About Us

Several fitness center businesses have operated on our current site since the mid 1980’s, and in February 2007, Michelle Brannon and John Cooney opened “Sunset Family Fitness” with expanded services that allow us to serve as a true community fitness center–with complete programs for youths, seniors, and parents with young children.

Michelle is the General Manager and Fitness Director running the day to day activities.  As the Fitness Director, Michelle is the lead Group Fitness Instructor, with over 20 years of experience in a variety of group fitness disciplines, including, but not limited to, indoor cycling, cross training, circuit training, senior fitness, youth fitness, and other special populations.

In addition to holding a professional certificate in Group Fitness from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), Michelle is a ACE-Certified Personal Trainer with 10 years of experience specializing in post-rehabilitation programs, senior fitness, youth fitness, and general fitness and weight-loss. Personal Training is not only a great way to get started on the right foot, but also a way to create a comprehensive plan for both exercise and nutrition, as well as accountability in order to make the most of your membership.

John who is recently retired from 24 years of combined service in the Army Reserves and U.S. Coast Guard, is a certified American Red Cross instructor for CPR/AED, First Aid, and Sports Safety Training. John is also a certified technician for our gym equipment and maintains the equipment for optimal performance.

At Sunset Family Fitness, we strive to provide the best customer service to both our loyal members and frequent guests. Not only do we provide a family-friendly and comfortable atmosphere, we are continually improving our services and facilities to accommodate  our growing membership. Our ultimate goal is to be the best fitness value on the north Oregon coast.

During the course of our first 6 years in business, we have increased our studio classes from 5 classes per week to over 30 classes per week, including gym circuit, indoor cycling, yoga, pilates, senior, youth, and cross-training classes. All, at no extra cost to our members! We also, expanded the children’s play room, called PlayCare, in order for many of our members with preschool children to fully enjoy their memberships with the convenience of having their children on the premises in a supervised, colorful, safe, and child-friendly space.

As our own three boys grow, and mature, we hope that they will choose to become involved in one, or all, facets of the business, carrying on this important service to our community. At the very least, you will see them often once they are eligible to enroll in the Free Student Membership program subsidized by our non-profit arm, Fit To Be Teens, Inc., which we started in 2010. Fit To Be Teens, Inc. was organized to produce the Annual Seaside Beach Run — 5K/10K Races, 5K Walk, and Kids’ Sand Dash — to raise funds to support and promote fitness opportunities for teens age 13 and older throughout Clatsop County.