Lifestyle Fitness — Aptos & Watsonville

“Get Fit • Stay Fit”

By Jon Chown

Being fit and healthy requires a lot more than lifting weights. Cardiovascular exercises are needed, the proper nutrition is required. As a former pro soccer player, Aptos native Luis Gomez has been a living example of it for many years, so it was only natural that he wound up purchasing the gym he regularly attended, Lifestyle Fitness in Watsonville.

Gomez, who retired from pro soccer after a seven-year career, now spends his time both coaching soccer and a healthier lifestyle by giving personal training sessions as well as leading Boot Camp sessions where individuals draw on the strength of a group to help push themselves. And since Gomez is a high-energy person himself, it follows that he expanded his services into Aptos, at the new Lifestyle Fitness Studio located at 7690 Soquel Ave.

High-performance training is for all ages. Everyone can benefit from a healthier body, explains Gomez. One of his students is an 82-year-old woman.

“She does the same workout as a woman that is 18 or 55. She understands that half of her friends need wheelchairs or walkers, while she is strong and healthy by doing conventional training, using the right procedures and being consistent,” he said.

Boot Camp sessions are available at the Aptos studio weekdays at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. In Watsonville, they are available Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m., and in the evenings on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s not just for athletes or future athletes, as we age, we need to train to keep our bone density up. A lot of people don’t understand how important this is. The body starts breaking down, bones will break a lot easier, your body becomes fatigued. You can avoid that by working your body up, strengthening your muscles and maintaining better balance,” Gomez said.

Gomez also reaches out to local youth, offering classes in the summer for ages 9-12.

“We try to teach them as much as we can about health and fitness,” he said.

That outreach to youth also extends to the Watsonville Police Athletic League, which trains its young boxers at the gym’s new boxing room.

“We’re trying to help keep kids off the streets,” said Gomez, who has two young boys of his own, ages 10 and 13. “I think that’s the best way to give back to the community is through the youth.”

The 25,000-square foot facility at 25 Penny Lane in Watsonville has the largest heated outdoor pool of any health club in the area, an outdoor Jacuzzi, personal saunas and Jacuzzis, basketball andracquetball courts, a huge variety of exercise equipment, including new Matrix equipment, spin bikes, recumbent bikes, hybrid bikes, stair climbers, free weights, and just about anything you can dream up. It also offers swimming lessons year round through Sea Horse Swim School. Brooke Valentine, who has worked at the site through all of its changes, said what really sets Lifestyle Fitness apart is the knowledgeable staff and the friendly, fun atmosphere.

“People are treated like family here,” says Valentine. “It’s low key. We’re enthusiastic, but not pretentious.”

And, of course, there’s the popular boxing room, open for anyone, and many people take advantage of it, regardless if they ever plan to step in a ring. Watsonville resident Edgar Gaona was hitting a bag recently, just for a workout.

“It’s good cardio, a lot of fun. I like it.” said Gaona between punches.

And because exercise makes you hungry, at both locations, there are healthy food options — juices, salads, complex proteins.

“The food you should be eating to stay healthy,” said Gomez. “We try to keep everybody healthy as a way of life.”

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Lifestyle Fitness, Inc. “Get Fit • Stay Fit”

Aptos – 7960 Soquel Dr. Suite D2, 685-3130 • Watsonville – 29 Penny Lane 722-3895

Website: lifestylefitnessclub.com • Email: info@lifestylefitnessclub.com