Piece o' Cheesecake: Get Wet & Wild!

One of my absolute favorite things to do is to share with all my friends the many opportunities for free, cheap and unique workouts around New York City. As Summer draws to a close, I want to tell you about yet another free outdoor workout to check off your list while the weather is still pleasant...and a totally unique year-round indoor workout that I am a HUGE fan of.

The New York City Downtown Boathouse offers free walk-up kayaking at each of its three locations:
Pier 40 - located @ the west end of Houston Street
Pier 96 - located @ Clinton Cove Park on the Westside Highway & 56th St
72nd St - @ the waterside promenade in Riverside Park, @ about 72nd St
From the middle of May to the middle of October (weekends and holidays, as well as many weekdays), you can just show up, with no kayaking experience, and the "dedicated volunteers" will give you a life jacket, kayak, paddle and some quick paddling tips and send you off on a short 20-minute paddle within their "protected embayment." The NYC Downtown Boathouse also offers free lessons and 3-hour guided trips. It's all first come, first served. Changing rooms and running water are available at Pier 40 and Pier 96 but are not available at 72nd street. All locations offer lockers but you should bring your own lock. For more information check out the Downtown Boathouse's Kayaking and FAQs webpages.

The DivaDance Company describes itself as "a community of young, chic urban professional women who in their day jobs are accountants, lawyers, and marketing goddesses and after work, all share the common bond of a love for dance!"
The best thing about "Head Diva" Jami and her "Divalicious Staff" is that they somehow manage to create magic during their dance classes and workouts, offering an environment where both experienced dancers and total newbies can feel both challenged and fully accepted. It's all fun and zero judgement! With about 20 years of dance training in my youth, I decided to attend a 4-week DivaHipHop class (1 hour, 1 night/week, for 4 weeks) with my never-a-dancer mom. The two of us had such a blast despite our differing levels of experience! $69 4-week sessions add new choreography each week to create one full routine and all students have the chance to later participate in a show for friends and family. 4-weeks sessions in DivaStrip are also offered. If you can't make the 4-week commitment, try "Dance & Sweat," a co-ed drop-in class for people who want more of a workout and less choreography (the class starts with a longer warm up but you'll still do plenty of dancing and learn some great moves). Sessions and classes are held at different dance studios around Manhattan. For more information, check out the DivaDance website or Facebook page.

One of my absolute favorite things to do is to share with all my friends the many opportunities for free, cheap and unique workouts around New York City. As Summer draws to a close, I want to tell you about yet another free outdoor workout to check off your list while the weather is still pleasant...and a totally unique year-round indoor workout that I am a HUGE fan of.

The New York City Downtown Boathouse offers free walk-up kayaking at each of its three locations:
Pier 40 - located @ the west end of Houston Street
Pier 96 - located @ Clinton Cove Park on the Westside Highway & 56th St
72nd St - @ the waterside promenade in Riverside Park, @ about 72nd St
From the middle of May to the middle of October (weekends and holidays, as well as many weekdays), you can just show up, with no kayaking experience, and the "dedicated volunteers" will give you a life jacket, kayak, paddle and some quick paddling tips and send you off on a short 20-minute paddle within their "protected embayment." The NYC Downtown Boathouse also offers free lessons and 3-hour guided trips. It's all first come, first served. Changing rooms and running water are available at Pier 40 and Pier 96 but are not available at 72nd street. All locations offer lockers but you should bring your own lock. For more information check out the Downtown Boathouse's Kayaking and FAQs webpages.

The DivaDance Company describes itself as "a community of young, chic urban professional women who in their day jobs are accountants, lawyers, and marketing goddesses and after work, all share the common bond of a love for dance!"
The best thing about "Head Diva" Jami and her "Divalicious Staff" is that they somehow manage to create magic during their dance classes and workouts, offering an environment where both experienced dancers and total newbies can feel both challenged and fully accepted. It's all fun and zero judgement! With about 20 years of dance training in my youth, I decided to attend a 4-week DivaHipHop class (1 hour, 1 night/week, for 4 weeks) with my never-a-dancer mom. The two of us had such a blast despite our differing levels of experience! $69 4-week sessions add new choreography each week to create one full routine and all students have the chance to later participate in a show for friends and family. 4-weeks sessions in DivaStrip are also offered. If you can't make the 4-week commitment, try "Dance & Sweat," a co-ed drop-in class for people who want more of a workout and less choreography (the class starts with a longer warm up but you'll still do plenty of dancing and learn some great moves). Sessions and classes are held at different dance studios around Manhattan. For more information, check out the DivaDance website or Facebook page.