Jess Wood is in the midst of building her dream.
The 31-year-old Collingwood resident has been busy getting ready for the official grand opening of Power Yoga Canada’s newest franchise in Barrie’s north end. Seeing her longtime dream about to come to fruition is beyond exciting, she says.
“It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. All my vision boards from years past are all yoga studio owning, building community and being in this business," Wood told BarrieToday. "I think my love language is acts of service so I feel this is the highest form of that. It’s just a dream come true."
Wood began teaching yoga in 2013, admitting, however, that yoga was not something she has always had a passion for.
“I liked to run, lift weights … but after my first hot yoga class I walked out feeling like I had never felt after a workout,” she said. “The sentiment I felt and the connection to my breath … I’d never focused on my breathing and that was the most momentous thing … just realizing doing that type of activity left me feeling a way I had never felt before.
"It was almost an instant addiction.”
That ultimately led her down the path to pursuing her certification and beginning teaching more than a decade ago — and now as the new franchisee for Power Yoga Canada.
The 2,300-square-foot studio, which is slated to open Nov. 1, is located at Bayfield Mall, a spot picked for its accessibility to not only to the highway, but also, she hopes, to help fill what she believes is a “gap in the yoga industry in Barrie.”
“A lot of market research went into it,” she said of choosing the location. “I just really liked that we were right on Bayfield, right by the highway and can also target all the little sister cities that are close by. I find the central location of the studio pretty ideal. There’s lots in the south end, but there’s nothing in the north end.
“I wanted to make it the most accessible to everyone and deliver a different experience because we aren’t like a traditional yoga studio. When you walk in, it’s not the most quiet and zen," Wood added. "Our foundation is community, so when you walk in … you’re greeted at the door. You’re known by name and details stick with us.”
The studio will feature one hot room, three washrooms, three showers and some cubbies for people to store their personal items, as well as a few changerooms.
“It’s everything we need perfectly laid out,” said Wood, adding classes will include the signature 60-minute Power Jam class, vinyasa flow classes, hot pilates and yin, to name just a few.
“All the classes are conducive to any level, so whether you’re a seasoned yogi and you’re coming to get your sweat on or you’ve never stepped into a yoga studio before, our series is super welcoming to any pace and age,” she said.
And yoga goes beyond just movement, Wood added.
“There are eight wings of yoga and it’s a never-ending journey and that’s my favourite part. We come to yoga to make our light bright, because it is inherent in all of us, but throw in work, life, kids, and other curveballs and the light dims," she said. "Yoga is just the one thing, especially in the heat.
"You let it go. You sweat it out and you meet amazing people as well.”
