I’m back from spending a few weeks in LA with my best friend.
One of my favorites parts of being there is trying out different workouts and taking advantage of the nearby places to hike. Of course, this trip looked very different than my usual trips to LA. There were a lot of extra safety Covid precautions to keep me, the people I was staying with, and others safe.
I personally don’t feel comfortable working out inside in a studio or gym just yet, but luckily LA has some incredible outdoor workout offerings right now. Gotta love taking advantage of the all-year-round sun!
Here are a few favorites I got to check out, plus some I wish I would’ve had the time to try:
Outdoor Workouts in LA Right Now:
Hiking: Fryman + Runyon Canyon
I went to both Fryman and Runyon Canyon during this visit. Fryman is a bit less intense as far as incline goes. There’s also easier parking because it has an actual parking lot (although my friend and I did park on a side street to avoid the long wait for parking).
Runyon Canyon holds a special place in my heart, though, as it’s where I spent a lot of time when I briefly lived in LA after college. I lucked out and found parking nearby when I went. It also wasn’t too crowded on a weekday morning.
Safety: As far as safety goes, I personally wore a mask the whole time unless I was super far away from others. I’d say most people were wearing masks, but not all. All people were distancing. I recommend going during off-peak times to avoid crowds.
Cycling on the beach with Beach Cycle in Santa Monica
Taking a cycling class on the beach in Santa Monica was INCREDIBLE. I was so impressed with Beach Cycle’s setup — there’s a long line of bikes, each distanced from one another. The music and instructor are pumped in through noise-canceling headphones.
I took a class with Jenn. Her energy was top-notch and kept me smiling the entire class. It had a bit of a SoulCycle vibe with some choreography like tap backs, 4-corners, and splitting us up into groups for jumps. The music was fun and upbeat, mainly top 40’s.
The real magic though was the view and looking straight out into the ocean for the entire class. WOW. It was breathtaking in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s cheesy but I got a bit weepy when Good Life by Bruno Mars came on. Cycling on the beach is truly the good life!
The location is right by a parking lot with 2-hour paid parking and public restrooms. Restrooms close at 6 PM though!
Safety: Masks are optional during class once on your bike. Bikes are distanced from one another.
Bring a towel and wear sneakers or cycling shoes with SPD clips. Beach Cycle does not offer cycling shoes for rent. You might want to wear sunglasses as you’re looking right into the sun. Also, dress for the wind in the evening! It was WHIPPING when I went, but once I started moving it didn’t bother me.
Yoga on the Beach with Beach Yoga SoCal in Santa Monica
You can’t beat yoga with a stunning view of the ocean in Santa Monica. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a yoga class on the sand — it’s a whole new challenge for balancing 😂
I get the vibe that each class is a bit different depending on the instructor. Since I was in a small class, instructor Ally asked what I wanted to focus on. I wanted some extra focus on my hips and something more vinyasa-style since that’s what I’m used to.
I loved getting to practice on the beach, and at one point we went down to the water and did inversions right by the ocean. A whole different experience from being in a studio! Hearing nothing but the waves during savasana is something I’ll always remember.
The location is right by a parking lot with 2-hour paid parking and public restrooms — the same one I used for Beach Cycle!
Safety: There were only two of us in the class I took so super easy to distance. Mask optional during class.
P.Volve Outside in West Hollywood
I’ve always been curious about P.volve. There’s a studio in NYC but I’ve never gone before. I ended up going twice in LA, taking a cardio-focused class and then a sculpt.
My instructor both times, Dani, was an absolute joy and made me feel so welcome as a newbie. The class is a bit confusing as many of the exercises are things I’ve never seen before — and this is coming from someone that’s taken all different kinds of fitness classes over the years. The entire workout takes place on a square mat with numbers on it like a clock. Throughout class, you’re told which number boxes to be in and step into for exercises like lunges and the like. We also used interesting props like a slant board for stability work and this ball attached to a strap. Holy moly was it hard to balance on the slant board!
The cardio class was deceptively hard — especially while wearing a mask! I had so much fun taking a class like this in a group setting. While I love Zoom and I’m SO grateful for Zoom workouts, nothing beats being IRL with a group of people moaning and groaning about the same workout as you 😂
The first time I went class was totally outside as studios weren’t allowed to be open inside. I think from now on classes will be a hybrid of indoor/outdoor. The indoor space has two massive sliding doors open on either side allowing for tons of fresh air. I personally opted to stay fully outside which was actually great. Because the studio uses noise-canceling headphones and I was still close to the action, I didn’t feel like I was missing out. Just let them know when you arrive that you want a spot outside!
Safety: Temperature check required upon check-in, as is sanitizing your hands. Masks required during class both inside and outside. All spots are distanced and equipment is sanitized in between uses.
SoulCycle Outside in Century City
I was super excited to take a SoulCycle class outside at the Westfield in Century City. All the outdoor Soul classes being offered in NYC right now are a bit too far for me to get to. You can tell SoulCycle has really got their system down with safety and making the outdoor experience the best it can possibly be.
The class uses noise-canceling headphones (seems to be common in most of the classes I took in LA!) which was fun because you could pump up the volume if you wanted or turn it down. When it comes to spin classes, Soul has always been my favorite, and taking class again I definitely remembered why I love it so much. I don’t think I’ve ever done a full blog review of SoulCycle surprisingly but talked about some of my thoughts here.
My friend and I especially loved the Miley Cyrus vs. Hannah Montana class we took. Maybe I need to teach a Miley yoga class soon…
I was a bit worried about riding in a mask but it ended up being fine. My recommendation? Bring a second mask to wear after class so you’re not walking around in a sweat-soaked mask afterward.
SoulCycle also has outdoor classes in Santa Monica right now.
Safety: Temperature check required upon check-in. Bikes are very well spaced out. Mask required during class. Equipment is cleaned and sanitized in between use.
Classes I Wish I Got To Try:
Training Mate – One of my all-time favorite studios in LA — check out my full review from a few years ago. Training Mate is currently offering hybrid indoor/outdoor classes are some of their locations.
Studio MDR – They are currently offering outdoor megaformer classes!
The Bar Method – I’m a Bar Method instructor so obviously I love the Bar Method! A few locations in LA are currently offering outdoor classes. I know Studio City and Brentwood are for sure!
Barry’s Bootcamp – I haven’t been to Barry’s in ages but used to love it! Barry’s has a ton of outdoor classes at various locations. One of them is actually at the same mall as SoulCycle so I got a peep at the outdoor setup and it’s pretty impressive. Check beforehand which outdoor locations offer treadmills as I don’t think all do right now.
Trapeze School New York – Santa Monica Location – Fun fact: I used to take flying trapeze classes once a week (and sometimes more often) when I was in college. TSNY’s Santa Monica location is currently open! If you’ve never done trapeze, it’s a must!
