Daytime Classes   

SHiNE Dance Fitness mixes current hit music with original choreography for a fun, confidence-boosting, full-body workout experience. You don't have to be "a dancer" to dance with us. Come as your authentic self, and let the music and moves melt away your stress for a little while. The class is a perfect balance of cardio and toning, following a HIIT format. You will sweat until you sparkle and have fun doing it. SHiNE is for everybody with any body! See you on the dance floor! Learn more about SHiNE Dance Fitness here.

We are offering the following sessions of SHiNE Dance Fitness this fall:

• Mondays, starting 9/15, at 9:30 am.
• Wednesdays, starting 9/17, at 7 pm.

FUNctional fitness replicates movements of everyday living, such as pushing, pulling, lunging, and rotating in all three dimensions. It builds muscular strength and stability, as well as speed, agility, endurance, power, and balance. Exercises will be done seated and standing.

 

 

We are offering the following sessions of FUNctional Fitness this fall:

• 11 Tuesdays, 9/16 - 12/16  at 11:45 am (no class 9/23, 11/4, 11/11)
• 12 Fridays, 9/19 - 12/12, at 11:45 am (no class 11/28)

Buff Bones® is a medically endorsed, full-body exercise system for bone and joint health that is terrific for anyone who wants to improve their current fitness level. It integrates Pilates, strength training, functional movement, and therapeutic exercise with bone strengthening and balance techniques. It is safe for those with osteoporosis and osteopenia. The result is a workout that makes you longer, leaner, straighter, and stronger. You will also stand taller and develop solid core strength.

We are offering Buff Bones® (Zoom) on Wednesdays, starting 9/17, at  9 am.

This is a course for any writer, experienced or not. Every week, we’ll use a variety of prompts to write in class. Prompts are not only ideas for a story or quotes from literature, they are sources of inspiration that also come from visual art, music, current events, or conversations. So, be prepared to write a lot! The idea is to unlock the stories you have inside, and kick start at least one larger project by the end of the class.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Roll out of bed – roll out your mat. Begin your day with gentle movement, aligning both body and mind with the rising sun. This practice guides you through foundational poses and sun salutations, designed to stretch, strengthen, and awaken your body. The class ends with a brief meditation, cultivating a sense of peace and clarity to carry into the rest of your day.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS A FREE CLASS FOR THE COMMUNITY, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Ballet Barre is a full-body, low-impact workout that is challenging yet accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. Fusing ballet, pilates, and yoga together, this barre class uses a combination of light weights, body weight, and stretching to achieve a strong, toned, and lengthened physique. Class begins with a warm-up followed by ballet-inspired thigh work, seat work to tone the glutes, and finally, upper body toning and abdominal work. We will stretch together after each work section to help protect the body and recover. No prior knowledge of ballet is required; all levels and abilities are welcome! 

Where walking meets strength, balance, and well-being!

FitWalk is a unique, outdoor fitness class that combines brisk walking with light strength training to boost energy, build muscle, and improve balance—all in the fresh air of nature. Using light hand weights (2–5 lbs, based on your fitness level), you’ll move through functional strength intervals designed to support better bones, joint health, and a strong core. Each session hits all the major muscle groups and includes training for stability, coordination, and posture. No two classes are exactly the same, but every FitWalk focuses on total-body wellness, community, and motivation. Along the way, you'll also build mindfulness and mental clarity, helping you feel stronger inside and out. All levels are welcome.

We are offering the following sessions of FitWalk to Wellness this fall:

• 5 Fridays, 9/19 - 10/17, at 10:30 am
• 5 Fridays, 10/24 - 11/21, at 10:30 am

Get the benefits of both SHiNE DANCE FITNESS and UPLIFT STRENGTH for a full-body workout that builds confidence and muscles! Class kicks off with the strength portion of the class using hand weights, bands, and a ball to target specific muscles while rockin' out to the most iconic music, then we transition to high cardio dance routines to current hit music using easy-to-follow choreography crafted by SHiNE.

Click here for a short note from the instructor, as well as more information regarding recommended equipment.

Take a look at some pictures & video clips from Denise Velazquez's past classes here.

Tai Chi-Qigong is a healing exercise for our body, opening blocked energy channels through proper posture, breath work, and advanced concentration within graceful movement. Through this practice the condition of cells, muscles, bones, and joints are strengthened and revitalized, improving the function of internal organs and intestines.

Tai Chi (TaeGeuk) is the principle of the cosmic energy cycle. When cosmic energy is created and eventually reaches its peak, instead of disappearing, the energy converts into a different type of energy, thereby continuing its lifecycle.

