Best Fitness And Dance Studios In The North Bay

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It seems that not getting fit isn't really an option, especially with the outdoorsy life that Marin County offers. Choose from Zumba dance classes, CrossFit training, vinyasa yoga and so much more. Everybody has their level, everybody can improve and everybody can gain strength while getting toned. The North Bay is filled with extremely well-qualified instructors, so getting started today is the way to go.

Just say "Yoga in Marin" and the one name that always pops up first is Susan Hauser. She teaches a unique power vinyasa yoga class, focusing on strengthening and toning. Described as "dynamic" and "with a sense of spirituality," above all the classes are fun, effective and deeply satisfying. Students speak of motivating music, life-changing outlooks and a friendly, encouraging community. Some add that they "never knew yoga could be like this." The feeling is mutual, as Susan feels that yoga found her and changed her life, too.

Choose your medicine at the JCC. For those considering a dance class, there's Zumba, belly dancing and Latin-inspired dance fusion to give yourself a workout with all of the moves. Be it yoga, deep stretch, pilates reformer, spin, kettlebell swing class or another, they're all on offer. A group fitness supervisor or trainer runs the mind and body studio classes to a schedule found online. For non-members, take an introduction class for $20 to decide what's right for you.

With a second studio location in Fairfax, RoCo is Marin's leading dance and fitness center with more than 175 classes a month. Passionate teachers are well-known in their specialist dance fields including Zumba, adult contemporary, hip hop, Cuban cardio salsa, urban contemporary, Guinean West African, jazz, break dancing, you name it. Newly on offer is Sunday pilates at 9 a.m. Step out of your realm and see how dancing changes things.

Complete with Marin's only squash courts, a 25-yard swimming pool, a basketball court and the Sanctuary Spa, the 60,000-square-foot facility offers all kinds of classes for its members. Dance choices include aerobic, ballet, cardio Latin dance, Zumba and Latin Zumba in addition to pilates, yoga, group cycling, soccer, volleyball and Michael Phelps Swim Method instruction. Locker rooms have a steam room, sauna and a lounge area featuring a flat-screen television.

In addition to Mill Valley, TJ's Gym is in San Rafael and Corte Madera with interchangeable access for members. If you're new to CrossFit training, join a class to find out what the workout that some call "transformational" is all about. TJ's passion lends itself to the whole family, so you'll find CrossFit Kids classes, too. In her book about the CrossFit experience, TJ's wife, Allison, calls it "a dynamic, functional fitness and conditioning program with an emphasis on camaraderie and community."

Laurie JM Farr is a freelance writer covering all things in her adopted San Francisco. A dedicated urbanite, she's a transplanted New Yorker by way of a couple of decades in London as a hotel sales and marketing manager. Follow her work on @ReferencePlease, USA Today, Yahoo! and on Examiner.com.