Outdoor Fitness Spaces Offer Safe, Inspiring Workouts

Paul Steinbach Headshot
3 Q3 A1477 Cmyk

Natalia Espana was a full-time ER tech who guided group fitness classes in her spare time. Then the pandemic hit, and even though she viewed fitness as a passionate hobby that paid, the shutdown of the corporate health clubs where she had been teaching left Espana, and a lot of her fellow fitness instructors, in a state of limbo. From that uncertainty came the spark of an idea. Could enough regular class-goers be convinced to follow their favorite instructors outdoors in the interest of spacing and safety — even at the height of California’s COVID restrictions?

ā€œWhen we set up a business plan, we were estimating maybe 20 classes a week — a couple in the morning, a couple midday, maybe a couple in the evening. But the response, the demand for outdoor fitness, has just blown us away,ā€ says Espana, who launched GOAT Santa Cruz with her husband in August 2020. ā€œHaving more than 60 classes a week has exceeded our expectations by a lot. I mean, it’s amazing. It’s crazy. We’re still like, ā€˜Wait. What?’ ā€

Log in to view the full article
Page 1 of 148
Next Page
AB Show 2025 in San Diego
AB Show is a solution-focused event for athletics, fitness, recreation and military professionals.
Nov. 5-8, 2025
Learn More
AB Show 2025
Buyer's Guide
Information on more than 3,000 companies, sorted by category. Listings are updated daily.
Learn More
Buyer's Guide