UNION SQUARE — Get in shape without spending a dime this summer as Union Square hosts weekly open-air classes including CrossFit and Zumba.
The park's annual Summer in the Square event series is returning for its 15th season, with a full day of workouts and performances for all ages every Thursday from June 12 through Aug. 7.
"This year we added additional programming based on our success of the fitness classes in the past," said Jennifer Falk, executive director of the Union Square Partnership.
"We got feedback from program participants asking us to add evening classes, so for the first time ever we'll have 6:30 and 7 p.m. classes."
Each Thursday, a CrossFit boot camp run by Brick New York will begin at 6 p.m., a Running Club with Paragon Sports will start at 6:30 p.m. and yoga with the Om Factory will start at 7 p.m. All evening fitness classes will be held at the North Plaza in Union Square Park.
All other activities during the day will take place at the park's South Plaza, starting with yoga classes by Atmananda as early as 7 a.m. on Thursdays, followed by CrossFit with Reebok at 8 a.m.
Activities for children will take over the plaza for the rest of each Thursday morning, with Karma Kids' yoga classes at 10 a.m. followed by a rotating lineup of kid-friendly events beginning at 11 a.m., including Baby Loves Disco and the Gazillion Bubble Show.
There will also be guest appearances of kids' character Olivia the piglet and Hot Peas N' Butter on July 17.
At 12:30 p.m. the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music will bring jazz performances to the square for the lunchtime crowd.
As the workday winds down, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company will offer classes in salsa, hip-hop and Zumba on Thursdays at 5 p.m. This Thursday, the company will launch the series with a performance instead of classes.
All events are free and there's no minimum or maximum number of participants for each class, Falk said.
"We will run classes whether a dozen people show up or a 100 people show up," she said. "We have amplified sound, so instructors can be heard no matter what."
For a full schedule of the free events, visit the Union Square Partnership's website.
