Fall into Fitness

At the May Center on the Upper East Side, you get a little bit of everything your bod could want. Work on your backstroke in the 25-yard indoor pool, shoot some hoops on the basketball court or sign up for one of the 100 group exercise classes that run the gamut from yoga to spin cycling to cardio kickboxing. An annual adult membership costs $82 per month with an additional $192 registration fee, but c’mon, you definitely get your money’s worth here. 1395 Lexington Ave (212-415-5729, 92Y.org/maycenter)

If you’re intimidated by complicated fitness machines and have no idea if you’re working out correctly (let alone safely), Grassroots Fitness Project will show you how it’s done. The spot offers one-on-one or small group HIIT programs led by experts in the health field who are guaranteed to give you a comprehensive, full body workout leaving you the right kind of sore the next day. Personal training packages start at $882 for eight sessions, or you can sign up for unlimited monthly HIIT group classes for $300.96. Folks on a strict time crunch can opt for an intimate, 30-minute express class for either HIIT or Pilates ($30 each) as well. Grassroots encourages family fitness and also offers youth skills training with an emphasis on either Climbing or Parkour. 371 Amsterdam Ave (646-415-3972, grassrootsfitnessproject.com)

This studio hosts a range of classes, which offer a physically intense workout rooted in the mindfulness of yoga, including traditional power vinyasa, a unique blend of hot yoga and power yoga called Hot Power Fusion and a Yoga Sculpt option (like vinyasa but more intense). So if you’re a yogi searching for variety, you’ve found your om. You can sign up for multiple levels: CorePower Yoga 1 is a great start for beginners whereas CorePower Yoga 2 is a more advanced, high-intensity workout. But we’re loving the aforementioned Yoga Sculpt class because it combines free weights and cardio-driven poses (i.e. squats and lunges) to give your bod the ultimate sculpt. Best of all, new members can try a week of classes, free of charge, to help find the one that’s best for them. Various locations (corepoweryoga.com)

Fans of competitive sports will love the event Row New York and The Armory in Washington Heights have planned for November 19. If you’re interested in trying two complimentary sports, running and rowing, the twosome is hosting their first ever biathlon to benefit their athletic and educational youth programs. The day comprises a series of biathlon championship events, including free introductory rowing classes for noobs. If you want to go for the gold, we suggest you start training now! The Armory, 216 Fort Washington Ave (718-433-3075, runrowbiathlon.org)

This Chelsea gym is considerably the mac daddy of all health clubs for its wide array of classes (there are more than 150 per week) and its giant facilities: the center is the size of three football fields! Inside the mega gym, there are separate spots for 15 sports and activities, including basketball, boxing, rock climbing, rowing, cycling, volleyball, and a massive indoor pool for aquatic sport lovers. It’s certainly a fitness-addict’s paradise. Here’s an extra incentive to join: sign up before the end of September, and you won’t have to pay the usual initiation fee. An annual membership runs you $185 a month or you can opt for a short-term, three-month membership where you pay $240 a month. And this is (likely) the only gym in New York that offers a weekend-only membership for $135 per month. 60 Chelsea Piers (212-336-6000, chelseapiers.com/gym)

This fitness chain has it all: quality machines, interval training stations, a jam-packed fitness class schedule and personal training. Working out has never been this convenient! Classes, which vary by location, cover every interest, so there’s always something here to spark your fire. Better yet, you can sign up for as many as you want using a handy app. With 22 (soon to be 23) clubs spanning all across NYC, Crunch is certainly one of the most accessible and affordable options for New Yorkers. Sign up for a free, three-day trial! Various locations (crunch.com/locations)

When you become a member at any health facility in Gotham, you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. And at New York Health & Racquet Club, you do. NYHRC members have access to 650 weekly classes including cardio, HIIT, PlyoJam, spinning, Pilates—you name it. There are also saltwater pools and basketball and racquetball courts for sporty folks. NYHRC supplies every amenity possible to ensure you put in a top-notch workout before you head out the door, but the brand actually encourages lingering. Don’t rush to your next destination after sweating your ass off; take time to relax and practice self-care inside the eucalyptus sauna, hop in the whirlpool, or book an athletic, Swedish, or deep tissue massage. Monthly rates start at $99 for a 12-month period and average $130 for month-to-month options. Various locations nyhrc.com)

At this new yoga studio, you’re guaranteed to leave completely rejuvenated. Heatwise offers infrared-heated vinyasa yoga at its chic and plant-filled Brooklyn Heights loft space. (FYI: keeping your body extra warm increases your flexibility.) The spot’s excellent instructors guide you through every pose, from downward dog and chaturanga to warrior. A major perk at this studio is guests can reserve their complimentary mat before class, which is great for any new yogis who are intimidated by being front and center. New clients can sign up for a single class ($32) and receive a second class for free. Devoted students can either purchase a five-class pack for $155 or a ten-class pack for $300. 163 Remsen St (347-763-0029, heatwise-studio.com)

It’s easy to see why Brooklyn residents choose Harbor Fitness. The gym chain, which has been in business for 25 years, is fully stocked with all the workout equipment you need to build muscle strength and burn calories, including indoor and outdoor turf yards boasting agility ladders, tire flips and other strength-training props. Most importantly, the Bay Ridge flagship is super-spacious (20,000 square feet), which is a refreshing plus when you compare it to all those crowded gyms in Manhattan. If you’re looking to get out of your ho-hum treadmill routine, Harbor offers group fitness classes that run the gamut from Pilates and HIIT to cycling and barre, which are all included in the membership price (rates vary). The facility takes things to the next level with amenities such as a sauna and steam room, a smoothie bar, chilled eucalyptus towels and child care. Yeah, working out doesn’t sound too bad, right? Various locations (harborfitness.com)=

The Marti Ann Meyerson Center for Health and Wellness at JCC Manhattan is more than a place to burn off a day/week/month’s worth of snacking. It’s a community-driven facility, which, unlike many fitness clubs, offers a wide range of programs for members as well as the public. (However, becoming a health club member before October 31 is worth it, since you’ll save $150 upon doing so.) Whether you prefer to take a holistic approach to fitness by taking JCC’s Pilates or yoga classes, or you want to increase your strength and work your core during “boxercise,” there’s something for everyone. 334 Amsterdam Ave (646-505-5700, jccmanhattan.org/fall)