Going to the gym will keep you looking good this summer.
Going to the gym will also keep you indoors this summer.
In our opinion, those two situations are mutually exclusive.
So we explored L.A. to find the best places to get fit while soaking up some Vitamin D.
From a new group that essentially stages SoulCycle in a swimming pool to a mountain-bike trail that’ll turn your legs into putty, let’s take this outside.
The Pool Workout: Swim Team
Swim Team is a new exercise class that’s popping up in pools throughout town and doing something akin to SoulCycle for swimmers: high intensity intervals in the water. You receive the instructor’s commands via bone-conduction earphones, which also transmit music to keep it lively. In between laps you do various strength exercises — legs-on-the-wall sit ups, mountain climbers, squat thrusters. It’s a beast of workout that’ll leave you feeling pretty refreshed because, well, you’ve been in a damn pool.
The Marina Workout: YOGAqua
Core strength and balance should be critical parts of every fitness routine, especially as we age: they both tend to prevent injuries. And yoga on a stand-up paddleboard is pretty much the ultimate balance-meets-core-strength activity. Tricky but rewarding, YOGAqua teaches their classes on wide and sturdy paddleboards in the typically glassy Marina Del Rey harbor.
The Saturday Morning Playtime: Topanga Creek Outpost Morning Rides
Mountain biking is a quintessential summer activity, and the Santa Monica Mountains are home to world-class trails: people come from all over the world to experience it. If you’re not a seasoned biker already, join the guys at Topanga Creek Outpost for their Saturday morning rides. These 12-mile treks take off around 7 a.m., and when you return they serve coffee and fresh baked bread. Their UnPredict Your Wednesday rides are camping trips that leave Tuesday night, with hump day spent riding the trails in a nearby state or national park.
The Trail Run: Los Piñetos Trail
The Temescal Loop is great but gets crowded; this summer we’re eyeing the Los Piñetos Trail. The first leg is only 2.35 miles, but it’s a steep, butt-burning uphill. Once there, you’re provided with views of the Valley and the Pacific. From there, you can extend your route to other trails … or go back downhill to your car.
The Big Endurance Training Weekend: Endurance Camp
Training for an Iron Man or a marathon? You’ll want to consider Endurance Camps for a few reasons: First, they’re held in Big Bear, a high-altitude locale that’ll help you build up stamina. Second, the clinics focus on technique, so you’ll learn how to best optimize your energy. Third, they serve craft beers at night. It’s a great way to meet other athletes while honing your skills. The camp includes biking, trail running and swimming in the lake. So a sports camp for adults, basically.
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