Exercise Classes

 
Come drop-in, get exercise, and meet new friends at one of our many exercise classes. All exercise classes are led by local experts and designed to help all skill levels reach their goals. 
 
We offer multiple exercise classes. You’ll never get bored with your workout. Try one or try them all. Join a class today and get healthy while having an entire class to help and support you along the way. We ensure that our instructors show exercises in a variety of ways, no matter what your skill level is.
 
PILATES MAT
Instructor: Carrie Lee
Carrie Lee began dancing at the age of four in her hometown of Tigard, Oregon. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s degree in English, she moved to New York City to pursue her number one love, dance. Shortly after landing in NYC, she received a scholarship and position in the Steps on Broadway Repertory Ensemble. It was through her training at Steps that she discovered Pilates and a fast and diligent student. After years of training in Pilates, Carrie took the Pilates Mat Instructor Certification and Anatomy Courses required to become an Instructor. Carrie enjoys teaching Pilates to all levels in Private and Group Classes. Her goal for each class is to utilize her knowledge in Anatomy, Dance, and Pilates Mat Instruction to help her students better understand their bodies and achieve their health goals.
Our Pilates classes are focused on building a strong healthy body by promoting concentrated movement. Pilates combines your breathing rhythm with the movement of your body. This challenges your flexibility, balance, stability and strength.
 
BELLY DANCING
Instructor: Brandy Heyward
Brandy has been travelling the United States to give workshops and performances in belly dance for the past eight years. Her understanding of this art form lend an authenticity to her teaching style and performances. Brandy also holds a Master’s degree in Education, and is CPR certified. Come learn in an atmosphere that is empowering, safe, and most of all, fun!
Want to make workouts a lot more fun? Learn to belly dance and you’ll gain the satisfaction of improving your physical fitness and strengthening your body while enjoying a new form of self-expression. It can even relieve back pain!
 
YOGA
Instructor: Ola Ahmad May
Practicing yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2005 to students of all ages, Ola gained her Yoga Alliance teaching certifications from Integral Yoga Institute, Janice Clarfield, and Jyothi Larson. Believing that “truth is one, paths are many,” Ola’s classes draw from various traditions that encourage students to courageously and compassionately be their fullest potential to better serve themselves and others. She extends much appreciation to‘ those many beings, animals and humans alike, who have inspired her to grow. She also wishes the deepest gratitude to her husband, Ben, who helps keep her childlike spirit sparkling, and to their cats Elvis, Satya, Buttons, and Shri who are yogis in their own right.
You’ll learn to tone, strengthen, and align your body using yoga postures called asanas. We’ll also use breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation (dyana) to relax and discipline the mind.
 
BOOT CAMP
Instructor:  Annete Pufall
Annette Pufall has made wellness a lifelong passion. When she’s not training year-round for marathons, she’s teaching nutrition and fitness in public schools. As a fitness instructor she will push you to your potential, giving you encouragement the entire time. She is also happy to lend an ear for nutritional advice. Annette holds a Masters degree in Human Nutrition from Columbia University. Currently she teaches cardio boot camp at the Y; past classes taught include cardio kickboxing, lift and tone, and step.
This class offers resistance training and a vigorous cardio vascular workout. Great for losing weight and getting in peak physical condition, this program offers an aggressive, military-style, circuit workout featuring medium-high-intensity conditioning.
 
ZUMBA FITNESS
Instructor: Nicole Hamilton
For almost my entire life I’ve gone through a long, difficult battle with my weight. The battle ended the day my mother dragged me to my first Zumba class in Miami. During the months that followed, Zumba fast-forwarded me straight to my fitness destination. Now 40 pounds lighter, it is my turn to pay it forward. I enjoy teaching Zumba at the lnwood/Washington Heights Y as well as other facilities throughout New York City.
A Latin-inspired dance fitness program that bends red-hot international music and contagious steps to form a “fitness party” that is downright addictive!
 
CAPOEIRA
Instructor: Freddy A. Correa
Freddy Antonio Correa also known as Instrutor Furacäo in the capoeira world was raised in the Washington Heights section of New York City. Freddy, descendent of a Dominican family, first began practicing the art of Capoeira in 1995 during his first year at Hunter College. In august of 1995 he went to Brazil for the 1st International ABADA Capoeira Congress. This trip was intended to last three weeks but instead it lasted three years. During this time, he trained vigorously, learned the portuguese language and became the first foreigner to receive a graduate (blue) cord from world renowned Capoeira master, Mestre Camisa in August of 1997. He came back to New York City after three years, to teach Capoeira in his beloved neighborhood, Washington Heights. Since then, Freddy has performed and/or taught at various institutions of higher learning such as NYU, Columbia University, Yale University, Hunter College, as well as public schools around New York City and for many non-profit organizations such as the Bronx Museum of Arts, Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture and a star-studded show at the GQ men of the year awards. His passion and talent of the art have taken him around the world to more than 30 countries. In 2004, his capoeira curriculum was implemented into The Williamsburg Charter School’s Health and wellness department. Students were now taking capoeira class for gym credit. Freddy Correa was recognized as New Yorker of the Week by television station NYI in 2001, where he was praised for his outstanding work with the youth in his community, Washington Heights and where he still teaches until this very day.
Capoeira combines basic dance movements, martial arts, music, and acrobatics. The practice of capoeira helps improve ones cardiovascular system, endurances, flexibility, motor coordination, and alertness as well as physical balance.
Capoeira is not just a great way to keep in shape, but also a great way to meet new people!
To learn more about the style of Capoeira we teach, click here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ9Cp5mtCeA&feature=share
 
NIA DANCE
The NIA technique is a heart pumping fitness class that will make your spirit soar! NIA offers total body conditioning by combining simple choreography with rhythmic music that leave you sweating and smiling. It is designed for all levels of fitness, so JOIN US for NIA.
 
OPEN HOOPS
Escape the cold or heat and play basketball in our spacious air conditioned gymnasium!
Open Play for Adults (18 years or older) Mondays & Wednesdays 7 - 9 pm
Non Members: $5 each time
Members: FREE
 
For more information contact Rodger Ramallo-Fernandez (RRAMALLO@WASHHTS.ORG) at 212-569-6200 ext 255.