Welcome to New York City!
When visiting New York City, it is incredibly easy to find fitness and wellness activities! The challenge for me is always deciding which delicious food to try on each visit as there are just so many options. But instead of wandering off on a tangent that will surely land us in a fantastic pizza spot or insert-you-favorite-cuisine-here (NYC has them all!), let’s focus back on wellness…
Start your day with the Sunrise: A great Ayurvedic practice, as well as one for productivity, is getting up with (or before) the sun. I love starting the day, and particularly my first day in a new city, by watching the sunrise. Head down to the North Cove, a part of Battery Park in Manhattan that is one of the top places to go in NYC if you want to see the sun peak over the horizon.
Eating local: I promised myself I wouldn’t go off on tangents about food in this article as there are just SO MANY great options, But for the sake of wellness, here’s just a few food-related bits to share:Many of NYC’s restaurants offer “farm-to-table” menus with locally sourced organic ingredients. Or you can check out the Farmer’s Markets and pick up your own local produce, cheeses, breads, honey, meats and more. The Union Square Greenmarket is my personal favorite as it is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday year round and also allows for a stroll through Union Square Park, and a visit to the huge Barnes & Noble and Paragon Sports stores just across the street. It is easily accessible by subway as well. For more details on all the greenmarkets in New York, visit: https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket
Put one foot in front of the other: Like most big cities, New York City is easily walkable. The terrain is flat, streets are well marked, and there are wide sidewalks just about everywhere. Keep clear of the heavy “office areas” during rush hours though or you may find yourself being pushed along with the crowd of coffee-wielding, fast-moving locals on their way to or from work. Yes, there is an amazingly efficient subway and bus system, as well as those iconic yellow cabs, not to mention Uber, Lyft, etc. but your feet really can bring you everywhere you want to go. My favorite way to escape the noise of the city is to stroll through Central Park, where you can get lost for hours and not realize you’re in the middle of a city, or though the art installations along the elevated HighLine park downtown.
Escape to Central Park: Right in the center of the city craziness is a carefully designed tranquil park with many things to offer. Stroll the paved paths, picnic, watch a concert, enjoy the street performers, take an outdoor class, or just take a nap on a sunny patch of grass.
- Founded by a certified Fitness Trainer and official NYC Sightseeing Guide, Fit tours will raise your heart rate while showing you the sights in Central Park. One option allows you to run five kilometers on a route that encompasses the park’s most famous locations. Or, try the sunrise yoga walk, or perhaps enjoy a two mile walk/jog course from one side of the park to the other interspersed with strength training exercises. https://fittoursnyc.com/
- And while you’re in the park, head over to the Boathouse, where you can rent a rowboat and enjoy the waterways within the park while still getting in some exercise (weather permitting). From the water you will get to see many turtles and birds that are harder to see from land, including egrets and loons.
Surround yourself with water: Water may be one of the best sources of wellness on the planet. From drinking it to soaking in it, or just watching it, the body is nourished and the mind is instantly calmed. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
- A subterranean indoor water spa, called Aire is located in a beautifully restored historic building, which is fitting since it strives to closely replicate ancient Greek and Roman bath traditions. Pools of varying temperatures fill the sprawling space, which is lit by candlelight, and guests are encouraged to journey through the baths at their own pace. While you can’t move in, you can extend your stay by booking a massage package. 88 Franklin St. For more information visit www.beaire.com
- Try a boating day trips offered by Gild Hall. The historic Wall Street boutique hotel has three unique summer packages for guests who want to get out on the water. The Historic South Street Seaport Summer Package offers a boat ride for two aboard the Pioneer, a 130-year-old schooner, and includes admission to the South Street Seaport Museum. You can also have a picnic at Gild Hall’s Felice (a lovely Tuscan restaurant), followed by two pints back on shore at the historic Paris Café. Thompson Hotel
- Everyone loves Brunch so why not eat it on a boat? The Shearwater CLassic Schooner offers a two-hour champagne brunch sail ($95 for adults, $45 for children ages 3 to 12) with a buffet (and, of course, champagne). Just be sure to be there by 11 o’clock or you’ll miss the boat, literally. For more details, click here.
