Health and fitness clubs abound in the East Bay. There are gyms for singles and families, and clubs catering to men, women, and kids. Most have fitness machines. Some also have pools; others boast badminton courts. This directory will help you choose from among the many facilities in this crowded field. We have attempted to describe the equipment, ambience, rates and other amenities of every club. To alert us to clubs we may have missed or offer suggestions about how to improve this directory, please click here.
24-Hour Fit-Lite
1775 Solano Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707, 510-524-4583, HomeOfTheLoop.com
Hours: 6:00 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:00 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 9:00 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun.
Rates: Ranges from $46 to $53 a month, less if you prepay for a year or more in advance; day pass $12.
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines.
Other amenities: Fitness assistants, stretching area.
Classes: NA.
Ambience: A subsidiary of 24-Hour Fitness, the Fit-Lite chain focuses on one basic plan: a thirty-minute workout featuring a brief warm-up and then 65 seconds on each of a series of machines, switching back and forth from strength to cardio, with each machine working a different muscle group. Music plays constantly, with a chime every 65 seconds signaling the time to change machines. Fit-Lite attracts busy people and whoever else prefers quick functional workouts. It is lean, clean, and streamlined, but doesn’t have showers.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
24 Hour Fitness
Many East Bay locations, including:
2050 Webster St., Oakland, CA 94612, 510-433-1140
Castro Valley: 3839 East Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, CA 94552, 510-733-6448
San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 604, San Leandro, CA 94578, 510-278-9744
Oakland/High Street: 3950 Alameda Ave., Oakland, CA 94601, 510-434-2495
Hours: 24 hours daily.
Rates: Decline to state, but ranges from $30/month to $99/month, depending on facility and degree of access.
Equipment: Variable from location to location, depending on floor space and other factors.
Other amenities: Again, varies from location to location, but could include personal trainers, pro shop, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, swimming pool, spa, basketball courts, and more.
Classes: Yoga, kickboxing, cycling, swimming (at San Leandro and Oakland/High Street locations), and more.
Ambience: Yes, it’s a megachain, but it’s cheery. And during the off-off hours, you can have the whole place almost to yourself — often, if not always.
Kids: Childcare is available.
24 Hour Fitness
2072 Addison St., Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-548-4653, 24HourFitness.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Mon.; 24 hours Tues.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Sat.; 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Sun.
Rates: $79 a month; check for specials.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including free weights and machines.
Other amenities: Pro shop.
Classes: NA.
Ambience: Being open almost around the clock (at least most days) really sets 24 Hour Fitness apart. Sure, it’s corporate, but genuine human beings work here and they’re helpful and efficient. Members of this 24 Hour Fitness have unlimited access to all other 24 Hour Fitnesses.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Absolute Center
3658 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #101, Lafayette, CA 94549, 925-299-9642, AbsoluteCenter.net
Hours: 8:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Sat.; closed Sun.
Rates: Rather than membership fees allowing unlimited visits per week, month, or year, Absolute Center charges per half-hour and hour-long visit, using a multi-tiered scale based on the amounts of time that visitors wish to spend in the center, the number of visitors sharing a session, and on the certification-levels of the trainers involved.
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines including free weights, treadmills, stair-climbers, and stationary cycles.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, physical therapists, stretching area.
Classes: Pilates, yoga.
Ambience: Soft music underscores a very mellow and deliberately “Zen-like” atmosphere. The Absolute Center is certified Green; among other conscientious efforts toward what it calls “intelligent fitness,” eco-friendly paints were used in its recent expansion.
Kids: No childcare or kids’ programs.
Alameda Athletic Club
1226 Park St., Alameda, CA 94501, 512-521-2001, AlamedaAthleticClub.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Yearly memberships, $449; day pass, $10
Equipment: Around forty cardio machines and around 75 pieces of weight-training equipment — including treadmills, ellipticals, stationary cycles, and LifeFitness machines — occupy an entire floor, with classes held upstairs.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, massage therapists, shiatsu therapist, stretching area, hot tubs, and saunas.
Classes: Ashtanga and kundalini yoga, tai chi, kickboxing, step aerobics, Pilates — an added plus is that all classes are free to members. View the schedule at AlamedaAthleticclub.com/schedules.html
Ambience: TVs in the cardio and weight rooms are tuned to CNN and DirecTV, silent with closed captioning. Music throughout the facility is softer than at most clubs.
Kids: No childcare on-site.
Albany YMCA
921 Kains Ave., Albany, CA 94706, 510-525-1130, BAYMCA.org
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $75 signup fee, plus $47 a month; nonmember class participation, $12.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including ellipticals, bikes, rowing machines, cross-trainers, stair-climbers, free weights, and more.
