The unusually snowy winter we’ve had has made it all too easy to curl up at home with a good TV series and cozy takeout dinner. But it’s almost spring, which means it’s just about time to stop hibernating. If you’re looking to shake off the winter cobwebs or recommit to your fitness-related New Year’s Resolution, Lower Manhattan has plenty of fitness studios to explore. Of note are a few new kids on the block: Seaport Pilates, Barry’s and Pickle1. Here’s what you can expect at each one.
Seaport Pilates
Whether you’re a total newbie or a certified pilates princess, there’s a class for you at Seaport Pilates (221 Front St.). The studio (which we visited recently) has high-end equipment including reformers, towers, Cadillacs and chairs. Crucially, class sizes top out at four people, meaning everyone gets plenty of one-on-one attention from the instructor. Book a spot in the Pilates Circuit class if you’re looking for a workout with lots of variety, or try the Jumpboard Core class if you’re looking to build balance and agility. The studio also offers a Core Galore class, which focuses on improving strength in your abdominals, lower back and obliques.
Barry’s Wall Street
Short on time but want to get a workout in? Book a class at Barry’s, which just opened its 100th outpost at 45 Wall St. Classes are 50 minutes long and most are HIIT workouts focused on strength training for different muscle groups — or all of them, if you book the Total Body class. If you’re training for the marathon or simply love your cardio, the Run X Lift classes also incorporate treadmill runs. No matter which class you take, you can expect high-energy instructors, the signature red lighting and pulsing music, and a workout that pushes your limits (in a good way).
Pickle1
Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a low-impact cardio workout that also improves agility and strength — plus, it also tends to be a pretty social activity. If you’re looking to see what the hype is all about, check out Pickle 1 at 7 Hanover Sq. The facility has three indoor hard courts and offers everything from Beginner Pickleball 101 clinics to Advanced Open Play sessions. You can also book private sessions with a coach or grab a few friends for a glow-in-the-dark pickleball game.
photo: courtesy Barry’s Wall Street
