The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
I was born and raised on the northwest side of San Antonio. I went to Warren High School, where I made friendships that still anchor me today, and later attended UT Health San Antonio to pursue a career in dental hygiene. My path seemed set in stone, but as life often does, it redirected me.
After moving to Austin to further my dental career, I fell in love with something unexpected: fitness. I’d played sports my entire life, but while in Austin I started a professional career in women’s football. Competing at that level made me realize how impactful health, exercise and daily habits were — not only for performance, but for overall well-being. Fitness wasn’t just training for me; it was a way of life, and I knew I wanted to bring that understanding back to my hometown.
San Antonio has never had the best reputation as a “fit city,” but I saw that as an opportunity. Being one of the largest cities in the country, our culture is built around delicious food, family, and loyalty. Those things make our city rich and unique, but I wanted to add another value to that foundation: health.
When I returned to San Antonio, it wasn’t just because it was home — it was because I felt called to make an impact here. Alongside my husband and our amazing team, we launched The Yard Gym with one mission: to create a space rooted in accountability, support, and the belief that every person in our community deserves to live a healthier and happier life.
Today, I live in the Oakland Estates area, just outside of the Medical Center. It’s a diverse and quickly developing neighborhood with easy access to every major highway. I can be at The Rim in 10 minutes or downtown in 15 — which means I can leave before sunrise, take a scenic route through the city, and still make it just in time to lead a 5 a.m. class. For now, this area feels like the perfect balance of convenience and culture, and I’m grateful to call it home.
The Yard has two locations — one on Broadway and another in the Alon Town Center — which allows me to be part of two very different but equally special communities. My ties run deep across San Antonio: my family is originally from the South Side, I lived downtown during college, and now my work connects me to Castle Hills and beyond.
The Alon community has a special place in my heart. When I was previously an owner of F45 franchises, much of my network was built there. It’s an area full of young families balancing careers and raising children. With that in mind, we created a crèche service — on-site childcare during workouts — so parents don’t have to choose between their health and their responsibilities. I’ve seen how empowering it is for moms and dads to know their little ones are safe while they focus on themselves.
Chasity Morales teaches a class at The Yard Gym location on Broadway. Credit: Courtesy / The Yard Gym
Downtown offers a completely different energy. With new developments like the Pullman Market, an expanding running community, and a wave of healthier dining options, there’s momentum building toward wellness in the city’s core. My dream is for The Yard to be a hub where these elements intersect — where people gather not just to exercise, but to connect, refuel, and be part of a culture centered on health.
What I love most about San Antonio is that it’s always growing, and I feel like I’m growing alongside it. Our neighborhoods may look different — from the suburban calm of Alamo Ranch to the bustle of Broadway — but what ties us together is a sense of community and care for one another.
Some of my favorite memories are tied to these neighborhoods: running on the River Walk before the city wakes up, family dinners at South Side favorites, late-night conversations with my husband about what it means to build a legacy here. I see every corner of San Antonio as an opportunity — a chance to serve, inspire, and create healthier futures.
That’s why expansion is always on my mind. We’re already planning to reach the neighborhoods that shaped me — Alamo Ranch, Potranco, The Rim, and even out toward Boerne. I want kids growing up where I grew up to see health and wellness as part of their daily lives, not something extra or out of reach.
San Antonio is developing fast, but my hope is that health becomes just as much a part of our identity as Fiesta, Spurs games, and Tex-Mex. When I think about the legacy I want to leave, it’s not just about building gyms. It’s about creating communities where people feel supported, where families feel stronger, and where the city I’ve always called home becomes known as one of the healthiest — not just the friendliest — places to live.
For me, this city is more than just where I live. It’s where I love, where I build, and where I give back. It’s home — and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.