Other amenities: Aerobics/dance studio, personal trainers, massage therapists, team sports.
Classes: Martial arts, cycling, Pilates, aerobics, and more; view schedule at BAYMCA.org/downloads/pdf_aclassschedule.pdf
Ambience: A small-town neighborly spirit keeps the Albany Y friendly and unintimidating — so it’s one of those home-away-from-home gyms, with enough equipment and skilled, committed trainers to accommodate serious athletes as well as casual ones.
Kids: Many programs for kids such as youth teams and Kids’ Night Out. Childcare is available.
Anytime Fitness
883D Island Dr. (inside Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center), Alameda, CA 94502, 510-864-2030, AnytimeFitness.com/Clubs/Alameda
Hours: Open 24 hours daily.
Rates: $70/enrollment fee, then $30/month, though this price is likely to rise in coming months.
Equipment: Cybex strength equipment, free weights, cardio equipment, Expresso virtual-reality bikes.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, nutritional consultants, state-of-the-art security systems to help members feel safe even late at night.
Classes: NA.
Ambience: It’s clean and, given its we-never-close policy, at off-off hours you can have almost complete privacy here.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Bay Island Gymnastics
3775 Alameda Ave., Suite E, Oakland, CA 94601, 510-533-3939, BayIslandGymnastics.com
Hours: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Sat.; closed Sun.
Rates: $45-$80/month
Equipment: No regular workout equipment; the center is wholly devoted to youth gymnastics classes and has no facilities for cardio or strength routines.
Other amenities: Extensive gymnastics equipment including numerous beams, mats, trampolines, upstairs parents-only viewing access & free wireless Internet; nonprofit snack bar; Foam Training Pit; Sky High Swing; giant slide; climbing ropes, junior rock wall, cargo net, junior-sized equipment for preschoolers.
Classes: Youth gymnastics; view schedules at BayIslandGymnastics.com/index.php?componentName=ClassScheduleDeluxe&scid=41330
Ambience: The emphasis is on youth gymnastics, with attention given to every different Olympic gymnastic sport.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Berkeley City Club
2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-848-7800, BerkeleyCityClub.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Tues. and Wed.-Sun.; 5:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.
Rates: $350 initiation fee, then $134.75 a month.
Equipment: No workout facility on-site, but members have access to nearby UC Berkeley Recreational Sports Facility (open 6:00 a.m.-12 midnight Mon.-Thurs.; 6:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Fri.; 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Sat.; 8:00 a.m.-12 midnight Sun.). That facility has cardio and strength equipment as well as classes in kickboxing, cycling, aquatics, and more; view details at CalBears.Berkeley.edu/index.aspx
Other amenities: Indoor pool, massage therapist, hairstylist, restaurant, lectures, hotel.
Classes: None.
Ambience: The Julia Morgan-designed building that houses the club is an outstanding architectural landmark, affording a sense of otherworldly beauty and exclusivity. As regards exercise, the only on-site facility is the pool, which is kept heated perpetually to 82 degrees.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Berkeley Ironworks
800 Potter St., Berkeley, CA 94702, 510-981-9900, TouchstoneClimbing.com/bi.html
Hours: 6:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon., Wed., and Fri.; 6:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Tues. and Thur.; 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Initiation fee, $100 (students $50), $63 a month
Equipment: A complete weight room and extensive cardio equipment.
Other amenities: Basketball, saunas, and climbing facilities encompassing 14,000 square feet of terrain with hundreds of routes and boulder problems.
Classes: Purna and Iyengar yoga, boxing, kickboxing, Pilates, capoeira, core training, cycling; download PDF schedules from web site.
Ambience: A very popular outfit — one of six Touchstone climbing gyms throughout the Bay Area — Berkeley Ironworks is especially popular with buff twentysomethings and young families.
Kids: Youth programs include summer rock-climbing camps, after-school climbing (with lessons in knot-tying, belaying, and more), and a teen climbing program that meets weekly. Childcare is not available.
The Big C
1381 Galaxy Way, Concord, CA 94520, 925-671-2110, TheBigC.com
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat.; closed Sun.
Rates: Decline to state.
Equipment: Cardio fitness center with Lifecycles, treadmills, rowing machines, Stair Masters, recumbent bikes, and ellipticals.
Other amenities: Racquetball/handball courts, squash courts, indoor tennis courts, basketball/volleyball gym, pro shop, whirlpool spas, saunas, steam rooms, massage therapists, laundry, Internet lounge, shoe shine, restaurant, outdoor pool.