Qigong is the understanding and application of the Tai Chi principle into our lives. We can embrace the cosmic energy cycle and transform ourselves, leading a less self-centered and more altruistic, devoted life.

SHiNE Dance Fitness mixes current hit music with original choreography for a fun, confidence-boosting, full-body workout experience. You don't have to be "a dancer" to dance with us. Come as your authentic self, and let the music and moves melt away your stress for a little while. The class is a perfect balance of cardio and toning, following a HIIT format. You will sweat until you sparkle and have fun doing it. SHiNE is for everybody with any body! See you on the dance floor! Learn more about SHiNE Dance Fitness here.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

Posture shapes your comfort and movement, as well as your spinal and overall health. This transformative 6-week program rewires your brain to foster healthier posture, enhance spinal flexibility, and improve balance. With poor posture, poor movement habits, and the pull of gravity, muscles can become excessively contracted and joint spaces minimized, making it hard to stand upright. By breaking old, limiting habits, you'll unlock a stress-free body alignment, lengthen your spine, improve your energy, and build a foundation for lasting well-being. Led by Patricia Wahl, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Movement Coach. These classes are for all abilities and include lying down on the floor. Please bring a mat, a couple of towels for support under your head and/or knees.

FUNctional fitness replicates movements of everyday living, such as pushing, pulling, lunging, and rotating in all three dimensions. It builds muscular strength and stability, as well as speed, agility, endurance, power, and balance. Exercises will be done seated and standing.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

FUNctional fitness replicates movements of everyday living, such as pushing, pulling, lunging, and rotating in all three dimensions. It builds muscular strength and stability, as well as speed, agility, endurance, power, and balance. Exercises will be done seated and standing.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

Tai Chi and Qigong are movement systems based on ancient Chinese medicine and martial arts. They combine slow, fluid movements with breathing and gentle stretching to improve balance and flexibility, increase energy, and improve overall sense of peace and wellbeing. Set outdoors at the beautiful Bronxville Lake, each session invites you to breathe deeply, move slowly, and cultivate inner calm while surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Whether you're new to these ancient practices or returning to deepen your experience, this class offers a peaceful space for relaxation, rejuvenation, and self-care. All levels welcome. Dress comfortably for outdoor movement.

Buff Bones® is a medically endorsed, full-body exercise system for bone and joint health that is terrific for anyone who wants to improve their current fitness level. It integrates Pilates, strength training, functional movement, and therapeutic exercise with bone strengthening and balance techniques. It is safe for those with osteoporosis and osteopenia. The result is a workout that makes you longer, leaner, straighter, and stronger. You will also stand taller and develop solid core strength.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

As we age, all of us fall into habits of using our bodies in ways that they were not intended for. Over time, muscles become overstretched in some places and under-stretched in others, pulling our bones out of alignment and resulting in pain. In this slow yoga class, the focus will be on using targeted yoga postures (not all yoga postures are helpful) to rebalance muscle groups and encourage realignment for the prevention and reduction of pain... so maybe we won't have to pop a Tylenol to get through the day! In addition, this class includes instruction in mindfulness practice and stress reduction--important elements of every yoga session.

In this one-hour mat Pilates class, you will move through the classical and contemporary Pilates repertoire to strengthen and stretch the body. You will gain core strength to support the lower back and improve your posture and flexibility. Modifications will be made for any condition or injury.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

Are you looking to play this captivating card game that blends strategy, teamwork, and fun? In this introductory course, you will learn basic rules, terminology, scoring, and essential strategies to build your confidence and improve your play. After an overview of the game in the first class, you will put your newfound knowledge to practice with hands-on play. Come meet new people and have a great time.

Where walking meets strength, balance, and well-being!

FitWalk is a unique, outdoor fitness class that combines brisk walking with light strength training to boost energy, build muscle, and improve balance—all in the fresh air of nature. Using light hand weights (2–5 lbs, based on your fitness level), you’ll move through functional strength intervals designed to support better bones, joint health, and a strong core. Each session hits all the major muscle groups and includes training for stability, coordination, and posture. No two classes are exactly the same—but every FitWalk focuses on total-body wellness, community, and motivation. Along the way, you'll also build mindfulness and mental clarity, helping you feel stronger inside and out. All levels are welcome.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

 

Where walking meets strength, balance, and well-being!

