In the heart of Chicago, the sun rises over Lake Michigan as Olivia Santelli leads a free Pilates class at Oak Street Beach. What began as a simple gathering with a dozen participants has transformed into a weekly event that attracts thousands of people seeking community and wellness.
Santelli, a Chicago native, initially struggled with anxiety and depression in her early twenties. Through movement, meditation, breathwork, and journaling, she found healing. After graduating from Michigan State University and working briefly with the Chicago Cubs, she embraced her passion for wellness.
“I went back to movement and breathwork and meditation. I then decided that I wanted to help share those tools with others,” Santelli shared.
She pursued a 500-hour comprehensive Pilates instructor certification, which took about a year to complete. To share her newfound knowledge, she announced free summer Pilates sessions on Instagram for 2024. To her surprise, her post went viral.
The first class held just 12 participants, while the third attracted over 1,000 enthusiastic attendees. Now, it’s common to see between 2,000 and 4,000 people registered for her weekly sessions.
“I think that it’s a testament to people needing something that’s accessible, people wanting to come together,” Santelli reflected.
Among the crowd participating are friends Tavin Beloch, Mikaela Ewing, Azia Papillon, and Mimi Nieves. Initially drawn to the class through social media, the group now considers the sessions a weekly ritual.
Papillon, a South Shore native, expressed, “This is something that really feeds the soul. We were just trying to get into our fitness and health bag… we saw this and said, ‘Let’s add it into our little repertoire.’”
Beloch added that the class offers a refreshing break from traditional workouts, emphasizing its invigorating effect on the start of the day.
“It wakes you up and sets you up for the day,” she stated.
Accessibility has become a hallmark of Santelli’s classes, especially in a city where wellness resources can be expensive. Nieves remarked on the importance of providing such opportunities to everyone, regardless of their background.
“Having access to these [classes] when some people just didn’t grow up with them at all is really, really important,” she said.
However, organizing these classes has not been without challenges. By the time Santelli ran her third class, officials from the city contacted her, threatening to shut down the event.
Fortunately, Santelli’s familiarity with Chicago’s systems led her to reach out to the Park District for assistance. They guided her through the special event permitting process, and she obtained approval for the 2024 season.
Yet, this experience highlighted the financial difficulties associated with keeping wellness events accessible. “We didn’t make any money last year. We had no sort of funding to continue to pay for permits this year,” she recalled.
Then someone introduced Santelli to the ARCS program, a city initiative designed to cover permit costs for free, public health-focused classes. After applying and receiving approval, Santelli secured a more sustainable path for Rise Pilates.
With an increase in free fitness classes across Chicago, Santelli wishes more organizers would seek to obtain necessary permits. Past unpermitted events, like Friday Swim Club, have faced shutdown for safety concerns.
“I really wish I could give everyone the toolbox to get permits,” Santelli said, emphasizing the importance of safety and compliance with city regulations.
As classes grew, Santelli faced logistical challenges in leading a session for such large crowds on the beach. The early days featured minimal equipment—a small portable speaker and a microphone purchased online.
“Nobody could probably hear me the first four or five sessions,” she admitted.
Santelli’s father joined her efforts, arriving at the beach before sunrise to help set up. Together, they dug trenches in the sand for the speakers and organized audio equipment to create an immersive experience for attendees.
Sisters Margie and Monica Patel have observed the evolution of Santelli’s class, praising its growing popularity and adaptability.
As a physical therapist, Monica highlighted the value of accessible wellness in a city where Pilates classes often carry hefty price tags.
“Pilates can be $40 a class,” she noted.
The Patel sisters find the inclusive nature of Rise Pilates heartening, as Santelli offers modifications for varied skill levels. Monica added, “This is incredible. You get to meet new people and just be inspired. I wish there was more of this in the city.”
Chicago is witnessing a rise in various free outdoor fitness classes. Organizations like Strength in the City, which began in 2018, aim to create accessible, community-driven wellness opportunities.
Cassandra Proctor, events and partnership producer for Strength in the City Chi, remarked, “Whether it’s a class of 10 or a few hundred, people are craving real-life connection — and we’re here to make that happen.”
The increasing popularity of events like Rise Pilates aligns with national trends highlighting outdoor exercise and mental health-focused movement as vital components of wellness. According to the American College of Sports Medicine’s 2025 Worldwide Fitness Trends report, these trends continue to propel the growth of community wellness initiatives.
“We get comments all the time about, you know, ‘Oh, this is exactly what I was looking for,’” Proctor added.
For Santelli, her journey with Rise has evolved into a full-time venture. Alongside leading in-person classes, she is collaborating with brands to sustain the free sessions and launched a digital platform for on-demand workouts available for a monthly fee.
This model aims to keep the in-person Pilates experience free for participants while establishing a sustainable business structure.
“I really just want to continue showing people that they are safe to take care of themselves,” Santelli expressed.
As Rise Pilates expands and more wellness programs emerge across Chicago, Santelli envisions a lasting culture of movement accessible to all.
She is dedicated to forging partnerships that resonate with her values and increasing resources to assist others on their own fitness journeys.
“People are showing up for more than Pilates,” Monica Patel summed up.
“And that’s powerful.”
image source from：blockclubchicago