Classes: Pilates, step aerobics, tennis, swimming, and more; view schedules at TheBigC.com/fitness/schedule.php
Ambience: Contra Costa County’s oldest health club has been newly renovated at a cost of $1.2 million, and its glamour is exemplified by such features as the Executive Locker Room — available on the men’s side only, with extra-special services including a fully stocked fridge, private lounge, and TV room. With social, fitness, and other facilities on-site, it’s the kind of place where members stay all day.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Bladium
800 West Tower Ave., Bldg. 40, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-814-4999, Bladium.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-12 midnight Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Regular memberships are $59 a month; student memberships $49 a month; family memberships (including two adults and up to four kids) $239 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including free weights, weight machines, treadmills, stationary cycles, recumbent cycles, rowing machines, ellipticals, and more.
Other amenities: Facilities for an utterly astounding multiplicity of activities including basketball, football, and other team sports. The 5,000-square-foot “rock gym” has 34-foot walls for climbing; other features include two indoor soccer fields, an Olympic-sized boxing ring, two inline hockey rinks, two football arenas, and no less than six volleyball courts. Also on hand are personal trainers, massage therapists, an aesthetician, and a stretching area.
Classes: More than sixty classes per week including yoga, spinning, capoeira, kickboxing, Pilates, and much more; view schedules at http://www.bladium.com/SportAndFitnessSchedules.aspx?companyID=1&facilityID=5&sport=47&activity=1&age=&skill=&area=&date=
Ambience: This vast, ambitious athletic universe literally has something for everyone who wants to move, and — occupying 120,000 square feet overall, enough room to do it in. The emphasis is definitely on families, so weekends can get a bit boisterous. Muzak, TVs, and impressive views of a soccer field, a hockey rink, and the bay augment the cardio/strength areas. A sports bar — where members gather to watch games on big-screen TVs — offers before- or after-workout refreshers.
Kids: Dozens of programs for young members include team sports and training. Two kids’ activity centers include one for those aged eighteen months to five years, the other for those aged five to twelve. Childcare, free to members, is available 9:00 a.m.-12 noon and 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9:00 a.m.-12 noon Sat.-Sun.
Claremont Resort
41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-843-3000, ClaremontResort.com/TheClub
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 6:45 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Decline to state.
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines, computerized aerobic equipment.
Other amenities: Three swimming pools (including an Olympic outdoor pool), ten tennis courts (six lighted for night play), hot tub, sauna, whirlpool, children’s activity pool, competitions, clinics, restaurant, hotel, nationally rated spa.
Classes: Salsa dancing, aqua-aerobics, swimming, tennis, Pilates, tai chi, cycling, and more; download schedules from ClaremontResort.com/TheClub/Fitness/
Ambience: Situated on 22 acres in the lush Berkeley Hills and affiliated with a historic landmark hotel, this gem commands some of the best views in the Bay Area. Open for business since 1915, the stunning white hotel ringed with large dignified palm trees is conveniently located, yet deluxe.
Kids: Childcare is available.
Curves
Many East Bay locations, including these:
Piedmont: 1333 Grand Ave., Piedmont, CA 94610, 510-428-2125
Downtown Oakland: 1221 Broadway, Ste. 104, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-251-0808
Rockridge: 5665 College Ave., Ste. 101, Oakland, CA 94618, 510-655-8808
Dimond District: 3483 Champion St., Oakland, CA 94602, 510-531-5300
Emeryville: 4550 San Pablo Ave., Ste. 210, Emeryville, CA 94608, 510-601-6161
Alameda (east): 2528 Blanding Ave., Alameda, CA 94501, 510-814-6525
Alameda (west): 943 Marina Village Pkwy., Alameda, CA 94501, 510-521-9959
Berkeley: 2855 Telegraph Ave., Ste. 104, Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-540-9256
Orinda: 2 Theater Sq., Ste. 140, Orinda, CA 94563, 925-254-4199
Hours: Variable from franchise to franchise.
Rates: Available upon request.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment.
Other amenities: Variable from franchise to franchise.
Classes: NA.
Ambience: Combining strength, cardio, and aerobic elements in a streamlined thirty-minute circuit-training workout that starts with a warm-up and ends with a cool-down, the Curves plan is designed with women’s bodies in mind. This lends each Curves a sisterly ambience that balances out the obvious corporate look and feel: Curves is the world’s biggest fitness chain, with more than 10,000 locations in dozens of countries.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Club One
1200 Clay St., Oakland CA 94612, 510-895-1010, ClubOne.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 5:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.; 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.
