Words by Jessi Devenyns

Much like a pair of shoes, fitness is something that has to fit. If it doesn’t, the activity will end up like a pair of dress shoes:  wonderful to look at but terrifically uncomfortable. So, whether it’s being outdoors that injects the fitness fuel or pumping music is what it takes, heed the call. There are plenty of activities that keep the body feeling its best inside and out. After all, fitness is a balancing act that involves keeping the mind, body, spirit, and community healthy in order to cultivate a well-balanced life that suits each individual.

Competitive Fitness

In the classic sense of the term, fitness is often associated with Greek Olympics-style sports where humans heave javelins and run circles around a track in an attempt to prove that they have a competitive edge over their peers. While javelins have fallen out of style, there are still plenty of options to maintain a competitive edge, both independently and on teams.

Camp Gladiator
An outdoor fitness boot camp that originated in Austin, Camp Gladiator (CG) focuses on not only the competition between individuals but also on the competition between one’s own fitness goals. Joey Kelly, who is a partner trainer with CG Mueller and whose sister founded the company, explains that fitness is not something that should be an afterthought. Joey says, “Fitness is life. Working out just a few times a week… can add 7 years to your life.” To ensure that those extra years are lived to the fullest, CG trainers focus on improving individual fitness through integrating workouts into a lifestyle. From outdoor workouts to neighborhood 5K’s and happy hours. Joey illustrates that the success of CG stems from the community that the organization has built. “We do life together,” he says. Part of that lifestyle includes attending outdoor workouts where certified personal trainers coach individuals through workouts and monitor their form and progress. The idea is that by showing up regularly to this community, the power of the group will create a sense of accountability for everyone; the trainers are just there for the nitty gritty questions. Joey proudly admits, “We want to be the fitness heroes of our local communities and be a resource for anyone who wants to reach any fitness goal that they have.”
campgladiator.com | 4209 Airport Blvd.

Austin Blacks Rugby/ Austin Huns Rugby
Sure, Americans like football, but there are also plenty who are fans of its cousin: rugby. With two teams in East Austin, there are plenty of chances to attend a match as either a spectator or a player and enjoy the sport that has been a staple of the British Isles since 1845.
Blacks: austinrugby.com | Burr Field 6013 Loyola Ln.
Huns: austinhunsrugby.com | 4107 Nixon Ln.

Pharr Tennis
While many public courts dot the city, one of the crown jewels of the Parks and Recreation Department is in the heart of East Austin. Known as Pharr Tennis Center, these public courts welcome both players who come by to serve a few balls or those who attend rigorous noon workouts to prepare for weekend matches, all for a $4 court fee. 
pharrtennisatx.com | 4201 Brookview Rd.

Austin Cricket Association
Founded in 2006, the association is part of a lively Central Texas cricket scene. The Austin league has three teams that practice on Wednesdays and Thursdays and compete on the weekends. Consistently ranked among the top teams in the Central Texas Cricket League, the ACA encourages participation from all levels and all ages.
austincricket06.wixsite.com | 6013 Loyola Ln.

Impactful

Fitness is a journey that sometimes reaches further than the individual. With these programs, not only is keeping in shape a goal, but participation in community programs also helps to shape East Austin into a better place.

Austin Rowing Club
As Austin’s oldest non-profit rowing club, ARC has accrued over three hundred members of all ages and life stages. Although a highly effective sport for getting into shape, rowing is simultaneously a quiet adventure and an exploration of teamwork. Rowers have the luxury of gliding unencumbered over the glassy lake through the cityscape, but doing so takes the power of a cohesive team. This teamwork aspect has naturally evolved off the water as ARC has become a community organization that is active with Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Austin schools, including Martin and Murchison Middle School and Travis High School. Through this RISE program, the rowing club donates indoor rowing machines to the schools and trains PE staff on how to incorporate them into workouts. Additionally, ARC provides free rowing for youth with demonstrated financial need. In an effort to continually increase their diverse membership, the club also offers adaptive rowing programs, programming for veterans, summer programs with Austin Parks and Rec, and a program that works with juvenile offenders called Project Engage.
austinrowing.org | 74 Trinity St.

RBI Austin
It is so much more than just a game. It is about asking how a child’s day is going and working side-by-side with them to help guide them through youth and adolescence as they develop into self-sustaining adults who are able to thrive. The community just happens to revolve around America’s favorite pastime: baseball. 
rbiaustin.org

i9 Sports
Kids play sports to have fun. In hopes of encouraging their spirits along with their athletic capabilities, i9 Sports offers flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball and ZIP Lacrosse™ leagues for children ages 3 and up. Through focusing on developing a character trait associated with each sport, i9 hopes to build good sportsmanship not just on the field but also in the everyday lives of children. Although a national program, in Austin one of the largest divisions of i9 Sports operates out of Mueller Lake Park in Austin.
i9sports.com | 4550 Mueller Blvd.

