Walk into any of MOVATI Athletic’s Ottawa clubs and the weight room is only one stop. Down the hall you might find a cycling studio, a lap pool, a sauna or a café where members linger over a smoothie after class.
That range is the point. MOVATI has five clubs in the city, in Barrhaven, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans and Trainyards. Each is built so members can train, recover and socialize in one place instead of splitting their week between a gym, a yoga studio and a pool.
As Chuck Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder of MOVATI Athletic, explains, “The true measure of our success is the experience we create within our all-in-one premium fitness destination. The MOVATI difference isn’t something you see, it’s something you feel: a sense of welcome, comfort and belonging that inspires people to live their best life. It’s a standard we hold ourselves accountable to, and one we are proud to deliver to the Ottawa community.”
Group fitness is a big part of the draw. MOVATI clubs have up to nine boutique-style studios, and unlimited group fitness comes with membership: yoga, cycling, Pilates, HIIT, strength, dance and mobility.
Every Ottawa location has two pools, along with saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs. Members can swim laps or join other water workouts, a welcome option for anyone tired of the treadmill.
MOVATI’s Women’s Only area is one of its most distinctive features. The company calls it a “club within a club,” with a private workout floor and group fitness studio. All Ottawa locations also have a women’s-only pool, sauna, steam room, and hot tub.
It’s a practical answer to a simple problem. A gym only works if people feel comfortable enough to show up.
“We believe everyone deserves to feel that fitness is for them. Whether you’re taking your first step or finding your way back, MOVATI is about turning uncertainty into confidence and making fitness feel accessible through a welcoming environment, inspiring experiences and people who genuinely want to help you succeed,” says Karin DiCarlo, Area Director, MOVATI Athletic.
For members who want a goal on the calendar, every MOVATI Ottawa location is a certified HYROX Training Club. HYROX is a standardized indoor fitness race that pairs running with sled pushes and pulls, rowing, lunges, farmer’s carries and wall balls. You don’t need to be an elite athlete to enter, but you do need to prepare. MOVATI now offers dedicated HYROX programming and training space to help.
Kelly Thorne, Senior Vice-President of Operations at MOVATI Athletic, sees it as a response to what members are asking for.
“We’re always looking ahead to what will inspire our members next. HYROX reflects the growing desire for purposeful, goal-driven fitness, giving members a new challenge and a community to train with. Becoming a HYROX Training Club was a natural extension of MOVATI’s commitment to continually evolve the fitness experience to meet our members’ needs.”
Members who want more structure can also work with a personal trainer, through individualized programs and Game Plan Sessions. It beats wandering the gym floor wondering what to do next.
More people now see recovery as part of training, and MOVATI has built for it. Beyond the saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs, MOVATI Athletic expanded its wellness offerings in 2025 with dedicated Stretch Studios at its Barrhaven and Nepean clubs. These studios combine personalized, one-on-one Performance Stretch sessions led by certified Fascial Stretch Therapists with advanced recovery technology, including Normatec compression boots.
“Fitness doesn’t end when the workout does. As members place greater value on recovery, mobility and longevity, we see these becoming essential parts of the fitness experience, helping people feel better, perform better and stay active for longer, which is why MOVATI continues to expand the services and spaces that help members perform better, restore and keep moving,” says Milad Emadi, Director of Performance Coaching at MOVATI Athletic.
Every club also has a café and lounge with free Wi-Fi. Members grab a smoothie, catch up with a workout partner or answer a few emails before starting a workout or heading home. That’s often what turns a gym membership into a habit.
MOVATI’s five locations cover all of Ottawa. Trainyards sits in one of the city’s busiest retail districts, Kanata serves the west end, and Barrhaven, Nepean and Orleans reach three of its fastest-growing suburbs.
Whichever club you choose, the philosophy is the same. The best gym is the one you keep coming back to, and by offering multiple convenient locations and diverse choices under one roof, MOVATI is ensuring its members always have a compelling reason to return.
