Staying Fit: Easy at the Omni Hilton Head

Omni's new sunny fitness center

I was intrigued when I heard that a CrossFit program was coming to the Omni Hilton Head. This beachfront resort has so many opportunities to stay fit that the new CrossFit partnership is icing on the (low cal, gluten-free, sugar-free) cake.

First, the Omni has a new fitness center. The bright, spacious gym overlooks the gorgeous landscaping, and wooden walkways leading to the new pools and beach.

Plenty of weights

The fitness center has plenty of treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights and weight machines. There are stability balls, a stretch area with mats, and plenty of mirrors so you can watch your form. 

There are also soft towels, earbuds for those who forgot, and a water cooler.

If you prefer to exercise alone, Omni offers free Get Fit Kits, which can be sent to your room. The kits contain weights, a mat, a stretch band and water.

Stability balls in the gym

And if classes are your thing, there are free yoga classes Tuesdays and Thursdays.

But the resort offers so much more than the fitness center. the Omni is in the Palmetto Dunes area, which has 11 miles of lagoon for kayaking and canoeing. 

A spot to finally relax

You can rent bikes right on property, and ride them on the hard packed sand. When I heard you could bike at the beach, I assumed there was a boardwalk, but the one speed beach cruisers that we rented, with fat tires, could be ridden right on the sand. Within Palmetto Dunes, there are miles of traffic free bike trails, and even when you go out into the rest of Hilton Head, there are wide, safe bike paths everywhere.

If you need more activities  there are 25 tennis courts and three golf courses. Plus a large playground, a basketball court and a volleyball court (you can borrow equipment from the Omni).

This is one vacation spot where you won't sit still!

Fitness Challenge, Day 96

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program, and many gyms around New York are affiliated with it. CrossFit718 has one hour small group training sessions, with a coach and up to 10 participants in each class. The classes, which vary each time, include short bursts of intense activity, like using a medicine ball to squat, throw and catch. Do this enough times and your quads will be screaming. At the intro class I took, we were encouraged to reach a goal, and record our times or reps. This way, you can track improvement over time. My class included a 3-5 minute run (depending on your speed) with that same medicine ball, and a punishing routine of pushups, squats and sit ups. The bare bones gym is stocked with towels and a water cooler, and you might even be offered a banana at the end of your workout. Advanced athletes can try kettle bells, Olympic lifting and endurance training.