FitWalk is a unique, outdoor fitness class that combines brisk walking with light strength training to boost energy, build muscle, and improve balance—all in the fresh air of nature. Using light hand weights (2–5 lbs, based on your fitness level), you’ll move through functional strength intervals designed to support better bones, joint health, and a strong core. Each session hits all the major muscle groups and includes training for stability, coordination, and posture. No two classes are exactly the same—but every FitWalk focuses on total-body wellness, community, and motivation. Along the way, you'll also build mindfulness and mental clarity, helping you feel stronger inside and out. All levels are welcome.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

 

In this introduction to Mah Jongg, students will learn the basics of this fun and social game. We will discuss the rules and object of the game, learn tiles/symbols and cards of hands (40/50 different combinations), illustrate examples of winning hands and hands-on practice, and systematically break down the multi-layered components of the game into easily understood segments.

Kripalu Yoga is a gentle yoga practice that enriches the body, mind, and spirit through poses and meditation.  This class will teach you how to move your body at your own pace in order to improve balance, flexibility, and breathing; to relieve tension and stress; and to cultivate concentration and confidence in order to achieve a peaceful mind.  You will learn how to tune in to your own body in order to make yoga work best for you.

⇒You can try this class out for free at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

 

Curious about watercolor but not sure where to start? This two-session class is the perfect introduction—or refresher—for anyone looking to build confidence with this versatile medium. You'll explore essential techniques including wet-on-wet, dry brush, color mixing, and brush handling. Whether you're preparing for a longer watercolor course, such as Watercolor: Next Level Techniques for Creative Expression, or just want to dip your brush in, this workshop will give you the skills to get started.

This class will help writers put pen to paper and find their voice and story. The six words will help shape your narrative, no matter how long or short. Based on your six words, you will have the start of a flash-fiction piece, a short story, a piece of poetry, or the start of a memoir. Through the course of the class, you will work with your original six words to help develop the story’s statement, including plot, setting, characters, and more. In the end, you will have a writing project you can be proud of and can add to as you continue the story's journey.

Intended for beginners, this class will guide students through the fundamentals of piano, from reading music to playing engaging melodies and simple chords with proper technique and fingerings. With personalized attention and the encouragement of a small group, students will build confidence while developing essential skills.

Ready to go from the couch to crossing the finish line? Whether you're a brand-new runner or returning after a break, this class will guide you every step of the way toward running a 5K or achieving whatever running goal you may have. We’ll cover the basics of pace, stride, form, cadence, and heart rate, along with building endurance and setting realistic goals. You’ll learn how to layer clothing for different weather, choose the right shoes and gear, and follow a beginner-friendly training plan that balances challenge and recovery. We’ll also talk about the mental side of running: staying motivated, having fun, and even dealing with a little pain along the way. Students will be running on low-traffic roads in the Bronxville area. This class is designed to end just in time for students to participate in a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. (Please note, races are not included in the fee for the class.) All students should come to class with a goal in mind, whether it is a 5K or another personal achievement. 

Colored pencil painting combines the control of drawing with the richness of painting. You’ll learn how to use colored pencils along with a brush and solvent to blend colors, build layers, and create rich, textured artwork. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, this class welcomes all skill levels. If you're not confident in your drawing skills, the instructor will provide a pre-drawn image to help you get started.

Built by the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, Kykuit is the pre-eminent domestic landmark in the Hudson Valley. Visitors will enjoy the elegant rooms and the expansive, beautifully kept gardens while listening to stories of the four generations of Rockefellers who called this hilltop paradise their home. Great for first-time visitors, this walking tour will include the main floor of the house, art galleries, the Inner Garden, and the West Terrace.

Join Ginny, art museum docent, as she curates a two-hour tour of the best art exhibitions featured at the international Chelsea galleries. While touring, Ginny will provide insight on historical context, the art techniques used, and the importance to the current art market. Past tours looked at works by Picasso, Frank Stella, Mark Bradford, and Richard Avedon.

Using Chair Yoga as the foundation of this class, the focus will be to develop and increase balancing skills critical for staying strong and safe.  Balancing, whether you’re walking, running, jumping, and especially while standing, requires muscle strength and strong bones.  Over time muscles and bones can weaken, causing us to lose strength, and balancing becomes more of a challenge.  BUT…strong muscles and bones are not the only factors that keep us from getting wobbly.  The sensory systems have a huge impact on balance.  The receptors that enable touch and feel, the vestibular system (the complex inner ear workings), and vision have a profound impact, playing havoc with the ability to balance.  Using a series of exercises that integrate both strength and agility with the sensory systems, done on and off the chair, you will align your bones and joints.  Not only will you gain strength and balance more easily, but you will also feel more balanced. 

