Business Profile: O Esthetics and Oranj Fitness

Oranj Fitness shows resiliency 

Naomi Keane, owner of Oranj Fitness in Airdrie and Calgary, along with her leadership team, have fought hard to keep the business afloat.

After the gym doors closed for months starting in March 2020 and the business’ 40 staff members were temporarily laid off, Keane phoned up employee Cierra Large, to offer her as much work as she could, knowing she was living on her own. Keane and Large sold retail clothing, hand sanitizer and masks over the phone.

Realizing those sales wouldn’t be enough, Large said they changed their mindset to keep from losing everything.

“We can just keep sitting here and feeling sorry for ourselves and doing the bare minimum, or we can just fight really hard to stay alive and do everything possible,” recalled Large, who is now the marketing manager.

Keane opened her Oranj franchise in Airdrie in 2016, offering fitness training, cycling, yoga, barre, boxing, zumba, retail fitness apparel and a smoothie bar. She expanded to Kensington, Calgary in late 2019, and included a laser hair removal service. Another laser hair removal machine was ordered for Airdrie just before the pandemic began.

Branding the new venture O Esthetics during the summer of 2020, the medical spa under the same roof offers laser hair removal, custom facials and injectables. Renovating an office and children’s play area to become O Esthetics has been part of a successful effort to keep Oranj alive.

“Helping people change their skin and just embrace their natural beauty… really does wonders,” said Large.

 Ever-resilient, she is optimistic about the future and says the plan is to continue a strong community presence. Oranj has made an effort to promote a healthy community through things like collaborative workouts with F45 and supporting local businesses with posts on social media, hosting the Largest Outdoor Yoga Class and the Cycles for Change Challenge.

“We're just one big family and a happy place – the place everyone comes to find joy and to stay healthy,” said Large.

Learn more about Oranj Fitness and O Esthetics by visiting their Airdrie location at 30 Market Blvd SE, or their websites (oranjfitness.com to find both Airdrie and Calgary locations and oesthetics.com).

Story and photography by Britton Ledingham