CAMP is more than just another group fitness and yoga studio. With two locations – one in Tampa, Florida and another in Santa Monica, California – this playful, campground-themed company is on a mission to create happier and healthier adults. We spoke with Jamie Lanza, visionary and co-founder of CAMP, about how she combined her passion and experience to bring CAMP to life.
When Jamie discovered yoga as an adult, it felt like coming home. The movement, breathing, and connection with her body and inner rhythm were reminiscent of her history with dance and gymnastics. Jamie’s early career in experiential advertising involved frequent travel, which took a toll on her sleep and anxiety, leaving her feeling overwhelmed daily. Although she had practiced asana on and off since her teenage years, her deep connection to yoga truly began with her Pranayama practice with teacher Tony Nenov. They worked through breath control, giving her the tools to take charge of her human experience. From there, yoga became her way of life.
“I've learned from incredible teachers over the past 18 years, who have given me gifts I will forever be grateful for. Today, my meditation, asana, and breathwork practices are fully ingrained into my life and my partner's life, and we weave them into everything we do.” - Jamie Lanza
When Jamie set out to combine her background in building brands with her life practice of yoga, it felt like her dharma. She reflects on her dad’s words, “Leave this world better than you found it.” She envisioned creating a space where everyone can be the best version of themselves, freeing themselves from whatever holds them back and becoming happier, healthier humans.
Inspired to bring unique people and ideas together, Jamie opened CAMP’s flagship Tampa studio in September 2016. CAMP’s team of brilliant teachers collaborates daily to create a special place with offerings in five modalities: Yoga, Sculpt, Cycle, Circuit, and Stations. Their goal is to bring love, play, and sweat to the Tampa and Santa Monica communities one adventure at a time.
The playfulness of CAMP is a major draw for students. The studio provides the freedom to drop all the outer layers of being an adult and just show up as you are, connecting deeply with yourself and those around you. “Our teachers are incredibly talented and unified, which I think inspires our guests to show up each day,” shares Jamie.
In addition to daily classes, CAMP organizes quarterly philanthropic initiatives, a Happy Camper Club (community partners), and large campus social events like markets, comedy shows, Trunk or Treat, and CAMP Games.
Hosted annually in Tampa since 2021, CAMP Games is an all-day fitness event designed to bring together communities from near and far to build camaraderie amongst fitness lovers through a series of challenging events. More than just a test of physical ability, CAMP Games is a celebration of community, partnerships and the shared journey of athletes who showcase the strength and unity of the community.
As a busy entrepreneur, Jamie describes how she balances her personal practice with running a bi-coastal business. First and foremost, the consistent practice of yoga is the root of why she started this journey. She wanted to share something she truly loved with those around her. Jamie stays connected to all of CAMP’s instructors, experiencing what it’s like to be on the ground in the studios interacting with students and teams. Balancing these roles can be challenging, as she not only has the responsibilities of a business owner but also teaches her own classes. With CAMP growing rapidly and requiring a lot of care and attention, Jamie often travels between the Tampa and LA studios. She admits that finding the balance can be difficult at times.
To ground herself, Jamie says, “Being honest with myself about how much time I have in a week to dedicate to different needs and ensuring I put my energy in the right places is super important. My personal practice is ingrained in me. The day doesn’t begin without it. It is my guidepost and my tool to show up as the best version of myself, and without it, I am not doing what I set out to do.”
CAMP has grown tremendously over the past nine years, opening their second location in Los Angeles in 2022. One of CAMP’s core values is "Always Evolving" – in their craft, in their connection with each other and themselves, and in how they show up for people and the planet.
This leads to another of CAMP’s standout tenets: their commitment to sustainability. As a company, CAMP believes that the impact we have on the planet and our people is our responsibility. Jamie and her team view their company-wide sustainability strategy through three principles: Cause Less Harm, Act With Care, and Be More Accountable & Transparent. They use carbon accounting software to measure, manage, and report on their footprint. Their equipment is powered by humans instead of electricity, and the facilities’ floors are made up of renewable cork, recycled rubber and polished old concrete from the original buildings. There are no paper towels or single-use plastics on the campuses, and the Tampa location offers compost stations and a community garden. CAMP also publishes an annual Impact Report detailing their sustainability efforts and future goals. View their 2023 Impact Report here.
CAMP chose Manduka products for their Yoga and Sculpt equipment as Manduka aligns with their sustainability values – creating Products with Purpose that are produced responsibly with little environmental waste.
Many thanks to Jamie and the entire CAMP team for being pillars in their communities and amazing partners to Manduka!
To learn more about CAMP, visit their site or give them a follow here.
