Fitness is about so much more than getting a good sweat on, sculpting your body, or improving your health. It’s not just about boosting endorphins, staying lean, or improving your mobility. Sure, fitness encompasses all these things, but one of its most enjoyable and sustainable benefits is the community it creates—the feeling that you’re part of something bigger than yourself.
At its core, fitness provides an avenue for connection.
And that’s exactly what Jaimie Szarko had in mind when she first came up with the concept for FILI in 2022: a hybrid fitness studio, event space, and café.
The idea first struck her during her time at Quest University in Squamish. She had a passion for fitness, but to Jaimie, it was always about so much more than the classes themselves.
“It was never just about the workout for me,” Jaimie told me in an interview. “[It’s] the energy in the room, seeing familiar faces, and [the] feeling of being part of something.”
Coffee shops gave Jaimie that same sense of connection. It was less about getting her daily dose of caffeine and more about having a place to gather, or as she describes it, “[somewhere] people know your name and [you] start to recognize the people around you.”
Many of us have our favourite local spots, where the baristas remember our names, know our usual orders, and greet us like old friends. It’s that sense of familiarity, warmth, and belonging that keeps us coming back.
And that’s exactly the feeling Jaimie envisioned when designing FILI.
Come for a workout, meet some new friends, and maybe stay a while for a coffee and a chat.
From University Project to Squamish Business
While attending university, Jaimie’s ambition and drive led her to turn what started as an idea into a comprehensive business plan.
I spent a lot of time working through what the concept could actually look like, how the café and studio sides could work together, who the business was for, and what would make it different. It gave me the chance to take something that had mostly been living in my head and start putting it on paper with a bit of structure.
Over the next few years, what had started as an idea slowly evolved into a plan, and eventually, a real business.
One of Jaimie’s first steps was gathering feedback from her target audience. She hosted pop-up fitness classes in Squamish, asked participants for their thoughts on the concept and space, and used their feedback to help shape her vision.
In the spring of 2024, things really started coming together when she found a home for her new business at the end of Tantalus Road, in a beautiful neighbourhood surrounded by other local businesses.
But despite all the thought that went into the fitness classes, coffee, smoothies, and even the delicious New Jersey-style bagels, none of those things was the driving force behind FILI Space.
At the heart of it all was first and foremost, community.
And what had once been just an idea in Jaimie’s head was finally becoming a reality.
A Place to Find Your People
People move to Squamish for all kinds of reasons, but one of the biggest draws is the outdoor lifestyle: mountain biking, climbing, hiking, trail running, and kitesurfing.
But not everyone who moves here is interested in what Jaimie describes as “extreme sports,” and for some, finding community around other shared interests can be challenging.
FILI helps fill that gap.
As Jaimie explains, “Through the studio, the café, and especially our events, we’ve created a space where people can come on their own, meet new faces, and hopefully start to feel a little more rooted in the community.”
And that’s exactly what initially drew Kenz and I to FILI. Back when we were living in Vancouver, Kenz had a membership at a gym that was more like a health and wellness club. While she attended the same classes and regularly saw familiar faces, what was missing for her was that sense of community.
One of the things we were most excited about when moving from a big city to a smaller town was becoming more involved in the local community—taking the time to get to know our neighbours, local business owners, and other folks looking to make connections.
The first time we walked through the doors at FILI, there was an immediate sense of warmth. The space felt inviting, with an atmosphere that encouraged you to stay a while.
We also loved that we could bring our dogs inside while ordering coffee to go, rather than having to tie them up outside. Billie and Stevie even made it onto the wall of FILI dogs!
It’s those little touches that make FILI such a special gem in Squamish.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what FILI has to offer.
The Fitness Classes
FILI offers three types of fitness classes: FILI Core, FILI Strength, and FILI Recover.
FILI Core is a Pilates-focused class, FILI Strength incorporates resistance training, and FILI Recover focuses on mobility.
There are drop-in classes, memberships with various tiers, and a pretty sweet introductory offer: the $55 First Timer 5 Pack, which also includes a FILI Coffee Card after your last class.
Kenz signed up for the First Timer 5 Pack and loved it. She got in a great workout and even got to pre-order a smoothie to enjoy afterwards.
Fitness classes can sometimes feel intimidating, especially if you’re new to a studio, but Jaimie has been intentional about making the experience as welcoming and seamless as possible.
Her goal is to make FILI feel “like walking into a familiar friend’s house, [where] you feel welcomed, comfortable, and like you know you are in good hands.”
She explains that FILI’s classes are “intentionally designed to challenge you, but never in a way that feels intimidating. We want people to feel well coached, understand what they are doing, and have the confidence to work hard while still meeting themselves where they are that day.”
Kenz has really enjoyed the classes, and her favourite so far is FILI Core.
After her first class, she told me she was sore in the best way possible. It was challenging, but not in a way that pushed her so hard she couldn’t work out for the rest of the week.
And one of the best parts? After class, you can reward yourself with a little treat from the FILI menu
Coffee, Smoothies, and Some Seriously Good Bagels
FILI keeps its menu simple but delicious, offering Forecast coffee, matcha, smoothies, and locally made bagels.
One of the most popular menu items is the Chief Smoothie, which also happens to be Kenz’s and my favourite.
Made with bananas, cocoa powder, dates, peanut butter, almond milk, and protein powder, it’s not too sweet and hits all the right spots. It’s the perfect little post-workout treat.
Jaimie’s personal favourite, though, is the bagels.
FILI partnered with Molly and Marv’s Bagels, a local Squamish business known for its New Jersey-style bagels, which you can also find at local farmers’ markets.
FILI serves them fresh and toasted with butter or cream cheese, and man oh man, are they ever good.
Whether you’re stopping by after a class or just looking for somewhere to grab a coffee and a bite, it’s a great little spot to hang out.
So More Than Just a Workout
Last week, Kenz and I were out walking the pups when we passed FILI and saw Jaimie run out the front door with coffee cards in her hand. She greeted us with a big, friendly smile and handed us cards for free coffee.
That’s the kind of person Jaimie is, and it’s exactly the kind of experience you can expect at FILI.
She genuinely takes the time to get to know her customers, and that level of care and personal connection is something you don’t find everywhere.
And really, that’s what makes FILI so special. You can of course just go for a workout or grab your morning coffee. But it really is so much more; It’s a place where you feel welcome, where familiar faces turn into friends, and where community comes first.
So whether you’re just visiting Squamish or planning to stick around for a while, FILI should definitely be on your list—whether it’s for a fitness class, a smoothie, a bagel, or grabbing a delicious coffee to go and cruising the nearby trails near Alice Lake—wor all of the above.
It’s become one of our favourite local spots, and I have a feeling it’ll become one of yours, too.
