Social Workout

Retreats

Upstate Rock Climbing, Yoga, Hiking, And Kayaking Weekend Retreat

• Who: Outdoor Bound Adventures, with a certified yoga instructor and a licensed trail guide with wilderness medical certification as guides for the weekend. 
• What: Morning, evening, and midnight yoga sessions, hiking and rock climbing (with instruction for beginners), kayaking, cooking over a fire pit, and camping in tents on a private property right on the Hudson. All gear provided, except sleeping bags and yoga mats. 
• Where: The Shawangunk Mountains, just north of NYC. Transportation provided from 73rd and Broadway
• When: August 20-22, 2010; also available the weekend of October 8.

New York

Inspiration

Finding Your Natural Self On the Water

Sean Mullens' short film "Birthright" follows his friend, paraplegic surfer Michael Mitchell, through his daily ritual to find his natural self on the water. "You can transcend, you can get to a place where you're sort of free to be able to dance, to be able to be fluid, to be able to be just so in the moment, to just be natural, to be your god given self...to be what you were meant to be," Michael says. Take a look. Really beautiful. 

BIRTHRIGHT from Sean Mullens on Vimeo. (via The Outside Blog)

Online & Video

Not To Be Missed

Cool Down In A Kayak

Sunday morning I tried to beat the heat with an 8:30 A.M. walk/run along the Hudson. I figured a combination of the early-ish hour and river breezes would keep my body temperature in check. Wrong. After 30-or-so minutes on the heat-radiating cement, I was done and walking slowly toward home, but the whole cool down thing wasn't really happening. Sweat, sweat, and more sweat. That is, until I saw the "Free Kayaking" sign at Pier 40 and veered off the homeward path for a quick — and exceedingly breezy, cool, and refreshing — paddle on the river. Now I feel like a putz for going this long without taking advantage of the kayaks. Let me count the many reasons you shouldn't miss out on free kayaking if you're in NYC this summer.

Workout

one if by land, two if by sea

We're going to call my July 4th workout the "Land and Sea" special.  I think Paul Revere would be proud, even if this workout did not involve horseback riding (which is on my list of things to undertake this year - hopefully in the fall).

Retreats

Yoga and Kayaking in Southeast Alaska

• Who: Yoga instructor Laura Humpf and Spirit Walker Expeditions
• What/Why: Four days of yoga, camping, hiking, meditation whale watching, and wilderness kayaking in southeast Alaska. Think quiet, yet active, downtime in a stunning setting, with ample time for "journaling, reflection and self-inquiry." 
• When: July 5-10, 2010
• Where: Gustavus, Alaska

Noon Stretch

Ice, Not a Problem

Workout

Kayaking

Paddled my way all around the Long Island Sound. Not really, just around the tiny part of it near the town beach in Madison, CT. But whatever. My shoulders loved it. 

It's All Free

Social Workout Guide to July 4th and Deep Summer

You may think you have the NYC free summer fun game down -- Bryant Park movies, Shakespeare in the Park, yada yada yada.  But how about free Boot Camp in the Park? Free lap swimming in city pools?  Free pilates mat classes overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge?  Yes, yes, and yes. And that's just the start. Impressed by the wealth of activities on offer, and with our Feats of Summer challengers front of mind (yes, stragglers still welcome), we've gone and compiled the following Social Workout Fit and Thrifty Guide to 4th of July Weekend. Enjoy....

New York