Alexandra Leifschutz is the fitness director at the Regency Wellness Resort and Spa since the year 2000. She also is an instructor of aquatics, pilates, yoga and strength training. Alexandra is infinitely optimistic and believes it is never too late to reap the abundant rewards of exercise. Her passion for movement is infectious and inspiring.

The Regency offers entry level classes for guests starting on the fitness journey and advanced classes for fit guests. Currently we offer two aqua classes per day, one in the ocean when possible. We have dance, low impact aerobic and step classes weekly. Strength training classes are provided daily. Pilates, various forms of yoga and Tai Chi round out the program along with walks on the nearby Hollywood broadwalk every morning.

What is fitness?

Fitness can be performance-related or health-related. Performance-related fitness is a measure of your agility, balance, power, and speed. Our focus is mostly concerned with health-related fitness, which you can achieve through regular physical activity. The benefits of both types of fitness are a healthy heart and lungs (cardio-respiratory fitness), increased flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance.

Health-related fitness helps you feel your best and reduces the risk of heart attack, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Being fit helps you to have more energy throughout the day for work or school and energy left over to enjoy your leisure time. What types of physical activity improve fitness?

Most experts agree that there are three kinds of fitness:

• Flexibility is the ability to move joints and use muscles through their full range of motion. Stretching is a flexibility exercise.
  
• Aerobic (cardio respiratory) fitness is the body's ability to use oxygen efficiently and depends upon the condition of your heart, lungs, and muscles. This type of fitness increases the amount of oxygen that is delivered to your muscles, which allows them to work longer. Walking is a type of aerobic exercise.
  
• Muscular fitness includes building stronger muscles and increasing how long you can use them (endurance). Resistance training through weight lifting and body movements such as push-ups can improve muscular fitness.
  

Keep in mind that you may be fairly fit in one area (perhaps aerobic fitness) but just getting started with another (such as flexibility or muscle strengthening).

At the Regency Wellness Resort and Spa, all the activities we encourage throughout the day burn calories and help maintain your weight. For those people who have not exercised in a while, no worries. Small activities such as going for our morning beach walk or taking the stairs instead of the elevator are a beginning. Every level of fitness is accommodated. For those who are interested in a more structured way to get exercise, consider a weight training and cardiovascular conditioning studio that includes free weights, machines and treadmills.

Once again, a number of our exercise classes, including Pilates, yoga, dance and water aerobics is presented daily, and accommodates all fitness levels. Our guests are encouraged to find activities that they enjoy and feel they can stick with, and then vary it with other activities so there is never a dull moment. For example, 3 days a week, they can take a brisk, 30-minute walk with a friend and then lift some weights together.

On other days, they may choose a water aerobics class or a leisurely walk on the beach.

Many guests choose to have personal trainings with our certified instructors to help them achieve the goals they want sooner with utmost care for their health and safety during the seesion.

It's all here and it's all for you at the Regency Health Resort and Spa.

With our full 7 day morning to evening program, the Regency is designed to rival the best in health resorts and spas anywhere. You can join in on all classes and lectures or just rest, as you choose. We hope you will join us soon!