Nutrition & Exercise
Creative Ways to Stay Fit in the City
July 2022
Contributor Jillian Crocetta finds ways to get exercise in New York City, but these same tips can be applied to any city, big or small, throughout the globe.
By Jillian Crocetta
Cities are a wonderful smorgasbord of social activity. Options are limitless; each restaurant, rooftop, boutique and museum becomes a challenge to conquer and often a full day’s expenditure.
It can be difficult to sustain a healthy exercise regimen when there is so much else to do. After living in New York City for ten months (and carefully avoiding gym fees), I’ve learned a thing or two about how to craft creative exercise ideas.
The benefits of regular physical activity go beyond weight regulation and disease prevention. According to Mayo Clinic, the benefits of exercise also include bettering your mood, increasing your energy, and helping you get better sleep. Exercise is what gives us the energy to go to every new restaurant, rooftop and museum.
So, how can you exercise in your ever-living metropolis?
Take a Long Walk
I’m not talking about going to the drugstore around the block. I’m talking about a lace-up-your-sneakers type of walk.
As I was chatting with my friend at dinner the other week, she told me that she’d spent the earlier part of the day walking down the island of Manhattan. Starting at 220th Street and finishing at Battery Park, she told me that she was inspired by this adventure as it was portrayed on Broad City, but this was something that New Yorkers have been doing forever.
Perhaps my friend’s journey sounds daunting. Start smaller. Pick a destination and skip the convenience of your city’s public transport. Walk to the bar where you’re meeting friends or get off two subway stops before yours. You can even plan your walk with all your chores in mind. Depending on how much time and energy you have, these walks can be long or longer.
Walks need not be limited to summer weather. Consider walking to a destination (preferably heated!) in the winter. Select a starting point, zip up your jacket, and invite a friend to come along.
“Taking long walks is a fun way to get exercise and keep myself moving while also taking the time to clear my head and see my city,” my friend told me with a smile.
Sightsee
On a recent day off, a friend and I took the tram to Roosevelt Island. It was our goal to see the island in its entirety, and at a sustained pace, which only took a couple hours. We headed out early, the sun was shining, and we bought the map at the visitor center.
Last summer, my brother and I rented Citi Bikes and rode across the Williamsburg Bridge. It was a great workout, though beware of the uphill climb!
Although I would recoil at anyone’s suggestion that I am a tourist in my own city, I will admit that there is something so wonderful about seeing something new. According to an article in the Huffington Post, sightseeing gives you the opportunity to be more present and removed from social media. It also gives you the ability to learn new things, thus powering your brain’s level of happiness. Sightseeing does wonders for your mental health.
It also doubles as an incredible form of exercise. Have you ever checked your step count after a long day perusing the Museum of Natural History?
Take Advantage of Green Spaces
Greenspace is a great visual detox from the city’s bustle.
The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation offers great resources on how to take advantage of New York City’s parks, such as a list of Shape Up NYC’s free fitness classes, an outdoor fitness equipment locator, and a list of the best hiking trails in each of the five boroughs.
Another idea: Bring a yoga mat and that YouTube class you like on your phone to your local park after work. Fresh air and exercise go hand in hand.
Or Blacktop…
Another friend of mine recently bought a basketball online, and she and her roommate have a weekly tradition of going to their local Brooklyn basketball court to shoot some hoops.
Join a Group
Exercise doesn’t need to be done alone. If you are having trouble motivating yourself or want to meet like-minded individuals, then join a group. Whether it be a running group or a club sport, there is something for everyone.
Rekindle your high school passion for the sport you once played or try something entirely new. I did! After years apart from the game of softball, I recently joined a co-ed league that plays out of Central Park. Wish me luck. The first game is this weekend.
Be A Guest
I am a self-proclaimed avoider of gym fees, but that doesn’t mean everyone is. So, when a friend bought a gym membership as part of a personal fitness goal, I graciously took advantage of the guest passes. Being creative about fitness means diversifying your means of exercising, so you never tire from routine.
Looking for more?
One of the best parts about being in a city is listening to all the chatter around you. I urge you to listen. People who live in the city are always coming up with new fitness ideas. And you can learn about the hidden hiking trails or free exercise classes by just grabbing a cocktail with a friend…or leaning in to hear the conversation at the next table.
It can be difficult to sustain a healthy exercise regimen when there is so much else to do. After living in New York City for ten months (and carefully avoiding gym fees), I’ve learned a thing or two about how to craft creative exercise ideas.
