Two Bridges Fitness Classes

Over the past 6 years, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council has been fortunate to fully subsidize the Fitness program with the assistance of grants and has been able to provide the Two Bridges Fitness program free of charge.  This year Two Bridges Neighborhood Council needs your support in order to continue to subsidize the cost of the program. We offer Tai Chi & Qi Gong, Zumba, Yoga, Boxing & Self-Defense and also partner with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation's Shape Up program, to offer free classes.

Last year, over 300 participants attended at least one of our fitness classes, and 100 residents came from the local community. This fitness program has become a place where people can find a high quality program, make new friends, and achieve some of their fitness goals without the burden of having to pay a gym membership fee. Several participants have lost weight, learned how to manage some of their chronic pain, and continue to bring their friends and family to class. In the Lower East Side, free programs like this are hard to come by and are desperately needed as our community begins to age with limited access to affordable, recreational activities. 

One elderly participant shared that he had been suffering from diabetes and his doctor recommended that he exercise to lose weight. He couldn't find an affordable place in the city where he felt comfortable until he heard about our program. He came to our morning Tai Chi class, 3 times a week, and practiced his forms with about 15 other seniors and slowly he started to lose weight. He stumbled through some of the forms, but persistently tried to perfect the moves with balance and grace at every session. Every day he got a little better. With a grin on his face, and some excitement, he shared with a staff member that he received a good health report from his doctor and it was because he started to exercise!

Hidden stories like this exist all throughout our program, as each person that attends has a reason for why they want to become healthier. We hope to prop up these stories and celebrate their personal accomplishments as we fundraise over the next few weeks. Be a part of the journey and donate to support our fitness program!

October 2018

•  Celebrate the success of the fundraising campaign.
•  Purchase new equipment for fitness classes.

Monthly

•  Implement Two Bridges Fitness Rewards program. Raffle drawings occur on the second week of every month. 
•  Pay instructor fees for Yoga, Zumba, Evening Tai Chi, and Boxing & Self-Defense classes.

In the Two Bridges neighborhood, over 40,000 people call this place home and live in NYCHA, and mixed-income housing.  The population is rapidly aging and residents are in need of low-cost, health and wellness programming to stay fit and healthy. Our fitness classes are offered to the community and engage residents of all ages, including the elderly. The program allows participants to create a sense of community by exercsing together through dance, martial arts, yoga, and self-defense classes. Participants find a sense of routine and encouragement, as well as calm, in the midst of a neighborhood that is rapidly changing. Newcomers, often become regulars, and regulars often become ambassadors, encouraging friends, family, and neighbors to join. The Two Bridges Fitness program has become an important health asset to many people who live and work in the neighborhood as it not only provides physical health benefits, but social and mental health benefits as well.