Downtown San Diego and East Village have become a great hideaway for the young urbanites and professionals conquering the area. Local trendy lounges, restaurants, and beauty powerhouses are booming, surrounded by opulent living arrangements.
It was only a matter of time before residents started looking for alternative ways to exercise while maintaining the social atmosphere they are accustomed to. FIT Athletic Club fulfills this need and is now San Diego's first and only luxury gym.
With an eager staff, exclusive industry proofed clientele, dynamic views of America's Finest City and equipment sure to impress even the most knowledgeable gym rat, members are bound to make FIT their next favorite hangout for exercising, socializing, networking, and lounging.
Scott Lutwak started FIT in Houston, Texas and decided to make San Diego the next luxury fitness destination. FIT is located in the DiamondView Tower in East Village. The 44,000 square foot space hovers over PETCO Park's center field, making it the country's first gym with incredible views of a major league baseball park. "Members can actually watch the game while working out," Lutwak says. "Talk about being part of the action - we've got a front row seat."
Responsible for the industrial aesthetic and sophisticated urban concept is local designer Jules Wilson. From the open ceilings to the cross beams, teak wood, steel accents, custom freestanding mirrors, and circular lounge seating, Jules has seamlessly married the original raw, industrial vibe with the new urban-chic ambiance. However, while this luxury gym may satisfy with appearance alone, its amenities unleash a whole new realm of possibility.
Members walk onto the first floor and are greeted with check-in, tanning bed area and retail center to pick up the latest in multi-vitamins and trendy sporting gear. On the second floor, members can take advantage of the business lounge, hooked up with wireless internet, computer docks and comfortable seating arrangements. Local graffiti art garnishes the walls, giving the space an urban and hip vibe that will be splashed anew with each coming year. State-of-the-art workout equipment is scattered on the floor, ranging from iPod compatible, Cox Cable playing, low intensity cardio machines to high energy contraptions that can only be found at FIT. Free weights and benches are also in abundance, as well as stretching machines to be used after an intense workout.
Four group exercise rooms can also be found on the second floor. One exercise room is dedicated specifically to group cycling classes. Seven different classes are offered such as Begin Spin for the newbies, as well as high intensity spin classes like the Hard Rock Spin, which was created for the rock star head banger in you. Avid cyclists can also take advantage of Race Day and SynchoPace classes, which stimulate real races and get your heart pumping.
Another group exercise room is dedicated to martial arts techniques such as Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian art of dance fighting and Haganah, an Israeli military self-defense class. FIT is the first fitness club to offer the class in San Diego. Haganah has become the newest trend amongst Hollywood's fittest members and teaches how to defeat stronger and more skilled components.
The third room holds general exercise classes where members can work on their circuit training or core strength. Check out Belly Booty Jam, which utilizes basic dance moves to sculpt the body or Belly Buster for a 15 minute power packed session of ab and low back exercises. The Yoga/Stretch exercise room is for those in tune with their inner Chakras - sun salutations, standing balance postures, pilates mat classes and all. Try Chakra Jam, a series of posture exercises focusing on centering and grounding physical and emotional well being.
Each classroom features great stereo systems, the same systems used at the neighboring super-club Stingaree. Classes are offered to those at every fitness level and instructors are nationally certified with a minimum of seven years teaching experience.
A Japanese Zen garden lures tired members to unwind with a healthy treat from the juice and snack bar. Meanwhile the vast soothing waterfall wall emits the sounds of tranquility between the men's and women's "green friendly" locker rooms, which help to save energy and water when not in use. The locker facilities lead to the outdoor lounge pool created as a social meeting place for San Diego's FIT community to relax and tan after a lengthy workout.
Rather than doing laps in the pool, members are encouraged to take a breather and maybe sign a business deal or two. The pool area also features a Jacuzzi, luxury cabanas, fire pit and stunning views of the city. Projection screens are also planned for placement above the pool, inviting members to hang out for a while. Alcohol, however, will not be served poolside (yet) - as lifting and drinking is not recommended.
The pièce de résistance of FIT is the expansive and open-air stretch deck - hanging 900 feet away from the club - for yoga and stretch classes and also overlooks Petco Park's center field. Other luxurious amenities include two sauna rooms, eucalyptus-infused steam room in each of the men's and women's locker room, complimentary lockers and toiletries, and underground validated parking.
With the San Diego summer season quickly approaching, FIT will surely be the next big lifestyle staple in East Village. Exercise, lounge, tan, catch the game, network, and kick-back by the pool - all while staying FIT. And what's more, FIT members will receive special package deals at Well-Heeled, the ultra-luxury spa and salon adjacent to FIT within DiamondView Tower. In other words, go ahead and add a facial and massage on your ever-convenient East Village to-do list.
For more details on Well-Heeled and what's new at DiamondView, read the details here. And, discover why The Village demands urban simplicity by livin' BASIC here.
FIT Athletic Club
350 10th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
619.764.5348
Fitathletic.com
Photo credit: Steven Walter Multeye and FIT Athletic Club
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