Free exercise

Tai chi in Bryant Park

Hatha yoga
Grab your yoga mat and head to the unlikely spot of Little Bay Park Roller Hockey Rink, where you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of the Long Island Sound. The hatha yoga classes are provided by local studio Hot Yoga Paradise. Little Bay Park, 212th St at Bell Blvd, Bayside, Queens (718-352-4793; hotyogaparadise.com, nycgovparks.org). Through June 27. Sat 9am.

Capoeira
Try capoeira and you’ll get several different workouts in one: The 450-year-old Brazilian martial art combines dance moves, acrobatics and self-defense techniques. Professor Abará’s classes are designed for all experience levels; just bring comfortable clothing. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd at Broadway, Long Island City, Queens (718-956-1819, socratessculpturepark.org). Through Sept 19. Sat noon–1:30pm.

Cardio
Get ready to sweat! Burn major calories with the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp cardio workout, which includes running, jumping jacks, squats and lunges. A low-impact class courtesy of the McBurney YMCA follows at 10am, and if you want no impact at all, arrive at 8am for an hour of yoga. Union Square Park, south plaza, 14th St between Broadway and University Pl (212-460-1200, unionsquarenyc.org). June 18–Aug 13. Thursdays: Yoga 8am, boot camp 9am, low-impact cardio 10am.

Deep-relaxation yoga
Can’t escape the sweltering heat or work stress? Head to this Meatpacking District yoga studio for 45-minutes of aaaahhh. Begin with gentle stretching, then enjoy a generous session of deep relaxation known as Yoga Nidra, and top it off with a short meditation. Now you’re ready for the weekend. Integral Yoga Institute, 227 W 13th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves (212-929-0585, iyiny.org). Fri 5pm.

Fitness walking
Get a full-body workout with just an hour in Fort Tryon Park. As opposed to race-walking (see below), this session includes attention to toning and stretching, using structures in the park to work your legs. Meet at Margaret Corbin Circle, Cabrini Blvd at Fort Washington Ave (call 212-927-9568). Registration required; e-mail Nancy at healthwriter2@aol.com. Tue, Thu 7:30–8:30am; Sat 8:30–9:30am.

Hula dancing
Need a break from your typical yoga or kickboxing classes? Try “Hawaiian Hula” in June, “Beginner Ballet for the Absolute Beginner” in July, or “Modern Afro-Caribbean Dance to Live Drum” in August and September at the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side. Classes are nearly every Saturday night from 7:15 to 8:15pm, and free for members and nonmembers alike. JCC, 334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th St (jccmanhattan.org). Sat 7:15-8:15pm.

Paddling
Build your arms and help clean up the Gowanus Canal, all in one stop. At the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club’s “estuary stewardship days,” the public is invited to borrow their boats (first-come, first-served) for self-guided skims through the canal, Red Hook and the East River. The group merely asks that before or after your trip, you don the provided gloves, pick up the supplied trash bags and spend a bit of time helping to remove junk that’s washed ashore. Kayaking is another arm-building option: The Downtown Boathouse (downtownboathouse.org) has a few venues at which to try your oaring skills, including Riverside Park (riversideparkfund.org) and Dumbo (brooklynbridgepark.org). Gowanus Canoe Club: 2nd Street canal launch site, 2nd St near Bond St, Gowanus, Brooklyn (718-243-0849, waterfrontmuseum.org/dredgers)

Pilates
Bust stress and boost your breathing with a waterfront workout: Pilates class right on the waterfront. No mat? No problem. You can borrow one here with a valid ID, but arrive early; registration for this class starts at 6:30 and space is limited. If you show up too late and can’t join in, at least you’ll have the view. That should improve your health too. Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park, enter at Main St at Water St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-802-0603, brooklynbridgepark.org). Tue 7–8pm, registration 6:30pm.

Race walking
Pick up the pace with a race-walking clinic led by walking coach Lon Wilson, in partnership with the New York Walkers Club. Each session includes a warm-up, a cooldown and a stretch, and is geared toward all ages and levels. You’ll be outpacing tourists on the sidewalk in no time. North Meadow Recreation Center, midpark at 97th St (212-348-4867, centralparknyc.org). Year-round Sat 9:30–11am.

Tai chi
No matter your age or experience level, you can learn the Chinese martial art of self-defense and healing courtesy of the Tai Chi Chuan Center. Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Sts and Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-221-6110, bryantpark.org). Tue, Thu 7:30–8:30am.

—Celia Shatzman

See all this week's free exercise events

NEXT Free club spots

INDEX Free things to do
And you thought the city was expensive.