There's a new gym in Sudbury, and owner Troy Beauregard said that after working in the industry for more than 20 years as a strength and fitness coach, he is happy to have his own gym.
The business is called VO2Peak Fitness, located at 787 Lorne St., the north side of the block between Byng and Rowat Streets.
But Beauregard said his new venture is not so much a business for him as a calling, something that he and his wife Val have been thinking about for a long time.
"Honestly, yeah, I've helped other people open up facilities in different areas, and I've kind of been able to learn from that process to open up what my wife and I wanted," Beauregard said.
"And a big part of that was that it always came back to me wanting to do what we're doing now. And the timing is kind of weird obviously in the age that we're in right now, the COVID era, I guess you could say. But it was just one thing that it just kind of kept rolling. And it was like this snowball that kept gaining traction and then all the planets and stars and moons kind of aligned for everything to work.”
Beauregard said he was pleased to be part of the larger fitness community in Sudbury and to apply things he has learned over the years.
The gym name VO2Peak refers to a sports medicine measurement for the body's ability to use oxygen. Beauregard said he wanted to incorporate that theme into the gym's purpose of training the body's engine.
"So by engine, I mean I refer to the heart and lungs,” Beauregard said. “So regardless of where you are in life, I think that having that great engine means the world. So I really want to focus a lot on that capacity for people to be able to push a little bit more, regardless of their level from the first timer to the pro athlete that we get to train.”
Beauregard said the new facility will allow him the tools he needs to provide accurate measurements of the levels of fitness for clients of all ages.
Over the years, Beauregard has worked with athletes at all levels including Stanley Cup (NHL Hockey), Calder Cup (American Hockey League), national and provincial champions in multiple sports.
He is certified by the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Metabolic Testings, Sports Strength, Sports Movement and Functional Movement Screening.
"Well, I've been involved in the fitness industry as a strength and conditioning coach for 25 years,” he said. “Mostly my focus has been on hockey players; that's sort of been my jam, my wheelhouse, I guess we'll say. So now what I want to do is bring the tools that haven't ever really had access to the North. It is really important to me.”
"So things like a metabolic cart, where we can do VO2 testing and really deep dive into what's going on even to the average everyday person to see what's happening with their conditioning, how many calories they burn at rest, and then different levels of intensity," he explained.
He said the tools will enable him to test whether someone is burning carbohydrates or fats, whether at rest or in a hard workout. He said that helps him provide clients with a plan for nutrition, or for strength and conditioning to improve their sport.
While Beauregard is comfortable working with professional athletes he said he also is also happy to work with people who have had illness or injury and are working on conditioning and getting back into shape.
He said he is pleased that some health professionals and therapists in the city have given approval to work with some of their clients to help people get better.
Beauregard said he is passionate about his calling and takes great satisfaction from helping people.
