As summer heat sets in, forcing us to wear skimpier attire, our thoughts turn to getting into shape – if not for the beach or pool, at least for the neighborhood barbecue. Yet mental blocks and scheduling conflicts often turn would-be workouts to wishful thinking.

But don’t throw in the towel. Delta Valley Athletic Club in Brentwood offers classes and exercise options that provide the extra knowledge and motivation to help you get out of the house and into the gym.

Just “getting a gym membership is not going to get anyone healthy,” said DVAC Assistant General Manager Sandy McCaslin. “They need to follow a plan.” Since many of us are unaware of how to start a new workout routine, the club offers free consultations to new members. We can speak with a personal trainer and develop an exercise regimen that targets our unique goals and needs, allowing us to see results sooner and increase our motivation to keep progressing.

“It makes it easy,” said Erin Pellaton, health and wellness consultant for the gym, and also a certified personal trainer. By educating new members about how to exercise and how to effectively use workout equipment, trainers remove the fear of failure that so often cripples workout routines. “They think everyone in the gym has been there their whole life,” said Pellaton, reassuring new members that even the fittest athlete was once a beginner. Most people see the greatest success with workout regimens that include just one hour of exercise three or four times per week, which can fit into the busiest schedule.

Offering members more than 55 complimentary classes weekly, the club also offers inspiration to those who want a structured workout session, who want to get acclimated to the gym environment, or who want some extra motivation to get out of the house.

Ranging from aquatic classes to Zumba, from boot camp to yoga, the classes target every imaginable fitness goal –from weight loss to strength training to flexibility to general health. Of course, the club is also open for self-directed workouts, and well furnished with cardio machines, weight machines with illustrated instructions, ball sport courts and even a rock wall. Kids from 6 months to 12 years can play at the colorful and exciting kids’ club while mom and dad exercise.

In addition to physical fitness, McCaslin advocated the mental health benefits of exercise. “Emotion comes from motion,” she said. As exercise releases endorphins, it provides stress relief and an overall improvement in emotional and mental well-being. “Because we care about your health, so should you,” she said, encouraging us to take the first step. “Do it for you. Do it for your family. Do it today.”

Delta Valley Athletic Club, located at 120 Guthrie Lane in Brentwood, is open Mondays through Fridays from 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 925-240-2990 or visit www.deltavac.com.