Fun Places to Exercise in California

California is known as a place where people exercise regularly — whether it’s on the beach, in one of their parks, or in a fitness center. From weightlifting to yoga to Pilates courses, there’s really no shortage of healthy and fun activities to immerse yourself in — so we’ve created a list of good places to visit in California if you ever feel like getting a good workout.

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Crunch Fitness — West Hollywood

Top-of-the-line equipment and professional trainers help to develop your ideal fitness plan

8000 Sunset Blvd. La | Hollywood Hills West/ crunch.com

If you like working out with top-notch exercise equipment and getting instruction from professional, certified personal trainers, Crunch Fitness is for you. You’ll be able to exercise with not only kettlebells, suspension straps, and weighted battle ropes but also genuine MMA equipment. Participate in High Intensity Interval Training (HIT) workouts and get some good cardio in small group training workouts. Their trainers can also assist in improving your health by developing customized nutrition plans that fit your special needs and dietary restrictions. Sign up for a membership and experience what working out in a no judgements environment is like!

“This is one of the nicest Crunch locations you’ll find. The gym includes showers and is decently sized. The front desk people are very helpful and will gladly answer any questions you may have about memberships/use of the gym. Gym equipment is also up kept really well.” — Yelp Review

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Dance Identity

Discover how music, movement, and the mind lets you achieve your maximum potential

820 E. El Camino Real | Sunnyvale/ danceidentity.com

Satisfy your fitness and performance goals by enrolling at Dance Identity’s in-person or online classes. Established in 2009, this dance studio offers both dance and fitness programs that use diverse dance lessons to help you achieve your fitness goals. Come learn Jazz, Hip Hop, Salsa, and Contemporary dance styles. You can even participate in the fun, high-energy choreography of Bollywood dance, as Dance Identity instructor Shaira Bhan is not only a professional dancer and teacher but also a choreographer and performer in multiple Bollywood films including Doom and Namaste London.

If you prefer to work out with personal trainers, the instructors at Dance Identity are prepared to develop tailer made programs with you in order to tone your body to its ideal form. The lessons taught here go beyond dance steps and help you develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the relationship between movement, music, body, and the mind. Both fun and physically rewarding, Dance Identity will help you achieve your maximum potential.  

Beyond simply training yourself to be more physically fit, Dance Identity also offers special courses for students working towards becoming professional dancers, instructors, or choreographers. With such high-level instruction, it’s no wonder that students not only become more athletic here but also gain greater self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.

“Shaira’s DI Fit Classes twice a week is the only thing that gets me to work out! She makes the class very engaging.” — Yelp Review

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Bird Rock Yoga

Practice yoga in the full splendor of nature

910 Grand Ave. Ste 206 | Pacific Beach

Good yoga classes always provide a spiritually and physically rewarding experience, but at Bird Rock Yoga, you’ll get something more. That’s because the beach yoga classes here are held on the cliffs, letting you fully immerse yourself in an environment that’s both natural and extremely beautiful.

Come participate in a number of Vinyasa Flow yoga classes that range from beginner courses to increasingly advanced levels. The instructors at Bird Rock Yoga invite students of all kinds — both local and visitors — to take part in their special Bird Rock community. Discover how you fit into their special groups and be sure to keep an eye out for their special events and yearly retreats that take you to Mexico, Nicaragua, and many other gorgeous places.

“I especially love their beach yoga. It’s on the cliffs and overlooking the ocean — absolutely amazing!!” — Yelp Review

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Archer Pilates

Participate in Pilates courses your way at Archer Pilates

6504 Arizona Ave. | Westchester/ archerpilates.com

Pilates workouts help you tone your body and develop a strong core, and Archer Pilates is committed to sharing its special toning and healing methods to help their students build the bodies they want. Built on emphasizing the mind/body connection, this studio provides a variety of Stott equipment in its Pilates teachings to help both men and women clients sculpt themselves into their ideal selves.

Sign up for a personalized private session or participate in their Group Reformer classes. Virtual mat and group reformer courses are also available for those who choose to socially distance while still keeping up with their fitness lessons. Combining cutting-edge techniques with classic Pilates lessons, you’ll gain the best of both worlds at Archer Pilates.

Founded by Melanie Archer Dieveney, a woman who took up Pilates to treat herself after giving birth to her daughter, Archer Pilates’ courses now specialize in rehabilitative services for pre and postnatal mothers, as well as people with Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, and spinal injuries. Those in need of specialty classes should work very closely with their instructors.

“This Pilates studio is super chill and not pretentious or judgey like other studios in LA.” — Yelp Review

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Body Arts Pilates

Develop a better mind-body connection at Body Arts Pilates

4242 W. Sunset Blvd. Ste 6 | Silver Lake/ bodyartspilates.com

From better breathing styles to increased flexibility to improved muscle tone, Pilates offers many benefits to those who practice these classic techniques. And at Body Arts Pilates, you’ll learn the original Pilates Method developed by Joe Pilates back in the 1920s. Emphasizing alignment, breath, flow, and focus, these exercises help develop both mind and body, improving one’s discipline and focus.

Come discover how Pilates can benefit your life by signing up for the classes here. The certified instructors here are committed to working out your entire body in the sessions, leaving you feeling taller, lighter, and healthier.

“Even in group classes, Gigi and her wonderful team ensure you are safe and receiving a thorough session.” — Yelp Review

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Agape’ Flow Studio

Enhance your mental, physical, and emotional well-being at Agape’ Flow Studio

2625 Coffee Rd. Ste T | Modesto/ agapeflowstudio.com

Offering a variety of classes, Agape’ Flow Studio is appropriate for both beginning yoga students and more advanced practitioners. Their faith-based hatha classes teach a number of relaxing and energizing postures that strengthen and stretch postures while the more vigorous Power Yoga course incorporates sun salutations, flowing movements, and power holds into the exercises for more seasoned yoga students.

Classes are taught with a focus on meeting the needs of the students and you can expect to be given a range of options that help increase your body’s flexibility and strength at your own pace. Yoga classes are also available with “heated” options where the room is heated to 90 degrees or more, helping you burn calories, increase flexibility, boost cardiovascular fitness, and even build bone density.

Heated yoga is also known to help with depression and reduce anxiety, and Agape’ Flow Studio offers classes that emphasize this. Their Heated Gentle Stretch & Sound Healing Course not only teaches stress-reducing stretch techniques in a heated environment, but also incorporates sound healing therapy with crystal singing bowls in a heated room to promote greater mental well-being.

Whether you’re seeking to improve your flexibility, lose weight, or gain greater mental well-being, the classes at Agape’ Flow Studio will help you achieve your fitness goals.

“The studio is so clean and cozy and Tina and her daughters are amazing with their guidance and yoga instruction.” — Yelp Review

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