your weekly nyc fitness and wellness guide: july 20 - 26
Currently Running's opening party, free outdoor workouts, a dog jog, a Saucony pop-up, and one of NYC's newest preventive health clinics.
The smoke has cleared and I can finally sit outside and write again! Hallelujah. So many events were cancelled last week because of the air quality, so we know you’re probably eager to get moving outside. My wellness this week looked like: Laying in the grass at HVK park with the Xian Famous Bagel sandwich from Miss Bagel getting totally engrossed in a book (The Institute). Highly recommend both.
NYC Marathon is officially 16 weeks away, so I've finally started training for real. I also promptly missed my long run this weekend thanks to the combination of smoky skies, a friend visiting town, and the World Cup final and wanting to socialize. If anyone has words of wisdom for staying consistent—or not beating yourself up over a missed long run—please send wise words my way.
Also: we're kicking off a new gym and studio review series. We'll be trying some of the city's buzziest (and underrated) workouts, then telling you what they're actually like before you spend $40 on a class. Would you rather these live as occasional features in this newsletter, or become their own standalone series where we can go much deeper? Vote below.
This week: a new running store opening party, free outdoor workouts, a dog jog, a Saucony pop-up, and one of NYC's newest preventive health clinics.
on the radar: this week’s fitness and wellness events
Monday July 20: Vital Run Club 2 Year Anniversary (Williamsburg), 7PM, free
Vital Run Club somehow manages to have something interesting happening almost every week, and this week is a 5K around Williamsburg followed by a two year anniversary party with raffles, music, and freebies.
Monday July 20: Seaport Fit x Joe Holder Yoga Sculpt Class (Seaport), 7PM, free
The Seaport Fit x Joe Holder fitness series started earlier this summer, and this Monday evening yoga class seems like a great excuse to get outside and flow. The class is presented with Sky Ting Yoga and taught by Destiny Romelia (not Joe Holder), who'll lead a high-energy mix of yoga, cardio, and strength set to music. RSVP beforehand if you can.
Tuesday July 21: Currently Running NYC Opening Party (LES), 7PM, free
You may have heard of Currently when Satisfy Running’s Brice Partouche threw a fit on the internet about the brand “ripping off” Satisfy’s aesthetics. Internet drama aside, Currently’s minimalist, earthy-hued running gear does look great—and also does seem to take some major inspiration from Satisfy, at a much cheaper price point. This week they're opening a new Lower East Side space showcasing their apparel and partnered eyewear collection.
Thursday July 23: Outdoor F45 Training Pop Up (Dumbo), 7PM, free
Head over to Pier 2 in Dumbo for a free bootcamp style workout with F45 Dumbo, a partner gym of Hyrox. Weather looks lovely after a forecasted few days of rain, so we’re guessing this area will be pretty lively this evening.
Friday July 24: Brooklyn Bathhouse at Night (PLG), 7PM, $45+
First distinction: Brooklyn Bathhouse is not the same as Bathhouse the larger corporation (This local one didn’t make headlines for mold concerns.) Same concept, though: saunas, steam room, pools, cold plunges. And they host wellness nights with DJ sets, mocktails, and soaking. We love to see it for the people who want to go out on a Friday but don’t want to bar hop.
Saturday July 25: Fabletics Dog Jog (Flatiron), 830AM, free
Fitness coach Claudette Sariya, who we met at our newsletter launch event, is hosting a social DOG RUN (yes bring your pup!!) from Fabletics Flatiron Store to the Chelsea Waterside Dog Park. There will be mid-run playtime, of course. Claudette is such a warm, welcoming person and even if you’re normally nervous to show up to events alone, we know you’ll be in good hands for this one. RSVP beforehand.
Saturday July 25: MotivNY x R.A.D Summer Long Run Series (Across Brooklyn), 8AM, free
We mentioned it last week, but here’s your reminder that physical therapy/coaching practice MotivNY’s summer long run series is kicking off this weekend. You can choose between three different starting locations based on the distance you’re looking for (9, 16, or 19 miles). You can also test drive the R.A.D. UFO supertrainers (If you do, report back—I still haven't tried them.)
Sunday July 26: Lululemon Summer Series Yoga with Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts (Seaport), 9AM, free
As of Monday morning, there are still a few spots left for this Lululemon yoga class at the goooorgeous Rooftop at Pier 17. It’s led by Peloton instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts.
happenings around town
Shoe brand Saucony is hosting a week-long residency at Soft Bar, a non-alc bar in Greenpoint by Bravo’s Carl Radke, from July 23 through 29. Expect group runs, fun cocktails, giveaways, and other programming throughout the week. On Thursday evening, Carl’s leading an easy run followed by bevs back at the space.
I was walking on Orchard Street last night and passed a new location of Akari, a membership-based Japanese sauna that has spaces in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. This one will be right next to Awake NY, and apparently it’s opening soon. Worth keeping an eye on if you're into contrast therapy and/or bathhouses.
SONATA, a new preventive health clinic opened in NYC last week. Preventive medicine has exploded over the last few years, including everything from extensive bloodwork and genome sequencing to advanced imaging and longevity-focused health plans. Memberships often cost $10,000 a year or more, making SONATA's $2,500 founding membership relatively affordable by comparison. That said, it's worth keeping expectations in check. I've interviewed several agingexperts about these clinics over the years, and the consensus is pretty consistent: Catching diseases early and understanding genetic risks is crucial, but for most healthy people, the evidence doesn't support constant testing or aggressive health monitoring. These clinics make the most sense for people with elevated risk factors, family history of diseases/cancers, or very specific health goals.
CONTŌR, a New York aesthetics studio focusing on a natural-looking approach to injectables, medical skin treatments, and personalized skin health, opened its second New York location in Union Square this past Friday. You'll be paying luxury prices, so if all you want is a few units of Botox, there are plenty of great (and cheaper) injectors around the city. The draw is if you want to branch out into other treatments (like facial balancing, lip injections, or microneedling), with a personalized experience and provider that won’t pressure you to overdo it.
Another free summer fitness series that should be on your radar: IronStrength. Some of the classes take place on the flight deck of the Intrepid, which is a pretty epic spot. They usually fill before we even get a chance to include them here, so it's worth bookmarking their schedule if you’re interested.
That’s all for this week. If you make it to any of these events, we want to hear about it. Let us know in the comments. And if you come across something worth featuring, send it our way or drop it in the community chat!
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See you next Monday.