Press Releases

This week, Parks kicks off New Year, New You, an eight-week challenge that encourages physical activity, healthy eating, and overall wellness. Ten Shape Up NYC fitness class sites are offering a kick-off day, when staff will take “before” measurements including weight and body fat percentage, to allow participants to track their fitness and weight loss goals.

Today, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined representatives from Equinox Fitness Clubs and NYC Service at Metropolitan Recreation Center in Brooklyn to encourage New Yorkers to join the “New Year, New You” challenge to get fit and healthy in 2012.

“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, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Department of Health, and NYC Service for helping us keep our resolution to offer the best free fitness in the city.”

“Shape Up NYC provides an invaluable resource to NYC communities facing overwhelming health disparities,” said NYC Service’s Chief Service Officer Diahann Billings-Burford. “Shape Up addresses this pressing challenge by tapping the power of volunteer fitness instructors to offer free fitness classes in over 36 locations throughout the city. This program is another great example of New Yorkers using their skills to serve their neighbors and city.”

The kick-offs 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, to take advantage of free exercise programs through Shape Up NYC.

The challenge will conclude on March 2 and prizes will be awarded to the top three “Most Improved” participants at each site, based on weight loss, inches lost, and healthy behavior.

The Shape Up NYC program is a partnership of Equinox, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Service and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which offers free fitness classes every week at 36 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.

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.