Photos: Pacific Athletic Club Receives $5M Makeover

Sometimes people don't know what they want until you show it to them, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said of designing products for people.

The former , and now the Pacific Sports Resort Redwood Shores and the Sanctuary Spa, aspired to do just that with their newly made-over resort and spa.

“Some people can’t articulate their needs,” said Spencer Belideau, Assistant General Manager of Fitness. “Until they come in here and discover everything they’ve wanted.”

The Pacific Athletic Club opened in June 1992 and focused primarily on fitness and exercise, but moved towards providing facilities and amenities for people living an active lifestyle.

“Some people can spend hundreds for just one night at a hotel resort and spa to get the amenities we offer,” Belideau said. “You can have access to our resort for the entire month for that kind of price.”

Most members and frequenters had no idea what the facilities were like or what they were capable of until they visited the Resort and Spa, he said.

Rather than a health club with only exercise equipment, the resort and spa features health classes, spa treatments, a nail salon, spas, pools and a café. These additions are meant to encourage a well-rounded lifestyle with additional health knowledge and some pampering.

In addition to its state-of-the-art exercise equipment, there are spin studios, yoga/pilates gyms and highly specific rooms for various types of cardio or resistance exercise. Group exercise classes like Dance Fusion and BodyPump make exercise less of a chore and more of a social gathering.

Members can also enjoy a competitive game of squash, basketball, or tennis with friends and fellow members.

The new resort and spa caters to busy individuals as well as those with families. There is a day care center that specializes in infant, pre-toddler and toddler care, as well as a youth center for the older children. In the pool area, there are color-coded umbrellas to allow families to enjoy the deck in one area while adults can lounge in another.

During the holiday season, there are plenty of offers and specials to get people on the path to health and fitness that they’ve always wanted.

Monthly memberships can range from $150 to $450.