DC Residents Launch Outdoor Fitness Marketplace
OutFit provides opportunities to safely exercise and support local instructors during COVID times.
This is a guest post by Kara Holinski
Many fitness lovers and instructors have had a hard time of late with gym closures and limitations or do not feel comfortable going back to the gym/studios given the current climate. We know that this has been even harder for parents, who have often used fitness as a time for self-care and to improve mental health. Fitness class fanatics and DC residents Kara Holinski and Justin Hunter started OutFit because they wanted to get back to fitness classes, but were not yet comfortable returning to the studio. In addition, they noticed that many incredible local instructors had been furloughed or had reduced classes, as in-person fitness was one of the industries hit hard by the pandemic.
As a result, they decided to develop a marketplace where instructors can post classes in local D.C. parks and participants can sign up. Since things have gotten colder, they have launched a semi-permanent heated tent at Dumbarton House (between Georgetown and Dupont on 27th and Q). Safety is OutFit’s #1 priority, so the tent is completely open so it is property ventilated, masks are required, and stations are distanced at least 8 feet. To keep people toasty, there are 5 industrial grade heaters, which raise the temperature in the tent +25 degrees F, and allow for t-shirts to be worn during yoga in December. In addition, there is parking at the location.
OutFit has a variety of class types including spin (with complimentary shoes), yoga sculpt, vinyasa yoga, and pilates and is hoping to add more (HIIT, strength, barre, and kickboxing). ~50% of the revenue for tent classes and 90% of the revenue for park classes goes directly to instructors, so you can know that with each purchase your money is going where it matters - to local instructors.
To learn more about OutFit, visit us at outfitclass.com, follow us on IG @outfitclass.dc or reach out to Kara Holinski at kara@outfitclass.com. Friends of DC Urban Moms & Dads can get 25% off their first class with code PARENT25.