- For dinner or lunch try Hudson’s at Pier 81. Aboard this three-story, 160-foot yacht you will see breathtaking views of the New York Harbor as you sail to the Statue of Liberty and nibble on shareable plates and full entrees.
- Float away your stress: Float tanks are gaining popularity around the city, and many can be found. You’ll enter the float chamber—where the water is held at a constant 96 degrees. Float tanks fit one person (usually they are about 6′ x 8′) and are filled with about a foot of water and around 1200 pounds of healing Epsom salt which allows your body to float with the buoyancy of the Dead Sea. You will spend about an hour in this “sensory deprivation” chamber, where there is no sound or light—just peaceful floating. I would recommend Chill Space on 40th between Lexington and Park.
Hang five, the surfs up!: If you love the water, but maybe don’t want to be in it or on it, the next best thing is SURFSET. Learn how to surf the waves (even in the winter) from the comfort of a NYC studio. Classes are taught on SURFSET custom-designed surfboards that rest about a foot off the ground and emulate an actual board’s use and movements (such as side-to-side) in the ocean. Paddle with your arms and legs and pop-up abruptly when you’re ready to ride, working your flexibility, cardio, core and balance all at once for a challenging but fun workout. Once you master it, who knows? You may just go from being a novice to an expert surfer — before even touching the water. The session lasts 45 minutes, but your body may be feeling the workout for a good while after.
Soar Sky High: Did you ever think of joining the circus as a trapeze artist? Now you can learn how, at the Trapesze School of New York. Classes range from beginner on up, including Lyra (in which you do aerial motions from a metal circle in the air) and Static Trapeze (using a bar tied to ropes that you hang from in the air). You’ll test gravity and strengthen your balance and core muscles, all while having a memorable experience. Indeed, you’ll work muscles (and joints) you didn’t even know existed before. The school offers two locations: a year-round facility located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and an outdoor facility that’s available from May through October in lower Manhattan above Pier 40 in Hudson River Park.
Grab some wheels: Two wheels or four…there are options galore!
- While there are CityBikes in NYC, this bike “rental” program is designed mostly for locals and charges a monthly membership. However, there are lots of other bike rental options. If you’re not moving in. Just Google “bike rentals” and you’ll find a bunch! Be sure to get a lock with your bike if you are going to rent one, as if you need to park it while you eat, do some shopping, check out a museum, etc., you will need to secure it.
- If you’re more of the 4-wheeled type, New York City is one of the best places to skateboard in the world. Nothing beats just grabbing your board and hitting the streets of Manhattan. However, there are also dedicated skate parks with incredible public architecture to enjoy. Before you wonder, “why include skateboarding?”, it has become popular for many New Yorkers lately. There’s even a luxury condo project that includes a 100,000-square-foot space skateboarding with a 4′ ramp. It has 263 units ranging in price from $2-17 million and also includes a 30-foot rock-climbing wall, an indoor soccer field, a music studio and a bowling alley!
Did someone say Bowling? Yes, NYC has its share of Bowling Alleys and bowling does count as exercise. J My favorites are Lucky Strike (near Peir 78), and Bowlmor (near Times Square), or Frames over on 9th Ave. Come at night to any of these and enjoy live music, dancing and cocktails too.
Use your “visitor” status to your advantage with visitor day passes:
Whether you are looking for some weights to lift, a kickboxing class, or an aerial gymnastics class, NYC has them all, and more! Day passes are usually available at all the fitness clubs in town, and range in price depending on the club or class. Most are around $10-$20 for full access to all classes and facilities. Just ask at the front desk of any club that interests you.
Enjoy the outdoors: Wellness is maximized by being out in the fresh air and sunshine.
