Ruben B. Hughes 
If the phrase ‘new year, new me’ is deeper than an Instagram caption to you, then start 2022 on the right foot with the most cutting-edge health events NYC has to offer.
This holiday weekend there are plenty of wellness activities taking place in person and online and inspiring a sense of adventure and renewal.
For those who want to jump into 2022 while braving the elements, you can participate in a timeless classic polar dive with a new twist, hit the ice for a skating session with a view, or even carve it out on the slopes for just one. ski day in the nearby mountains.
As for New Yorkers who prefer to calmly refocus on what to expect, plenty of spa treatments are available, not to mention virtual workouts, races, and classes that promote a healthier lifestyle.
So what are you waiting for? This New Year, decide to have fun, make some friends, and try something different.
Dive on Coney Island
Returning for its 119th performance, Coney Island’s beloved Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge picks up the currents of Brooklyn as New Yorkers dive into 2022. Unlike previous years, this race in the waves will be more like a free swim from 11 am to 2 pm rather than a full load of simultaneous bathers. Registration desks for the free (and freezing) swim can be found at the intersection of the boardwalk and Stillwell Avenue – organizers recommend showing up no later than noon. Want to get your blood flowing before you dive into New York’s Lower Bay? The is a group bike ride to Coney Island departing at 10 a.m. on January 1 from the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space in the East Village (155 Loisaida Ave .; 646-340-8341).
Coney Island Walk to Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn; 917-533-3568, PolarBearClub.org
Carve it up on the slopes
For aficionados of the city’s Alps, what better way to start the new year than hitting the slopes? The OvRride ski and snowboard reservation service offers day trips all weekend to Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort – the highest station in the Catskills – and the 46 trails at Mountain Creek Resort in Township of Vernon, New Jersey. About $ 200 (prices vary by mountain range) will cover bus costs, ski or snowboard rentals, and in some cases, lessons at Mountain Creek. For those new to Belleayre travel, rest assured, there are also four lodges if you prefer to enjoy everything from the comfort of the interior.
Early in the morning, buses depart from Atlantic and Fourth Avenues in Brooklyn, the northwest corner across from Union Square Park, and various locations in Midtown for each trip. For more details, go to OvRride.com
Skate as you wish inside and out
Excited to see the Islanders return from their COVID hiatus? Take a day to go to the ice rink yourself this weekend. From dawn to dusk, many free beaches can be booked online at the city’s most iconic ice rinks: rockefeller center, Bryant Park, Wollman ice rink in Central Park, and Brookfield Place overlooking Lady Liberty in the Financial District.
Zone 53, an adventure park in Williamsburg at 616 Scholes St., also offers roller skating all day this weekend at its indoor site. Don’t worry if you are a beginner they have walkers too. Open from 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays, its $ 49 weekend ticket offers you three hours of roller skating as well as access to tree climbing and climbing courses. , laser mazes and an arcade.
Hike the Bronx’s Eco-Friendly Gem
For those who have vowed to see more of New York City in 2022, what better way to start than a hike through Northwest Bronx’s sprawling Van Cortlandt Park, off 242nd Street. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and its Urban Park Rangers are offering a free New Year’s Day hike in and around the park’s Putnam Trail at 11 a.m. this Saturday. Scheduled to last 90 minutes in upscale neighborhoods, the Parks Department advises walkers to dress warmly and come with the proper footwear as you explore New York’s “hidden gem”. While you are at it, you can also check the reasons for the Van Cortlandt House-Museum (open on Sunday). The house from 1748 is the oldest in the district.
Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Bronx; 718-548-0912, NYCgovParks.org
Take part in a virtual 5K with the New York Road Runners
Talk about a good start in 2022. New York road runners start the new year with a virtual 5K that virtually anyone with enough enthusiasm can participate in. With free general admission online at NYRR.org, the non-location specific race can be completed anytime from Saturday January 1 through Sunday January 9 as part of the runners’ #ResolveToRun – a social media initiative in which participants share the ways they are committed to staying healthy in the New Years. Race results for the expected thousands of runners will be put online January 13.
Fill up on steam at the William Vale Winter Spa
The state of the world has you ready to blow a joint? Maybe it’s time to sweat your frustrations out in one of the most relaxing saunas in town. The William Vale – a posh hotel on Greenpoint’s waterfront – has opened a series of outdoor red cedar saunas that can be enjoyed by couples, friends, and singles. Nicknamed the “Winter Spa”, the Vale promises “relaxed muscles [and] deeper sleep â€after a visit. Although reserved for this weekend, the hot tubs are also accessible to the spa until it closes in March. Open from 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. on weekends, online reservations are recommended as limited appointments will be accepted; guests should be vaccinated.
The William Vale Hotel, 111 N. 12th St., fourth floor, Brooklyn; 718-631-8400, TheWilliamVale.com/winter-spa
Shake 2021 with Taylor Swift and a Bike Ride
Do you feel (20) 22? Peloton now offers special classes that play Taylor Swift’s album “Red (Taylor’s Version)†at 10, 20 and 30 minute intervals at a time. Beyond cycling, users can also sweat their grief and angst in dedicated sessions. tread, strength, stretching and yoga through the Peloton app. If you prefer to sweat in person – or to a different tune – the BYKlyn Cycling Room at Boerum Hill accommodates 16 people courses open on Saturday and Sunday in the early afternoon. Trial offers of two in-person courses cost $ 40; masks are compulsory.
314 Dean Street, Brooklyn; 347-799-1349, BYKlyn.com
Say goodbye to sugar once and for all
If you’ve been falling for candy all through the holiday season, take that as a sign from above to steer clear of sugar. Dietitian Sue Mah is offering a free master class at any time which guides users on how to eliminate sugar from their daily life for 14 days. Specifically, Mah will explain an alternative, meal-by-meal approach to healthy eating, how to make healthy mocktails, and the importance of protein for breakfast. She also emphasizes the importance of an “80/20” diet – which allows dieters to occasionally slack off their diet – while also providing tips for avoiding “weekend sabotage.” . For more information, visit Grokker.com; 408-236-7582.
