No Need to PAUSE Your Fitness Goals

New York City’s PAUSE doesn’t mean you need to put your exercise routine on pause. Get up from your couch and stay fit at home with a number of free exercise opportunities! With the help of Lincoln Square fitness spots and others in the city, you can turn your apartment into a home gym, studio, or meditation center with a variety of virtual classes and videos suitable for adults, children, and older adults.

Get your heart rate up and move your body

Drop in for a live virtual workout through the YMCA. Online classes include condition and strength training, Zumba and dance, cardio, and more. Live class schedules can be found here, or you can search based on class type. There are static instructional videos for different workouts, too. The YMCA also offers fitness challenges to keep things interesting. Right now, you can take the 5-Day Pilates for Beginners Challenge with instructor Melissa. Click here for more details.

Head to lululemon’s #thesweatlife online community page where you’ll find a ton of opportunities to get active inside. Train at home with videos lead by store ambassadors, including full body workouts, bodyweight trainings, and more. Click here to view some at home workouts.

As part of its digital spring season, the New York City Ballet is offering free 45-minute Ballet Essentials Workshops on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:00pm. For the workshops, NYCB artists lead viewers through a ballet warm-up and movement combination inspired by some of the Company's iconic repertory. Click here for previous and future videos.

Broadway Dance Center is offering its guest and master classes online during this crisis. These classes bring in some of the dance industry's top choreographers, educators, and dancers for special opportunities. Head to the website and try out a class for $12 to see what you like!

Stretch up and out at home

Yoga is a favorite exercise option to strengthen and stretch muscles, often easy for beginners to jump into. Check out CorePower Yoga’s online offerings, featuring classes ranging from 5 minute meditations to sweaty 60 minute flows, with different levels of experience for all. Some classes are free and some are part of an extensive membership experience. Check out the options here.

You can also find yoga videos and meditative practices on lululemon’s #thesweatlife online community page. Check out restorative yoga videos here or yoga for all levels here. And, don’t forget to utilize lululemon’s great restorative meditation playlist!  

Equinox has created two flow videos you can view online meant to optimize energy, reduce stress, and stretch out the body: The AM Ritual is designed to bring ease to your morning with stretches and breath work. The PM Ritual will help relieve stress and prepare you for a restful night’s sleep. Click here to view the videos. 

Also, visit the YMCA’s pilates, yoga, and stretching page for some additional free content.

Movement for older adults

There are so many classes just one click away suitable for older adults with limited experience, mobility, or who just need some guidance to get moving. DOROT is a great resource for a wide range of health and wellness classes. Take a Tai Chi break, stretch with gentle yoga, get active with light dance, or protect yourself with fall prevention techniques. Click here for more details.

Senior Planet is another online platform with weekly classes for older adults. Tune into afternoon stretch classes, FIT Fusion workouts, chair chi and more. These classes will help with circulation, stretching, and even connect you to new friends and faces virtually. Click here to check out the calendar of events. Senior Planet is also a resource for technology tutorials, cultural events, and other activities online for older adults.

For kids with energy

The New York City Ballet has designed an online class for kids and families that combines ballet with fun exercise. Ballet Breaks, for children 3 – 8 years old, are 20-minute workshops taught by a NYCB dance instructor inspired by the company’s ballets. You must register for a link to each class. Click here for more information.

The YMCA is another great spot to check out for physical activities for children. From jumping jack challenges to yoga and dance parties, click here to view all of the YMCA’s videos that will inspire kids to move around and have fun.

With this list as a guide, there’s no excuse to stay seated on the couch! Explore some of the above options and keep searching for more workout inspiration in and around Lincoln Square. These are just some of the free exercise resources in the area and city, so check back for updates and let us know if we missed anything great!

Photo credit: lululemon