Shape Up in the New Year

If you’re like us and over-indulged during the holiday season, January is the perfect time to shape up and re-focus on your health. While Lincoln Square may be home to many tempting restaurants, bakeries, and cafes, it also has everything you need to get into a healthy fitness routine.

If you like to work out in luxury, Equinox’s Flagship location at 10 Columbus Circle and its Sports Club New York location at 160 Columbus Avenue (W 67th Street) both offer a high-end gym experience with more amenities than you can imagine. Until the end of January, the gym is offering an extra incentive for new and former members. If they work out at least eight times in the first thirty days, new members will have their initiation fee refunded, and former members won’t pay an initiation fee at all.

If you prefer the studio lifestyle, think about attending a progressive H.I.I.T-style fitness class at RX30, located at 55 Amsterdam Avenue (between 61st and 62nd Street), or a hot yoga class at CorePower Yoga, located at 2030 Broadway (69th Street). You are guaranteed to work up a sweat.

For a free workout, consider joining a local run club. Fleet Feet’s group runs begin every Wednesday at 6:30pm at 10 Columbus Circle. Arc'teryx at 158 Columbus Avenue (W 67th Street) also has a Run Club. The next one will take place on Wednesday, January 24th, in front of the store at 6:30pm (register in advance here).

Just steps outside our district, the Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center at 232 W 60th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and West End Avenue) and the West Side YMCA at 5 W 63rd Street (Central Park West) both offer cost-effective memberships no matter the time of year and have activities and classes for people of all ages. Sweetening the deal, anyone who joins the West Side YMCA in January and stays for three months will receive a fourth month free. That could be a savings of up to $239 for individuals and up to $324 for families! If you’re interested in learning about the Y and testing out a class or the gym, visit the free Winter Membership Open House on Saturday, January 13, which will run from 10:00am until 12:00pm.

For those searching for a spot to swim, four of these locations have pools. The West Side YMCA actually has two pools - one small and one large. Equinox’s Flagship location is home to a junior Olympic-sized pool, while its Sports Club New York location is home to an indoor lap pool. While the Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center's indoor pool hosts second graders from different schools for classes during part of the day, it also offers Senior Water Ballet, Adaptive Aquatics, and Adult Lap Swim during the week. Saturdays are largely dedicated to swim lessons for people of all ages, from tots to adults.

In addition to committing to your workout routine, hydrating, and stretching, wearing the proper attire and using appropriate equipment can be critical for your fitness regimen’s success. Get fully outfitted for whichever activity you choose by visiting Alo, lululemon athletica, H&M, Fleet Feet, and Wilson, all at The Shops at Columbus Circle, Target at 1863 Broadway (W 61st Street), Gap at 1988 Broadway (between W 67th and W 68th Street), and Arc'teryx at 158 Columbus Ave (W 67th Street).

There’s no better place to elevate your fitness journey than Lincoln Square. We hope 2024 is a year full of health and happiness for you!

Photo Credit: YMCA NYC