Rates: Memberships can be month-to-month for $95 a month plus a $250 registration fee or all-year for $95 a month and no registration fee; student memberships are $85 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines including free weights, elliptical trainers, stair-climbers, treadmills, plate-loaded machines, selectorized machines.
Other amenities: Outdoor heated pool, racquetball courts, squash courts, basketball gymnasium, indoor running track, cafe, pro shop, saunas, whirlpool spa, steam rooms, personal trainers, massage therapists.
Classes: Aerobics, circuit training, salsa dancing, spinning, kickboxing, Pilates, stationary cycling, hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga. For class schedules, click “Club Schedules” on the homepage.
Ambience: Part of a chain with twelve other facilities in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, this one is a convenient favorite for downtown-Oakland workers. A keen commitment to cleanliness is evident in the locker and shower areas, where shampoo and other freshen-up toiletries are free to members. Many of the cardio machines are outfitted with TV screens. The emphasis here is on getting members to stick with it — so if you haven’t shown up in a while, a staff member will call you and ask why.
Kids: For kids 5 and under, childcare is available on-site for $4/hour.
Diego’s Power Alley Gym
5775 Foothill Blvd., Oakland, CA 94605, 510-632-7673, DiegosPowerAlleyGym.com
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sat.; closed Sun.
Rates: $119 registration fee, then $40 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including free weights and Nautilus and Cybex machines.
Other amenities: Sauna, personal trainers, nutritional counselors, massage therapists, smoothies, boxing room.
Classes: Aerobics, boxing.
Ambience: As its name implies, this gym offers serious workouts for the seriously committed, with a focus on bodybuilding. The owner, Diego Chairs, is a longtime bodybuilder who has worked with the greats; among other trivia, he appears in The Dead Pool with Clint Eastwood.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Downtown Berkeley YMCA
2001 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-848-9622, baymca.org/index.php/downtown.html
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; lap swimming starts at 6:00 a.m. Mon.-Fri. and at 7:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Enrollment fee ($99/adult; $150 couple or family; $50 teen) plus $62 a month (regular individual), $112 a month (couple/family), $32 a month (teen).
Equipment: Coed and women’s-only fitness rooms are stocked with free weights as well as dozens of strength and cardio machines including treadmills, plate-loading machines, stair-climbers, ellipticals, rowing machines, stationary cycles, and more.
Other amenities: Saunas, steam room, hot tub, personal trainers, stretching rooms, massage therapists, three pools (deep-water, Olympic, and warm-water) for classes and lap-swimming.
Classes: Dozens of classes in tai chi, qigong, spinning, yoga, aerobics, aqua-aerobics, Pilates, core training, body sculpting, kickboxing, and more; download schedules at web site.
Ambience: As eclectic as you’d expect in downtown Berkeley, the members here spans all ages, all sizes, and all degrees of athleticism. An inclusive, unintimidating, smilingly low-key vibe keeps it humming — but quietly, as neither piped-in music nor TVs augment (or infect, depending on your tastes) the workout rooms.
Kids: A multitude of youth activities include Kindergym classes, parent-and-child classes, Kids’ Night Out, and Childwatch; view schedules and rates at http://www.baymca.org/index.php/d
childcare.html
Downtown Oakland YMCA
2350 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-451-9622, YMCAEastBay.org/DowntownOakland
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Sat.; 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sun.
Rates: $49 enrollment fee, plus $65 a month (individual), $112 a month (couple).
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines including free weights, treadmills, stair-climbers, rowing machines, and stationary cycles.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, massage therapists, stretching area, steam room, hot tub, basketball gym, pool.
Classes: More than a hundred different classes including spinning, Pilates, yoga, samba fusion, kickboxing, body-sculpting, karate, cardio-dance, African dance, hip-hop dance, swimming, aqua-aerobics, and more; download class schedules from homepage.
Ambience: With 75,000 square feet to roam around in, the Downtown Oakland Y is a serene, comfortable, super-convenient workout oasis. Huge windows in the cardio area offer expansive views. Because this is a favorite with workers and families, you can almost feel as if you’ve got the whole place to yourself at “off-times” such as weekday afternoons.
Kids: Youth basketball, youth swim team, youth karate, and other programs. Childcare is available on-site.
Ellie Herman Studios
3929 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610, 510-594-8507, Ellie.net
Hours: By appointment only; call for reservations.
Rates: Variable depending on the certification level of the trainer/practitioner.
Equipment: NA
Other amenities: Massage therapists, acupuncture, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, bodywork.
