Colleen McIntosh is the owner and entrepreneur of Peak Lifestyle Studio downtown La Grande. McIntosh says the small town of La Grande has grown on her because there are adventure options. McIntosh is certified in essential oil and wellness education, and teaches Buti Yoga. She is also a personal trainer and coach for Turn Up Dance. During my interview with McIntosh, she expressed the importance of what she called, “simplified wellness.” To her, this does not consist of diets and hard training; simplified wellness is, “implementing more good that will eventually push out the bad.”
McIntosh is a woman who strives to empower others through movement of the body. She started Peak Lifestyle because she wanted to create a consistent environment where individual choices and mindfulness is encouraged and welcomed for everyone. McIntosh expressed her passion for movement, along with her importance of it being a, “very women centric environment.” She says: “If you are a positive person and want to better your life around you, you belong; no matter where you came from or who you are. So much of it is very divine driven.”
Peak Lifestyle Studio has been partnering with EOU for five years, where McIntosh teaches Power Yoga, which is a cardio-based movement. She also offers free yoga classes for EOU students (while school is in session) every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at her studio on Adams Avenue. Her goal is to get more students involved in life off of campus. She believes that, “it is important to get to explore more of the town you are going to school in.” Her studio also allows a discount for students who want a packaged deal. It is $35 for students who have unlimited access to all the classes, and if you want to try a class, it will be $5 instead of $10. Since Peak Lifestyle Studio is partnered with EOU, there is a credited OUT Course, titled Meaning and Movement, through the outdoor adventure program. This will take place Spring Term 2022 Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.
McIntosh’s goal with providing services to college students is to create a healing space and safe place for mental and physical health. She wants to bring consistent opportunities that encourage you to continue to move your body for your whole life. McIntosh also says: “It is important to find something you love rather than what you think you should be doing.” Essentially she expresses the importance of mobility because of the benefits it provides: “You have to move to function. Moving your body releases all of these endorphins and toxins which allows the brain to come back to focus and study.”
Peak Lifestyle is a place to move your body and be honest with yourself. They offer a variety of services like Spin, multiple forms of Yoga, Wellness Education, Cardio Dance Fitness, HIIT workouts, along with massage therapy, and a salon. It is important to take care of yourself and do what makes you happy, because like McIntosh says, “Movement is medicine.”
For questions and inquiries, call (541) 663-6404, or look online to see what they offer, and book a class at peaklifestylestudio.com.
