In 2020, she kick-started her fitness journey after completing a certified teacher training at People\u2019s Yoga<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the most yoga I\u2019ve ever done in my life,\u201d said Sanchez. \u201cI had to use topicals for my sore muscles. It made me realize how important it is to be active.\u201d<\/p>\n Five years later, she put that lesson into action: she designed a logo, created an Instagram account<\/a>, and put the word out about the first walk. In October, some walkers held onto leashes of costume-clad dogs as they strutted down Whittier Boulevard for an impromptu Halloween paw parade.\u00a0<\/p>\n So far, the group has clocked 23.7 miles, but it\u2019s less about numbers and more about encouraging each other to keep moving. Some members meet up at LA Fitness to weightlift and do cardio. Others set goals like hitting 50,000 steps a week.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a neighborhood where daily life can feel rushed and isolating, the club offers something simple: a reason to show up for one another.<\/p>\n \u201cI like the social aspect,\u201d said East LA native Angel Balencia, 30, who works in IT. \u201cTime goes by quickly and cardio is less of a chore.\u201d<\/p>\n After developing sleep apnea, Balencia was told by his doctor to lose weight. He joined a prediabetic group at UCLA and lost 100 pounds last year. Cutting out juice was critical, but balance has been key. He doesn\u2019t deprive himself of anything and eats sweets in moderation to avoid binge eating.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not something I was taught growing up,\u201d said Balencia, who played football at Montebello High School. \u201cThe culture\u2019s shifting. Movement is more important. It\u2019s been a learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n The East LA Walking Club meets weekly, with routes changing monthly. Their mascot, Bucky, a fluffy terrier mix, is usually in tow and aside from the occasional dog poop, walks have gone smoothly. Staying local helps members, all of whom live in the neighborhood, stay consistent.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever there\u2019s a club, I have to travel to Downtown or Pasadena,\u201d said Sanchez\u2019s sister Sandy Sanchez, who lives in Monterey Park. \u201cIt\u2019s really cool having something here in East LA.\u201d<\/p>\n Brissa, who rounded up walkers for last month\u2019s inaugural car-free Camino City Terrace<\/a>, wants to recruit older folks and kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone needs community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n As the walk winds down, the smell of carne asada drifts in the air. Conversations turn to food, dinner plans and errands \u2014 Costco, maybe In-N-Out\u2014 the group dispersing not as strangers but as neighbors who will likely see each other again next week.\u00a0<\/p>\n Details:<\/p>\n The East LA Walking Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Meet-up locations and routes are posted a few days before walks take place. The next walk is Wednesday, Jan. 7. Find them on Instagram for more information. <\/a><\/p>\n \t![\"Members](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DSF2014.jpg\")
<\/a>Members of the East LA Walking Club cross 3rd Street after finishing their 2-mile route on Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Lopez \/ Boyle Heights Beat)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_1602.jpeg\")
<\/a>The East LA Walking Club gathers at the East LA Civic Center ahead of their last walk of 2025. (Photo by Andrew Lopez \/ Boyle Heights Beat)<\/p>\n