To watch Val Desjardins, a coach, competitive athlete, and founder of The Studio MTL, doing her thing is truly a sight to behold. Equipped with a master’s degree from NYU and a certificate in lifestyle medicine from Harvard Medical School, she has masterminded a revolutionary training method that is beloved by legendary celebs like Jennifer Aniston and has the kind of contagious energy that should be bottled. If only. It’s no wonder that there is so much demand at The Studio. In the last two years alone, Val has collaborated with behemoth brands like Apple, Dove, and Nike, signed on as the Health & Wellness Contributor for ELLE Canada and ELLE Québec, and, more recently, became an investor in Spa Bota Bota, a unique Nordic spa in the heart of Old Montreal.
We recently sat down with the force majeure to get her take on The Studio’s role as a third place. “As a boutique fitness space, The Studio MTL is part of a new vanguard,” she explained. “Like so many other community-focused spaces that have emerged in dense urban centres, gyms and boutique studios have become much more than training destinations,” she explains. “They now offer an important source of respite from the rigours of high-stress living; these are spaces where members can enjoy a much-needed sense of belonging along with opportunities for connection that are integral to their mental and physical health.” “They’re also a great place to embrace activities that bring us joy and to lean into play,” she added. Touché!
For more on Val and The Studio MTL, visit thestudiomontreal.com.