How A Free Pilates Class Took Over Oak Street Beach

DOWNTOWN — The sun rose over Lake Michigan as Olivia Santelli led her first free Pilates class at Oak Street Beach. A dozen people flowed through the movements, their silhouettes shifting in sync with the waves.

Santelli never imagined that, a year later, thousands would gather at the same spot to follow her lead.

Now, you can find Santelli nearly every Friday at Oak Street Beach, leading a free Pilates class as part of Rise Pilates Club. She arrives just as the sun starts to peek over the horizon. She can be seen preparing for class with her dad, who helps her dig small trenches to set up speakers near the water.

Struggling with anxiety and depression through her early 20s, Santelli, a Chicago native, used movement, meditation, breath work and journaling to help her heal and cope. After graduating from Michigan State University and briefly working for the Chicago Cubs, she found herself wanting something different.

So, Santelli went back to her roots.

Large crowds participate in a free public pilates class hosted by Rise Pilates Club, a wellness community focused on movement, breathwork, and connection, at sunrise on Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Friday, June 27, 2025. The class, open to all ages and genders, drew a diverse group of attendees who spread out on yoga mats next to the lake. Olivia Santelli, founder of the Rise Pilates Club, led the large group workout through various pilates exercises. Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago Credit: Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago

“I went back to movement and breath work and meditation. I then decided that I wanted to help share those tools with others, and that’s when I signed up for my 500-hour comprehensive certified Pilates instructor certification,” Santelli said.

It took Santelli about a year to get certified. She wanted to share her knowledge with others, so she posted a summer class schedule on her Instagram, advertising free sessions for summer 2024.

The post went viral. The first class had 12 students — the third, more than 1,000. Now, it’s standard to see 2,000-4,000 people registered for Santelli’s weekly free class.

“I think that it’s a testament to people needing something that’s accessible, people wanting to come together,” Santelli said. “When we can show up vulnerably and in a safe way … when we can take care of ourselves and it not cost an arm and a leg. I think it’s just going to show that there’s been a lack in this department for a while, and that’s why [the class] has grown so quickly and is then sustainably growing.”

Friends Tavin Beloch, Mikaela Ewing, Azia Papillon and Mimi Nieves are among the thousands flocking to Oak Street Beach for Rise Pilates Club. What started as a social media discovery has turned into a weekly ritual for the group, who say the class has helped them stay grounded while adjusting to life after graduation.

Pilates enthusiasts arrive on Oak Street Beach as the sun rises over Lake Michigan for a free public pilates class hosted by Rise Pilates Club in Chicago, Friday, June 27, 2025. Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago Credit: Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago

“This is something that really feeds the soul,” said Papillon, a South Shore native. “We were just trying to get into our fitness and health bag . … We saw this and said, ‘Let’s add it into our little repertoire.’”

Beloch said the class is a welcome break from the intensity of traditional workouts.

“It wakes you up and sets you up for the day,” she said. “If it was something that was daily, I would absolutely come.”

The group also praised the accessibility of the class, especially in a city where wellness resources can be costly or unevenly distributed.

“Having access to these [classes] when some people just didn’t grow up with them at all is really, really important,” Nieves said. “To have all walks of life come to the beach on one Friday morning — it’s really, really cool.”

Sound Systems And City Rules: What It Takes To Run Rise Pilates

By Santelli’s third free class, the city came knocking.

“I received a call from the city saying that they were going to shut us down. But thankfully, I did my due diligence. I lived in Chicago my whole life. I know that everything can be handled with a call,” Santelli said.

Santelli reached out to the Park District, where staff guided her through the special event permitting process. She secured approval to finish out the 2024 season, but the experience highlighted the financial challenges that come with trying to keep wellness free and accessible, she said.

“We didn’t make any money last year. We had no sort of funding to continue to pay for permits this year,” Santelli said.

I received a call from the city saying that they were going to shut us down. But thankfully, I did my due diligence. I lived in Chicago my whole life. I know that everything can be handled with a call.

