Classes in Richmond

The crew at Razor Fitness strives to give members the resources of a large-scale gym while maintaining the welcoming, no-waiting atmosphere of a boutique gym. The 22,000-square-foot facility houses more than 200 cardio machines, weight machines, and free-weight stations, as well as a studio outfitted with heavy bags, step platforms, and mats for wrestling bears. Beyond the open gym, the staff guides guests to an array of physique-enhancing services, including personal training, an infrared sauna and tanning, and nutrition counselling. Damsels who join Razor Fitness’s member ranks also receive access to the Planet Woman Fitness facility. To fortify clients’ fitness efforts, Razor’s team also dispenses energy drinks, protein bars, and workout smoothies.

British Columbia local and Lakers player Steve Nash created his fleet of namesake Fitness World & Sports Clubs to honour the tenets of healthy living. The classes at both Fitness World and Sports Club locations are taught by engaging instructors who impart students with methods for getting fit that don’t involve traditional livestock lifting. Group fitness trainers lead exercisers through Bball Blast's stability-ball training, ICE indoor-cycling intensives, and Cardio Core's combinations of step, cardio kickboxing, and abdominal exercises. The Nash Smash class uses full-body metabolic training to sternly badger moping muscles into action, and Women on Weights builds toned musculature by pitting females against leaden opponents. Personal training sessions fit workouts for each client, tailoring them to individual's goals and personal theme song.

The amenities at each club differ—the Burnaby location boasts a swimming pool and spacious whirlpool. The staff strives to create a healthy environment for members and the earth alike, with floors made from sustainable bamboo and locker panels build with recycled car tires.

Named one of Parents magazine's Top 10 Birthday Chains, Color Me Mine's international franchise of DIY ceramics studios cater to an older crowd as well. Hundreds of unadorned ceramic pieces—including vases, flatware, and busts of Elvis—await the attentions of muses of kids and their keepers alike, as do glazes in earthy tones and bright crimsons to frighten bulls away from china cabinets. Guests follow simple step-by-step instructions that leave plenty of room for creative expression. When painters are satisfied with their work, the professional kiln workers help glaze, fire, and de-genie it for them, and they may retrieve the finished piece after a few days.

An associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, Victoria Warfield has dedicated her life to music. Experienced in performing as a concert pianist and directing choirs, Victoria also offers private lessons that tutor music-makers as young as 3 years old in specialized Parent & Tot sessions. Older students can tailor their efforts toward the Royal Conservatory of Toronto examinations or veer into pop or jazz styles. Adult lessons shake off rust from years of neglect or fruitless attempts of practicing the flute on a hollow churro to give students a new artistic outlet during classes that focus on music appreciation.

Open 24 hours a day, the facilities at Sport Central come stacked with modern fitness equipment, squash courts, and instructors. Guests who opt for a two-month membership get 24-hour access to a 45,000 square foot gym full of body-toning cadre of cardio and strength-training equipment such as elliptical trainers, treadmills, bikes, steppers, and rowers. The membership also comes with 12 tanning sessions, which can aid iron-pumpers in looking more like a golden Atlas than a pallid one. The centre also boasts two steam rooms, a women's only area, and a children's centre where tykes can play under supervision while parents get fit.

Cadenza Music offers a massive selection of books and resources for beginner and advanced musicians. Students looking to enhance their repertoire can find solace in private and group lessons in piano, voice, harmony, and rudiments. Books and materials divulge information on violin techniques, guitar methods, and ukuleles, alongside CDs and reference books.