Health & Fitness in Mountain View

In San Francisco and beyond, doing a juice cleanse has become practically de rigeur for anyone looking to shed some toxins, lose a few pounds and kickstart a new healthy living attitude. Thankfully, you don’t have to blend and purée your own fruits and vegetables anymore; more than a few high-end juice bars have sprouted up around town, and some even boast their own full-body cleansing kits. Move over, humble shot of wheatgrass. Once a migratory pop-up juice bar, SoW has lately taken up residence in the Ferry Building, among other heavy-hitters of the locavore food universe. It’s only open twice a week, during farmer’s market hours, but SoW more or less operates as a veritable Cuisinart for anyone who swings by, pulping and frappé-ing local and seasonal produce into a delicious beverage. The juices found here come with organic pedigrees and lots of flavor, making them good for the conscience, as well as the liver. For total in-house integration of the cleansing ethos, turn to Juice Shop in the Marina, quite possibly the fanciest juice bar in the entire city. This tiny stand on Union Street sells a wide variety of juices and elixirs in its own branded milk bottles, with an eye towards detoxifying the harried urban dweller. And like a beneficent doctor making house calls, they’ll even deliver supplies for a ten-day, kale-heavy, pro cleanse. Judahlicious, found in the Outer Sunset near Golden Gate Park, practically raises veganism to the level of art. The sunny spot lays out a full menu of raw foods, while shining a spotlight on juices and vegan smoothies for on-the-go folks. As the beachside embodiment of wholeness and vigor, this is Northern California at its far-out hippiest. Slightly more tech-oriented, D’Urso Italian Deli and Juice Bar in South Beach has a sweet sidewalk window dedicated to its juices, and an industrial-chic parklet right next door. Slightly addled programmers, used to throwing back Red Bulls, mill about hoping to re-energize with boosts of kale and other superfoods. It’s a high-tech enclave of simple, delicious nutrition that’s bent on getting people back on track. Sidewalk Juice, with two locations in the Mission, pairs nutrients alongside guiltier pleasures – hello, Nutella smoothie – and hard-core options, like a greens-only juice with no fillers. Other less abrasive and tropical flavors give a nod to the neighborhood’s Latino heritage, while kombucha-sipping trendsters populate the pavement outside as well as the spacious interior. Sidewalk Juice’s obvious chain aspirations are a sign of things to come, as more of America demands the healthiest possible sugar rush.

San Francisco's mild, year-round spring-like weather makes it easy to find unique and fun exercise opportunities all around the city. These 5 activities are both budget-friendly and provide an opportunity to visit some of SF's most famous landmarks. (Check out even more things to do in the city.) 1) Yoga Under the beautiful skies of San Francisco, the Lombardi Sports' Free Rooftop Yoga Class (Sundays at 11am) is a 60-minute all-levels class designed to promote a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. The class focuses on standing, seated, balancing postures, inversions, breath work and intention setting to center the mind and body. The sequences taught are offered with variations to suit all students’ levels. The classes are designed to build strength, increase flexibility and promote an overall feeling of wellbeing. 2) Biking There are two famous options for free and fitness-focused biking in SF. The first, biking across the Golden Gate Bridge towards the hills of Marin. Pay a little extra to rent a bike, or bring your own! Sunset is one of the best times to ride, stopping in Marin for a bite to eat, and then heading back to SF in the evening. The second is SF's Midnight Mystery Ride. The group meets on the third Saturday of each month at midnight (location declared the day of event), and takes riders through themed tours of the city. You'll be able to exercise while meeting other fellow bikers, and exploring the ins and outs of San Francisco. Truly an activity not to be missed. 3) Running San Francisco has a multitude of running paths and parks to exercise in. But one of the most popular and easiest to access runs is along the Embarcadero. There are very few traffic lights, and the scenery (right along the water with views of the bay bridge and the piers) is absolutely beautiful. A complete back and out run is 6.5 miles. During the day the embarcadero can get crowded, so the best times to run are in the morning or later in the evening. 4) Outdoor Circuit Training Buena Vista Park (located at Haight Street and Buena Vista East) is San Francisco's oldest park. It has spectacular views and feels like a forest escape in the middle of the city. The park's stairs provide a great base for circuit training -- running up and down the stairs for an hour, finished off with a mini strength-training circuit at the top will provide one of the best workouts you can get. Whether you decide to take one of the many staircases or dirt trails, make sure to stop at the vista points along the way to the top. 5) Hiking The rocky Land's End trail (El Camino Del Mar and 32nd Avenue) provides leafy trails, fresh sea breeze, and spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Following one of the Land's End trails will lead you through historic landmarks, like the turn-of-the-century Sutro Baths ruins or old gun batteries, as well as tons of beautiful and iconic San Franciscan scenery. A more unique option for hiking exists with Hiking Yoga -- a guided tour with pit stops for mini-yoga sessions. The instructors take you to parks and trails off the beaten path, offer you a cropped yoga mat for your hands when needed, and lead you through poses to stretch your body.