UPDATE FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER

Dear Hills Members,

Throughout the summer I'll continue to preach the importance of safety in and around the pools and hot tubs. Parents and guardians must keep a close eye on and be within arms reach of little ones. Please also be sure that children adhere to the rules and policies of the club, including locker room/shower behavior. We've had some little ones taking extremely lengthy showers and using way too much of the complimentary soaps and conditioners. Please monitor to ensure that kids are not taking showers to extremes so that we can conserve water and have enough availability of both water and shower products for all members.

I want to thank Assistant Front Desk Manager, Noemi Arias, for all of her hard work, dedication, and commitment, and for exemplifying genuine customer service to everyone who walked through our lobby doors. Sadly, we bid her farewell on Friday, June 28, as she and her family have moved out of the area and she found employment closer to her new home. We celebrated her with a catered lunch and sent her off with a well-deserved Commitment to Excellence Award for extraordinary customer service this year. "Mimi," you were such a bright light here, and you are welcome back anytime.

Lastly, and this is amazing, our Masters Swim Coach, Evgenii "Yev" Somov, has qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris this month!  More details as you read below, but just know we will be supporting and cheering him on throughout this monumental achievement!

-Nick

Mark Your Calendars!

July 4 CLUB CLOSES AT 6PM!
Weekdays 11am-1pm: Pickleball on the basketball court (no experience required, all are welcome!)
July 8, 6-7pm: Free Beginner/Novice Tennis Clinic, register here!
July 8, 7-8pm: Free Intermediate/Advanced Tennis Clinic, register here!

Employee Spotlight: Masters Coach Yev Qualifies for Paris 2024 Olympics

Evgenii (Yev) Somov started coaching our masters swimmers in March 2023. In addition to his 6am shifts on Mondays and Fridays here at The Hills, Yev is often found standing at the edge of other pools in the East Bay, coaching students, young and old, in drills to improve their swim strokes. His coaching skills, bright smile, shock of blonde hair, funny asides, and Russian accent have won him enthusiastic support from his students to help him realize his dream of competing in the Paris Olympics this summer. He will need their support because he will be competing as an independent athlete without a country or Olympic organization backing him.

Yev grew up swimming in St. Petersburg, Russia where his parents were his most devoted fans. He won gold medals in the European Junior Championships in 2017 and in 2018, then left Russia to join the swimming powerhouse University of Louisville Cardinals in the second half of the 2017-2918 season. He became a five-time ACC champion in the 100 yard breaststroke. He now considers the Bay Area his home. 

Yev's perseverance in swimming has allowed him to travel the world and opportunities opened for him that he knew were not available to others, making him forever grateful to the sport. So much so that after college he decided to give back to the swimming community by teaching athletes the basics of the sport and helping them develop into promising swimmers. Rather than solely concentrating on his own competitive swimming, he devoted his time and efforts to the East Bay swimming community.

Yev now works with Piankhi Gibson's Oaklantis Swim Academy, a relatively new organization that gives young Bay Area swimmers quality instruction and coaching. He also coaches high school teams and Masters' teams and gives clinics in stroke techniques to Bay Area adults.

With five months to prepare for Paris, Yev decided to dive back into competition and began training with Piankhi Gibson. Coach Gibson guided Yev through rigorous strength and pool training including riding underwater bicycles. His incredible progress shined through when he won the 100 meter breaststroke at the Atlanta Classic in May 2024, with a time of 58.72, dropping more than a second off his previous best time. All of the hard work and dedication paid off–Yev now holds the Russian national record and third fastest time in 2024 in the 100 meter breaststroke, earning him the opportunity to swim in the upcoming Paris Olympics!

Yev is now preparing for the Olympics with Coach Gibson's guidance, but getting to the Olympics as an independent athlete requires more than just hard work and talent. As an independent athlete without the support of a national team, Yev will incur all the expenses: transportation, pool access and equipment for training, uniforms and technical competition swimsuits. He has a GoFundMe page so he can focus on training without worrying about the financial burden and a network of friends, swimmers and supporters throughout the Bay Area who will be cheering him on to a medal. Let's all get behind Yev and make his Olympic debut a memorable one!

Member Spotlight: Layth Haddawy Wins Silver at 2024 Powerlifting Nationals

16-year-old Hills Club member Layth Haddawy recently competed at the 2024 United States Powerlifting Association Drug Tested Nationals in Las Vegas. Layth competed in the 16/17 year old,132-lb division. With a 309-lb squat, 204-lb bench and 419-lb deadlift for a combined 932 lbs total, Layth placed second and took home the silver medal.

Layth's first US Powerlifting Lifting Association sanctioned competition was in April when he was just 15 years old. At this event, Layth broke all four California state records in the 14/15 year old 132-lb division and qualified for nationals.