Rise Kickboxing
Sure, kickboxing can be a workout, but according to Fernando Bernstein, it is so much more. “It creates awareness, and then it creates empowerment… It gives [students] the confidence that when in a situation they can defend themselves,” he says. While repetition of any movement will create strength and muscle memory, Fernando explains that since kickboxing workouts are conducted in pairs, students are trained to respond to human reactions and body language. The result is that Rise kickboxers are not only physically fit but also incredibly aware of their surroundings, something that Fernando says benefits the individual and the community. “By having people who are more safety conscious and are able to handle themselves if a situation arises, then it is definitely a little bit of a deterrent,” he says. To encourage more preparation and street safety, Rise Kickboxing offers self-defense focused classes on Sundays. 
risekickbox.com | 1181 Airport Blvd.

Healing/ Nurturing

Sometimes fitness is dependent on the state of heart and mind. That is, after all, why they say, “Get your head in the game.” To achieve this, there are more than a few locales that specialize in the emotional equilibrium required to heal the body and mind while staying fit.

Yoga with Adriene 
Among other things, Adriene Mishler is an Eastsider. She also happens to be the face behind Yoga with Adriene, a YouTube channel with over 4 million subscribers. While Adriene teaches traditional yoga poses, she also focuses on having her students tune into mindfulness through storytelling and humor. Her mantra flows along the lines of “do what feels good,” which is a message regularly heard as she reminds yogis that whatever they do on the mat is just for them. So if one cannot dive into a pose, it’s not worth getting ruffled. She’ll follow this observation with a reminder that the same philosophy is applicable to life. Calm, she insists, is one of the basic tenants of self-care, but this state of being calm is something that has to be nurtured with daily practice.
yogawithadriene.com 

Chulel Pilates
When it comes to the body, there is no quick fix. One of the best overall cures, however, is movement. Although a simple concept, Shannon Rashap, Chulel founder, explains that motion can be deceptively complex. Every facia and joint within the body is connected, physically or energetically, and Shannon explores the interconnectivity of the body’s systems in order to improve function. To do this, she employs three methods of modality:  neurokinetic therapy, ki hara or stretching, and Pilates. Each discipline of bodywork is integrated to drill down and realign the body’s natural movement through identification, rewiring, and reeducation. Shannon says that she offers healing from the inside out. At Chulel, it begins with watching a person walk, then Shannon can identify patterns that contribute to chronic pain or misalignment. Through individual sessions, Shannon works to get patients back into balance both physically and emotionally.
chulel.com | 2025 E 7th St.

Homestead Healing
Laura Gilpin approaches fitness through restorative and reparative therapy, not through physical exertion. A bodywork expert, she practices myofascial release massage where “the main tenant of that practice is looking for the underlying case while addressing the symptoms,” she explains. This two-pronged approach allows Laura to treat immediate pain points and relieve tension while also educating her clients on how to better structure their workouts and lives to avoid injury and pursue long-term health. Through regular sessions, Laura teaches her clients about their bodies to prevent them from employing “band-aid” tactics to resolve lingering issues in both their mental and physical states.  myhomesteadmassage.com | 1109A Shady Ln.

Swimming
It’s the second most popular sport in the United States, according to the Census Bureau, and for good reason. Swimming for just half an hour three times a week can lower stress levels, raise mood, lower depression and anxiety, and improve sleep patterns. It is also uniquely well-suited sport for individuals with locomotion impairments and visual disabilities. Thankfully, this sport is easily accessible in East Austin, which has 12 public pools and East Communities YMCA which offers both children and adult swimming lessons.

Fun Fitness

Fitness is not just about health; it can also be about the fun. From surfing in the middle of the Central Texas plains to cutting a rug with your favorite partner, there are more ways than not to get your body moving for the pure joy of having fun. 

Austin Bouldering Project
Scaling cliffs in the Texas heat can seem like a daunting endeavor even to the most seasoned rock climber. Thankfully, for those unbearably hot days, Austin Bouldering Project offers indoor rock wall puzzles for climbers to solve with their hands and feet. With boulders that are 13 to 17 feet tall, there is plenty of space to get a workout.
austinboulderingproject.com | 979 Springdale Rd.

Golf
It’s one of those magical sports that can be as serious or as casual as players make of it. With Morris Williams and Harvey Penick Golf Courses located in the heart of East Austin, there is no shortage of opportunities to play 18 holes. However, if 9 holes with colorful obstacles and a kid-friendly atmosphere are a better speed, visit Duke’s Adventure Golf down in Bluff Springs.

“Golden Ace” R&B Dance Line
At the Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, there are a multitude of activities available to adults who are looking to have a little fun and exercise while they’re at it. On Thursdays, the music gets loud and feet get moving at Golden Ace dance line practices. Everyone over the golden age is welcome to join, and classes are free.  
808 Nile St.

East Side Trails
For the BMX community, the Eastside has some of Austin’s finest jumps. Standing up to 15 feet high, this course is recommended only for experienced riders as the dirt ramps will propel bikes up to 30 feet into the air. East Side offers three main lines to ride in, but because of the unique terrain, many of the jumps graze trees so caution is encouraged. 

Roller Derby
Sometimes it can be fun to get down and derby. If strapping on a pair of roller skates and racing around a track dodging humans sparks joy, then check out Texas Rollergirls. This local league is credited with starting the modern flat track derby movement that now consists of 300 leagues worldwide. Today, they play and practice at the Pan Am Park track where spectators are welcome, and competitive spirits can join. 
texasrollergirls.org