Fit Athletic Club in Solana Beach helps clients shape an all-around healthy lifestyle

From the black and white awning and simple sign at its Highway 101 location, Fit looks like it could be a hip, beachside boutique. Yet inside, Fit Athletic Club in Solana Beach is a one-stop shop for everything for a healthy lifestyle: from lifting weights and working on strength and agility on a turf-training area to getting a massage after a yoga class, then grabbing a made-to-go healthy meal on the way out.

The space has been a gym for 25 years — previously Frog’s and Club One — but it has never been a gym like this, according to Jason Felix, general manager.

“The club is full service; there is nothing like what we do around here,” Felix said of the high-end fitness facility.

“The difference is more than just equipment and classes, it’s the people. The people here are a lot more fitness-oriented and put an emphasis on every aspect of living a healthy lifestyle — diet, cardio, weights. It’s motivating to be around.”

The club switched hands to Fit Athletic in January of 2014, which had the challenge of giving the gym a full makeover while still staying open for clients.

Clients check in at a glossy wood desk using a Fit keychain and can head to the weight training room with 45 selectorized machines and 22 plate-loaded machines, to the group exercise room or tranquil yoga studio, to the locker room sauna, to a treatment room for massage or acupuncture, to drop kids off at Playcare or go upstairs for cardio machines.

In the renovation, Fit replaced all the machines with TechnoGym equipment, a top quality brand. All 40 pieces of TechnoGym equipment have personal viewing screens with touch-screen navigation — members can track their progress, cue up a favorite TV show or have the screen portray a scene as if they were running Torrey Pines.

Fit features several “much-loved” group exercise classes from boxing for fitness, ashtanga yoga, barre classes, a full body workout on the beach and Full Body Fit, a workout incorporating cardio drills, free weights and power moves.

“The dance classes here are insane,” Felix said, noting that men and women line up to make sure they get a spot in classes like Zumba and Cardio Hip Hop. “There’s a lot of variety in this club and people aren’t afraid to taste-test new things.”

Clients can opt to work with seven trainers on staff, “the best in the country,” and Felix said they are looking to add to their elite lineup.

As great food is important to Fit, they offer healthy meals to go — centered on greens, lean protein and maximum flavor. Their Fit Natural Foods Café has healthy snacks, bars, drinks and smoothies — carrying offerings from popular lines like Beaming and Suja.

Fit has also teamed up with local businesses to offer “Fit Perx,” so members can flash their Fit keychain to get special deals. Occasionally they have vendor days where the Fit vendor partners can come and showcase their businesses at the club, highlighting Fit’s commitment to supporting local business in the Solana Beach community.

Felix admits that the downtown Fit location has developed a reputation for being intimidating because of its clients taking fitness very seriously.

He said Solana Beach still has a competitive feel to it, but the environment is more motivating than intimidating.

“There is a great group of people here in Solana Beach,” Felix said. “The town has really embraced Fit and they’re happy that we came here.”

Fit Athletic is consistent with its membership pricing — they do not run specials or sales. For information on memberships or to request a one-day free pass, visit fitathletic.com. Fit is at 511 S. Highway 101 in Solana Beach.