Are you stuck in a gym rut? Don’t worry girls, the warm weather is finally arriving! Soon you’ll be able to exercise outdoors instead of being cramped into a hot, sweaty gym! And what better place to workout than in the beautiful streets of Boston? Beautiful scenery for jogs, challenging hills for hill sprints, and tons of free class sessions! Here’s your guide to staying in shape this spring and summer in Boston without breaking the bank!
Cardio: Whether you’re sprinting, jogging, power walking or just taking a stroll, cardio is a great way to stay in shape. The best part of cardio is that you can literally do it anywhere for FREE!
My personal favorite spot for cardio is along the Charles River near the Esplanade! The Charles is just under a mile from campus so it’s really easy to get to! Just take the pedestrian bridge located near Charles St. to cross over Storrow Drive. Not only is there a great sidewalk path along the river, but there are also docks along the path to take a break and take in gorgeous views of Boston and Cambridge.
Hill sprints are known as one of the most effective ways to burn fat and increase your running speed. It strengthens your hamstrings as well, decreasing your risk of an injury during sports. What better place for hill sprints than Beacon Hill? The streets running parallel to Cambridge St provide very challenging hills for jogging up (ex. Anderson St, Garden St, Irving St, Etc.)
Yoga in the Commons
Starting on June 4th, a free yoga classes will be offered to the public on the lawn adjacent to the Frog Pond carousel. Just bring your own mat and blocks to the Common at 6PM and prepare for an hour and 15 minutes of great, relaxing fitness. The classes run every Tuesday until August 27th. If it rains on Tuesday, the class will be held on the Thursday of that week. For more information for these classes can be found on www.bostonfrogpond.com
Classes at the Liberty Hotel
The Liberty Hotel, (which is located right across the street from the MGH T Stop) offers free fitness classes every Saturday morning. You don’t need to be a hotel guest to attend because these classes are open to the public! Classes are available at 10AM-11AM every Saturday morning. The fitness classes are normally a core fusion class, a yoga class or a Pilate’s class. The hotel only provides mats for its own guests, so bring your own!
Rainy Days
For those rainy days when you want to stay inside, you can still work out for free! First of all, Suffolk’s Ridgeway gym is definitely an option! Check the school website for gym times. Also, many gyms offer free trials! Take advantage of those trials so you don’t have to pay for a full membership! Hey, maybe after sampling three or four different gyms this summer you’ll find a new gym to go to next winter!