The benefits of regular physical activity go beyond weight regulation and disease prevention. According to Mayo Clinic, the benefits of exercise also include bettering your mood, increasing your energy, and helping you get better sleep. Exercise is what gives us the energy to go to every new restaurant, rooftop and museum.
So, how can you exercise in your ever-living metropolis?
Take a Long Walk
I’m not talking about going to the drugstore around the block. I’m talking about a lace-up-your-sneakers type of walk.
As I was chatting with my friend at dinner the other week, she told me that she’d spent the earlier part of the day walking down the island of Manhattan. Starting at 220th Street and finishing at Battery Park, she told me that she was inspired by this adventure as it was portrayed on Broad City, but this was something that New Yorkers have been doing forever.
Perhaps my friend’s journey sounds daunting. Start smaller. Pick a destination and skip the convenience of your city’s public transport. Walk to the bar where you’re meeting friends or get off two subway stops before yours. You can even plan your walk with all your chores in mind. Depending on how much time and energy you have, these walks can be long or longer.
Walks need not be limited to summer weather. Consider walking to a destination (preferably heated!) in the winter. Select a starting point, zip up your jacket, and invite a friend to come along.
“Taking long walks is a fun way to get exercise and keep myself moving while also taking the time to clear my head and see my city,” my friend told me with a smile.
Sightsee
On a recent day off, a friend and I took the tram to Roosevelt Island. It was our goal to see the island in its entirety, and at a sustained pace, which only took a couple hours. We headed out early, the sun was shining, and we bought the map at the visitor center.
Last summer, my brother and I rented Citi Bikes and rode across the Williamsburg Bridge. It was a great workout, though beware of the uphill climb!
Although I would recoil at anyone’s suggestion that I am a tourist in my own city, I will admit that there is something so wonderful about seeing something new. According to an article in the Huffington Post, sightseeing gives you the opportunity to be more present and removed from social media. It also gives you the ability to learn new things, thus powering your brain’s level of happiness. Sightseeing does wonders for your mental health.
It also doubles as an incredible form of exercise. Have you ever checked your step count after a long day perusing the Museum of Natural History?
Take Advantage of Green Spaces
Greenspace is a great visual detox from the city’s bustle.
The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation offers great resources on how to take advantage of New York City’s parks, such as a list of Shape Up NYC’s free fitness classes, an outdoor fitness equipment locator, and a list of the best hiking trails in each of the five boroughs.
Another idea: Bring a yoga mat and that YouTube class you like on your phone to your local park after work. Fresh air and exercise go hand in hand.
Or Blacktop…
Another friend of mine recently bought a basketball online, and she and her roommate have a weekly tradition of going to their local Brooklyn basketball court to shoot some hoops.
Join a Group
Exercise doesn’t need to be done alone. If you are having trouble motivating yourself or want to meet like-minded individuals, then join a group. Whether it be a running group or a club sport, there is something for everyone.
Rekindle your high school passion for the sport you once played or try something entirely new. I did! After years apart from the game of softball, I recently joined a co-ed league that plays out of Central Park. Wish me luck. The first game is this weekend.
Be A Guest
I am a self-proclaimed avoider of gym fees, but that doesn’t mean everyone is. So, when a friend bought a gym membership as part of a personal fitness goal, I graciously took advantage of the guest passes. Being creative about fitness means diversifying your means of exercising, so you never tire from routine.
Looking for more?
One of the best parts about being in a city is listening to all the chatter around you. I urge you to listen. People who live in the city are always coming up with new fitness ideas. And you can learn about the hidden hiking trails or free exercise classes by just grabbing a cocktail with a friend…or leaning in to hear the conversation at the next table.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity (Mayo Clinic)
Outdoor Fitness (New York City Department of Parks & Recreation)
Physical Activity for People with Disability (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
Seniors Fitness (City Parks Foundation) - This link is specific to NYC, but most big cities have foundations and other resources for seniors - check with your local Chamber of Commerce, city parks information center, or .gov site.
Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity (Mayo Clinic)
Outdoor Fitness (New York City Department of Parks & Recreation)
Physical Activity for People with Disability (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
Seniors Fitness (City Parks Foundation) - This link is specific to NYC, but most big cities have foundations and other resources for seniors - check with your local Chamber of Commerce, city parks information center, or .gov site.
Jillian Crocetta is a New York City-based human resources professional and freelance writer/editor who enjoys writing in the areas of identity, place, empowerment, and health & wellness. She has always been drawn to creative nonfiction and poetry and has a passion for generating stories. In addition to the articles she has written for Sanctuary, her work has been published in New Voices and Spotlight News.
