Things to Do in Kelowna

With more than 40 years of yogic practice between them, Sonya and Jeff Thomlinson teach the methodologies of Kripalu yoga, which focuses equally on physical and meditative elements. Together, they run Trinity Yoga Center's teacher-training program, sharing the lessons they learned from many internationally recognized yogis such as Stephen Cope, Ana Forrest, and Shiva Rea. During daily classes at Trinity’s two locations, the teachers, in turn, reach out to beginning practitioners, aiding them in achieving perfect postures even as they reflect inward. Individual sessions focus on aspects of yoga such as core power, stress reduction, and candlelit meditation. Students leave class with calmer, more focused minds and increased levels of energy that occasionally result in them sneezing lightning bolts.

Master Carlos Gracie, Jr. founded the Gracie Barra Association—which now encompasses more than 300 Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools—to aid students in developing their understanding of the art beyond simple competition. His schools teach not only combative techniques, but a four-pillared philosophy which instructors and students embrace: brotherhood, cooperation, discipline, and respect.

The instructors work with other trainers to expand the class repertoire beyond jiu-jitsu, offering women's kickboxing, muay thai, strength training, and kid's classes. Each teacher brings a long history of competitive expertise in the subject they teach and bears a high-ranking belt in the art of jiu-jitsu, with Mr. Reichenbach possessing a brown belt himself. The facility they teach in consists of a series of open training areas, which rely upon big floor-to-ceiling windows and glow-in-the-dark teachers for light.

At Urban Links, golfers up their games with hands-on training sessions with certified instructors and access to an indoor facility with the latest in golf training technology. Golfers can cure their slice-, shank-, or narcolepsy-prone swings inside hitting bays that feature TrackMan swing-analysis software, which uses motion sensors and video playback to break down swinging motions. Urban Links’ resident aces also enlist TrackMan technology to help players find out the club specifications that best fit their swing and body type. Along with lessons and club-fitting sessions, golfers can take advantage of the equipment and develop secret handshakes with cyborg Greg Normans during independent practice sessions in the hitting bays.

At Okanagan Street Striders, mobile elliptical machines break free from the gym’s stationary rows and help exercisers grab some fresh air during their cross-training workouts. A fitness-savvy staff acquaints riders with their mounts, which target muscles all over the body without unnecessary impact or unnatural motions. Riders glide along paved trails and pathways, taking in a scenic alternative to staring at television screens, helping riders avoid the cardio room’s cramped confines or tempting smells from the gym's in-house bakery. In addition to daily rentals, Okanagan Street Striders also organizes group night rides.

Behind the wheel of Top Gear Karting's high performance go-karts, drivers zoom around Penticton Speedway at up to 75 km/h. The wheels of up to 14 Intrepid karts—including senior models for drivers over age 14 and junior models for younger drivers—navigate the 0.7-kilometre track and its one banked turn during drop-in races that last 10 minutes apiece. Top Gear Karting's convenient arrive and drive program outfits drivers with all the equipment they need to take part in these individual races, face foes in league match-ups, or taste burnt rubber during driving academy lessons.