By Kim D. McHugh
Photography Courtesy of Club at Ravenna
THE CLUB AT RAVENNA’S La Bella Vita fitness center makes staying fit seriously fun
Play 18 holes on The Club at Ravenna’s 7,263-yard golf course, and “getting your steps in” gains new meaning. But golf is only one way to keep fit as a member of this gated community, thanks to the club’s fitness center, which is as architecturally gorgeous as it is a destination to stay fit.
“We had an opportunity to build a unique building that makes an architectural statement and creates an inviting sense of arrival for our members. We like Tuscan and wanted to convey a classic Italian feel, and I think we’ve accomplished it,” says Kevin Collins, the club’s owner and CEO.
Opened in 2018, La Bella Vita (the good life in Italian) is an 11,000-square-foot, three-story structure just a pitching wedge from Villa Ravenna, the club’s 25,000-square-foot clubhouse. Home to three fitness areas, a swimming pool and hot tub, La Bella Vita is ideal for workouts, swimming laps, or just chilling with your girlfriends on the sprawling, cabana-dotted patio or around the circular firepit savoring a sauvignon blanc.
Upon entering the oasis, the calming effect is immediate. Credit a decor featuring pastels of green, yellow and blue integrated with soothing earth tones. On your left, the bright and airy space is dedicated to cardio and functional fitness, where an array of stair climbers, treadmills, spin bikes, and Pilates and muscle-toning machines are positioned in front of a wall of windows to showcase views of the foothills. Separated by a bank of glass doors, the adjoining fitness space serves primarily as a yoga studio. Also, it includes two Balanced Body reformers, the CoreAlign and a Bodhi Suspension System. A Yoga Wall doubles as a barre wall to further the flexibility needs of members.
The lower-level space is dedicated to weightlifting, where you can build and tone muscles via free weights, rowing machines, and bench pressing and resistance machines. At the same time, heavy punching bags and jump ropes bring out the “Million Dollar Baby” in you.
Flexing its “girl power” muscles, the club has a roster of certified fitness professionals, including personal trainer and yoga aficionado Patience Hooks, yoga instructor and Hot Power Fusion–certified Ruthie Laford, and Pilates instructors Andrea Fowler and Olivia Grace Wolfe. Whether you’re new to fitness or fine-tuning a program you’ve been doing for years, guidance from this team keeps you focused on boosting cardio stamina, improving flexibility and balance, and toning muscles.
“Pilates is versatile with how it strengthens muscles under spring tension load,” Fowler says. “Joe Pilates once said, ‘In ten sessions, you will feel the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you’ll have a whole new body.’ As we age, Pilates can be key in keeping correct posture, which can take years off our appearance!”
Outdoors, Il Prato offers poolside pastime at its finest with striking views of the foothills, loads of lounge space, private cabanas and poolside fitness classes. Overlooking the 18th green, The 19th Hole is a popular spot for post-round, post-workout gatherings. Its inviting terrace and foothills vistas go hand-in-golf-glove with executive chef Hughes’ health-oriented cuisine that features a red grapefruit and avocado salad, Thai chicken or cashew beef lettuce wraps and a roasted sweet potato burrito bowl.
Meeting friends at the club is perfect for whiling away the upcoming summer days. Whether you long for a day lounging by the pool or a challenging workout—on or off the course—membership at Ravenna has its privileges.
The Club at Ravenna
8285 Dante Dr., Littleton
720.956.1600