By Maja Peirce
As a result of gym closures due to COVID-19, outdoor exercise classes are becoming popular in the Carefree and Scottsdale area.
All classes held at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in Carefree use markings made on the ground for people to visualize their space and exercise 10 ft. apart. Masks are also required to and from the area and there are sanitizing products available upon arrival.
Current Carefree classes
Zumba and yoga classes are held at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in Carefree Monday-Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Zumba occurs twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays and a yoga stretch class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is an $8 walk-in fee and they ask participants to bring their own yoga mat and equipment for sanitizing reasons.
Upcoming Carefree classes
Starting this month, Wendy Ellis will be offering pilates classes three times a week.
On Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. for a $10 drop in fee or a $60 monthly pass, she will be teaching a Dynamic Pilates Stretch Class. This class is based on pilates principles and exercises but focuses more on stretch.
On Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. for a $10 drop in fee or a $60 monthly pass, she will be teaching a Pilates Fitness Class based on pilates concepts and exercises but including more of a fitness cardio base.
On Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. Ellis will be working with Brittney Truman to provide a free Mat Pilates Class. They ask that you bring your own mat for sanitizing reasons.
Truman is working to create several other free classes within Carefree. She is planning on hosting some in an outdoor hallway near her store, The Healthy Creek, and others at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. They will include pilates, bootcamp, yoga, and an abs and booty class. The first class will be a pilates class held on Saturday, August 8 and the rest of the schedule will be announced on The Healthy Creek’s website.
“With the classes being free, I think it gives an extra incentive for people to get out of their house and move while still being safe and practicing social distancing,” said Truman.
Scottsdale Quarter classes
This summer Scottsdale Quarter is holding a Summer Sweat series. These classes are held in Scottsdale Quarter’s main quad where the splash pad typically is. They have turned off the splash pad for health and safety reasons and put grass over the splash pad to create an inviting park-like space.
They have markers for people to ensure they are properly distanced during class, ask people to bring their own mats and equipment. Sanitizing wipes are given to students at the end of class.
On Tuesdays, there is a Bootcamp Boost class presented by True Fusion Scottsdale at 8:00 a.m. This class fuses pilates exercises and hit aerobics.
On Saturdays Evolve Yoga does a Social Distancing Savasana at 8:00 a.m.
On Sundays Barre3 Scottsdale does a class called Raise the Barre at 7:00 a.m.
There is no fee to take these classes however, they ask people to register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-sweat-series-tickets-112012705016
