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Community Corner

10 Local Places To Get In Shape This Year

If your New Year's Resolution is to drop a few pounds, getting in shape in Prospect Heights has never been easier.

Start stretching and get ready to shed some weight - Prospect Heights is filled with yoga studios, gyms, martial arts and dance centers to help you keep your New Years Resolutions.  Some are free, some are donation-based, and the rest are pretty affordable. Try something new, step out of your comfort zone and see what works!

1. Lululemon, 472 Bergen Street (at Flatbush Avenue) 

Lululemon's "Studio of the Month" series offers free classes right in their cozy Prospect Heights showroom. All levels are welcome, and mats will be provided. You can shop their own line of high-end athletic apparel after class.

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January's "Studio of the Month" is Park Slope's Bend and Bloom. Come on down every Saturday at 11 a.m. for a free one-hour yoga class from one of their instructors.

2. , 421 Franklin Avenue (between Sterling Place and Park Place)

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, an open arts space, offers donation-based vinyasa and hatha yoga classes for all levels every Sunday at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. All levels are welcome, and mats will be provided.

Beginning on January 17, Launchpad will be offering donation-based classes on Mondays. Classes will take place at 1pm, 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.

3. , 524 Bergen Street (between Flatbush Avenue and Carlton Street)

Spice up your weekdays with LAVA, a dance troupe that combines theater, acrobatics, and dance. The instructors at LAVA offer classes for all levels of kids and adults. On Wednesdays 6pm, there is a free community class for kids of all ages to dance and tumble. Twelve-week sessions range from $235 to $325, with a 10% multi-class or family discount for the second and each additional class individuals and families take. Work-study is available for those who apply.

4. , 17 Eastern Parkway (at Grand Army Plaza)

The Eastern Athletic Club has its perks - along with the typical gym aneminities, the 1,200-sq-ft studio offers a pool, personal training, a squash court, and a myriad of group classes. Membership is $125 on a month-to-month basis, but they have a special deal for "young professionals" under the age of 30, where you pay in installments (and the initiation fee is waived), which works out to about $66 per month.

5. Crunch, 330 Flatbush Avenue (at Sterling Place)

Starting at $79.99/mo (with a $299 annual fee), the Crunch gym gives you a bang for your buck. The Park Slope branch offers a massive array of cardio equipment, child care, personal training, yoga and pilates classes, and towel service. Plus, the "All Club Access" lets you work out at any of Crunch gym's 24 locations.

6. Pilates With Balls, 789 Washington Avenue (between Lincoln Place and St. Johns Place)

This brand-new pilates studio offers private and group exercise. The "Miracle Ball Technique" utilizes breath and movement to "reduce stress, relieve pain, and reshape the body." A monthly unlimited class card is only $100, and single classes are $15.

7. , 348 St. Marks Avenue (at Washington Avenue)

Dare to try something new - African dance, samba, salsa, and belly dancing classes are only $15 at Shambhala's intimate studio. There are daily donation-based yoga class at this community-oriented studio, making Shambhala afforadable for all. Regular yoga classes are as low as $10. Work-study is available upon request.

8. has baseball fields, basketball courts, football and soccer fields, horseback riding, and indoor tennis courts. A 3.35-mile running and cycling path runs alongside Park Drive. Best part of all - it's all free.

9. , 82 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor (at St Marks Avenue)

Dharma Yoga writes on their website that the philosophy behind their donation-based classical yoga classes is dāna, the Buddhist practice of cultivating generosity. Dharma certainly relies on generosity to keep their doors open - every single one of their classes relies on your donations. Their new winter schedule offers five classes every day - check the complete schedule here.

10. Martial Arts USA, 759 Washington Avenue (at Sterling Place)

Earn your black belt this year! Martial Arts USA offers Brazilian jiu-jitsu, urban jiu-jitsu, aikido, and capoeira classes. Kids and adults alike are welcome. Check the schedule here - your first class is free!

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