Facilitated by: Jaymie Parkkinen
* This is a Community Renter workshop & is not a Pieter Program. Please reach out to the facilitator if you have any questions.
When: Sunday, August 9, 2026 - 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Cost: $25
Description:
Clown Cardio is a one-hour play class that runs physical theater games, clown, and slapstick at the pace of a workout. Founded in 2023 and since featured in The New York Times and Monocle, it began as a reaction against the parts of improv and clown training that slow things down—the notes, the theory, the standing around. What's left is just the games, played hard enough to count as cardio.
The hour moves continuously through group games and exercises, with no scene work, no feedback, and no sitting out. It lasts an hour because that's about as long as a body can take. No experience is required, and no comedy background is necessary—only comfortable clothes and a willingness to move.
What to expect/what to bring:
Clown Cardio runs a full hour with no breaks. The class moves continuously through group physical theater games, clown, and slapstick exercises. Everyone participates the whole time—there is no scene work, no note-giving, and no sitting out. It is genuinely physical: expect to run, jump, and sweat.
No experience with comedy, improv, or clown is required. The class is taught in English. Music will be played throughout at a moderate-to-high volume, and the class involves loud voices, laughter, and sudden movement. There are no strobes or special lighting effects.
What to Bring
Comfortable athletic clothing you can move and sweat in
Sneakers or supportive shoes
Water
Nothing else is needed. Come ready to move.
Facilitator Bio:
Jaymie Parkkinen is the founder of Clown Cardio, a one-hour play class built entirely out of physical theater games, clown, and slapstick. Based in Los Angeles, Jaymie has taught and performed comedy around the world and has trained in improv and clown for more than a decade.
Accessibility note:
The space is located on the 2nd floor with one flight of stairs directly up from the entrance.
Elevator access is available; please reach out to the facilitator prior to the event if you will need to use it. The elevator is spacious enough for any mobility device and the 2nd floor space is free of any steps or mobility barriers. There are no automated doors in the building.
There are two all-gender restrooms with three private stalls and a urinal. Each restroom has one stall accessible for mobility device users.
Parking:
Paid parking is available directly behind our building at 2412 Workman Street. There is an additional city lot south of Broadway on Workman Street. There is also ample metered parking in the neighborhood.