Residents looking to stay active in the new year without leaving Pacific Beach have several fitness and wellness options available right in their community.
From senior-friendly strength classes to high-energy outdoor sports, local programs offer health, social and recreational benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels.
At the Pacific Beach Recreation Center, Associate Director Andrea Sandoval said there will be a new senior-focused fitness class at 10 a.m. on Mondays, starting Jan. 12. The free Forever Fit class will emphasize strength, mobility and stability while also encouraging social interaction.
“If seniors in the community want to get involved, it’s going to be a strength-focused class with the basics for mobility, stability and strength, plus the socializing part of it,” Sandoval said. “It will provide modifications for all levels, and we’re testing the waters with the idea of making it a permanent class. The format can also be done in chairs.”
The recreation center is at 14058 Diamond Street. While participants are encouraged to register for the Forever Fit class, walk-ins are also welcome. For details, call 858-581-9927 or visit tinyurl.com/PBrec-center.
Locals playing pickleball at the Pacific Beach Recreation Center. (Sierra Knoch)
The recreation center also offers four lighted pickleball courts open five days a week. Equipment is available at no cost, a benefit that Sandoval said often surprises visitors. The courts are open to PB residents and visitors alike, making them a popular option for locals hosting out-of-town guests.
The PB Recreation Center has a full list of winter programming available on its website, including open play basketball court times, indoor volleyball classes and dance classes.
For those interested in combining their creativity with fitness and movement, Tap Fever Studios offers a variety of classes for adults and seniors. According to Director Larisa Hall, about half of the studio’s students are adults, with multiple classes designed specifically for people ages 60 and older.
“Our tagline is ‘anyone can dance if given the chance,’” Hall said. “You don’t stop moving because you get old — you get old because you stop moving.”
Learn how to tap, or do other forms of dance, at Tap Fever Studios in Pacific Beach. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The studio’s offerings include tap and ballet classes for seniors, cardio tap classes structured similarly to Zumba and a recently-revived “hand tap” class for individuals with limited mobility.
In the hand tap class, participants create rhythms by tapping with their hands on small wood boards. The class meets on Mondays at 1 p.m. and is free to attend. A new trimester of classes begins the week of Jan. 5.
Tap Fever is at 2146 Garnet Ave. For class details, visit TapFever.com or call 858-456-7301.
Outdoor fitness enthusiasts looking for high cardio activity can find community through PB Run Club, which meets Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. at 845 Garnet Ave.
Despite its name, the group describes itself as “a social club that likes to run.” Its accordion-style running format allows participants of different paces to stay connected throughout the run.
Another popular outdoor option is beach volleyball at the courts along the Pacific Beach Strand near Zanzibar Court, as you head south of the Pacific Beach Pier. Pickup games and organized groups regularly meet at the courts, particularly on weekend mornings. Players are encouraged to arrive early to secure a court.
Groups such as Volleyball–South Mission Beach and Social Beach Volleyball San Diego organize meetups through Facebook. Many participants extend the social aspect of the sport by bringing food and drinks for informal post-game beach picnics.
Pacific Beach residents can also enjoy the beach scenery with PB Sunset Yoga, a group that meets at the Palisades Park, 4960 Ocean Blvd., on weekday evenings at 4 p.m. The donation-based yoga features different instructors and focuses each night of the week. More information can be found on their Instagram @PBsunsetyoga.
Yoga is an activity for people of all ages, and depending on the class can be challenging with a focus on strength and balance, or beginner focused with modified poses and a focus on breath and flexibility. Trying different instructors like the varied options PB Sunset Yoga offers is a great way for newcomers to ensure they find a class that fits their level.
With a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities available, Pacific Beach residents have no shortage of ways to stay active and connected while enjoying the area’s coastal scenery and mild weather in the new year.