My resolution for 2008 is to be comfortable with who I am and not to succumb to the constant barrage of television commercials telling me that what I really need to do is lose weight and get in shape to mark the beginning of the new year.
But when even my January issue of Vanity Fair arrived at my door half its usual size, I felt the need to return to my annual resolution: invigorate my exercise routine and make this the year that my stomach turns toned.
While most gyms in San Diego have some sort of personal training or nutritional counselling available to help their members navigate their way through a fitness routine, many of the bigger chains can feel pre-packaged - as though their training advice is one-size-fits-all, as opposed to custom and tailored to the individual needs of each client.
Because not every person responds in physically or mentally identical ways to exercise, finding a smaller gym that takes the time to individually assess each of their members may mean the difference between simply acting on your fitness resolution and sticking to it. You might not be able use gym facilities at midnight, but the personal care and attention you receive will be more motivating than the promise of a pre-dawn workout.
If you aren't sure fitness regime will work best for you, then Club La Jolla might be a good place to start. Billing themselves as a fitness club with a non-competitive workout atmosphere, the gym has a clientele that is friendly and fit but not intimidating. They have a large selection of classes to choose from and a whole floor of machines for a more traditional weights and cardio workout.
Each new membership - on sale to celebrate your New Year's resolution - comes with two free personal training sessions so a trainer can assess your needs and create a program that will work for you. Your fitness program can include more than just a workout; nutritional counselling, massage, chiropractor services, acupuncture, and physical therapy are also all available.
Club La Jolla Fitness
7580 Fay Ave. La Jolla, 92037; 858.454.7007
www.clublajollafitness.com
Another option for those looking for a holistic approach to fitness is 8 Elements West, a gym that focuses on integrative wellness by taking care of the body, mind, and spirit. 8 Elements West offers massage, reiki, and hypnotherapy, as well as group classes or private training in yoga, nia (a combination of dance and martial arts movements), and pilates - to name just a few. First-time members can purchase two classes for the price of one as a way to introduce themselves to the studio, or purchase an initiation package that includes a nutritional guidance session and a massage!
8 Elements West in La Jolla
6830 La Jolla Blvd., #201, 92037; 858.459.0899
www.eightelementswest.com
Moving out of La Jolla we have FreeForm Fitness & Café whose slogan is "Look Good Naked." The gym works to get you looking good by addressing your body, mind, and spirit through exercise, nutrition, and coaching. FreeForm Fitness offers personal training, fitness life-coaching, nutritional counselling, and group classes - many of the workouts are Pilates based, although they also offer yoga and spin classes.
Their café serves up nutritious meals and also offers free monthly nutrition and cooking classes. New members can take advantage of Lean and Strong: a 6 week fitness challenge. The program includes weekly coaching sessions, a fitness assessment and a weekly schedule, nutrition guidelines and tips, and unlimited fitness classes.
FreeForm Fitness & Café in Pacific Beach
1011 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach, 92109; 858.581.3733
www.freeformfit.com
If the multitude of options available at a gym seems too overwhelming, simplify your workout by focusing on a studio with a single specialty. Infinite Yoga is an Ashtanga yoga studio that offers group classes at varying levels and intensities, as well as private instruction. The studio holds workshops and retreats on top of its regular class schedule, including a Yoga for Beginners workshop offered in the middle of January. Those who are new to the studio can buy an Intro to Yoga Series card, and yoginis of all levels will feel welcome in this friendly studio.
Infinite Yoga in San Diego
2400 Kettner Blvd., Studio 115, San Diego 92101; 619.269.7043
www.infiniteyoga.com
If you prefer weights to downward dog however, check out Iron Core for a specialty gym of a different type. One of the few gyms in the nation certified to teach kettlebell classes, Iron Core focuses exclusively on the kettlebell as a means to get its clients into shape. There are no membership fees, only group classes or personal training geared towards all ages that use the kettlebell to build functional muscle groups and core strength. A Start Me Up workshop is available for beginners wanting to learn the basics of kettlebell.
Iron Core in Pacific Beach
2950 Garnet Ave., San Diego, 92109; 858.551.2673
www.ironcorekettlebells.com
For those whose New Year's resolutions run less towards starting fitness and more towards kicking their current workout up a notch, the following gyms will provide you with higher energy workouts to transform your current stale fitness regime.
UrbanBody Gym & Juice Bar bills itself as "the last real gym in America" and provides group classes that target abs or work you out with yoga or boxing in a sparse, no frills environment. Personal trainers are available for those who want one-on-one motivation, and one personal training session is included in the new member welcome package as well as coupons for their juice bar. You'll get fit alongside locals who come for a no-nonsense workout, and muscle-bound regulars who live to pump iron.
UrbanBody Gym & Juice Bar in North Park
3148 University Avenue, San Diego, 92104; 619.795.9712
www.urbanbodygym.com
For those who want the workout without the juice bar, City Boxing is the place to go for Mixed Martial Arts training (MMA) as well as boxing. The mostly male crowd comes either to seriously train or just work out and keep in shape in a way that doesn't succumb to the everyday routine of aerobics and weight-lifting. Personal training is available at City Boxing, and depending upon why you are going there - either to develop your fighting skills, or to change your current diet and find an exercise plan - they have a trainer who is suited to your needs. If you're not sure that boxing or martial arts is your ticket to fitness, the first ten new members of the month can try the gym out for free for thirty days.
City Boxing in San Diego & Pacific Beach
1059 14th Street, San Diego, 92101; 619.233.5444
1559 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, 92109; 858.273.5557
www.cityboxing.com
If you prefer to keep your fights out of the boxing ring, target your lethargy by visiting The Burn for their New Year, New You fitness camp. This New Year's program runs for four weekends and includes a one-month gym membership, a personalized nutritional program, counselling, and workouts. The gym offers group classes and personalized training, and while many of their classes seem to gravitate towards ‘boot camp'-like selections they also offer nutritional services, a children's activity room, a café, and massage services. These services are especially perfect if you find that your fitness resolve starts fading by February; a massage is kind of like a workout and you can keep from breaking your New Year's resolutions by indulging in them on a weekly basis.
The Burn in San Diego
1014 5th Avenue, Suite 120, San Diego, 92101; 866.882.BURN
www.theburn.info
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