Layth began his love for lifting here at The Hills. Once he "caught the bug" he was in the gym 6 days/week. Much of the discipline necessary to succeed at powerlifting was honed in his 7 years of Tae Kwon Do training here at The Hills under Sensei Jeff Allen.

Layth now trains with a powerlifting coach at Get Bent, a specialty power lifting training gym in Oakland. He will be moving up a weight class and will compete again in September in the 148-lb division at the Iron Built Games in Concord, CA. Let's all wish Layth good luck in his next event!

Special Group Exercise Schedule for Holiday Week

Group Ex Schedule

Looking forward to seeing you in one (or many) of our group exercise classes throughout the month!
- Angelique Pine, Group Exercise Director, [email protected]

Small Group Training in Our Peak Fit Studio

Our Peak Fit program offers small group classes designed to improve your strength, stability and cardiovascular health. The attendance is limited to 6-8, depending on the class format, which allows us to offer participants more individualized attention and coaching to maximize the benefits of the workout. We use a variety of equipment to change up the training stimulus and keep improving fitness. The equipment we use varies and includes, but is not limited to TRX, kettlebells, boxes, battle ropes and dumbbells. If you're curious about any of our current or upcoming classes, reach out to me at [email protected] 

Peak Fit Studio Schedule*
Monday 11am All About Strength with Sara
Wednesday 9am TRX with Tori
Thursday 12pm Strength and Stability with Danielle
*Please note that there will be no classes the 1st week of July (July 1-5)

You must register for our Peak Fit classes in order to participate. We require a minimum of 3 participants per class. You can unregister online, up to 24 hours prior to the start of class. We're offering a 10-class package at $180 and your drop-in fee is $20 per class.

It's a fun time and I hope we'll see some new faces in the near future!
-Danielle Marchetti, Hills Interim Fitness Coordinator, [email protected]

Happy 4th of July from The Hills Pilates and Wellness Studio!

As we dive into the summer and enjoy vacation and relaxation, I want to offer some words of wisdom from Joseph Pilates himself:

"Breathing is the first act of life and the last. Our very life depends on it".

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness".

"Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things".

"Man should bear in mind and ponder over the Greek admonition - Not Too Much, Not Too Little".

And my favorite: "By all means, never fail to get all the sunshine and fresh air you can".

              Joseph Pilates, Founder of the Pilates method (the method of Contrology).

Please note that our Pilates Studio will be closed on July 4th. The Pilates studio will stay open all throughout summer, however, we may have a limited schedule due to lower enrollment. You can find the latest updates online and on the app: https://cachstc.clubautomation.com/

We want to wish you all a happy and healthy summer!
- Therese, Barbara, Lawrence, Anne, Colleen, Elizabeth and Carolyn

Did You Miss Our Vacation Pilates Workshop?

You can still get a recording of the full class with instructions, a handout and a flex band!
Pilates is a great remedy to travel aches and fitness losses. It will stretch your whole body, activate your core, and develop muscle tone. Our popular Vacation Pilates Program is uniquely tailored to new and experienced Pilates students. It is both simple, effective, and safe. All you need is a flex band (resistance band) and a soft surface. No Pilates experience required.
Cost: $50, includes flex band and lifetime access to the recording.
Contact our studio to learn more: [email protected]

Hills Reformer Pilates Program

The Hills Pilates Studio reformer classes are very popular, in fact many of our classes are waitlisted. We are thrilled that so many members have discovered Pilates and its benefits.
You find our schedule here:
PILATES STUDIO SCHEDULE JULY 2024
Are you interested in trying Pilates on the reformer?
Contact our studio to get started today: [email protected]

Book classes here and on the Hills app:https://cachstc.clubautomation.com/

          PILATES STUDIO POLICIES
Our Pilates studio policies are developed with everyone's safety and benefit in   
mind:PILATES STUDIO POLICIES.docx

Personal Trainers Help You Reach Your Goals

Summer is in full swing, and The Hills personal trainers are here to help you make the most of it. Our team is composed of certified experts in various disciplines, each bringing a unique set of skills and knowledge to the table. Whether you're looking to lose weight, build muscle, improve athletic performance, or simply maintain a healthy lifestyle, our trainers are here to provide personalized guidance and support. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

2024 PERSONAL TRAINING RATES
Adult (single session/10 session package)
Private Session: $120/$1100
Semi Private: $75/person/$700
Groups ≥3: $65/person/$600

Senior ≥65 years of age (single session/10-session package)
Private Session: $100/$950
Semi Private: $65/person/$600
Groups ≥3: $55/person/$500