- Socialize as you stretch near the Brooklyn Bridge: The Brooklyn Bridge Pier will give you a full range of activities to get you moving, and a great way to meet some locals. From kayaking and retro dance to sunrise yoga, you’re sure to find some outdoor fun to make your heart sing. Check out their schedule here.
- New York City offers many free, fun outdoor events in the warmer months, from dancing under the stars at Lincoln Center, salsa at sunset at Hudson River Park, and Tai Chi at Bryant Park or yoga in Central Park. When you’re planning your trip, just check the latest schedules online.
- Visiting NYC in the winter? No worries! You could spend hours walking through the outdoor Christmas markets, or grab your mittens and rent some ice skates at any of the ice skating parks in the city, including the famous Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and Bryant Park (the only FREE ice skating rink in NYC). Want to go to spots that are a little less touristy? Try the Standard rink on the High Line, by the Standard Hotel, 848 Washington at 13th St., or for a view of the Statue of Liberty, try Brookfield Place Rink in lower Manhattan, across from the 9/11 Memorial, at 230 Vesey Street between West Street and North End Avenue.
Hit the links: Golfing may seem like an unattainable leisure activity for city dwellers, but this is New York…
- Take the 1 subway train to its last stop (Van Cortlandt Park–242 Street) in the Bronx, and you arrive at the country’s oldest (est. 1895) public golf course, Van Cortlandt Park. On the course, you will walk in the footsteps of legends: Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and the Three Stooges all teed up here.
- The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, offers the unique opportunity to drive, chip and putt on a scenic Hudson River pier. This four-tiered “super-range” features a 200-yard hitting fairway, a full-service teaching academy.
- At Golf Manhattan, you can rent a private room with PGA Tour Simulators, for an “indoor” golf experience.
Yoga, with a twist: If you follow @Wabi_Sabi_Wonderful_Life on Instagram, you know of my love for yoga, and there are many, many classes and styles of practice in NYC. There would be no way to list them all. Other than the “large format” outdoor events held in Central Park and Bryant Park, here are a few other yoga “experiences” worth trying when visiting.
- When it comes to wellness in NYC, nobody is more in-the-know than SereneBook, a New York based subscription service for holistic healthcare sessions. During the summer it teams up with The James Hotel in SoHo to provide dreamy rooftop yoga sessions with a view, with mats and water included. https://www.jameshotels.com/new-york-soho/
- Challenge yourself to try “the class”, A.K.A the killer mind, body, spirit workout from fitness expert, and dynamic instructor, Taryn Toomey. Only in NYC could you find a workout that combines hardcore conditioning and cardio work with yogic pranayama and shamanic techniques. Taryn’s new TriBeCa studio is something else, with a special sprung floor that’s also embedded with healing crystals. https://taryntoomey.com/
Need a bit more girl time? Try dancing with the Vixen army: A room full of supportive women strutting and singing and dancing to Beyonce is just the thing when you’re feeling a bit raw and vulnerable, or just want to burn off some serious energy. One hour of judgement-free movement at Vixen will have you feeling like you can conquer the city, and maybe even the world. www.vixenworkout.com
Body Treatments: When you’re ready for some self care, and want to try something a little different, here are a few of my favorite options that you may not find in the tourist guides:
- Korean Spa & Scrub: One of my absolute favorite places in NYC is in the heart of Koreatown, a short walk from Penn Station, called Juvenex. Climb the stairs to find a surprise oasis of tranquility, complete with soaking pools and varied thermal caves. I love the 4-Step Juvenex Jade Journey (sauna, steam, soaking tub, baked-clay sauna) that is included with any spa treatment. The massages and scrubs will leave you relaxed and as soft as a newborn. And, open 24 hours a day, it is easy to find time to add some relaxation to any busy day.
