It's Make NYC Your Gym Week!
Where better to exercise outdoors than in New York City, home to acres of park land, hundreds of miles of sidewalks and bike lanes, a massive public transportation system, and a vast array of free and low-cost fitness programs?
If you're excited about using these city resources but don't know where to start, head over to BeFitNYC, a revamped online search engine at NYC.gov that helps New Yorkers locate free and low-cost fitness opportunities.
"BeFitNYC has been enhanced to make it easier for New Yorkers to take advantage of the many fitness offerings available across the city and allows users to create their own events using Facebook," states a press release from the city. "It has never been easier to Make NYC Your Gym."
Sixty percent of New York City adults and 40 percent of children are either overweight or obese, according to the Health Department.
"New York is one of the nation's most foot-friendly cities, and those who take advantage of its parks and open spaces are likely to be healthier for it," the Health and Parks departments state. "Onei n eight deaths annually among New Yorkers aged 30 and above could be prevented with more physical activity."
To kick off the weeklong Make NYC Your Gym campaign, there will be a flash mob Zumba class at Madison Square Park today at 11:30 a.m. If you make it there, we'd love to see your photos -- tweet them to @GoHealthyNY or post them on our Facebook wall!
Here are other events on tap for the rest of the week:
Make NYC Your Gym Events
Monday, June 6, 2011, 11 a.m Press Conference; 11:30 Zumba Fitness Activity
Make New York City Your Gym Kick-Off and Celebration of Expanded BeFitNYC Website
Madison Square Park
Tuesday, June 7
Cardio While Commuting in Staten Island
North Concourse, Staten Island Ferry Terminal
8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Learn how to stay fit while waiting for the Ferry!
Wednesday, June 8
Take the BeFitNYC Challenge! In Manhattan
163 West 125th St, Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building Plaza
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Come take the BeFitNYC Fitness Challenge, complete with jump ropes, hula hoops and other fun activities!
Thursday, June 9
WalkNYC Fitness Walk at St. James Park
Start at St. James Recreation Center, 2530 Jerome Ave, Bronx
10 a.m. -11 a.m.
Make NYC Your Gym with an hour-long walk around St. James Park in the Bronx.
Friday, June 10
Shape Up NYC Class in Brooklyn
St. John’s Recreation Center, 1251 Prospect Place, Brooklyn
11 a.m. – Noon
Come out to St. John’s Recreation Center and end the week with a workout led by an Equinox fitness instructor.
Saturday, June 11
Outdoor Shape Up NYC Zumba class in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens
Flushing Meadow Park , just outside Al Qerter Recreation Center, 131-40 Fowler Ave, Queens
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Enjoy the outdoors while working out your ears! Take a zumba class in Flushing Meadows Park!
Sunday, June 12
BeFitNYC Fitness Festival in Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
As the grand finale of Make NYC Your Gym week, the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and NYC Parks, in partnership with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, will host the BeFitNYC Fitness Festival showcasing some of the greatest fitness findings in all of NYC, including: Zumba, Intensati & other ShapeUpNYC classes led by Equinox, Intro to Quidditch, Running Analysis by JackRabbit Sports, Handcycling demonstrations and a MillionTreesNYC Watering Blitz.
