Yoga , Pilates, and More at the YMCA

Now you might not expect the YMCA to be listed as a destination on a traveler’s website, but it’s just the place to look if you want to squeeze in a yoga or Pilates class while out and about in San Diego. There are many studios around San Diego, and many of them offer great classes. But the YMCA offers classes all day long, very extensive when compared to the limited evening classes of most studios. And the YMCA charges only $10 to visitors, compared to the $12-15 that most studios charge.

The place to look for yoga or Pilates classes through the YMCA is at their Mission Valley Hazard Center location, 7610 Hazard Center Drive. This location is in the heart of Mission Valley, a central San Diego location. They offer a huge variety of classes including: eclectic blend yoga, fitness yoga, gentle yoga, hatha yoga, iyengar yoga, kundalini yoga, mat-based Pilates, NIA, power yoga, stretch, tai chi, and other specialized classes for back health, athletes, cancer-survivors, arthritis, Parkinson’s, and more.

The teachers are as diverse as the classes, with some of them taking you through rigorous workouts, while others are more relaxing. When you pay to take a class you are welcome to use the facilities as well. Every location has all the basic workout equipment, including cardio machines like treadmills, bikes, and cross trainers, as well as weightlifting circuits, as well as locker rooms with showers. In this sense the Hazard Center location is the most limited, as the other locations also have pools, saunas, basketball courts, childcare, snack bars, and other amenities.

The classes run pretty much from 6 or 7 AM until 8 PM Monday through Friday, and about 8 AM to noon or 1 PM on the weekends. The YMCA also has locations in Mission Valley on Friars Road, in La Jolla, in Kearny Mesa, and Downtown, though the yoga and Pilates classes at these locations are more limited. Check with each location for details on what they offer.

The San Diego County YMCA website is: www.ymca.org

Mission Valley YMCA at Hazard Center
7610 Hazard Center Drive
619-298-3576 X2202

Mission Valley YMCA
5505 Friars Road
619-298-3576

Toby Wells YMCA in Kearny Mesa
5105 Overland Avenue
858-496-9622