We’re shutting down our pools for deep cleaning from Sunday, August 21, 2022 to Monday, September 5, 2022. But just because our pools will be closed doesn’t mean that you can’t stay active! Here are eight fun alternatives to our indoor pools.
Leave the pool behind and hit the open ocean! One of the great perks of living in New York City is that there are lots of great beaches nearby where you can get in a good swim. If you’re a competitive swimmer, you can’t improve your push turns or starts off the block. But swimming in the open ocean is a great way to practice your strokes and swim for distance. If you’re dipping a toe into open water swimming for the first time, you can check out our handy beginner’s tips!
If you’re a competitive swimmer your coach has almost certainly made you do dryland exercises. But even casual swimmers can benefit from doing complementary exercises outside of the pool. Dryland exercises improve overall strength, flexibility, and mobility while preventing injury. Check out our blog for a great dryland workout that you can do anywhere – even at home!
Group exercise classes give you the same sense of camaraderie that you get from being in a water exercise class or part of a swim team. If you enjoy the gentle workout you can get from water exercise, try a Tai Chi class. Tai Chi uses gentle, flowing movements to improve mental and physical strength. If you’re looking for a way to really get your heart rate up and break a sweat, try HIIT Camp. Instructors guide you through your workout and help you push yourself to your limit. Check out our Group Exercise schedules in Battery Park City and on the Upper East Side.
While they’re not exactly tropical, there are great islands to explore all around NYC. If you’ve ever taken a stroll in Carl Schultz Park on the Upper East Side you’ve definitely seen Roosevelt Island. Why not make the short trip across the East River and see the island in person? An added attraction is the newly renovated lighthouse on the northern tip of the island. In Battery Park City you’re closer to Governor’s Island. Both islands have miles of walkable and bikeable paths so it’s a nice way to get active without getting too intense. Pack some snacks and a blanket, have a picnic, and enjoy an entire afternoon outdoors!
Leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind and get active in the great outdoors. There are tons of beautiful outdoor areas near NYC that offer hiking, camping, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. You can check out our hiking blog for our favorite hiking spots all under 90 minutes from the city. As for camping, Fahnestock State Park and Harriman State Park are just up the Hudson and both feature some of the best camping areas in the state.
Try getting your cardio workout in the fitness center instead of the pool. If you’re looking for a cardio workout that’s similar to swimming, our fitness centers have everything you need. Plus, you can get the same solitude and self-direction you get swimming laps when you choose a machine and zone in on your workout. Even better, you can pop your headphones in and listen to your favorite playlist – something that’s hard to do underwater! The stationary bike is a standard cardio machine that primarily engages your legs. The elliptical machine allows you to get in a cardio workout without putting the same stress on your knees and hips as running or using a treadmill. Plus, it works out your arms. The rower is another great machine for swimmers. It works the whole body and helps develop your back muscles to prevent swimmer’s slouch. Read more about the rower here.
You can find stationary bikes in our fitness centers, but staying in one place might not be enough for the more adventurous cyclist. Luckily, NYC is one of the more bikeable cities in the country, with over 1,300 miles of bike paths crisscrossing our metropolis. You can get just about anywhere in the city on a bike. The Bronx River Pathway is a popular 9-mile track in the north of NYC, and cyclists in the south can enjoy the 7 miles of bike paths on Governor’s Island.
Let’s face it, August isn’t the best month of the year to be a sports fan. The NFL season doesn’t come back until September, and you have to wait until October for the new NBA season. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing going on, especially in New York City! On August 22 and 23 the Yankees will host the Mets at Yankee Stadium for the final games of 2022 Subway Series. Why not attend one of the biggest rivalries in baseball in person? If tennis is more your speed, the US Open is coming to NYC on August 29 and lasts until September 11.
Bonus events: Come to Asphalt Green’s free community movie night on August 26 on Litwin Field at our Upper East Side campus to watch Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Doors at 7:45pm, movie starts at 8:30pm. You can also purchase a spot in our outdoor HIIT class that takes place on Litwin Field at 6pm on August 24.