In New York City, there are countless summer options for getting in shape outdoors. To narrow down your search, we’ve put together our favorite workouts at different price points to help you find your perfect summer workout.
Free
For The Yogi: Bryant Park Yoga
Tuesdays mornings from 10 to 11 and Thursdays afternoons from 6 to 7 between May 11 and September 14
Bryant Park Yoga schedules a variety of instructors, curated by Yoga Journal, to fit everyone’s taste. A selection of colorful mats are provided by Manduka, so you won’t have to worry about carrying your yoga mat around the City. You’ll get a Frequent Yogi card when you check in, which you can get stamped at each event and work your way up to Yoga Journal and Manduka rewards.
For The Runner: Lululemon Running Clubs
Various times and locations
Lululemon has weekly running clubs at their many locations around the city, so you’re sure to find one conveniently close to work or home. They also allow you to change and leave your belongings in their changing rooms, which makes straight-from-work workouts a whole lot easier. These runs are also lead by run ambassadors, a great perk for a free program.
For The Early Bird: The Rise, NYC
Weekday mornings at 6:30 am at various locations
The Rise offers free early morning workouts Monday through Friday at various locations around the City. Classes include HIIT training, body circuit, core body boot camp, and more. These are open to all fitness levels, and perfect if you’re looking to start your day strong.
FOR THE SELF-MOTIVATOR: NYC Park Equipment
Various locations
NYC Parks have plenty of fitness equipment, including bars, beams, and more. There are a ton of online resources for exercises to try out with park equipment. In addition, lots of parks have hiking trails and places to run, so fitting in cardio and strength will be easy and convenient. Plus, you’ll never be tied down to a scheduled class time.
FOR THE EXPERIMENTER: Brazilian Capoeria
Wednesday afternoons from 6:30 to 7:30 between June 1 and August 29
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary for your summer workouts, give Brazilian Capoeria a try. These workouts incorporate a combination of martial arts, dance, music, and acrobatics and have many health benefits.
For a full list of free outdoor workouts, click here.
Affordable
FOR THE ADVENTURER: Rock Climbing at DUMBO Boulders
Monday through Friday 10am to 10pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am to 8pm. // $9 for day pass (includes rental shoes), $12.50 - $25 for clinics
New York’s first outdoor rock climbing wall doesn’t disappoint. You may not be climbing real rocks, but that doesn’t mean you miss out on any views. The wall is located in Brooklyn, with beautiful views of the Brooklyn Bridge, East River, and One World Trade. All that fun and you’re still getting a workout in!
FOR THE CHALLENGER: Beastanetics
Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6:45 to 7:45 or 8 to 9 between April 11 and Nov. 21 // $15 for single class or $176 for 8 weeks (16 classes)
Beastanetics lives up to its name by offering fun, high-intensity interval training workouts in the mornings. HIIT training incorporates a comprehensive body workout--perfect for people looking for a good challenge. Their 8-week price gets you 16 classes for just $11 each.
FOR THE WORK HARD/PLAY HARDER: Summer Buzz Run with Surf Yoga Beer
Mondays at 7pm and Wednesdays at 7am between June 5 and September 13 // $25 for single run
With this running club, you won’t just get a run. You’ll also get a mix of abs and upper body strength. But that’s not all, Surf Beer Yoga emphasizes the adventure and community aspects of workouts, so you’ll likely meet some new friends and get some hard-earned drinks after your workout.
FOR THE YOGI: Rooftop Yoga at Yo Yoga
Various dates and times // $22 for single class
Rooftop yoga is perfect for nice New York summer days you don’t want to miss. Yo Yoga has its own private rooftop studio, complete with outdoor string lights and plenty of plant life to make you feel #zen. Classes are affordable and so are their options for pricing packages.
FOR THE SELF-MOTIVATED CYCLIST: Unlimited Biking
Anytime // Starting at $10 for rental packages
Why be stuck indoors in cycling class when you can have the fresh air blowing past your bike while speeding through your favorite NYC park? Renting bikes is cheap and easy, and it’s sure to give you a workout that won’t require any neon lights or hyped up instructors to get you motivated.
Splurge
FOR THE ADVENTURER: SUP Fitness with Manhattan Kayak
Various dates, times and levels // $40 for a 1.5 hour class, $15 rental
Just because it’s a workout doesn’t mean you don’t get to be on the water! Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) has been trendy for a while, but when you incorporate elements of HIIT, yoga, and more, you get a full body workout on the water. Once you learn the basics, you can rent a SUP for yourself and save money on your splurge!
FOR THE SIGHTSEER: Fit Tours NYC
Various dates, times, and classes // $39 per class
Fit Tours offers 5 different Central Park fitness classes that incorporate sightseeing with exercise. The hour-long courses are designed by licensed New York City Sightseeing Guides, so you’re sure to make it to all the hotspots while also getting in a great workout of your choice.
FOR THE TREND-SETTER: The Rope NYC
Various dates and times // $35 single class, $165 for 5 classes
The Rope is a high-intensity jump rope class taught by Amanda Kloots that (literally) whips you into shape. During the summer, Kloots takes her classes outdoors for a nostalgic schoolyard atmosphere while you double dutch. This trendy workout is definitely worth the splurge!
FOR THE DETERMINED: Stacy’s Bootcamp
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:30am or 6:45am // $110-225 for 3-week sessions
Stacy’s bootcamp takes you out of the gym and put you in a natural workout environment. No fancy machines included, but you might use a jug of water as a weight. This bootcamp shows fast results and includes cardio and strength training to create a comprehensive full-body workout.
FOR THE KICKBOXING YOGI: Circuit of Change Outdoor Yoga
Various dates and times // $29 for single class, $128 for 8 classes
These high-intensity yoga classes incorporate kickboxing and tribal movements to include cardio in their workouts. The company also offers workout videos and recipe books you can purchase and download online.