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Business & Tech

Putting the 'Fun' in Working Out

A new fitness center is now open in Bird Rock.

Trainers at La Jolla’s new fitness center Bird Rock Fit are taking a different approach when it comes to offering a great workout. 

“We want people to understand you don’t have to work out the traditional way. There is an alternative way and it can be fun,” said Nicole Pizzi, a performance specialist at .

“There are so many stresses in life. We want people to understand that this is a place to come and have fun,” she said.

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Owners launched the new fitness center on Sept. 1, although a “soft opening” was held Aug. 1.

Pizzi said the center offers 30-minute workouts, 30-minute personal and group training sessions and 30-minute small classes consisting of 10 people or less.

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She said the goal of the workouts is to encourage people to work harder in a shorter period of time, while still not pushing them beyond their physical abilities and limits.

“We’re actually trying to increase more of your fat-burning hormones versus that endurance kind of workout where you just stay at the same level for a long period of time,” said Pizzi. “You choose the intensity. We will recommend how to do it and we always give you the option to rest and take control of your body.”

The facility is owned by Ethan Kopsch, a performance specialist, and Monica Kopsch.

Bird Rock Fit’s motto is “Play hard. Live Well.”

“We don’t want you in a gym for two hours, dreading going there. We want you to have fun,” said Pizzi. “You come in here, you have fun, you work hard, you work towards goals and then you go and enjoy the rest of your life.”

Pizzi said officials decided to open Bird Rock Fit in La Jolla because of its “sense of community”—an idea that reflects heavily on the center’s philosophy.

“It’s more social. It’s not walk into a gym, put your headphones on, get on a treadmill for 45 minutes and leave. We want people to be engaged when they come here. That’s what we think is happening.”

Pizzi said Bird Rock's clientele ranges from high school students to the elderly. She said most of the workouts tend not to include machines or heavy lifting.

“We’re working more with functional movements, meaning we’re trying to mimic things that people do in daily life.”

Address: 5490 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla.

Website: birdrockfit.com

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the classes that are offered that day.  

Payments accepted: Cash, check or credit card.

Wheelchair accessible: Yes.

Parking: There are eight designated spots just in front of the facility as well as street parking.

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