Smiling faces flow out the glass doors of Salmon Arm's Oxygen Yoga & Fitness following a "fast and furious" workout.
"Fast and Furious Fusion" is the name of one of the fitness classes offered at the local studio, part of a franchise founded in B.C. with more than 100 locations across North America.
The Salmon Arm location, the first in the North Okanagan-Shuswap, is owned and operated by Vanessa Court who, in October, will mark her first year in business. Part of that celebration will involve sharing the stories of local Oxygen members and how their own lives have been transformed.
"Sometimes it鈥檚 after the first class, sometimes it鈥檚 after one month, they come to me and just straight out say, 'these are the changes in my life, in my body鈥� this is life changing for me,'" said Court. "In October鈥� with it being our one-year anniversary, I鈥檓 doing member highlights of their journey just because it鈥檚 amazing to hear from them where they were at before they entered my doors, and where they鈥檙e at now."
What makes Oxygen unique, Court explained, are the classes' fusion of yoga and fitness, and that they're held in a far-infrared heated studio.
"Doing it in the far-infrared heat, they鈥檙e sweating out all the toxins, the weight loss is much faster, and the differences in the skin 鈥� and the joints鈥� fitness is our biggest draw," said Court.
Court said she's been practicing yoga for about 25 years. Her love for it was sparked in the Lower Mainland when a friend invited her to a Bikram Yoga class. Later on, she discovered Oxygen and became hooked.
Not a city person, about six years ago Court finally made made her move to the Interior, first to Falkland.
"I lived there a couple of years," said Court. "I missed Oxygen Yoga & Fitness so much I was actually driving from Falkland to Kamloops to do classes鈥� I鈥檇 been doing that for two years and my cousin said you should just open one, 'you鈥檙e crazy enough to do it,' and that鈥檚 where the spark was lit."
Two years later, with family in Sunnybrae, and a love for outdoor activities 鈥� hiking, skiing, snowboarding, etc. 鈥� Court moved again to Salmon Arm.
"Almost four years ago鈥� I moved to Salmon Arm in June, and bought into this franchise in July," said Court, who spent the following two years endeavouring to find and lock in a location for what would be her first business.
"I've been in leadership positions throughout my entire career, but I never ventured out and completely started something on my own like this鈥�," said Court, who now resides in Sicamous.
While the process leading to the Oct. 23, 2023 grand opening of Salmon Arm Oxygen Yoga & Fitness involved a "whirlwind of crazy highs and lows," the experience since has been one of sharing, growth and making personal connections with Oxygen members.
"The classes are incredible and we have formed a small fitness community," one Oxygen member shared with the Observer. "I started when I was six months post partum and haven't stopped. I know how hard it is for small businesses and I just want to let others know this place exists and they can transform their lives like Vanessa and all the instructors have changed mine (very clich茅 but true).
"Also, Vanessa knows everyone's names and that is so rare for businesses these days."
Court, who not only runs the business but also leads many of the classes, said it's very important for her to establish a personal relationship with people and get to know their individual needs.
"Initially, it鈥檚 what are you looking for, so I can set them up with a class to start that鈥檚 suited to what they need, whether they have arthritis or they have joint pain or want to lose weight or whichever it might be," said Court. "We don鈥檛 teach to levels here, we don鈥檛 have a level 1 class, we don鈥檛 have a level 3 class, I refuse to do that in my studio because I feel every single class in my studio should be made available to every single person. So all of our classes come with modifications in different stages so that every person can attend every single class.
"After that it鈥檚 me building a connection, building a friendship, building a relationship and growing from there."
Reflecting on the community that has grown in her studio, Court said she "couldn鈥檛 have asked for anything better."
"I'm coming up on my first year and I just have nothing but hope and really positive vibes for a good second year," said Court.
Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Salmon Arm, at 103- 650 Trans Canada Highway, is open Monday to Friday from 5:45 to 10 a.m. and 4:14 to 8pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. For more information call 604-779-2726 or visit oxygenyogaandfitness.com/salmon-arm/
