North Tustin, CA Indoor Activities

Sunlight floods through the floor-to-ceiling windows of The Studio by Bridget, beaming across the sparkling canals of Long Beach to illuminate 1,900 square feet of space. Lined against the walls, Pilates equipment ranges from Reformers to more unusual gear used in private training, such as the ladder barrel and the stability chair, ideal for seated workouts that give students a more rigorous exercise than cranking a recliner footrest up and down. On this equipment—or on simple Pilates mats—the studio’s team hosts classes that lengthen and strengthen muscles, balancing physiques and enhancing flexibility through regimens involving stretching, breathing, resistance training, pulleys, and cables. The staff complements its Pilates offerings with spinning classes and TRX sessions, whose Reformer workouts were designed by a Navy SEAL.

The instructors at Triad Yoga & Pilates lead classes that not only strengthen students' bodies, but also increase their awareness. The studio's seven yoga classes cater to various skill levels and needs. Beginners might try out a hatha yoga session, while more experienced yogis head to a flow class and moms-to-be take a prenatal class to address fatigue and prepare for upcoming limbo competitions. Meanwhile, two Pilates classes offer floor exercises that create leaner, stronger muscles or traditional Pilates exercises at a faster pace.

The South Coast Symphony bills itself as "the unstuffy symphony." Which isn't to say that its pro musicians have any disrespect for the classical tradition—any given season likely will be rich with mammoth orchestral works and famous operas. But the group has broad tastes, and accordingly partners with a wide range of musicians to put on evenings of Broadway show tunes, renditions of classic-rock albums, and film-score performances. Many of the concerts are designed to be welcoming to a wide audience, including kids or adults who have never listened to anything besides CDs of funny sound effects.

When Sheila Kelley broke into the fitness scene, fitness pole-dancing classes were unheard of. However, in just a few years, the S Factor—her unique fusion of yoga, ballet, Pilates, and striptease—became renowned for its physical benefits and confidence-boosting ability. Due to this focus on both mind and body, the S Factor garnered widespread acclaim, with endorsements from Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and Martha Stewart. The workout's mission is clear: engendering female empowerment, confidence, and respect through sultry pole dancing. The S Factor's healthful impact on its students' bodies can be attributed to its combination of diverse workout methods, all of which build lean muscle mass. The course's six levels build on one another, relying on stretches, pole work, and traditional dance to get students twirling around the pole safely regardless of their athletic experience.

MD Pilates owner Mely Dinsdale helms a team of certified instructors, helping students to sculpt lean, pliable bodies using core-centric exercises and Pilates reformer equipment. During classes, instructors preach the importance of balancing flexibility with muscle-strengthening work to prevent injury, both on the mat and on the studio’s reformer resistance machines. Pilates reformer machines, made with a system of springs, pulleys, and a sliding platform, boost the difficulty of students' moves by resisting each movement as they perform Pilates exercises, thereby helping to build muscle while reducing stress on tendons, ligaments, and high-strung skeletons.