King Pool is a public pool where swimmers can swim at their own pace, take lessons or participate in a youth or adult team. The facilities include a 25-yard pool with six lanes, a separate diving pool, a patio area and shower rooms. In addition to water aerobics and youth swim programs, pool staff host seasonal special events around Halloween, Easter and other holidays. The pool is also available for private rentals. For a schedule of events, visit the Web site or stop by to pick up a flyer.
Happy Hour Fitness was established in January 2009 and recently moved to its current location on Solano Avenue. The business is owned and run by Xabier Zapata, who hails from the Basque region of Spain. Xabier has been a committed athlete since the tender age of four when he first started playing soccer. He went on to play second division soccer for Spain for several years and then became involved in personal training and fitness.
Happy Hour Fitness is a place where you can go for personal training, yoga classes, Zumba, TRX, Bosu and more. The studio is light and airy with brick walls decorated with the artwork of local artists.
Specializing in Iyengar yoga, which emphasizes posture and breath control, Adeline Yoga Studio offers a safe, supportive place for both experienced yoga practitioners and beginners. The small studio offers 13 classes per week, from levels one to three, with fundamental and community classes interspersed in the regular schedule. Payment rates vary; discounted multi-class passes are available, and community classes are donation-based, making learning the ancient healing and restorative practice accessible to all members of the Berkeley community.
24-Hour Fitness calls the Fit Lite clubs "active" or "express." These clubs are essentially circuit training clubs that combine strength training on machines and free weights with cardiovascular training on ellipticals and stationary bicycles. The concept is to move through a sequence of about 30 machines in a 30-minute time frame, thus achieving an "express" workout. The club is conveniently located on Solano Avenue down the street from Starbuck's. Metered street parking is available.
The Parks, Recreation & Waterfront department of the City of Berkeley manages parks throughout the city, including athletic fields, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, tot lots and playgrounds and a skate park at 5th and Harrison Street. It offers a comprehensive recreation program featuring sports and aquatics, after school and weekend programs and youth summer camps.
Programs such as the Adventure Playground, the Shorebird Park Nature Center and the Marina Experience Programs provide visitors an opportunity to enjoy the bay environment. Berkeley residents can also access camps that are operated by the city at Tuolumne Family Camp near Yosemite and Echo Lake Camp near South Lake Tahoe. A limited number of scholarships are available for all camps. For more information about current programs, visit the administrative offices at 2180 Milvia Street or visit this link.
Funky Door Yoga is a yoga studio dedicated to the Bikram style of teaching. Classes are amped by upbeat instructors in a room heated up to 90 degrees or more. Instructors focus on a series of 26 postures – each posture repeated twice. Classes are held multiple times during the day. This Bikram-style yoga location has many loyal disciples.
The mission of the Capoeira Arts Foundation is to preserve, promote and enrich Capoeira, a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports and music. The organization's online store sells related merchandise like promotional bumper stickers, books, CDs, apparel and handcrafted musical instruments. The Capoeira Arts Foundation is located in West Berkeley, one block north of University Avenue.
OCSC SAILING is a San Francisco Bay sailing school and sailing club. It offers sailing lessons, sailboat instruction, US Sailing Certification, sailboat charters, club membership, corporate teambuilding events, and bareboat vacations.
The Institute for Population Studies is dedicated to raising public awareness on population issues and dwindling natural resources. It regularly examines the problems caused by urban sprawl and energy consumption, and tries to obtain funding towards research on population-related issues. The Institute also does what it can to facilitate widespread discussion on the problems caused by overpopulation.
Berkeley Ironworks, part of Touchstone Climbing & Fitness, is an expansive climbing gym and fitness facility. The Ironworks features 14,000 square feet of climbing and 2,500 square feet of bouldering with a 45 foot high lead wall and more than 100 different top and lead ropes. In addition to climbing, there is a full weight room and a wide selection of cardio equipment, along with lockers, showers, sauna and pro shop. Classes are available to members and non-members including cycling, yoga, cardio boxing, pilates, and abs and core training. Pricing options vary from single day passes to yearly memberships.
Berkeley Cuong Nhu Karate is a martial arts dojo which offers classes for children and adults. Students will receive three workouts a week and are taught a unique mix of Shotokan Karate, Aikido, Wing Chun, Taiji, Vovinam and boxing. Cuong Nhu also has training with weapons and sparring on Saturdays and occasionally offers joint training with other martial arts schools in the area. Adults pay $60 a month for instruction or $10 per individual class, while kids just pay $40 a month.
How's your posture? Maybe you need a little help realigning yourself. Reform Your Body Pilates offers classes for up to three people. That's a lot of hands on instruction to help you sort yourself out. Check their website for services and availability.
Flanked by a pair of windswept pine trees, the Berkeley Yacht Club is located at the breakwater of the Berkeley Marina. Founded in 1939, the clubhouse was built by members and includes a bar, lounge and dining facilities as well as a fantastic three bridge view of the Bay. Although there is a guest dock, the club does not maintain its own marina. The Berkeley Marina is a municipal facility maintained by the City of Berkeley.
The Berkeley Yacht Club has about 250 members and runs a racing program, monthly club cruises, parties and dinner meetings, as well as organizing lectures and race clinics. There are also a range of social events throughout the year including The Commodore's Ball, Halloween Party, and Amateur Performance Nights.
Santooth Building provides a smoke, alcohol and scent free environment playing music from Middle Eastern to jazz to house, and features dancers that stretch, perform contact improv, become meditational, then picking up toward the end of the night, providing a variety of experiences in a single evening. This is a non-judgmental space.
Modern Combatives is a dojo that specializes in Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing. It has classes for both children and adults, and an open mat most days of the week. It also has an introductory class known as MMAZERO that allows the instructors to assess your skill and determine which class you should attend. The students are required to bring clean workout clothes, a mouth guard and a protective cup (if male).
Berkeley Moving Arts teaches students of all skill levels Tai Chi, modern dance and belly dancing. Private Pilates sessions and creative body alignment workshops are available and teachers pride themselves on being supportive. Classes are often focused on improving the body's structure and alignment. Check the website for a list of classes.