Last April, Nina Hill and Katherine Smith started a run club which met every Wednesday evening in Lindsay Park. While run clubs aren’t anything new, Hill says they started their club specifically for people who wanted in-person community gatherings and social opportunities, whether or not they were already into running as a sport. The club grew from 20 to 300 people over the summer and always ended at a nearby bar or pub. But Hill and Smith soon realized they wanted to end at a community space where people could continue to reap the benefits of how activity, exercise and socialization made their bodies feel good.
That’s when they decided to open a physical wellness club, Offline Wellness Club.
Offline is Calgary’s largest sauna and social wellness club and is for people of any age or generation who are looking to get away from their screens and socialize in person. Like the running group (which still meets on Wednesdays), this physical space isn’t just for people who consider themselves active, sporty or a gym rat, but for any Calgarian focused on physical recovery and interested in meeting like-minded people focused on wellness.
“In the post-pandemic era, everything was online, from our work life to our social life to everything in between,” says Hill. “And we really wanted to fix that problem of our generation of constantly being in front of a screen.”
The facility includes a sauna that can seat more than 30 people, freestanding, individual cold plunge tubs, change rooms and a lounge. Don’t expect a Nordic spa vibe here, says Hill. The lounge will have dedicated social hours with upbeat music where people are encouraged to socialize, as well as quieter “anti-social hours” where you’re encouraged to unwind and relax. Refreshments like water, tea, coffee and electrolytes are available for purchase.
“I think that really hits the nail on the head of coming to this space to get what you want out of it, and ensuring we’re catering to all,” says Hill. “Because you have those days where you really don’t want to talk to anybody. It’s been a crazy day at work … and you really want to unwind, or it’s a Friday night, and this is your alternative to the bar with your friends, and we can crank up the music and we can have a little bit more fun.”
Offline also has classes covering breathwork, mobility and more, with some held in the sauna for a warm class. And guides within the space help educate people on the amenities and benefits, and provide general information about the facility and its uses.
“That’s a little added benefit of our club,” says Hill. “That you will never be alone. There will always be somebody there to help guide and answer questions.”
Offline Wellness Club, 1214 11 Ave. S.W., offlinewellnessclub.com, @offlinewellnessclub