- Title: New Yorkers take free fitness classes to work on their New Year's resolutions
- Date: 15th January 2020
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) SHAPE UP NYC GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR, ALBA MOTA, SAYING: "There's so many wonderful stories of people that have shed so many pounds. They feel lighter, they feel more energized, they feel healthy, their self-esteem is up, all those amazing benefits that will cost you so much if you go to a psychologist. Yeah. So, and it's free. And it's a community. So many be
- Embargoed: 29th January 2020 20:30
- Keywords: Bronx New Year's resolutions New York City Pilates Shape Up NYC Zumba aerobics all boroughs fitness classes group fitness yoga
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Living / Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00DBWABPLL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: On a recent Tuesday (January 14) morning, Jennifer Delsol took no prisoners on the way to her free Shape Up NYC fitness class at the New Settlement Community Center in the Bronx.
"You cross the streets on the red lights," she said. "You probably swear. 'Get out of my way. I'm going to my dance class'."
A few years ago, Delsol made a New Year's resolution to improve her health by exercising after a cancer diagnosis.
Now, free of the disease, Delsol sees every New Year is an opportunity to renew that vow.
Attending free workouts became her lifestyle.
"It's helped me to stay a healthy weight." Delsol said. "It's a community. I meet people here. You know, I've been friends with people here."
Turning resolutions into a lifestyle could be the key to keeping them.
A study from Strava, a social network for athletes, showed that most people give up on their New Year's resolution on January 19th, which the company calls "Quitter's Day."
But quitters didn't seem to show up for the class on Tuesday (January 14).
Participants said it helps - just like all Shape UP NYC classes across the five boroughs - that the class is free.
"It's all about removing the barriers so people can come," said the city's Department of Parks and Recreation director of fitness Kendra Van Horn. "They don't have to worry about paying. They can find a place in their neighborhood that's convenient."
And even though most of the participants are regulars, many of them ask her for help with extra pounds after the holidays, said Shape Up NYC instructor Alba Mota, who led Tuesday's class.
"You know, some of them are like, 'you know, over the holidays, I ate too much, and I gained some pounds. I gained 10 pounds, 15 pounds'," Mota said. "And, here, I make them sweat. Like, here we're gonna be sweating. You're gonna be shedding those pounds within a month, you'll see. You're gonna see yourself already the way you were or even better."
(Production: Aleksandra Michalska) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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