Ever wondered why there are so many fit-looking folks running around Napa Valley? Mystery solved: Every imaginable type of workout option is available in the valley for every fitness level. The region abounds in quality facilities, well-kept trails, credentialed personal trainers, and well-organized fitness and sports groups.
In conjunction with a healthy diet, getting in shape and staying physically active should be goal number one and drive all else one does. Staying active keeps the brain and body healthy, is critical in fighting off disease, strengthens musculature and bones, and provides the energy needed to be one’s best at home and work. In short, there is every reason to make it a priority. In Napa Valley, one can enjoy every indoor and outdoor workout type. In the great outdoors, there are quality trails everywhere for walking and running, as well as hiking and biking, boat launch sites for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding, numerous public pools for swimming, tennis, and pickleball courts, plus baseball, softball, and soccer fields. Workout facilities in the region range from yoga and Pilates studios to martial arts and boxing schools, to rock climbing and aerial fitness centers, and clubs that offer weightlifting and strength training, aerobic workout equipment, and group fitness classes.
Cornerstone facilities in Napa that offer the whole gamut of workout options are HealthQuest Fitness Center, In-Shape Family Fitness, and the Active Wellness Center. These three fitness clubs have spacious facilities with state-of-the-art weightlifting and cardio equipment and a full spectrum of studio classes, pools, steam rooms, and more. These clubs are a perfect choice for those looking to change their workout routine throughout the week while enjoying a more social setting. // www.napahealthquest.com // www.inshape.com // www.activewellnesscenter.com
If one wants to focus on a specific type of workout with personalized assistance in achieving fitness goals, there are numerous small to medium-sized studios in Napa. The Society: Cycling + Strength in Downtown Napa has become a trendy spot due to the quality and enthusiasm of its trainers and the supportive social atmosphere integral to the club’s purpose. Workouts are simple and effective – cycling in rhythm to music, simple weights, and resistance bands. Their coached workouts are highly effective, as evidenced by the fit neighbors about town sporting their T-shirts. // www.thesociety-fitness.com
Another popular boutique workout club is Orangetheory Fitness. Their one-hour workouts aim to hit the full-body heart rate zone (orange zone). Classes are designed to build strength and boost metabolism while burning fat and calories. Efficiency and the simplicity of the routines are their cornerstones. Workouts include strength training, rowing, and treadmills, with a few bikes and strides on the side for variation. // www.orangetheory.com
There are now some colorful variations on working out in the region, Napa Aerial Fitness being one of those. Their in-the-air workouts include aerial hoop and pole, hammock, and silks. The aerial hoop is an especially intensive workout that helps with weight management by increasing metabolic rate, improving flexibility, and strengthening muscles. Aerial pole offers similar benefits while being an enjoyable and sexy workout. Silks and hammocks are some of the trendiest new workout types and are now found even in more extensive gym settings. This low-impact workout promotes flexibility, strengthens the core and upper body, and relieves stress. // www.napaaerialfit.com
Photo courtesy of Rockzilla
Rockzilla, which has been around since 2007, is a local rock climbing gym with over 8000 square feet of climbing surface. Rockzilla offers bouldering, rope climbs, and chimneys and, on any given day, has up to 64 rope routes for all difficulty levels. Also exciting is their freestanding boulder, one of the biggest and best in the Bay Area, with 200+ ever-changing bouldering routes. Rock climbing is an engaging workout both for the mind and body. // www.climbrockzilla.rocks
Martial arts and boxing are other great ways to get a full-body workout while being a form of functional fitness. With both, one improves cardiovascular health, builds strength, and tones the whole body, with the added benefit of supporting weight loss. Martial arts are also meant to build agility and mobility. Main Street Martial Arts offers adult classes that teach self-defense, full-body awareness, and control. Their programs include Krav Maga, Kenpo, Jiu Jitsu, and Filipino Martial Arts. At Al Amanecer Boxing, participants will learn boxing fundamentals and develop a personalized conditioning workout with their coach. Also available are supervised sparring opportunities. Boxing is also offered at some of the larger clubs, with the specialized, no-contact “Rock Steady Boxing” offered at Active Wellness Center, a program that improves symptoms and quality of life for those with Parkinson’s. // www.mainstreetmartialarts.com // www.alamanecerboxing.org
Yoga is also popular in Napa Valley, and it’s found everywhere, including in vineyards. Offering all forms of yoga and quality classes for every participant level, including those with mobility/flexibility issues, the Napa Valley Yoga Center is top drawer, as is Yoga West. Physical benefits of yoga abound, the most obvious being flexibility and muscle tone, but the inward reflective aspect of these workouts improves breathing, lowering blood pressure, and reducing stress, all of which greatly enhance overall well-being. // www.napavalleyyogacenter.com // www.yoga-west.com
Jessica De Lasaux of Yoga Therapy Napa Valley offers highly specialized yoga therapy tailored to the needs of each client. At the same time, Napa Hot Yoga and Wellness provides a style of yoga that is done in a room with a high temperature, in part to replicate the warmth of where these yoga practices are done in India, but more importantly, to create a higher level of exertion, which in turn releases toxins through sweat, increases weight loss and allows for a greater degree of flexibility. And, for an enjoyable twist, consider the 2-hour private outdoor yoga sessions with Irene Tracey of Yoga In The Vineyards. This lovely variation elevates the yoga experience with sunshine, fresh air, and beautiful wine-country scenery. // www.yogatherapynapa.com // www.napahotyogaandwellness.com // www.napanative.com/yoga/
Other low-impact workouts popular in Napa Valley are Pilates and barre, a combination of dance, Pilates, and yoga. While Pilates focuses on stability, flexibility, core strength, and working the body as a whole, barre isolates smaller body parts and uses small, repetitive movements. In a barre class, one can expect to sweat and burn calories, while in Pilates, one works more for mobility and stability. Both can yield impressive results, with barre working the body’s aerobic system and Pilates working the anaerobic system. Pilates Napa Valley and Club Pilates offer a variety of standard classes in conjunction with the Pilates Reformer machine, which adds resistance to the workout. Pure Barre’s studio in Napa is the place for a comprehensive barre experience, with classes focusing on body alignment, strength, and cardio. // www.pilatesnapavalley.com // www.clubpilates.com // www.purebarre.com
For those looking to get their workout through tennis, the best facilities open to the general public are the courts at Napa High School, Napa Valley Community College, and Las Flores Community Center. Pickleball lovers will find great courts at the Yountville Community Center, Yountville Vineyard Park, and Las Flores. The best places to swim in the region are at Healthquest, In-Shape, and Active Wellness, as well as at Napa Valley Community College (pool available to those registered for classes). Napa Valley also has seven excellent golf courses, some within country club settings that offer other workout facilities. A complete list of golf courses can be found at
www.NapaValley.com.
It’s time to explore ways to enjoy staying fit with all that Napa Valley offers. Whether one prefers a traditional workout or wants to try something new, there is something for everyone.