Rise Pilates Club Founder Olivia Santelli

That’s when someone introduced Santelli to the ARCS program — a city initiative that covers permit costs for free, public health-focused classes. Santelli applied and was approved, giving Rise a sustainable path forward.

With more free fitness classes popping up across the city, Santelli hopes other organizers take similar steps. Over the years, unpermitted events such as Friday Swim Club have been shut down by city officials citing safety and regulatory discrepancies.

“I really wish I could give everyone the toolbox to get permits,” Santelli said. “They’re going to be necessary — it’s the biggest piece to making sure everybody’s doing it safely with the city.”

Participants perform pilates exercises during a free public class hosted by Rise Pilates Club at sunrise on Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Friday, June 27, 2025. Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago Credit: Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago

In addition to securing city permits, Santelli had to quickly adapt to the logistical demands of leading a class for thousands on an open beach. Early sessions were bare-bones, just a small portable speaker and a mic she ordered off Amazon.

“Nobody could probably hear me the first four or five sessions,” Santelli said. “We just tried our best to keep elevating the experience each week, even though we didn’t know how we were going to show up.”

Santelli’s father stepped in to help as the crowds swelled. They get to the beach before sunrise to dig trenches in the sand and wire DJ-grade speakers along the lakefront.

Sisters Margie (left) and Monica Patel enjoy their overnight oats breakfast before a free public pilates class hosted by Rise Pilates Club at sunrise on Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Friday, June 27, 2025. Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago Credit: Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago

Sisters Margie and Monica Patel said they’ve really enjoyed seeing Santelli’s class grow in popularity and adapt to its growing crowd, saying it’s inspiring.

Monica Patel, a physical therapist, said the accessibility of Rise Pilates is particularly meaningful in a city where wellness resources often come with high price tags. Both women praised Santelli’s inclusive teaching style, which offers modifications for every skill level and fitness background.

“Pilates can be $40 a class,” Monica Patel said. “This is incredible. You get to meet new people and just be inspired. I wish there was more of this in the city.”

Free Fitness And Wellness Classes Popping Up Across Chicago

Rise Pilates isn’t the only free outdoor fitness class. Across the city, running clubs, walking groups and other fitness classes by Lake Michigan have taken shape.

Strength in the City launched in Chicago in 2018 with a mission to make wellness accessible, collaborative and community-centered. What began as a local health and fitness festival has grown into a multi-city initiative offering free and donation-based events throughout the summer, as well as larger paid programs and an annual festival at Theater on the Lake.

“Whether it’s a class of 10 or a few hundred, people are craving real-life connection — and we’re here to make that happen,” said Cassandra Proctor, events and partnership producer for Strength in the City Chi.

A participant washes sand off her mat in Lake Michigan after a free public pilates class hosted by Rise Pilates Club at sunrise on Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Friday, June 27, 2025. Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago Credit: Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago

The rise of free fitness classes such as Rise Pilates Club and Strength in the City reflects broader national trends in how people are choosing to work out. The American College of Sports Medicine’s 2025 Worldwide Fitness Trends report highlights the growing popularity of outdoor exercise, mental health-focused movement and influencer-led fitness programs, all of which are driving forces behind Chicago’s expanding community wellness scene.

“We get comments all the time about, you know, ‘Oh, this is exactly what I was looking for,’ Proctor said. “We find that people are really craving that in in-person community and in-person experiences.”

Strength in the City Chi holds classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays along Lake Michigan.

For Santelli, Rise has become more than a side project — it’s now a full-time job. She’s begun partnering with local and national brands to support the free classes while launching a digital platform offering on-demand workouts for a monthly fee. The goal is to keep the in-person experience free while building a business that can support her work year-round.

“I really just want to continue showing people that they are safe to take care of themselves,” she said. “That’s really the biggest mission.”

As Rise continues to grow and more wellness events pop up across Chicago, Santelli hopes the city’s movement culture becomes more accessible and lasting. She’s focused on building partnerships that align with her values and expanding resources to help others begin their own Pilates journey.

“People are showing up for more than pilates,” said Monica Patel. “They’re showing up for community. And that’s powerful.”

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How A Free Pilates Class Took Over Oak Street Beach

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