This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending my first Workout in the Park, hosted by Self magazine in Central Park. The day is a great opportunity for people of any fitness level to try out new workouts, get some fitness swag, and spend a healthy Saturday in the sun.
There were three workout areas: the main stage, the quiet zone for mat work, and the toning zone. I started my workout in the quite zone, for a Pilates Fusion workout on the mats. Then I headed over to the main stage for Retro-Robics, featuring 90’s hip-hop moves, followed by a LaBLAST class inspired by dances featured on Dancing with the Stars. Some of the other workouts included Cardio Tai Box, Yoga Body Sculpt, a Masala Bhangra dance class featuring Bollywood dance moves and a sing-along Glee Club workout. All of the workouts were provided by Crunch, so if you want to try one of these routines, check the class schedule at your closest Crunch location.
Although I’m a regular runner and occasional yoga practitioner, I was definitely sore in the best way on Sunday. The event was a great reminder of the importance of trying new physical activities and mixing up your workout routine: there may be muscles you’re not using if you follow the same workout every day. The crowd was enthusiastic and the turnout for the event was pretty impressive. Although there were several hundred attendees, everyone seemed to be in a very good mood.
“Oh my god, the energy here is incredible,” said Z100’s Danielle Monaro, who emceed the event. “I cannot believe how many people have come out for this event and they’re all into it!” Between announcements, Danielle got to sweat her way through some of the workouts. “I just did the arms workout…and I will not be able to feel them tomorrow morning.” She enjoys kickboxing and mixed martial arts to stay fit. “I also roller blade when the weather is nice. It’s a full body workout, your arms are pumping, everything’s going.”
This year, Self’s Workout in the Park comes to three cities, including New York, San Francisco and Chicago. The Chicago event is May 21st, so if you’re in the area you still have time to grab a friend and sign up.
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SELF Magazine’s 2024 Workout in the Park Expands to Include New York, Chicago, and San Francisco