Sabrina Pendergast has launched the first Orangetheory franchise location in Visalia, with a grand opening expected next month. Photo contributed

Orangetheory Fitness, a health franchise started in Florida in 2010, will have a grand opening for its first location in Visalia in mid or late September.  

Sabrina Pendergast, owner and operator of the franchise location in Visalia, said Orangetheory is a 1-hour, full-body workout with a focus on training endurance, strength and power.

“It’s designed for all levels of fitness,” Pendergast said. “If you’re just starting out or a seasoned veteran athlete, anyone can do Orangetheory because it’s at your own pace. We are here to guide you through different intensities based on you, and to give you options and guidance for a safe and effective workout.”

During their workouts, Orangetheory members wear heart rate monitors that connect to equipment and screens in the studio to monitor workout intensity in real time to prevent overtraining or undertraining, she said.

 

The space covers 2,400 square feet, making it a smaller, boutique studio, she added. It is located at 3718 S. Mooney Blvd., near the Walmart Supercenter.

The Visalia location currently has two coaches, including Pendergast and six associates working in the front.

When Pendergast — a member of the recently announced class of 40 Under 40 hosted by BusinessLeaders.TV — moved to California about nine years ago, she had her sights on getting into the fitness industry, earning a sales associate role with the Orangetheory studio in Fresno.

She worked her way up to lead assistant manager, was certified as a coach and transitioned into the coach and studio manager. Within two years, Pendergast was promoted to general manager and helped with the opening of a studio in Clovis.

Pendergast was managing six Orangetheory locations between Arizona and California prior to opening her own studio.

The owners of the six locations had plans to open up a seventh location but that fell through, presenting Pendergast with the opportunity to buy her own franchise.

Pendergast said the desire for group training has always been and continues grow, even after all the major changes brought on by COVID-19.

 

“We are a reprieve from the day’s demands,” Pendergast said. “This gives them the opportunity to move their bodies and focus on themselves and check their stress at the door.”

Renovation for the space, which was formerly the El Rosal restaurant, began in April and lasted about 10 weeks.

The demographics of her clients are all over the board, Pendergast said, with both men and women, teenagers and senior citizens.

She said a couple hundred members are already preregistered, and she is receiving inquiry calls every day.

The grand opening will feature a parking lot party with food vendors and other health and fitness related businesses.

Pendergast said they are still accepting new members and currently have “founding member” discount rates, which let them secure a discounted month-to-month membership rate which will last as long as they are members.