Classes: Pilates at various levels; view schedule at Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/home.asp
Ambience: This isn’t a walk-in gym; thus the appointment-only requirement. Longtime dancer Ellie Herman started small with one Pilates studio in San Francisco in 1993; now there are three. The majority of the staff are dancers.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Emerson Sport Training & Fitness
5095 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609, 510-653-8246, EmersonSportTraining.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat.; 8:00 a.m.-12 noon Sun.
Rates: Variable, depending on each member’s goals and needs.
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, money-back guarantee.
Classes: Not yet, but soon.
Ambience: The emphasis here is frankly goal-oriented. During a free initial consultation, a personal trainer assesses each new member’s measurements, cardio-fitness, posture, flexibility, strength, endurance level, and other factors. Based on these assessments, the trainer designs a highly personalized eight-week program.
Kids: No childcare is available.
God’s Gym
2501 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-452-0409
Hours: 4:00 a.m.-12 noon and 2:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
Rates: Variable rates based on individualized needs and goals.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment, but these cannot be used except in sessions with personal trainers.
Other amenities: This is a personal-training gym, not a drop-in independent workout gym, so the facilities can only be used on a session-by-session basis under the supervision of an assigned trainer.
Classes: NA.
Ambience: The name isn’t a joke. Serious training programs for goal-oriented folks with a spiritual bent. Where would Jesus bodybuild?
Kids: No childcare is available.
Gold’s Gym
600 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94612, 510-451-4653, GoldsGym.com/gyms/index.php?gymID=339
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-12 midnight Mon.-Thurs.; 5:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sat.; 7:00 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.
Rates: $39 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including free weights and machines.
Other amenities: Massage therapists, personal trainers, sauna, pro shop, TVs on the treadmills, free parking.
Classes: Aerobics, spinning, Latin Rhythms, hip-hop dance, Afro-Cuban dance, Pilates, kickboxing, yoga, body sculpting; view schedule at GoldsGym.com/gyms/calendar.php?gymID=0339
Ambience: Even though Gold’s is an international megachain — which can make registration a bit more red-tapey than you might like — this smallish one has a neighborhood feel and attracts Lake Merritt-area locals. Members of this Gold’s have unlimited access to all other Gold’s.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Golden Gate Badminton Club
4230 Hubbard St., Emeryville, CA 94608, 510-655-8989, GGBadminton.com
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Complicated pay scale; view specifics at GGBadminton.com/membership/index.php and GGBadminton.com/about
ggbc/index.php
Equipment: No regular workout equipment; the club is wholly devoted to badminton and has no facilities for cardio or strength routines.
Other amenities: Pro shop, leisure lounge with cable TV, eight badminton courts.
Classes: Badminton.
Ambience: Years of research on how courts are outfitted in Asia, where badminton is king, have resulted in cutting-edge lighting and soft court floors to protect players’ knees.
Kids: Children’s activity room, but no childcare available.
Great Western Power Company
520 20th St., Oakland, CA 94620, 510-452-2022, TouchstoneClimbing.com/gw.html
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10:00 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $100/initiation fee, then $63 a month; $16 a day pass (weekdays after 3:00 p.m. and weekends); $10 a day pass (weekdays before 3:00 p.m., and anytime for those fourteen years old and younger); $140 per ten-visit pass.
Equipment: Strength and cardio equipment, climbing equipment and facilities.
Other amenities: Pro shop.
Classes: Yoga, climbing, core conditioning, and more.
Ambience: With 11,000 square feet of climbing terrain, a 48-foot-high lead wall, and more than 1,500 feet of bouldering, this downtown-Oakland sister to Berkeley’s popular Ironworks (both are in the Touchstone chain) exudes the same gung-ho enthusiasm.
Kids: Many after-school and other activities for kids, but no childcare.
Harbor Bay Club
200 Packet Landing Rd., Alameda, CA 94502, 510-521-5414, HarborBayClub.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; pool hours 5:10 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Decline to state.
Equipment: One room has cardio equipment including treadmills, stationary cycles, and ellipticals; two rooms are devoted to free weights and one is devoted to weight machines.
Other amenities: Nineteen tennis courts, spa, sauna, facials, personal trainers, massage therapists, The Clubhouse restaurant, hot tubs (gender-specific tubs in the men’s and women’s locker areas, and one coed tub near the pool), pool for lap-swimming and classes.
Classes: Kickboxing, step aerobics, tennis, swimming, and more; view schedules on web site.
Ambience: An elegant, expansive, award-winning facility that evokes old-fashioned country clubs yet offers cutting-edge equipment and fitness classes. An after-school program, classes for adults as well as children, and a restaurant on the premises make this a tempting choice for families.
