Fitness Challenge: Day 61

The appeal of a gorgeous pool is often lost on me, since I can't swim. But I like the idea of taking an aqua fitness class since it forces me into a pool.

So a filthy pool is not for me.

Luckily, a private school The Berkeley Carroll school, in my Park Slope neighborhood, opens its doors to its Brooklyn neighbors. And the pool is a beauty.

The four-lane 25-yard pool is mainly for students, of course, but during off-hours there are classes for adults and neighborhood kids.

The enthusiastic aquatics fitness instructor led is through a series of difficult exercises, though it is hard to judge how much you are sweating when you are already wet.

The facilities include very clean, modern locker rooms. Could be an incentive to learn to swim

Fitness Challenge: Day 60

Although I am no longer a member of New York Sports Clubs, I have a lot of free passes given to while I was one.

I checked out the New York Sports Clubs at 91st St and 3rd Ave, which has a large pool and an atrium where spin classes are held.

I have never liked the cave-like atmosphere at most spin classes, which are held in dark, interior rooms with the lights turned off. The heat generated by all the stationery bikes is overwhelming enough; why do we need to be in a dark, crowded room as well.

At this gym, we basked in the sunshine while sweating away. The music was thumping, my heart was pumping, but I didn't have that claustrophobic feel I usually have in spin.

Fitness Challenge: Day 59

My daughter took her lifeguard training at the McBurney YMCA , near Union Square. The huge pool has a viewing area where parents hang out while their kids take swim lessons.

The bare bones gym has plenty of space to exercise, though it is not the most inspiring. The locker rooms are typical Y metal lockers, with adequate showers. But when I came out of the shower, my towel and clothes had been knocked to the wet floor and a strange woman was staring at me.

On the other hand, I had a decent work out.

Fitness Challenge: Day 58

Basement gyms are often cramped, depressing places, but Harbor Fitness in Park Slope, Brooklyn, has high ceilings and enough shiny surfaces that you forget you are below grade.

The huge gym, at the edge of Park Slope, has 2 other Brooklyn locations and all 3 are open 24 hours a day during the week. I don't know how crowded the gym gets at 3am on a Tuesday, but even on a Sunday morning, usual prime time, the gym felt empty.

The Ultimate Conditioning class was another story. Women were lined up before the class, making sure to get a prime spot in the studio.

I lurked in the back, since I didn't know what to expect. What I got was a tough workout, with weights, that touched on every body part.

The gym has an interesting mix of unusual classes, form a jump rope class to Grid Iron Spin and Grid Iron workout, both taught by a NY Sharks Women’s Professional Football Player.

Didn't even know NY had professional women's football

Fitness Challenge: Day 57

For years, my 3 daughters took dance classes all over Park Slope. We lived on Union Street for 10 years, and there were 2 dance studios, one on our block, one another block away (which has since moved). We spent a lot of money on classes.

My girls have outgrown the dance studios, but I have not given them up. Both offer adult classes that draw many neighborhood residents. A lot I know from the years of schlepping children.

As far as gyms go, these are pretty bare bones. A hardwood floor, mats, a few hand weights and steps. If you need a towel, you bring your own.

Spoke the Hub has a few adult classes that offer great ways to stay fit: dance, yoga, Macho Girls Super (Fun) Workout and Step ‘n Scupt. The last 2 are intense a 90 minute workouts.

You have to commit to a series of classes, but it is pretty reasonable, as long as you go to the class you paid for.

Baseball v Football, NYC Style

Baseball is back in NYC, but football hasn’t gone away.

The NFL Shop at Draft is open in midtown Manhattan through April 30, and on Thursday, April 12, the pop-up store hosts a Ladies Shopping Night.

This is the NFL with manicures and designer bags, the way football is meant to be. You can also get official NFL gear and clothes from Nike and Under Armour.

The store is at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, between 41st and 42nd Streets.

You can meet NFL Players and Fashion Stylist Renee Reese, buy the latest Cuce Shoes, and get a free manicure and massage with a $50 purchase.

Designer bags from Anastasio Moda will be 25% off Thursday only. Get one to carry to Citi Field, where the NY Mets are currently in first place.

Follow @officialnflshop to get more information on the pop-up shop.

Fitness Challenge: Day 56

One reason people join gyms is that once they commit to paying the money, they feel obligated to use the gym and get their money's worth. At least that's the theory.

In much the same way, if you join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) you commit to a season of produce. So you eat healthier, even if you don't become a vegetarian. Or those gorgeous organic vegetables wither away in your fridge.

Triomph Fitness may be the only gym that has its own CSA, open to anyone who wants 22 weeks of organic produce.

It's a really cool synergy; you have to go to the gym weekly, to get your box of produce; while you are there, you can take a class or work out.

The gym's cafe will use the fruits and vegetables, so even if you don't buy a share, you can support a local farm.