Have you been hitting the gym, yoga studio or home fitness room everyday like clockwork? It’s time to say goodbye to winter fitness blues. Now that spring is here, how about getting outside in nature, breathing some fresh air, enjoying a gorgeous view, and maybe even learning a new sport?
St. Augustine’s residents already know all about our incredible surroundings – sand, surf and sunshine – but what about active ways to take advantage of them? It’s easy to plan a day lounging poolside or taking a walk on the beach, but why not kick things up a bit? Right here in St. Augustine there are dozens of outdoor fitness classes to choose from, check out our favorite five ways to get moving and make new friends this summer.
Saint Augustine Paddleboarding:
Emily Johnson from Ocean Extreme Sports is the organizer of this group, which started about three years ago “The first year was a little slow, but last year we had a great turn out and it continues into this year,” said Emily.
Every week you can find several types of events. The group accommodates all fitness and experience levels. If you’ve been thinking about trying SUP, but don’t have a board, they have plenty and will rent you one. They will also arrange a private lesson for you to learn techniques and safety.
“The point of our meetup is to bring the paddleboarding community together and stay together. I have met some really awesome people through meetup and have educated many about the safety of paddleboarding,” said Emily.
EVENTS INCLUDE:
Paddle and drift meets every Friday from 7:30-9:30am
SUP social meets every other Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm, and
Paddleboard yoga meets 7:30-9am, Saturday mornings.
They also offer a monthly full moon paddle.
Elemental Fitness Florida Boot Camp
“Wake up and get sandy,” says Mindi Iannarelli. She wants to invite everyone to join her for her weekly sessions of beach boot camp, held just north of the St. Augustine Beach Pier. Her tagline is, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you,” and you will feel the burn with her intensive beach-side work-outs.
The workouts alternate between cardio and active rest periods, which enables participants to push their fitness to the next level. The classes are open to all levels, as they can be modified down or up to accommodate everyone.
“The scope of clients at one boot camp has ranged from 14-years to 72-years old. Having such a diverse group has been very beneficial to those in attendance,” said Mindi.
EVENTS:
Sunrise Boot Camps – Wednesdays – 7am
After work Boot Camp – Wednesdays – 5:30pm
Weekend Boot Camps – Saturday and Sunday – 8am
Volleyball
Last summer, the Saint Augustine Beach volleyball group started and has gathered together 81 lovers of the game. “The turnout varies, but is usually enough to keep a game going for 3-4 hours at a time,” said organizer Mike Westcott. Every member is welcome to contact an organizer and host an event at any time. With such an excellent volleyball court at the pier in St. Augustine Beach, it’s sure to be a great time!
EVENTS:
Times and days vary, but usually 2-3 times a week.
Image via Kayak St. Augustine
Kayaking
If you want to get out and get some fresh air and exercise, but in a laid-back manner, then the Kayak St. Augustine group will be perfect for you. In four years, they have hosted over 130 stunning on-the-water tours. From local full moon outings to manatee watching in Weeki-Wachi Springs, the organizers can be counted on to put together an interesting event. Don’t have a kayak? Don’t worry, Greg can rent you one.
“A typical outing is 3-4 hours and 3-4 miles. We have lunches and cookouts on occasion. We like to take our time and enjoy the journey. I like to plan about two a month,” said organizer, Greg Braswell.
Beach Yoga
Not much is as relaxing as a beach yoga session; with the sound of the ocean waves crashing in front of you as you balance in a tree pose. The beach yoga group started in St. Augustine this year and meets at Ocean Hammock Park. Their tagline is “Relax, Breathe & Rejuvenate.” I’m sure you’ll feel great after joining in on one of their weekly sessions.
EVENTS:
Tuesdays – 8-9am
Thursdays – 9-10am
More information about all of these groups can be found online at www.meetup.com.