Kids: Kids’ Club is an after-school program that includes pickup from nearby schools, snacks, homework supervision, and other activities for children aged one to six.
Inside Outside Fitness
4444 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, CA 94611, 510-655-8308, InsideOutsideFitness.com
Hours: 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Mon.-Thu.; 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $800/year; $275/three months; $90/ten sessions; $15 a day.
Equipment: Twelve cardio machines include a treadmill, stair climbers, and bikes. Strength-training equipment is available when classes are not being held in the weight room; view schedule at InsideOutsideFitness.com/opengym.html
Other amenities: Personal trainers, bodywork, Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, sports massage, reflexology.
Classes: Pilates, aerobics, circuit training, yoga, meditation; view schedule at InsideOutsideFitness.com/classes.html
Ambience: Independently owned, locally owned, and in business since 1982, Inside Outside has a real neighborhood spirit. Art on display and bay views make workouts an aesthetic experience as well. The staff are genuinely supportive.
Kids: Childcare is available at $3.50 per child per session; view hours at InsideOutsideFitness.com/Childcare.html
Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA
350 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, 925-687-8900, MDRYMCA.org
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $71.50 a month for the first six months; henceforth, $55 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment.
Other amenities: Indoor/outdoor pool, aerobics/dance studio, handball/racquetball, indoor running track, roller rink, sauna, steam room, whirlpool Jacuzzi, teen/youth center, general purpose room, computer room.
Classes: Aerobics, cycling, swimming, and more.
Ambience: Recent renovations have expanded the fitness areas and spruced up the whole facility. Basketball courts are also in the offing.
Kids: Childcare is available.
Jazzercise Fitness Center of El Cerrito
10837 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530, 510-965-1264, JazzerMandy.com
Hours: Variable; call for updates.
Rates: $50 a month (unlimited visits); $120/eight weeks; $99 six classes; $15 a day pass.
Equipment: Steps, tubes, weights, Resist-a-Ball.
Other amenities: NA.
Classes: Jazzercise, Jazzercise Step, Jazzercise Lite, Junior Jazzercise, Jazzercise Body Sculpting; view schedule at JazzerMandy.com/schedule.php
Ambience: Created and trademarked in 1969, Jazzercise combines elements of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and more. Each of the hour-long classes is designed for participants at various fitness levels and with various goals.
Kids: Childcare is available.
King’s Boxing Gym
843 35th Ave., Oakland, CA 94601, 510-261-2199, KingsBoxingGym.com
Hours: 12 noon-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur.
Rates: $55 a month, day pass $10.
Equipment: One boxing ring, several speed bags, various weight machines.
Other amenities: Personal trainers.
Classes: Boxing.
Ambience: Unapologetically old-skool and Rocky-esque, this is an Oakland staple — presided over by Charles King, who has trained at least two state champions and many other pros since he started this line of work in 1984.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Lafayette Health Club
85 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, CA 94549, 925-284-7732, LafayetteHealthClub.com
Hours: 5:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $64 a month plus $164 initiation fee; couples $109 a month; families $154 a month; the initiation fee is waived for longer-term commitments (three months, six months, one year). Day pass, $15.
Equipment: Strength and cardio machines including stair-climbers, ellipticals, treadmills, rowing machines, spinning bikes, free weights, weight machines.
Other amenities: Weight-loss programs, nutritional counseling, personal trainers, massage room, stretching area, dry sauna in the women’s shower area.
Classes: Pilates, yoga, spinning; view schedule at LafayetteHealthClub.com/schedule.html
Ambience: Founded 27 years ago as a women-only club, it’s now coed, independently woman-owned, and encouragingly unintimidating. Boomers in particular are drawn to its down-to-earth vibe. It’s also larger than it appears from the entryway. Juice, water, and energy bars are for sale at the front desk.
Kids: No childcare available.
Lakeridge Athletic Club
6350 San Pablo Dam Rd., El Sobrante, CA 94803, 510-222-2500, LakeridgeAthletic.com
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9:00 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $95 a month; couples $150 a month. Day pass, $20.
Equipment: More than 7,000 lbs. of free weights, along with plate-loaded machinese and cardio machines such as ellipticals, stair-climbers, recumbent cycles, treadmills, VersaClimbers, and more.
Other amenities: Jacuzzi, pool, sauna, personal trainers, massage therapists (Swedish, orthopedic, deep-tissue, reflexology), aromatherapists, acupressure, four racquetball courts, four tennis courts.
Classes: Racquetball, tennis, swimming, aqua-aerobics, step aerobics, yoga, Pilates.
