The fall months are a great time to head outdoors in Houston to get fit and workout. If you’re tired of the monotony of the jogging trail, then take advantage of organized classes offered at beautiful parks and venues throughout the city. You’ll find a little bit of everything from yoga to Zumba, tai chi to the urban workout, parkour. Best of all, most of these are free, to boot!
Market Square Park
If fun and creativity are words you’d like to include to describe your workout, then don’t miss Body by Broadway! This monthly series kicked off in spring as a partnership with Theatre Under the Stars and DEFINE body & mind. Just imagine dancing, squatting and planking along to lively Broadway tunes. This free, hour-long session is sure to get your heart rate pumped – and make you smile at the same time. Body by Broadway is held the last Tuesday of the month May through November.
Breakfast Yoga Club
Volunteers started this grass-roots organization to unite Houston’s yoga community. Breakfast Yoga Club offers monthly yoga events at different locations throughout the city on Saturday or Sunday mornings. The group invites a variety of yoga instructors who introduce different styles to the community. Imagine practicing yoga at amazing outdoor venues such as Rienzi – Museum of Fine Arts, Asia Society Texas and Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer. The organization also features a new local charity each month to raise awareness and cultivate activism. Yoga events are donation based with a suggested minimum love offering of $5.
Levy Park
Houston’s newest Inner Loop park, Levy Park, is chock-full of outdoor exercise options to motivate you to stay in shape and have fun at the same time. With six different outdoor classes offered at 10 different time slots, there is something to fit most folks’ schedules. Check out the high energy of Zumba Sundays and Mondays, Pilates, or yoga by Joy Yoga four times a week. Other free classes include High Intensity Interval Training, tai chi and boot camp. Follow the online calendar for details.
Discovery Green
Houston’s downtown greenspace, Discovery Green, always encourages healthy living through its free weekly programming. This fall it offers a number of weekly classes as part of its Fitness in the Park. Whether its daytime yoga on Mondays or evening classes such as Zumba, parkour, or core-focused yoga there is something for all interests and abilities. If you want a workout that doesn’t feel like one, don’t miss Circus Arts on Tuesday evenings. Cirque la Vie offers a different fitness method featuring ground arts, acrobatics like contortion, partner acrobatics and hand balancing. And Saturday features hatha yoga. Folks do not need to pre-register to attend classes although there is a waiver to sign.
GreenStreet
If you’re an early riser, Wellness Wednesday will be a fit for your schedule. This free weekly boot camp is offered 6:30 am – 7 am each Wednesday on The Lawn at GreenStreet downtown. Classes are open to all skill levels, and no equipment is needed. As a bonus, class attendees will receive $1 off a Salata salad or wrap!
The Square at Memorial City
This new green space in West Houston by Memorial City Mall hosts several weekly fitness classes along with its monthly Yoga on the Square. Burn Boot Camp teaches both a 6 am and 6 pm boot camp to participants each week. Revolution Studio hosts Yoga on the Square once a month featuring a 45-minute donation-based Vinyasa Flow class complete with live DJ and after-party on The Square with free food and prizes.
There’s no excuse not to get outdoors and enjoy working out in the Houston community this fall. Especially when many classes are free!
