Shape up Mommy

Being a mom is a balancing act.  Being a fit mom is extremely difficult.  Whether you are a single mom, a mom with a partner or even a mom with a staff(nanny, housekeeper, cook), it is hard to carve out time for yourself.  

Plus, most moms deal with guilt when they try to do something for themselves.  Whether we go to have a drink with friends, have a date night or go to a gym; we still feel like we should spend time with our children.

I enjoy a good workout.  Before having kids, I could treat myself to expensive gyms and spend 2 hours at a time at the gym.  I was able to enjoy various fitness classes or zone out to good music on a treadmill.  I was able to sit in the steam room or sauna without rushing to get home to do homework or cook dinner.  

Once I became a mom, my workouts changed.  I could no longer afford those expensive gyms and I was never a mom with a jogging stroller so I usually worked out at home.  

One summer I seriously got into P90X.  I have also done Jillian Michael and Celebrity Fit Club workout DVD's.  I also own a treadmill that I actually use, most of the time.  I am currently using it to prepare for two half marathons in April. 

I still enjoy group fitness classes.  But it is often expensive and hard to do fitness classes when you don’t have a childcare.  Here are some options.

 1.  Bed Stuy YMCA

Address: 1121 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Phone: (718) 789-1497

Transit: A C G S B44 to Bedford Avenue and Gates Avenue; B52 to Bedford Avenue and Gates Avenue

http://www.ymcanyc.org/bedstuy

 

The YMCA in Bed Stuy was an affordable option for me for a number of years and they have childcare that the children enjoy.  

I once joined a gym that I will not name.  It offered childcare and when I went to pick up my 1 year old, the staff member was sleeping.

 The Bed Stuy YMCA offers 3 hours in the morning 9am-12pm and 3 hours in the evening 6-9pm during weekdays. They also offer 3 hours on Saturday mornings. 

Membership allows your kids to do swim lessons, camps and other programs at the discounted membership rate. 

2. Yoga to the People

http://yogatothepeople.com/ 

Address: 12 Saint Marks Pl. – 2R  between 2nd and 3rd Ave.

Yoga to the People offers affordable yoga classes throughout NYC.  I am targeting the East Village location because I have attended their classes and payment is a suggested donation.  

 

I have paid varying amounts, even as little as $1.  Shhhhhh

 

They teach vinyasa yoga and the plus is that your child(ren) can take the class with you.  

 

I took my children once.  My son got on the mat and fell asleep before the class started, my daughter attempted most moves but did go into childlike pose many times to get a relief from the difficult moves.

 

Child like pose:

Schedule & Fees

All classes 60 minutes unless otherwise noted

Monday thru Friday

7am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4:30pm 6pm, 7:30pm, 9pm

Saturday

10am, 12pm, 2pm, 5pm, 7pm

Sunday

10am, 12pm (90min), 2pm, 5pm
7pm (candle-lit) & 8:30pm (candle-lit)

Classes ………………………………….. $10 suggested donation
Mat Rental ……………………………… $2
Water …………………………………….. $1

No registration necessary!
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for class

 I strongly recommend their classes.  The instructors are wonderful.  No registration needed.

 

 3. Shape-Up NYC

http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc 

This is an option that is completely FREE.

NYC Parks and Recreation trains people to be group fitness leaders and once these people have passed the trainer course they do a 6 month internship where they teach fitness classes in various locations all over NYC and at different times.  

Most of these instructors continue to volunteer after the internship is finished.  I am one of those people.  

This is my class description:

Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center	Shape Up NYC: Dance Fitness	Monday	6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
From Jan 14, 2013 Age: Teen, Adult, Senior Address: 1456 Fulton Street Phone: 718-636-4500 An exciting workout that uses easy-to-follow dance steps to increase cardiovascular fitness and tone the body. This instructor is part of the NYC Parks Fitness Instructor Training Program. This is a great program because many people bring their children to participate in the class.  I have instructed people as young as 5 up to senior citzens.  Check the link and find a free class near you.  They offer yoga, zumba, intesati, tabata, dance, ballet, boot camp etc. No registration needed.

* Some of the instructors were certified instructors prior to this Shape up NYC training program. 

4. Emblem Health

http://emblemhealthlivehealthy.com/upcoming-events/ 

They offer free fitness and nutrition classes in Brooklyn and Chinatown.  They ask that you register on-line.

Here are an example of their classes:

Exercise 101

Low Impact Aeorobics with Kiki

Afro-Caribbean Dance

Acutherapy

Lifeguarded Fitness Free Swim

Zumba

Fitness Thursdays

Yoga: Mimi-for-Me Yoga Studio

Cardio Kickboxing w/ Roman

Zumba

Total Body Conditioning