Ever find yourself walking through a local park feeling a tad curious — and jealous — as to how a group of New Yorkers found themselves on a gorgeous summer day, sunshine dappling through trees, doing synchronized chaturanga movements or lunges on a grassy lawn?
Well, wonder no more. This summer, that person can be you. Below, check out our favorite ways to break a sweat outdoors in the Big Apple this summer.
Sizzle in the city
We’re letting you in on our best kept sweaty secret for a memorable workout splurge: For a little slice of paradise in this concrete jungle, you can find nature, East River panorama and sorbet sunrises if you enlist in a class with Fit Tours NYC.
Join the Times Square morning walkabout (from $44) or stretch, stroll and sway to start your day with the sunrise yoga walk in Central Park (from $49), a delightful medley of speed walking and restorative yoga poses with the world’s greatest park as a backdrop.
We also love the Hudson and High Line running tour (from $44) and this season’s newcomer, Central Park bike ride and yoga (from $59)
(Also, if you find yourself in the Windy City, Fit Tours organizes a stellar Chicago river yoga walk and downtown running tour.)
Get pickled
Ready to perfect your serve? CityPickle is offering 642 hours of free pickleball play this summer between Union Square and Hudson Yards, the latter of which will have a court open daily until September 7 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., with court rental bookings online.
If you prefer to work on your volleys and dinks at Wollman Rink, courts can be reserved there from now until October, starting at $10 per player during off-peak times.
Single in the city? Head to CityPickle’s indoor location in Long Island City on July 27, August 10 or August 24, where friends and solo players can sign up to lob and find love.
And as part of this year’s “Summer in the Square,” the Union Square Partnership has partnered with CityPickle for free court reservations at Union Square on Thursdays, but only until August 1.
Sweat it out
Who said you can only wear stilettos and boat shoes this summer in this infamous nightlife mecca?
The Meatpacking Business Improvement District is partnering with the Wellth Collective and the Google Store for an al fresco summer fitness series. Choose from yoga, boot camp, dance cardio, pilates, boxing and more, all at Hudson River Park’s 14th Street park.
The free 45 minute classes run on July 30, August 12 and August 27 starting at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Attendees must reserve a spot here.
Chelsea boot camp
We’re going to go ahead and guess you’ve heard of Chelsea Piers. Heck, in all likelihood, you’ve been going to birthday parties there since the ‘90s.
Chelsea Piers Fitness has facilities in Chelsea and two gyms in Brooklyn, one in Stamford, Conn., and a Flatiron outpost is opening soon, but the outdoors is where it’s at for the brand through October.
Roughly 200 free classes are open to the public in the tristate area. Workouts run the gamut from high intensity interval training at Brooklyn Bridge Park to a “Stroller Strength” class for parents with new tots (they try to have them in the stroller, ideally) in Commons Park in Stamford.
Register online in advance here.
