En-er-gy owners Renee Wiggs (standing) with Sue Albano in their studio located in the Mercato courtyard. Ryan lely/Sonoma Valley Sun
If the name alone doesn’t spark your interest, the two owners of this new business probably can. Sue Albano and Renee Wiggs have enough infectious enthusiasm and bounce to inspire others to achieve their best. It is this chemistry that they have put to work in launching En-er-gy, a fitness lifestyle studio located in the Mercato courtyard in downtown Sonoma.
More than a gym or a workout studio, En-er-gy is intended to be a center for a healthy lifestyle. “We have tried to create a beautiful space where people from 18 to 80 can feel comfortable dropping in, whether it’s for a class or to hear acoustical music, and have a rosewater footbath,” said Albano. “This is the heart of our dream,” added Wiggs. “In addition to the classes, we intend to have events, book signings and other related activities.”
Both Albano and Wiggs conduct aerobic classes at En-er-gy. Albano was an instructor for 15 years at Parkpoint Health Club, where Wiggs participated in her classes. “After the birth of my first child, I was overweight and in a very gloomy frame of mind,” Wiggs said. “A friend suggested Sue’s class and when the class was over, I was so energized I kept going to classes and it literally changed me.”
The studio is busily adding instructors and classes, with some innovative courses planned. “We want to have fun movement classes like hula hoop, Zoomba – which is a Latin-inspired ‘Dancing With the Stars’ – and kickboxing and possibly tap. We’ll also have more stretch and relax classes and yoga and meditation,” said Albano. “Right now, we’re doing a class called Inside Out, where we warm up in the studio, then go outdoors for 30 minutes on different routes and come back to finish up in the studio,” Wiggs said. “It’s a great session for people who aren’t ‘class-oriented.’” Albano and Wiggs also believe in weight training for strength and to burn calories. “When you feel strong, it snowballs into a state of mind,” said Wiggs. “And it’s important for both men and women, especially as they age and can experience bone loss.”
En-er-gy is not just a pleasurable venture for the two owners; it’s a well-thought-out business. Their plans extend beyond a small studio to potentially taking over a large space such as the old firehouse on Broadway and turning it into a fitness center. And once the concept is fully developed, they hope to replicate it in other locations. “We are very conscious that we have to make this work from a business standpoint,” said Wiggs. “We are both very organized. You have to be when you have children,” laughs Albano, who is the mother of three, while Wiggs has two children. “It’s all about balance. We get home from our morning classes before the kids get up, and get them to school, and then make sure we are there for them when they come home. We are also a role model for our children – we want to inspire them to go for their dreams,” said Wiggs.
The two partners seem to get as much enjoyment out of the classes as their clients do. “We love what we do,” said Albano. “When we teach a class we like to take people on an emotional trip, in the same way a movie takes you through different sets of emotions. I tell the people in my class, ‘You look beautiful!’ And they do. You’re never more beautiful than when you’re feeling fully alive.”
En-er-gy is open daily at 450 First St. E., Ste. J. For class schedules and times, call 707.799.5959, or visit www.en-er-gy.com.
