If exercising at home is more your speed, it may be worth looking for a residence that has space for a home gym, or comes with a communal one!
Okay, you’re vaccinated, but you’re still not ready to squeeze into a tiny workout room with a bunch of other sweating humans. Fair! Luckily, there are plenty of spots around Washington that are hosting outdoor, socially distant workout classes this summer. Times, locations, and prices vary for each, so make sure to double-check the details before you break out your leggings.
OutFit
This group organizes spin, yoga, Pilates, and HIIT classes in unused public spaces across the city (think a hotel courtyard or a cafe terrace). Workouts are led by former and current instructors from local studios like Solidcore and Corepower Yoga, and the now-shuttered cycling groups FlyWheel and Zengo (RIP). The best part: half of class proceeds go directly back to instructors.
Locations vary
Cut Seven
The HIIT group had to pivot during Covid, expanding from its flagship Logan Circle location to a 2,000-square-foot open air studio off 14th Street. It also hosts outdoor classes at a variety of Arlington parks and the Union Market rooftop.
Locations vary
Ascend Cycle + Lift Lab
This Del Ray cycling and strength spot also did a 180 during the pandemic. Gone is the small, crowded indoor studio—the group now hosts cycling classes in an open-air garage using silent disco-style headphones. (Strength classes are still held indoors, but groups are limited to four and spaced 10 feet apart.)
2413 and 2903 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Hustle
Former SoulCycle master instructor Sunny Miller has something of a cult following, and she launched her own workout group during Covid. Miller now offers outdoor HIIT and cycling classes on the pier at The Wharf, as well as virtual classes that are both live and on-demand.
101 District Sq., SW
Sarge Fitness
This longtime group hosts outdoor boot camps in Alexandria, Arlington, Sterling, and Bethesda several times a week, as well as online workouts and training programs for runners. The boot camps consist of military-inspired workouts (the group’s leader was in the Army) that combine HIIT, Tabata, and bodyweight exercises.
Locations vary
Cool Yoga
Check out this outdoor yoga series, which returns to Del Ray this summer. You can get your flow on in the Del Ray Psych & Wellness parking lot each Wednesday evening through August. Just bring your own mat and water.
1900 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Mind the Mat
This yoga group has studios in Del Ray and Clarendon, and is hosting a variety of yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, and stretching classes throughout fields and parks in Alexandria and Arlington.
Locations vary
The Carlyle House
You can do outdoor yoga on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings on the terrace of this historic 18th-century Alexandria home. Due to Covid, classes are limited to six people, and you should bring your own mat, towel, and water.
121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria
Yoga at The Wharf
Head to The Wharf’s District Pier on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for an hour-long vinyasa session led by District Flow Yoga. Thursday nights, the first 25 yogis at Cantina Bambina post-class will get a free Truly Hard Seltzer. There will also be an hour-long Sunday morning class at Recreation Pier. Bring your own mat and water.
101 District Sq., SW
The REACH at the Kennedy Center
A variety of instructors from local yoga studios will host vinyasa flows at The REACH each Saturday this summer. The event isn’t ticketed, but folks do have to sign up in advance, as well as fill out a waiver form. The event is limited to 50 yogis, so register early, and come with a mat, towel, and water.
2700 F St., NW
Neabsco Regional Park
This Prince William County park has over 300 acres along the Potomac waterfront, and you can take a variety of fitness classes at its pavilion this summer. Wednesday mornings, a trainer will be on-site for a workout that combines strength, aerobic, and flexibility exercises. And Thursday mornings, swing by for an all-levels yoga class. For both, come with your own towel, mat, and water.
15875 Neabsco Rd., Woodbridge
Montgomery County Recreation
The county will host a series of fitness classes this summer—check out a Monday evening Zumba class in the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center parking lot or a Saturday morning Pilates class in the Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation center parking lot. Make sure to bring water, a mask, and sunscreen.
Locations vary
Cycled!
During the pandemic, this Takoma Park studio pivoted to hosting its cycling classes outdoors in its parking lot. The group also has indoor cycling and barre classes, for those that feel comfortable heading inside, as well as an app for live and on-demand virtual classes.
6960-C Maple St., NW
Boot Camp With Jenny
Fitness instructor Jenny Harper hosts her bootcamps on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays outside of Audi Field. She hosts two sessions each morning—an hour-long class and a 45-minute class. The workouts are a combination of strength and cardio using mostly bodyweight and nearby stairs and benches, but all participants need to purchase and bring resistance bands with them (as well as a mat).
100 Potomac Ave., SW
SoulCycle
Groupies can still get their Soul on at the studio’s Union Market pop-up, which is hosting classes multiple times a day. Check-in for the class is digital, all bikes are spaced six feet apart, and riders will wear silent disco-style headphones to hear the music and instructor.
1309 5th St., NE
National Landing BID
The Arlington neighborhood will have Sport & Health instructors lead lunchtime Zumba classes on Wednesdays at the Crystal City courtyard green. And in the same spot on Sunday evenings, there will be a yoga class led by the Mind Your Body Oasis crew.
2121 Crystal Dr., Arlington
Flow Yoga Center
The Logan Circle group is hosting outdoor flows at two locations, the Scottish Rite Temple on 16th Street and Milk Bar on 15th Street, and it is also holding classes on Zoom and in the studios, too.
Locations vary
Coach Katie
This HIIT group run by Coach Katie Collard meets several times a day Monday through Saturday at Marie Reed Field. Gatorade and a shade tent will be provided.
2200 Champlain St. NW
Dupont Circle BID
The neighborhood group is joining forces with Washington Sports Club to host a free, hour-long workout every Sunday at noon. Meet in the circle for a rotating list of classes that include the likes of bootcamps, yoga, and tai chi. Class sizes are capped, so sign up early, and make sure to bring a mat and a towel.
Dupont Circle
F45 Westpost at National Landing
This outpost of the HIIT workout group will host free outdoor bootcamps Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 AM. Classes will be hosted behind the studio on the turf.
1201 S Joyce St., Arlington
Sport & Health
The Pike & Rose location will host outdoor cycling classes on Saturday mornings through July. The workouts are free for first-time visitors.
11594 Old Georgetown Rd., Rockville
Barry’s
The Dupont location is hosting outdoor workouts every day. The 50-minute classes will be floor workouts that use bands and weights (that means no treadmills), and athletes will wear silent disco-style headphones.
1345 19th St. NW
Union Market
Head to the rooftop to take 305 Fitness classes on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5:30 PM, and Sundays at 9:15 and 10:15 AM. Cut Seven is also hosting classes on the roof Mondays through Fridays at 7 and 8 AM, as well as Saturdays at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 AM. Union Market is also hosting a series of Fit 4 Mom DC stroller workouts for parents and kids Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, and you can head over to La Cosecha on Thursdays at 6 PM for a weekly Zumba class led by local instructor Cathy Caminero.
Good Sweat
This Rosslyn cycling studio donates a portion of all sales to local charities, and the group is offering daily outdoor cycling workouts in its parking lot. Folks can either rent, buy, or bring their own headphones for the class. The group is also offering indoor workouts.
1711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
MINT DC
The DC gym is hosting a series of outdoor workouts at the Marie Reed Community Center’s field in Adams Morgan. Folks can choose from workouts like strength classes, HIIT circuit classes, and yoga, and MINT also hosts a variety of virtual workouts, too.
1724 California St. NW