In Focus | Chelsea Perretta and Jenny Wagner of BARREROOM

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Chelsea Perretta and Jenny Wagner.

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
Chelsea: I was born and raised in Kelowna.
Jenny: I moved here in grade two from Grand Prairie AB and was raised in Kelowna. I moved away to Vancouver and Southern California for 15 years and just relocated back.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
Eachother? Haha, we grew up together so we have a lot of fun. Plus, working on a venture like Barreroom allows us to blend work and play. We both also have little ones that happily fill our free time.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Chelsea: I would take any hot tropical vacation with the current freezing temps, but I'm also dying to travel to Europe.
Jenny: Italy or the South of France because it is amazing.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
We both support local any chance we get and we love design so Alchemy is one of our faves. We also love Blonde for great fashion finds and practically live in Bean Scene, it's our second office.

What is your favourite activity?
Chelsea: Barre, I pretty much live and breath it, but I also love spin and shopping!
Jenny: Horses, Snowboarding... and barre.

If you had to choose: pizza, tacos or burgers?
We both agree on fish tacos with fresh guacamole. However, the Curious Cafe's margarita pizza is insanely good!

What is a hidden gem you enjoy in the Okanagan?
Winery picnics. Both Arrowleaf in Lake Country and Vibrant Vines in south-east Kelowna have perfect spots to set up a picnic and enjoy some wine with amazing views and atmosphere.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
We went to high school together and we are pretty sure the majority of those years came with A LOT of embarrassing moments that we both still laugh about.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Chelsea: There are so many inspiring people in my life. My mom is probably at the top of that list. She faces everyday with such optimism and strength. Her love for her family and friends is like no other. She inspires me strive to be the best mother I can to my daughter, Lennox.
Jenny: Having my son, Knox, has inspired me and brought a new perspective to everything in my life.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
We built a cardboard sled in grade four called the JC Racer and bombed it down the snowbanks by our houses. They weren't very durable, but it was a good time.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Barreroom has created an initiative called the One Purpose Project in which we offer by-donation classes on a monthly basis to raise money to support a local cause. For the month of December, all of the proceeds of our One Purpose Project went toward supporting a Kelowna family over the holidays.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
This is a huge one. There is so much joy in the world, but we also hear about the devastation and challenges across the globe. If I had the power to take away all of those hardships, I would in a heartbeat. That being said, in our community, I know people strive to do the best they can to make the world a better place, so we just try to be the best we can everyday and help others and causes in need whenever we can.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Wake surfing and boating on Lake Okanagan. We also can't forget wine tasting, we live in such a beautiful place!

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Chelsea: I would find a cozy corner of a local coffee shop, sip an Americano and just relax.
Jenny: My families cabin at Big White with a good book.

If you were granted one wish for work or in life, what would it be?
To know that we are making a difference in peoples lives. Barreroom is about helping people find a connection to themselves and to a community of like-minded people. Knowing that we are accomplishing this is our biggest wish as a business.

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
Chelsea: Despite being a fitness instructor, I am extremely introverted. I’m also really Type A, so it makes for an interesting combination ;)
Jenny: I was born with congenital heart disease and have gone through open heart surgeries growing up. Living a healthy and active lifestyle is so important.

What is the name of your business/organization?
BARREROOM.

What does your business do?
We are a Barre fitness dedicated studio. We offer low-impact, effective workouts for everyone in a beautiful, bright space. We wanted it to feel like a second home and I think that we succeeded since we both want to move in.

How do people connect with you through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)?
Instagram is defiantly our biggest social media channel but we also have people connecting with us through Facebook.

Where can people find your business online?
barreroom.ca

Why did you get into/start this business?
We fell into the concept of Barreroom after Chelsea had spent 12 years in a career within the financial field and wanted to step into her passion of fitness. Barre just seemed like the right fit for Kelowna. Jenny, coming from living in California, had seen the popularity of barre and saw the need for it and knew it would take of here in Kelowna.

What is the goal of your business?
Barreroom is more than just a place to get a workout. It is about finding a connection with your inner self and with the community that call Barreroom a second home. It is a space where you will feel challenged, motivated, inspired and, above all else, supported. Barreroom is a place to become the person you already are.

What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
Probably finding a true passion that is both fulfilling in life, and as a career. Deciding to set caution to the wind and pursue a dream is a scary thing but so worth it!

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
We are both firm believers that things happen for a reason, so we wouldn't change a thing. This process has taught us so much about our community, each other, ourselves and business as a whole.

Why do you think it is important to shop local?
It's so important to us to give back to the community that has given so much to us and for that reason, we always support and shop local very chance we get. Aside from that, the quality of local can’t be beat.

Give someone that you think deserves it a shout out and explain why!
We have had the privilege to work with Mackenzie Dempsey of Mackenzie Jane Photo. She has the ability to capture the beauty in even the most simple things and her positive energy is contagious. She is truly a wonderful human.

My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Mackenzie Dempsey.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna.