Joining premiums, monthly fees, equipment purchases, training sessions, class packages and website memberships can leave you chiseled, toned and broke as a joke. The average New Yorker spends $81 a month on personal care (namely fitness), but that doesn’t show the cost of the many New Yorkers who don’t devote any assets to fitness. Fortunately savvy Brokelynites know you don’t have to pay ANYTHING to get killer fitness results thanks to our beautiful borough before the weather turns too bad. I’m not a personal trainer or doctor, but I do love fitness and think spending a fortune on it is crazy. Join me as I take advantage of some of our borough’s most beautiful and well-appointed outdoor workout venues, won’t you?
Location: Brighton Beach/ Coney Island Boardwalk
Amenities: Public bathrooms, fountains (your call …), vendors on Brighton Beach Avenue for bottled water and post-workout fuel, spray showers at comfort stations (the sand-rinsing kind, not the shampoo-kind).
Getting There: Q to Brighton Beach, Ocean Parkway, West 8th/NY Aquarium, Coney Island/ Stillwell; F to West 8th/ NY Aquarium, Coney Island/ Stillwell, D or N to Coney Island/ Stillwell
Features:
Boardwalk
The boardwalk spans 2.5 miles from its origins at Brighton 14th St. to its end at W 37th St. near Seagate. Run it, bike it, blade it, power-walk it or for maximum calorie burn, do the worm down and back. Beware of splinters. Running the 5 mile loop will burn 450+ calories depending on body weight/ speed. Calculate your expenditure here.
Benches
Use the benches with handles for stability planks (make them tougher by lifting a leg and making a serious face).
Or eke out a few reverse-crunches on the benches without arm-rests. Get inspired by this bench-workout video.
Railings
Great for barre work, like leg-lifts.
Also great for stretching. Learn some barre basics here.
Fitness Equipment (near W 10th Street)
Chin-up bars, vaulting poles and agility stations- enjoy! There are several instructional signs giving hints on how to use what.
Dry Sand
Get ready to feel the burn. Run, squat, lunge, bear crawl or simply powerwalk. Your calves will hate thank you for it. Doing the hot-sand-dance ups calorie expenditure.
Wet Sand
More stable than the soft sand, wet sand allows you to run faster and provides a sturdier base for body weight exercises like these. Bring a yoga mat or towel and enjoy a sea-side practice (gentle Hatha yoga burns appx 190 calories/ hour, while a rousing bout of Vinyasa can torch up to 600 calories/hour) . If opting to go barefoot, watch your step- a puncture wound from a disembodied crab-claw will ruin even the toughest athlete’s workout.
Do I have to do it ALL?
No. Yes. Maybe. Get the Center for Disease Control’s Physical Activities Guidelines for Americans for suggestions.
Health Bonus:
Brighton Beach Avenue hosts approximately one-trillion produce/ food shops- the over-saturation leads to superbly low-pricing and the Eastern European neighborhood demands exciting, imported new-to-you foods (canned squash, zucchini or eggplant paste, anyone?). Stock up on some staples before leaving the ‘hood.
Where would you like to see the next location of the Brokelyn Concrete-Jungle Gym? Need inspiration? Check out this list of the NYC Parks Department’s fitness equipment in Brooklyn parks.
Follow Keelie: @keeliesheridan
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18 Comments
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Great article, Keelie! Thanks so much for the tips!
My pleasure, Kat! Let me know if there’s a nabe you’d like covered!
Great article! Love those shops in Brighton Beach – I used to drop in when I was interning down there and was amazed by the produce selection – and price!
Thank you, Sofia! And yes- the shops are great, and so affordable!
lol making a serious face….best part!
It’s totally necessary, too… :)
absolutely, adds at least 4-5 reps!
Great article. Inspiring!
Thanks so much, Axel! Let me know if you try out any part of the workout!
This article is a true meaning of making
Use of your resources and not going broke.
Agree- it’s all about taking advantage of what’s at your disposal!
I always find it hilarious when people pay money to run on a treadmill. Running is free all the time! That’s like paying someone to slice an apple for you.
Great article Keelie. Right now I am longing for those warm days to go to the beach!
Summer feels a million miles away now, doesn’t it? Though there’s something very alluring about the beach in the winter…
it always cracks me up that people pay money to run on a treadmill. Running is free always! And you don’t have to forced to watch Nate Berkus or whatever on the gym TV.
When I was a member at the-gym-that-shall-not-be-named, we watched infomercials. And liked it.
I live in Brighton and I pay for a gym membership and I am ashamed.
No shame necessary! Use the gym when you like and join us outside the rest of the time!