Some nine years ago, Lacey Lucas took a yoga class at the YMCA in St. Joseph. It became a life changing moment for her, as she realized instantly that she wanted to teach fitness as a practice. Her adventure in that realm became increasingly serious to the point that her husband offered up “the crazy idea of opening up a studio in Bridgman, not even knowing that was always a dream of mine.”
Last year, within a month after finding the perfect place, she had opened up Lake Side Fit in Bridgman. A small 24-hour gym and fitness studio that had been chugging along nicely until the coronavirus shelter in place order essentially shut things down for gyms and fitness studios state wide.
Rather than sit on the sidelines and worry about what the future might hold, Lacey took to the Internet, creating YouTube workout videos during the quarantine to keep her members and friends engaged and working on their own personal health and fitness goals.
Recognizing the pent up demand from many other overachievers like herself, Lacey landed on a brilliant idea to help anyone and everyone interested in safely engaging by creating a Social Distancing Fitness Class at Weko Beach in Bridgman.
Last Sunday evening, May 3rd, after obtaining all of the proper and official approvals from the City of Bridgman, the Bridgman Police Department and Lake Township authorities, Lacey and her Lake Side Fit organization held their first Social Distancing Fitness Class.
Lacey admits she was overwhelmed at the positive response with 27 people joining her for the class, all at least 6-feet away from one another, in a safe venture approved even under the governor’s executive orders which allow for outside activities with proper social distancing.
Emboldened and delighted by that success and the strong appeal for an encore, Lacey has established another session for tomorrow night, Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 6pm at Weko Beach in Bridgman. The event is free to the community but there will be a donation box to help support Lake Side Fit through the shutdown forced by the pandemic. Already at least 28 people have indicated on Facebook that they will be there.
Her YouTube workout videos are also free to anyone. Members and others have been loving it and begging for more ways to stay fit during the stay home orders.
Lacey promises that as the weather gets increasingly nice outdoors and the interest remains high, she will continue to offer the opportunity at Weko Beach “quarantine weather permitting.”
Another great example of a small business entrepreneur in Michigan’s Great Southwest adapting in a nimble way to keep her clients engaged and happy during a tough time.
Lake Side Fit is located at 4171 Lake Street in Bridgman, and features a whole host of classes. The studio can be reached by phone at 269-449-3092. Check out her YouTube videos through her Facebook fan page or at this link:
