Recreation

In a studio, outside, on the water or on the roads, Marin has many exciting, fun and often scenic exercise options. Here are some you won’t want to miss.

NAMASTAYING OUTSIDE

Outdoor yoga is all about harmonizing with nature, and to that end there’s no better studio than Marin’s great outdoors. Yoga Ventures (pictured right) has classes combining yoga with a hike from Rodeo Beach that ends on a hilltop platform overlooking the Tennessee Valley beach. Prefer to stretch at sea level? Swap your mat for a stand-up paddleboard and find your balance on the water at OnBoardSUP yoga. Classes launch daily from behind the Bay Model visitor center in Sausalito. yogaventures.org, onboardsup.com

FORE

The best golf spot in Marin County is a championship course with lush greens, fairways and practice facilities, including the county’s only all-grass driving range. Peacock Gap Golf Club in San Rafael also earns high marks for being less hilly than others and offering beautiful vistas. Throw in a new fleet of golf carts equipped with GPS yardage systems and the ability to order food at the touch of a button, and you have a true duffer’s dream. But that’s not all: there’s a clubhouse perfect for meetings or weddings, along with daily food specials and occasional live music at RangeCafe Bar and Grill. peacockgapgolfclub.com

WIN THE RACE

This small business of the year recently opened a shop in the South Bay, but it’s also still business as usual at 101 Surf Sports in San Rafael. On any given day you’ll find a group of good people living a fun, healthy life out on the water; here you can buy the gear or goods needed to join them. Best of all are the races: for the past four years, folks with outrigger canoes, surf skis, kayaks, prone paddleboards and SUPs have all been gathering at the start of fall to traverse 2- to 7-mile courses — competing in races for beginners all the way to seasoned vets. Prizes go to the top three finishers in each division and age range, but the emphasis is more on fun. A post-race brunch includes salads, pastas, hot dogs and local beer. Friends hang out and friends are made. What’s not to like? 101surfsports.com

HANDLEBAR HEROES

Mike’s Bikes doesn’t exist simply to sell bikes — the company works tirelessly to bolster all aspects of the cycling community. This means free maintenance workshops, organized group rides and the work of the Mike’s Bikes Foundation, which helps bring bikes to communities in Africa where walking is the only transportation. That the Bay Area stores, including two in Marin, are staffed by friendly and knowledgeable salespeople — well, that’s the icing on the cake. mikesbikes.com

TREKKING TAMALPAIS

With seven state parks and about 18,500 acres of open space, the opportunities to explore in Marin seem endless, possibly overwhelming. But there’s a good guided resource for at least one locale: the Friends of Mt. Tam hold hikes for all levels on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with weekly themes and a special Saturday moonlight hike that occurs, you guessed it, under a full moon. friendsofmttam.org


Play Date

As the name implies, Playland of Sausalito (pictured left) is nonstop fun for young children. Besides four inflatable jumpy houses, it features an air-hockey table, cars, a toddler zone and big bouncy balls. Just off the main area, a quieter alcove serves as an art room with reading tables, coloring books and three train tables. There’s free coffee for parents, and children receive a balloon animal on departure. mttamadventures.com/playland-sausalito


Flex, Bend, Twist

We asked, you answered, we vetted and now we share. Here’s a sample of some of the classes taught by Marin’s top instructors. Exercise your mind by matching these instructors with their studios.*