Parks Offers SHAPE UP NYC Fitness Classes

This week, Parks kicks off New Year, New You, a 12-week challenge that encourages physical activity, healthy eating, and overall wellness. More than 30 Shape Up NYC fitness class sites will offer one Kick-off Day, when staff will take "before" measurements including height, weight, strength (# of pushups and sit-ups), flexibility (sit and reach), and body fat percentage, to allow participants to track their fitness and weight loss goals.
 
"Through innovative programs such as Shape Up NYC, Parks offers New Yorkers a chance to get fit and healthy for free," Commissioner Benepe said. "By taking part in the New Year, New You challenge with the help of trained professionals, people will be able to meet achievable goals of losing weight and staying in shape.  Parks is grateful to our partners at Equinox, the Department of Health, and NYC Service for helping us keep our resolution to offer the best free fitness in the city."
 
 "Equinox is excited to partner with NYC Service and the Department of Parks & Recreation to expand Shape  Up NYC and increase free fitness opportunities across the city" said Harvey Spevak, CEO of Equinox. "At Equinox, we have always believed that good fitness and good health are everyone's right. Good fitness and health are the cornerstones of a good life.  Every New Yorker deserves to have them.  That's why Shape Up NYC is so important, and that's why we are all so committed to its success."
 
"Equinox is using their blank for good for another year and hundreds of New Yorkers will benefit. They are volunteering their human resources and infrastructure to help New Yorkers get in shape and combat preventative illnesses in their own communities for free.  They are such a wonderful example of how a company can serve their city and build our capacity to meet real problems in challenging times," said Diahann Billings-Burford, Chief Service Officer.
 
The kick-off will give participants the opportunity to set goals for themselves during the challenge, and become familiarized with good wellness habits. Trainers and staff volunteers will provide them with guidance on how to track their goals, as well as encourage them to visit BeFitNYC, Parks' free fitness search engine and take advantage of free exercise programs through Shape Up NYC.
 
The challenge will conclude on April 8, 2011 with a Celebration Day, where prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 "Most Improved" participants at each site, based on weight loss, inches lost, improved strength, and healthy behavior.
 
The Shape Up NYC program is a partnership of Equinox, the Department of Parks and Recreation, NYC Service and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which offers free fitness classes every week at 42 locations across the five boroughs.  Shape Up NYC classes are taught by talented, enthusiastic and knowledgeable fitness instructors who know how to make fitness fun.  Class offerings are varied and include Yoga, Pilates Fusion, Zumba, Kickboxing and Cardio Sculpt.  Classes are completely free, open to the public and no pre-registration is required, so participants just find the location in their neighborhood and start to Shape Up.
 
Thanks to a major partnership with Equinox, the existing Shape Up NYC program expanded last May to 16 additional Recreation Centers and six housing, school sites and health facilities in all five boroughs.  This more than doubled the size of the existing program, giving New Yorkers 188 opportunities to Shape Up every week with a capacity to reach over 60,000 New Yorkers during Shape Up NYC's first eight week session.  Equinox specializes in adult Shape Up programming, becoming Parks' lead sponsor in the adult fitness arena and propelling the Mayor's plans to get sedentary New Yorkers into a new habit of fitness.  Recently, Equinox has committed to continuing this partnership through 2011.
 
The Department of Parks & Recreation provides the most affordable and extensive network of recreational services throughout New York City. Our recreation centers offer facilities such as indoor pools, weight rooms, basketball courts, and dance studios, art studios, game rooms, and libraries. All of our recreation centers offer a range of programs for people of all ages.  To find a Recreation Center near you, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call 311.