Youth ≤17 years of age (single session/10-session package)
Private Session: $100/$950
Semi Private: $65/person/$600
Groups ≥3: $55/person/$500

To set up a PT session or to book your complimentary fitness orientation, reach out to any of our certified personal trainers:
Jeff Allen, [email protected]
Danielle Marchetti, [email protected]
Angelique Pine, [email protected]

Aquatics Rules, Programs & More  

Variety of Swim Lesson Offerings This Summer

Private or Semi-Private Lessons

If you are interested in swim lessons for yourself or for your child(ren), we offer both private and semi-private lessons for all ages. To request a swim lesson, please email an instructor directly. Be sure to include the age and skill level of the swimmer and the times/dates that work best for you. The more flexible you are the more likely an instructor will have a spot available. Please be aware that instructors may only respond if they have availability. Learn more about our offerings here!

Weekly Group Swim Lessons

We are excited to be offering afternoon group swim lessons this summer for intermediate swimmers. Each session will be one week in length and meet five days a week.  Members: $95/week  Non-Members $115/week (New Non-Hills Members must complete this non-member agreement form prior to enrolling). Register here!

Minnows Learn freestyle stroke technique with side breathing. Introduction to swimming on back, deep water swimming and kneeling dives. Requirements: Must be able to swim 15 yards unassisted and tread water for 30 seconds.  Children 4–7 years.  3-3:30pm

Guppies Focus on freestyle side breathing and backstroke technique. Breaststroke and butterfly kick is introduced.  Requirements: Must be able to swim 25 yards unassisted and tread water for 45 seconds.  Children 5–8.  3:30-4pm

Jr Lifeguard Camp July 15-19

Do you have a 10-15 year old wanting to become a lifeguard when he or she is older? Or maybe your tween/teen is bored and doesn't have anything to do during the week. Sign him/her up for our weeklong Jr Lifeguard Camp and they will be off their screens learning lifesaving skills–something they can carry with them throughout their lives. Along with water safety activities the junior guards engage in CPR and First Aid training. Our goal is to set a foundation for good work skills, responsibilities, skill development, competition, and leadership skills with all participants.

The camp includes 30-minute daily fitness/workouts, lectures, demonstrations, and team building activities. An additional two hours per week of volunteering may be required by each Jr. guard. Course Prerequisite: 50 yards of freestyle or breaststroke. Retrieve a 10-lb. brick from a depth of 12 feet. Swim underwater 15 feet.

Lunch/Snacks are not provided.
Time: 9am-2pm daily
July 15-19
Members $405, Non-Hills Members $445
Register here!

Swim Team and Pre-Competitive Swim Team

These groups are currently full. We will plan tryouts for Fall in early August with exact dates to be announced sometime this month. More info and updates here.

Our June Family Fun Night was a Big Hit!

Members had a blast at our Family Fun Night on Friday, June 28. For those of you who missed it, the lane lines were removed from 7-9pm and the pool was open for free swim and large inflatables. We had music playing on the pool deck, games for the kids, raffle prizes and more. Chef Andrea offered a special dinner meal that included delicious bbq chicken and burgers. Mark your calendars: our next Family Fun Night will be Friday, July 19, 7-9pm. We'll be sending out more information in the coming weeks.

Beat the Heat with an Aqua Fitness Workout

As the weather warms up, what better way to stay cool during a workout than taking an aqua fitness class! We offer these classes 4 days a week from 9-10am; the workouts vary, and best of all they are included with your membership. These "water" workouts are typically a fun and social atmosphere and are for all levels of physical ability. Participants will use flotation belts, noodles, styrofoam barbells and more. The workouts are easy on the joints and include water walking/running, abdominal work and toning exercises. Classes are designed to burn fat, increase cardiovascular fitness, and range of motion and muscle tone. Another benefit is that it's a great cross training exercise. Our aqua fitness classes are well attended and therefore we kindly ask that you register in advance if you plan on participating.

S'WET™ DEEP Made a Big Splash Last Month

We kicked off this new class last month and it was a huge hit! This innovative aquatic training program focuses on suspended work, reducing joint impact while optimizing muscle contractions through deep water exercises. Designed to incorporate blocks of activity focused on HIIT, strength, and advanced cardio training, with a splash of fun to work your entire body, S'WET™ DEEP combines steady state conditioning, isolation work, and strategic body angles to effectively strengthen your core and provide a comprehensive full-body workout.

Class Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-8:15am
Location: Diving well
Maximum of 9 students - register here!
We recommend this class for athletes, swimmers, and anyone seeking a serious full-body workout. Please arrive on time.

