Varied Fitness Classes at Rancho La Puerta Spa

Stretch, Cardio, Strength-Training, Yoga and Much More are Offered

Jan 31, 2009 Kara Williams

At Rancho La Puerta destination spa in Tecate, Baja California, easy to challenging fitness classes are offered to guests on the hour throughout much of the day.

One of the most difficult parts of exercising at Rancho La Puerta destination spa is choosing from among the vast array of fitness classes offered. Will it be Pilates or circuit training? Yoga or cross training? Country line dancing or water aerobics?

With multiple types of 45-minute classes offered at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., the options can sometimes be overwhelming. Fortunately, since the Ranch encourages guests to stay for a full week -- Saturday to Saturday -- there is plenty of time to sample a variety of classes, then guests can return again and again to the ones they particularly enjoyed.

Also, by mid-week, guests who have gone gangbusters working out at the beginning of the week -- filling their schedules with hard-core cardio or strength-training classes -- might be ready for some more gentle yoga or stretch classes. Similarly, folks with limited mobility might choose only to take the easier-on-the-bones-and-muscles offerings, foregoing the more energetic classes. There's something for everyone!

Here's just a small sample of some of the standard, and more unusual, classes:

Yoga at Rancho La Puerta

Even guests who have never done any yoga before can enjoy Introduction to Yoga, which is progresses a bit in difficulty as the week progresses. Continuing practitioners take Yoga Fundamentals or Yoga Level 2, while men have their own class (since they are usually less flexible) with Yoga for Men. Restorative Yoga is delightfully relaxing and usually held at the end of the day; guests feel renewed after holding easy yoga poses supported by props for up to five minutes

Cardio Drumming

This is a super high-energy cardio workout using fitballs resting on upside down step risers. Guests use drumsticks to beat in unison to the exciting drum music. It's a really fun class that requires no previous drumming knowledge.

Aqua Fitness Classes

Some offerings, like Aqua Plus, use buoyancy and resistance equipment in the deep end of the activity pool for a core workout. Water Works is a shallow-water class full of movement and music.

Dance Classes

Every day a different dance-type of class is offered. Though they vary by the week, guests might enjoy learning how to hula hoop (or perfecting their skills), line dance or shake their booties like Britney Spears in an "MTV Moves" class. Another popular dance class is nia, which features fun, non-impact moves inspired by jazz, modern and Eastern dance forms.

Circuit Training

This class takes place in the weight room. Participants spend 15 minutes getting heart rates up on the treadmill, bike or stair-stepper, then do a vigorous strength and balance workout on 25 different stations. This one really makes you sweat!

To learn more about the Ranch, consider reading Hiking at Rancho La Puerta and Organic Cuisine at Rancho La Puerta.

The copyright of the article Varied Fitness Classes at Rancho La Puerta Spa in Fitness is owned by Kara Williams. Permission to republish Varied Fitness Classes at Rancho La Puerta Spa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Cardio Drumming Class

Heated Activity Pool