the release.
The Penticton project represents another example of wellness-oriented businesses investing in multi-use spaces that combine fitness, hospitality and lifestyle services under one roof.
“By creating an original brand and challenging what has been accepted in fitness, we wanted to connect with the local community with a purpose-built space that was generous, tactile, and delivered a sense of care and quality,” said Chancey.
The company said the branding for Lark Lagree and Social Wellness Club was inspired by Penticton’s outdoor environment and the symbolism associated with larks, which it described as social birds associated with confidence and freedom.
According to the release, the studio aims to provide fitness instruction based on the Lagree Method while also offering infrared sauna services and communal wellness spaces designed around natural light and open interiors.
The opening adds another independent wellness business to Penticton’s downtown core, where operators continue to invest in experiential retail and service-oriented concepts tied to tourism, lifestyle and health-focused consumer spending.
Lark Lagree and Social Wellness Club said additional information about classes and programming is available through its website and social media channels.
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