Ambience: One of the East Bay’s family-friendliest clubs, sparkly-clean Lakeridge offers extensive youth programs and has at its heart a 285,000-gallon heated outdoor pool, lighted for night swimming. The overall effect is that of a resort — but a friendly one.
Kids: The “Li’l Members” room offers free childcare for toddlers for up to two hours. Childcare is also available for kids aged two months (with shots) to twelve years. Summer day-camp programs include games, swimming, crafts, team sports, and more.
Mariner Square Athletic Club
2227 Mariner Square Loop, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-523-8011, MarinerSq.com
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Declined to state.
Equipment: The first floor offers several large weight-training areas with strength equipment. The upper floor offers cardio machines.
Other amenities: Steam rooms, saunas, whirlpool, personal trainers, massage therapists, nutritional counseling, tanning, six racquetball courts, batting cage, La Ribotta Café (sandwiches, smoothies, and WiFi access), six-lane indoor pool for lap-swimming and classes.
Classes: Karate, aqua aerobics, Pilates, and more; view schedules at MarinerSq.com/html/schedules_2007.html
Ambience: Members include a larger-than-usual percentage of seniors, which creates a rather low-pressure, uncompetitive, unlooksist camaraderie that many will welcome.
Kids: On-site childcare is $3 per child per visit.
Mavericks
5294 Clayton Rd., Concord, CA 94521, 925-602-5600, MavericksSports.com/Locations/Concord.htm
Hours: 4:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $62 a month.
Equipment: Strength and cardio machines including elliptical trainers, stair-climbers, treadmills, stationary cycles, and more.
Other amenities: Basketball, racquetball, juice bar, nutrition shop, stretching and abs room, sauna, steam room (in women’s area only), outdoor Olympic-sized pool for lap-swimming only.
Classes: More than 200 classes available include kickboxing, Pilates, step aerobics, spinning, weights, ab strengthening, body sculpting, and more; view schedule at http://www.maverickssports.com/classschedules/Table-Concard.htm
Ambience: With an outdoor pool on the premises, this is a popular club among teenagers and families. Ambient music gets a little louder on weekends, but on weekdays it’s mostly a suburban boomer crowd. Mavericks is large (70,000 square feet overall) and open earlier and later than most clubs — and is considering opening even earlier. TVs are affixed to the cardio machines, but members must bring their own headsets. A day spa and chiropractic clinic are adjoining the club but under separate auspices.
Kids: On-site childcare available at varying rates.
Mavericks
6005 Shellmound St., Emeryville, CA 94608, 510-597-8200, MavericksSports.com/Locations/Emeryville.htm
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 5:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Fri.; 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $49-$69 a month, depending on needs and goals.
Equipment: Cardio and strength machines including treadmills, bikes, free weights, and more.
Other amenities: Boxing, personal trainers, steam room, extensive parking area.
Classes: Pilates, Nia, spinning, boxing, Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, body sculpt, and more; view schedule at MavericksSports.com/ClassSchedules/Table-Emeryville.htm
Ambience: Attractive design elements such as stone, steel, distressed wood, granite, brick, and bright colors give your eyes a workout along with the rest of your body. TVs in the cardio area give those eyes even more to do.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Mind-Body Connection
5855 Doyle St., suite 108, Emeryville, CA 94608, 510-420-0444, MindBodyConnection.net
Hours: Call for class schedule or to make appointments.
Rates: Variable, depending on the program and the trainer.
Equipment: Available only with supervision/trainer.
Other amenities: Workshops, personal trainers, bodywork.
Classes: Pilates, Gyrokineses, NIA, Yamuna.
Ambience: Individualized programs, with inside-and-out wellness as their goal, create a sense of being nurtured and cared for.
Kids: No childcare is available.
mindbodyzone
3335 Seldon Ct., Fremont, CA 94539, 510-252-1193, mindbody-zone.com
Hours: Variable schedule; most days 9:00 a.m.-12 noon and 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., but call to check.
Rates: Monthly memberships (with unlimited access to all classes) are $89; monthly memberships with access to just one class a week are $59; daily drop-in fee is $15.
Equipment: Stair-climbers, treadmills.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, nutritional consultants, image consultants, weight-loss programs, spa.
Classes: Pilates, yoga, core conditioning, circuit training. Schedule is at Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/home.asp
Ambience: East-West modalities — featuring serene music, soft lighting, a Zen meditation room, and meditation workshops — create a tranquil oasis focused on inside-and-out wellness. Complimentary teas are available in the lobby.
Kids: No childcare on-site.
