Staying fit in a metropolitan area can be difficult, but there are plenty of ways to ensure you stay active. New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, and a city that often “never sleeps” still allows it’s residents to get in a workout, even with the city sidewalks.
According to NYC Population, the Department of City Planning of New York, about 1 in every 38 people in the United States resides in New York City. With a very high population density, it can seem difficult to find the motivation to stay active. Thankfully, one of the most crowded cities is also equipped with one of the largest parks, Central Park.
Central Park covers 843 acres and is located in the center of Manhattan, so the city that might not sleep at night, definitely has plenty of green space to burn some energy during the day.
Different Ways to Utilize Central Park for a Workout:
1. Running. With over 800 acres, there is plenty of room for running. By running from one end to the other, you can cover a distance of 2.5 miles, according to Central Park’s website. With a circular running and bike path, you are sure to have plenty of room and safe space to get a jog, or many miles in. There is also a beautiful lake in the center of the park surrounded by a running track.
2. Biking. Biking is an excellent way to see the beauty of the park and exercise without the strain of running. Cycling helps burn calories, improve muscle tone and increases your cardiovascular health in many ways, just as running does. Central Park is perfect for biking in NYC, as it gives you the ease of exercising without the stress of biking on a crowded city street.
3. Yoga. Though not as strenuous as running or biking, yoga is a great way to relax the muscles and the mind, and detox from a stressful week. And what better place to do it than a beautiful, fall-trimmed park? There are hundreds of acres of grass for park goers to enjoy at their own leisure, and with a simple yoga mat, you can make the park your workout studio.
4. Sports. Central Park, in the summer has 12 baseball and softball fields, and in the fall and winter there are around 12 fields for soccer and flag football. If a field isn’t being used, it’s easy to bring your friends and get in a simple workout.
Each year, around 40 million people visit Central Park, according to their website, and many of them, are there for exercise. Although Manhattan is a large metropolitan city, it is also blessed with an easy way to stay in shape. Using “I live in a city” for an excuse for not staying active, even in the simplest of ways, is not acceptable, especially with cities that contain large parks, like New York. Explore your city, find a simple place to get a workout in, and stick to it.
The Fitscapades 