- Salt Therapy: At the Modrn Sanctuary, you’ll find a wellness studio with a completely holistic service menu. Book sessions that span foundational health services (nutrition and physical therapy) as well as more esoteric treatments, such as Salt Room Therapy. You’ll lounge in a room built of salt bricks and filled with granules of mineral-rich Himalayan pink salt—plus a halo generator, which blows tiny particulates of salt into the air—a 30 minute salt session is said to be great for the respiratory system. https://modrnsanctuary.com/
- More than just a facial: A facial with Britta is a transforming experience for your self-esteem, not just your complexion. Her signature treatment, targets the anatomy of the face as well as the skin with a combination of natural beauty products (some of them pure enough to eat, should you feel so inclined) and facial massage techniques rooted in the ancient traditions of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. You’ll leave feeling cared for and confident, with a glow that radiates from your skin and from deep within. https://studiobritta.com/
- Woom Center: Sound Healing: Everything is vibration and sound can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. It helps to spark healing on so many levels. The Woom Center, on Bowery near Houston, offer amazing sound meditations and sound-enhanced yoga—it’s ideal for someone overwhelmed by work or touring the city to just step in, completely shut off the outside world, go inward, and let go. 274 Bowery, 2nd Floor, Woomcenter.com
- Osaka Spa: Soak and Shiatsu: A visit to this Japanese bathhouse includes hot and cold soaking tubs, great for your immune system, as well as a hot sauna. Osaka Spa offers Chinese herbs, acupuncture, and traditional Shiatsu. A wonderfully relaxing place to unwind after a long day of exploring the city as they are open past midnight. Located at 37 West 46th Street, osakaspany.com
- Splurge-worthy Spa: OK, so you WILL find this one in the tourist guides…but I had to include it even if going there costs about a mortgage payment for some of the treatments. Nothing says ‘luxury’ like the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, a quiet and tranquil space engineered to relax every muscle, right on Columbus Circle. Its interior will transport you to an oasis in a faraway land, as soft, melodic music eases your mind. Each treatment is designed to revive mind and body – a harmonious equilibrium. Any of the specialized treatments will melt away the stress and anxiety of city life. Try the jet lag cure if you’ve just arrived in town. Those willing to pay a higher premium for these luxurious treatments won’t be disappointed.
Lively crowds and a bit of football: The adrenaline of cheering your favorite team to victory is good for the heart and the spirit, and since there are a few things to do related to football, I just had to include them here.
- Well, to watch US Football, head into any sports bar and you’re likely to find a few screens playing various games, but to watch soccer, well, that is more of a challenge. But, thanks to a growing fandom for England’s Premier League soccer, a few NYC bars have started opening early to show the games. With the 5 hour time difference, we’re talking really early. There’s nothing like a full English breakfast, a Guinness and a victory for your favorite team. But be warned: As soon as the morning match is over, many bars stop serving drinks. To have a beer and watch soccer at 7am is acceptable, but to have a beer sans soccer at 9am is positively daft.
- If you’re like me and more of a fan of the Italian Serie A games, head on down to Little Italy. Ribalta is a hot spot for Neapolitans, and all the Napoli Serie A (and and other league) matches are aired there on the big screen. Also, the food can’t be beat. And although not what some would call “healthy” fare, (even though it is made of wonderfully fresh ingredients), delicious food is a feast for the soul, and that is good enough for me. So enjoy your pizza and Forza Napoli!
Oh no, I have wandered back to the territory of talking about food… 🙂
I feel like I could go on for days writing about all the wonderful healthy things to do (and eat!) in New York City, but perhaps I’ll save that for a book some day. Until then, let me close with a bit of wellness for the mind and spirit…watching the sun set over the city…
Watch the Sunset:
My favorite sunset watching spot in New York is to board the Staten Island Ferry just before sunset (check the time before you go), and watch the sun descend behind the Statue of Liberty to the horizon as you pass it. On the return trip, go to the front of the boat and watch the approach to Lower Manhattan as the sky turns darker blue and the lights of the city get closer and brighter. If the weather is nice enough, stand outside and listen to the water. That may very well be the best hour that you spend in New York.