{"id":51649,"date":"2025-07-09T14:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T14:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/51649\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T14:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T14:52:11","slug":"how-a-free-pilates-class-took-over-oak-street-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/51649\/","title":{"rendered":"How A Free Pilates Class Took Over Oak Street Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

DOWNTOWN \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Santelli never imagined that, a year later, thousands would gather at the same spot to follow her lead.<\/p>\n

Now, you can find Santelli nearly every Friday at Oak Street Beach, leading a free Pilates class as part of Rise Pilates Club<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

So, Santelli went back to her roots.<\/p>\n

\"\"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<\/p>\n

\u201cI went back to movement and breath work and meditation. I then decided that I wanted to help share those tools with others, and that\u2019s when I signed up for my 500-hour comprehensive certified Pilates instructor certification,\u201d Santelli said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The post went viral. The first class had 12 students \u2014 the third, more than 1,000. Now, it\u2019s standard to see 2,000-4,000 people registered for Santelli\u2019s weekly free class.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that it\u2019s a testament to people needing something that\u2019s accessible, people wanting to come together,\u201d Santelli said. \u201cWhen we can show up vulnerably and in a safe way \u2026 when we can take care of ourselves and it not cost an arm and a leg. I think it\u2019s just going to show that there\u2019s been a lack in this department for a while, and that\u2019s why [the class] has grown so quickly and is then sustainably growing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"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<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something that really feeds the soul,\u201d said Papillon, a South Shore native. \u201cWe were just trying to get into our fitness and health bag . \u2026 We saw this and said, \u2018Let\u2019s add it into our little repertoire.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Beloch said the class is a welcome break from the intensity of traditional workouts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wakes you up and sets you up for the day,\u201d she said. \u201cIf it was something that was daily, I would absolutely come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group also praised the accessibility of the class, especially in a city where wellness resources can be costly or unevenly distributed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving access to these [classes] when some people just didn\u2019t grow up with them at all is really, really important,\u201d Nieves said. \u201cTo have all walks of life come to the beach on one Friday morning \u2014 it\u2019s really, really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"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. Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago Credit: Victor Hilitski for Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Sound Systems And City Rules: What It Takes To Run Rise Pilates<\/p>\n

By Santelli\u2019s third free class, the city came knocking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d Santelli said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t make any money last year. We had no sort of funding to continue to pay for permits this year,\u201d Santelli said.<\/p>\n

\n

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.<\/p>\n

Rise Pilates Club Founder Olivia Santelli <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s when someone introduced Santelli to the ARCS program<\/a> \u2014 a city initiative that covers permit costs for free, public health-focused classes. Santelli applied and was approved, giving Rise a sustainable path forward.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> have been shut down by city officials citing safety and regulatory discrepancies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really wish I could give everyone the toolbox to get permits,\u201d Santelli said. \u201cThey\u2019re going to be necessary \u2014 it\u2019s the biggest piece to making sure everybody\u2019s doing it safely with the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"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<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody could probably hear me the first four or five sessions,\u201d Santelli said. \u201cWe just tried our best to keep elevating the experience each week, even though we didn\u2019t know how we were going to show up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santelli\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"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<\/p>\n

Sisters Margie and Monica Patel said they\u2019ve really enjoyed seeing Santelli\u2019s class grow in popularity and adapt to its growing crowd, saying it\u2019s inspiring.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s inclusive teaching style, which offers modifications for every skill level and fitness background.<\/p>\n

\u201cPilates can be $40 a class,\u201d Monica Patel said. \u201cThis is incredible. You get to meet new people and just be inspired. I wish there was more of this in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Free Fitness And Wellness Classes Popping Up Across Chicago<\/p>\n

Rise Pilates isn\u2019t the only free outdoor fitness class. Across the city, running clubs, walking groups and other fitness classes by Lake Michigan have taken shape.<\/p>\n

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, <\/a>as well as larger paid programs and an annual festival at Theater on the Lake.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s a class of 10 or a few hundred, people are craving real-life connection \u2014 and we\u2019re here to make that happen,\u201d said Cassandra Proctor, events and partnership producer for Strength in the City Chi.<\/p>\n

\"\"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<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 2025 Worldwide Fitness Trends report highlights <\/a>the growing popularity of outdoor exercise, mental health-focused movement and influencer-led fitness programs, all of which are driving forces behind Chicago\u2019s expanding community wellness scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get comments all the time about, you know, \u2018Oh, this is exactly what I was looking for,\u2019 Proctor said. \u201cWe find that people are really craving that in in-person community and in-person experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strength in the City Chi holds classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays along Lake Michigan.<\/p>\n

\"\"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<\/p>\n

For Santelli, Rise has become more than a side project \u2014 it\u2019s now a full-time job. She\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really just want to continue showing people that they are safe to take care of themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s really the biggest mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Rise continues to grow and more wellness events pop up across Chicago, Santelli hopes the city\u2019s movement culture becomes more accessible and lasting. She\u2019s focused on building partnerships that align with her values and expanding resources to help others begin their own Pilates journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are showing up for more than pilates,\u201d said Monica Patel. \u201cThey\u2019re showing up for community. And that\u2019s powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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