Studio Energi was founded in 2003 by husband and wife team Jeff and Annika Beech. The mission was to help people live a vibrant life, and the vision was to create a place where people could come to share their love of fitness. It started out in a small space on Dutton Drive and in 2008 moved to its current 7000 sq ft location on 60 Bathurst Drive.
The studio is now home to 11 personal trainers, 4 yoga instructors, a massage therapist and a retail yoga boutique. It is a space where people come to fulfill their fitness dreams by joining their weekly spot in a bootcamp, cycling, yoga or pilates class, or meet with their trainer that they have formed a long-term relationship with.
Jeff and Annika believe that the process of fitness needs to be fun, and when you step into the studio you are instantly struck by the vibrant energetic atmosphere they and their team have created. It spreads to every participant that steps into the studio family. Who knew you can have this much fun reaching your fitness goals!
Annika has been working in the fitness field since 1997. Growing up in Sweden she competed in sports such as soccer, skiing and track and field. She came to Canada in 1993 to attend York University where she taught fitness classes and started running marathons. In 1998 she married Jeff, and travelled around the world watching Jeff compete as a professional triathlete. That inspired her to also take up the sport, competing at Ironman Lake Placid in 2004. It was during a winter training in Australia that Annika found Yoga. Having battled back pain, yoga brought balance to her body, but more importantly to her life. It continues to be her passion as she now teaches popular yoga and pilates/yoga combo classes at the studio.
As a former professional triathlete, Jeff is one of the area’s top experts on triathlon training. He has competed in over 20 Ironman races, including twice as a professional at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, and has represented Canada at the World Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon Championships three times. Jeff was also the Head Coach for the Laurier Cross Country Team for 9 years, and the former President for the Waterloo Cycling Club Triathlon division.
Jeff and Annika supporting Anna at the Trigator 4 Kids
With such an extensive background and knowledge as a triathlete, it came as no surprise when Team Energi developed. As the head coach of Team Energi, Studio Energi’s triathlon training squad, Jeff utilizes his years of experience in competition and training to coach members throughout the race season and off season.
On top of triathlons, Jeff also runs corporate fitness programs, cycling and pilates classes and is a personal trainer. His core and flexibility classes came out of personal need for conditioning after the strenuous demands he was placing on his body, and recognizing that others had the need for the same thing. He is also one of 2 men on a mostly female staff at Studio Energi and provides hours of comic relief at his own expense.
Involvement in the community has always been important to Jeff and Annika. They yearly lead a team of instructors from Studio Energi at the charity event Spin 12 to raise funds for St. Mary’s hospital. They and their team are also involved with great events such as the TriGator for Kids and Run for the Toad. They have also lectured and help workshops at schools such as Leaster B Pearson and Bluevale Collegiate.
Now parents of 2 girls, Anna and Maya, Annika and Jeff continue to balance running a business with their family life. Their personal mantra of “a confident body makes a confident mind” inspires them to continue to learn, grow and live life to the fullest!