Summer is a Great Time for Tennis

Our 2024 Summer Tennis Program runs through August 8th. We offer a variety of classes and events, including beginner clinics, private training sessions, and matchplay. Our experienced coaches are dedicated to helping you improve your game, whether you're aiming to refine your technique or learn the basics.
Registration remains open, and spots are filling up. Don't miss your chance to be part of this exciting season. Sign up today and take the first step towards an amazing summer of tennis at The Hills Swim & Tennis Club.

See you on the courts!
Coach Sydney
[email protected]

Download The Hills Summer Tennis Brochure HERE

Remaining Summer Session Dates 2024:

Weekly Schedule at a glance:

* prices listed below

Junior Clinics (6 players per class)
Little Stars age 6&7: Monday-Thursday, 12:30 - 1:30pm for $160 per week
Rising Stars age 8-11: Monday-Thursday, 10am - 12pm for $250 per week
Supernovas age 12-17: Monday-Thursday, 2 - 4pm for $250 per week

Adult Clinics (6 players per class)
Adult Beginning: Sundays, 12:15 - 1:15pm for $50 per session
Adult Intermediate: Sundays, 1:30 - 3pm for $60 per session

Free Clinic for MEMBERS ONLY - Parent/Child activity session
Mini Stars: Sundays, 3:15 - 3:45pm

Non-members are welcome to join our clinic program for an additional non-member registration fee per session, please email Coach Sydney to register as a non-member.

Members who are concurrently registered for Kids Camp at The Hills and Tennis Camp will receive a 10% discount on tennis registration BY REQUEST - send an email to Coach Sydney.

Private Lessons Available with Coach Sydney

Private lessons are available by request. Non-Members must attend at least 1 clinic session to be eligible to book private lessons. Contact Coach Sydney to schedule [email protected]
Private (1 player): $100/hour
Semi-Private (2 players): $70/hour per player
Small Group (3+ players): $50/hour per player

In-House Match Play

Our in-house match play program is in full swing! All interested players need to register on the google doc. This is a great opportunity to jump in the player pool and get out on court this summer!

This program gives members an opportunity to have coordinated match play at The Hills. While this program is competition based, each match is meant to be friendly and played in good-spirit. Sportsmanship and courtesy are regarded above all else in this league.

*Non-members may participate in this league for a $25 fee, contact Coach Sydney to coordinate.

Book Your Court Time for Pickleball

More members are finding out just how fun the sport of pickleball is. The warm weather is perfect for playing games with family and friends, or just rallying back and forth for fun. If you haven't yet given it a try, our sports court is reserved exclusively for pickleball from 11am to 1pm on weekdays. Games during these "open" weekday hours are friendly, social games with some accommodations made for beginning players. You'll see people of all ages and athletic ability having fun on our court. If this block of time doesn't work with your schedule, you are welcome to book a 1-hour reservation per membership per day. If you don't have your own equipment, you can ask the front desk staff for the pickleball bag (complete with paddles and balls). And if pickleball is not your thing, grab one of our basketballs from the front desk, slide the net out of the way and shoot some hoops!

Kids Get a Kick Out of Tae Kwon Do

Looking for a summer activity for your child that will focus on both body and mind? Sign him/her up for our popular Tae Kwon Do classes! This is a year-round program, led by Sensei Jeff, is for kids ages 5-17 (split into two groups based on level and ability). Each session involves kicking, punching and self defense, but most of all, he encourages the kids to have fun. Students will learn the five tenets which include Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. This ancient Korean art of self defense can help ease emotional problems such as stress and depression, while promoting physical fitness. The goal of the program is to instill confidence, teach respect, and focus on raising self esteem. There are currently 11 students enrolled, ranging in age from 5-13. Register your child/children today!

Tuesdays & Thursdays
3:30–4:45pm Beginner
6–7:15pm Advanced

Members: $95 per month
Non-members: $110 per month

For more information or to register your child for Tae Kwon Do, please contact Jeff directly via email or by calling 510-339-0234 x118.

Grab Some Shade & Relax in a Cabana

The warmer summer days/nights create a high demand for cabana reservations! Cabanas 2-9 are available daily by reservation. Please be aware of our club policy: one 2-hour reservation per membership per day. 
Reservations for our "lounge" cabanas open at 8am 3 days in advance. For example, on Tuesday morning at 8am, members can log in and book a cabana reservation for Friday. We kindly ask that members tidy up the cabana at the end of each use.
For those members who enjoy an outdoor workout, Cabana 1 will remain as the designated workout cabana (no reservation required to use the outdoor fitness equipment).

We love celebrating our employees' birthdays here at The Hills! Please join us in wishing each of these "July babies" a happy birthday and thanking them for all of their hard work!

Sara Deslierres, 07/05
William Becker, 07/19
Andrew Nguyen, 07/23
Eddie Pasternak, 07/30

Photo Highlights of Summer Camp 2024