Fitness center expands – The Pajaronian | Watsonville, CA

After opening a new fitness center on Green Valley Road in Watsonville just over a year ago, Toadal Fitness continues to expand services, including major renovations of the pool.

The Watsonville club, at 25 Penny Lane, is part of a group of centers sprinkled around the county.

Co-manager Rick LaCross said he’s pleased with the outcome of the pool’s makeover, which included new lights, concrete and paint work, and more.

“The pool is a 25-meter, heated salt-water pool with six lanes as well as saunas in each locker room,” LaCross said. Swim classes by Jim Booth and water aerobics are also in the works.

“It opened in January and it took about a half a million dollars,” LaCross said of the pool. “It’s really been popular; people are loving it. We also feature water aerobics classes.”

Additionally, Toadal Fitness offers workout classes for seniors.

“I just turned 60 and I want to be able to do what I have to do over the next 20 years,” LaCross said. “So as we get older, there is a sweet spot I have a specialty in—the boomer population. Most of my clients are over 60 with a median age of 70 and some in their 90s.”

LaCross said he runs the Silver Sneakers program, which typically includes a 15-minute dance exercise program, 15 minutes of chair resistance training with overhead dumbbells, etc. Then it finishes up with 15 minutes of basic chair yoga.

“Then, I have developed another program called Age In Reverse,” LaCross said.

It’s tailored for people who want to step up from Silver Sneakers. It’s a bit higher, more challenging level because it includes working out on the floor. The median age is 65 to 70. These people are super fit, working out and we’re having a great time. Right now, I have over 100 students.”

The business features childcare for ages 3 months to 13 years, locker rooms, resistance machines, free weights, cardiovascular stations, an open-air deck with workout equipment, and a climbing wall room that includes climbing stations for youths ages 12-18 years as well as for adult climbers.

Toadal Fitness also offers a full schedule of classes, including Wake-up Bootcamp, Yoga, Zumba and Pilates Spin.For information, email [email protected] or call 337.8623.