Montclair Fitness
2220 Mountain Blvd., Oakland, CA 94611, 510-530-4000
Hours: 4:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 5:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat.; 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sun.
Rates: $135/signup fee, then $65 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including cross-trainers, treadmills, and a weight room.
Other amenities: Workshops, bodywork, personal trainers.
Classes: None.
Ambience: A friendly, personable approach, but serious about fitness.
Kids: Childcare is available.
Montclair Swim Club
1901 Woodhaven Way, Oakland, CA 94611, 510-339-2500
Hours: 6:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Mon., Wed., and Fri.; 8:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tues. and Thurs.; 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: $1,500 membership fee, plus $53 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment.
Other amenities: Pool, hot tub, barbecue area.
Classes: Swimming (summer only).
Ambience: Ringed by abundant eucalyptus in lofty Montclair, the club has a serene, country-club feel. Areas of the pool itself dedicated to toddlers and kids only make this a popular choice for local families.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Next Level Personal Training
3234 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610, 510-465-0978, NextLevelPersonalTraining.com
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; weekends by appointment only.
Rates: $99 a month.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment.
Other amenities: Personal trainers, chiropractic.
Classes: Keep Fit Together and Core and Conditioning; view schedule at NextLevelPersonalTraining.com/Schedule.htm
Ambience: It’s a tiny (1,600 square feet) fitness studio rather than a full-service gym. But it offers a very personalized treatment, as the head honcho — licensed chiropractor and trainer Abu Pigott — designs individual programs for each member and continues working with each member week after week.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Norman Marks Health Club
298 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612, 510-452-3755
Hours: 5:15 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat., 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun.
Rates: Three months, $99; Six months, $195; One year, $295
Equipment: Strength and cardio equipment including extensive free weights, weight machines, ellipticals, and treadmills.
Other amenities: Steam rooms, saunas, personal trainers, massage therapists.
Classes: Very few; call for schedules.
Ambience: Founded sixty years ago by former Mister America Norman Marks and currently managed by his daughters, this downtown club is infused with low-tech old-skool spirit and gentle, witty, go-for-it good humor. An eclectic mix of members reflects the downtown-Oakland scene. Membership rates haven’t risen in more than twenty years.
Kids: Childcare is not available.
Oakland Hills Tennis Club
5475 Redwood Rd., Oakland, CA 94619, 510-531-3300, OaklandHills.com
Hours: 6:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri. (pool closes at 9:30 p.m.); 8:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Decline to state.
Equipment: Cardio and strength equipment including free weights, stair-climbers, ellipticals, treadmills, rowing machines, and more.
Other amenities: Ten outdoor tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, massage, sauna, stretching area, steam rooms.
Classes: Pilates, aerobics, aikido, hip-hop dance, swimming, and more; view schedule at OaklandHills.com/Aerobics.html and OaklandHills.com/Swim.html
Ambience: Its impressive hillside location, commanding breathtaking views of land, bay, and sky, gives the club a resort atmosphere. Tennis is serious business here as well.
Kids: Childcare is available.
Pacific Ring Sports
493 40th St., Oakland, CA 94609, 510-444-5269, PacificRingSports.com
Hours: 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.; closed Sun.
Rates: Call for fees; first-time introductory class, $20.
Equipment: Boxing ring, punching bags, and personal trainers.
Other amenities: Competitions, special events.
Classes: Muay Thai kickboxing, jiu jitsu, MMA, boxing, sparring, yoga, kids’ classes, strength and conditioning; view schedule at PacificRingSports.com/schedule.html
Ambience: Rather than a club with members, Pacific Ring considers itself a school with students, 95 percent of whom are involved in the non-contact aspects of the sport; only 5 percent are interested in combat and competition. Nearly half the students are women; one of the gym’s co-owners is a woman. A neighborhood feel underscores a dedication to authentic Muay Thai, a centuries-old martial art from Thailand.
Kids: No childcare is available.
Touchstone Climbing & Fitness
1220 Diamond Way, #140, Concord, CA 94520, 925-602-1000, TouchstoneClimbing.com/cd.html
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Rates: Available upon request.
Equipment: Strength and cardio machines including treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights.
Other amenities: Pro shop, bike club, retail store, high-speed wireless access, saunas, steam baths, 11,000 square feet of climbing terrain.
Classes: Pilates, climbing, yoga, cycling, core fitness, capoeira, boxing, aerobics, and more.
Ambience: With facilities for beginners as well as those with moderate and expert skills, it’s an all-inclusive but unapologetically gung-ho climbing center, especially attractive to young adults and young families.
Kids: No childcare is available, but many classes and after-school activities for kids are available for members.
