Have you ever left a workout class and thought a coffee or smoothie would be the perfect way to end your fitness session?
Well, you’re in luck because at the new three-in-one concept studio, FILI, you can workout your muscles and palate all at the same place.
FILI is located in the new Wilfred building at 1870 Dowad Dr., Unit 105.
Founder Jaimie Szarko came up with the idea for FILI in 2018 while studying arts and science at the former Quest University.
Always planning to move into the health care realm after graduation, she was able to turn her dream for a community-centred fitness studio into a reality in June 2024.
“FILI started as an idea a couple of years ago. … I wrote the business plan idea while I was in college,” Szarko told The Squamish Chief.
Throughout her studies, Szarko said she fell into teaching and began to undertake training as a yoga, spin, bar and pilates trainer.
“I thought it was the perfect synergy of being a health care professional, per se, or being in the world of health and wellness, but also serving the community side of that arm of it,” she said.
While she says her studio concept—to combine fitness and beverages—isn’t a revolutionary idea, she believes there was a gap in the market for a space like FILI in the northern Squamish suburbs.
“There's been a tremendous amount of growth here on the north side of town, which has been incredible. There's been so many houses [built] but not a lot of places for people to gather,” Szarko said.
“I've always known that FILI's success is dependent on its location. So this idea was kind of sitting in the back pocket for a while…we spent a year just looking for places.
“So the intention behind this space, and why we've ended up in the area that we've ended up in, is to bring some new light into a new community.”
Szarko says she wants FILI to be a place where people can stop in for a fitness class and go for a coffee with friends after, or where visitors can drop by after a hike or ride and grab a pick-me-up drink.
“It's a place to gather whether you like being outside or whether you'd like to move your body indoors,” Szarko said.
FILI offers strength and pilates inspired classes that can be booked online via their website.
“We are a group fitness studio; we've had a couple of requests for personal training or injury training but unfortunately, that's not our gig,” Szarko said.
In the front of the building is their smoothie bar and coffee shop where you can order a variety of freshly made beverages and small healthy bites to enjoy at the space or to go.
“We’ve gotten a lot of feedback that people are just super stoked that something like this is in the area, and that they also just love the idea of coming in for a class and being able to have different ways to move their bodies and also just be a part of the community,” Szarco said.
“It's nice to be able to give that experience to people, where they can step right outside the [class]room and go grab a coffee and a smoothiev…vbe with their friends and nourish themselves.”
