'Cutting Edge' Wellness Center Opening in La Quinta in January

PHOTO: A look inside the center as it nears completion.

The following was submitted for publication by the city of La Quinta:

The new Wellness Center in La Quinta – perhaps one of the city’s most highly anticipated amenities – will open its doors at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2015. This new health and wellness facility will provide people of all ages a variety of services and facility offerings to assist in their wellness journey. Pre-sale memberships can be purchased in advance as early as January 5, 2015.

The Wellness Center’s $50 annual membership fee for La Quinta residents ($75 for non-residents) makes it an extremely affordable way to focus on fitness and wellness. This low-cost membership offers access to brand new state-of-the-art fitness equipment for cardio, strength training and flexibility. In fact, the fitness equipment is so advanced, it’s the same type of equipment in various Olympic training centers, Camp David, the White House and used by pro sports teams. Day rates are available as well, at $5 per day.

Fitness and wellness classes such as Yoga, Taekwondo, Pilates, Tai Chi, plus physical therapy and health screenings, will also be available for additional fees.

The Wellness Center is being created through a renovation and expansion of the La Quinta Senior Center – adding another 6,000 sq. ft. to the facility’s existing 10,000+ sq. feet. In addition to increasing the size, the expansion includes architectural elements and new finishes to update the building’s aesthetics – plus large picture windows to open up views over the lake, and public art at the Civic Center Campus. The Wellness Center also introduces a community gardening area, new classrooms and new restrooms with shower and locker areas for men and women.

“The City of La Quinta embraces health and wellness on many levels, and this is just another opportunity for people to get out and get healthy in La Quinta,” said Frank Spevacek, City Manager of the City of La Quinta. “Since 2010, we’ve been a designated Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) city. The HEAL campaign originated from the League of California Cities’ efforts to promote healthier lifestyles and communities, and we’re proud to have this be such a strong focus in our city, as well.”

The Wellness Center will also provide programs for intellectual wellness, such as classes for life-long learning; nutritional wellness, including fresh ingredient cooking demonstrations and nutritional programs; social wellness, such as board games and discussion groups; and creative wellness, including dance, art and language classes.

The Wellness Center is located at 78450 La Fonda in La Quinta. Its grand opening on January 17th will coincide with the wellness events planned surrounding the Humana Challenge. The grand opening will include fresh healthy appetizers; have guided tours of the facility as well as equipment demonstrations; and a free gift. A complete listing of classes and programs can be found atwww.la-quinta.org. For more information, call (760) 564-0096.