5 Free Winter Ways to Stay Fit in Boston
This story is an oldie but goodie from my days as a Yahoo! contributor, but these classic get-out-and-sweat tips never age. For all my friends back home in Boston looking at the weather report for snow this weekend, just remember these fun weekend fitness options don’t require a car or a college ID discount. Also, think heat: hot yoga, the steam room, sauna, or hot tub, or just working up a sweat will definitely warm you up! If it sounds trill coming from me now that I live in Austin, you’ll be happy to know I’m fighting the same battle right now against freezing rain. We can do this. We CAN get out of the house & do something fun! Here are a few of my favorite ways.
Boston is a great city, but in January and February — right when you’re trying to stick to those New Year’s resolutions — it can be downright artctic and depressing. Thankfully, it’s also a fantastic place to find free fitness classes and indoor adventure resources available far from the elements. Check out these five free & fun ways to shed pounds this season — which, unlike most other deals in this City of 1,000 Colleges, are not just for those with a university ID.
1. Climb Bunker Hill Monument
With free admission all year round and daily access from 9 am to 4:30 pm, this Revolutionary War landmark also boasts 294 steps up to the top for a heart-pumping workout and the payoff of panoramic views over Charlestown to the entire Boston city skyline beyond. According to the DailyBurn Tracker app, a 20-minute stair climb burns approximately 100 calories!
2. Indoor Ice Skating & Bocce Ball
While the scenic and social outdoor Frog Pond skating rink on Boston Common does have cheap admission, most of the many indoor rinks run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are actually free and public ice time is available regardless of the weather. My favorite is the Steriti Rink on Commercial Street in the North End, with its gorgeous views of the Charlestown Navy Yard and USS Constitution tall ship, plus exposure to the culture of Boston’s own “Little Italy” through the traditional European sport of bocce, which is also free to play on the adjacent indoor courts.
3. Free Bikram Yoga in Back Bay
Find your center without spending a cent by taking advantage of these free 90-minute Sunday yoga classes at Bikram Bay Bay, sponsored by Lululemon. Follow the instructions on the Lululemon Prudential Center Facebook page to secure one of 20 spots in each weekly 9 am class.
4. Sweat, Splash & Sashay at the YMCA
One of the best fitness deals in town, the YMCA offers free 3-day passes for new members interested in checking out any of their Greater Boston locations. The Wang YMCA in Chinatown and the Huntington Ave YMCA even have indoor pools — a huge boon for city dwellers looking to forget the frigid temps — in addition to popular classes like spin, Zumba, Pilates, and Karate, offered for no additional charge.
5. Meet the Mayor’s Million Pound Challenge
We all know that working out with a buddy who holds you accountable is the fastest way to lose weight and keep it off. Luckily for Bostonians, we need look no further than hizzoner: former Boston Mayor Tom Menino tasked city residents with losing weight collectively through his Million Pound Challenge back in June of 2012. According to a recent story in the Wall Street Journal, however; we only logged a collective 80,874 pounds lost. Use your hometown pride and these free resources from Boston Moves for Health, like local walking clubs and free boot camp classes, to shed pounds and prove everyone wrong. Fat chances, indeed.