"New Rochelle is not only one of the oldest communities in Westchester, it was the only community in Colonial America that maintained the French customs and language well into the 18th century. The city’s ever-growing downtown has amazing reminders of each era, beginning with French Huguenots in the early 1700s, through its years as a resort destination, the Gilded Age, the banner decade of the 1920s, and up to present day. Master works of architects John Russell Pope (Jefferson Memorial), Henry Bacon (Lincoln Memorial), and Richard Upjohn (Trinity Church) are part of this 90-minute walking tour, as well as numerous and superb examples of Art Deco design. Participants will see the birthplace of Mighty Mouse, the former stomping grounds of artist Norman Rockwell and Yankee great Lou Gehrig, the first suburban Bloomingdales, and much more! 

As a follow-up to Serdar Arat’s “Art Across Two Worlds” lecture (10/15), participants and any other interested students are invited to visit his studio in Port Chester, NY. Arrival, departure, and stay times are completely flexible and up to the participants between the hours of 2-5 PM. This is an open house with no scheduled programming, and Serdar will show guests his studio, talk about his pieces, and answer questions. Light refreshments will be served.

⇒This instructor will also be offering a free class at our Open House. To view and register for our Open House classes, click here.

Watercolor is a luminous and expressive medium that invites creativity and exploration. In this course, students will continue to develop foundational watercolor techniques—including wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, color mixing, and composition—while adding a new dimension: drawing. Basic drawing concepts will be introduced and practiced to help students create more realistic and refined watercolor paintings. With guided instruction and hands-on exercises, you'll gain the confidence and skills to bring your artistic vision to life. Let your imagination flourish as you blend drawing and watercolor into vibrant, dynamic works of art.

While all artistic levels are welcome, this course will assume some familiarity with watercolor basics such as wet-on-wet, dry brush techniques, color mixing, and brushwork, as these will not be the primary focus of instruction. If you’re new to watercolor, we recommend starting with Watercolor Foundations: A Two-Week Workshop, where these foundational skills are taught.

There is so much to see in this compact neighborhood which is sandwiched in between the Upper West Side and Harlem. Along our route are the neighborhood's famous parks (Morningside, Sakura, and Riverside), magnificent churches (St. John the Divine and Riverside), and beautiful prewar apartment buildings. And, of course, we see the many academic institutions, including Columbia and Barnard, which give the neighborhood its nickname of NYC's Academic Acropolis. We end at Ulysses S. Grant's Tomb, the largest tomb by volume in the U.S.

 

Charming pre-Civil War townhomes, hidden parks, a public library within a 19th-century courthouse: these are just some of the sites seen on this walking tour of the historical West Village. Hear the stories of how this neighborhood developed, the importance of the Stonewall Inn in LGBTQ history, where Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney founded the Whitney Museum of American Art, and much more.

This class is designed for players who have a basic understanding of the game and are eager to enhance their skills in a supportive and engaging environment. Offering a blend of instruction and practice, participants can refine their strategies, learn advanced techniques, and receive real-time feedback from an experienced instructor. Students should have taken Beginner Canasta or have equivalent experience.

Building on their knowledge of the game, students will review the Mah Jongg basics and the current card of hands. We will learn more defensive, strategic steps towards winning the game and/or playing against challenging players, as well as quicker decision-making in ways of choosing hands (which is the most challenging and difficult for most players) and betting options.

Are your hip joints increasingly painful or feel stiff as you age? If stretching and strengthening exercises haven't improved your discomfort, this is the series for you. Led by Patricia Wahl, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Movement Coach, you'll discover practical movement skills to enhance your hip and knee joint health. Through lessons that use natural movement patterns of the body, you'll explore and improve your habits, reduce chronic tension and pain, and learn to minimize effort on your hips and knees, all while preserving joint integrity.

These classes are for all abilities and include lying down on the floor. Please bring a mat, a couple of towels for support under your head and/or knees.

 

Whether you already keep a journal or are looking to start one, imagine taking your journaling to the next level. In this class, we will take the ritual and art of journaling and create a beautiful treasure of your life’s journey. By using different prompts, objects, and memories, you will create a journal that not only tells your story in words, but in objects also. Give life to your special objects to help bring your story to life. A perfect project to have for years to come.

Tai Chi and Qigong are movement systems based on ancient Chinese medicine and martial arts. They combine slow, fluid movements with breathing and gentle stretching to improve balance and flexibility, increase energy, and improve overall sense of peace and wellbeing. Each session invites you to breathe deeply, move slowly, and cultivate inner calm. Whether you're new to these ancient practices or returning to deepen your experience, this class offers a peaceful space for relaxation, rejuvenation, and self-care. All levels welcome. Dress comfortably for outdoor movement.

See what birds over-winter here on the Bronx River. In addition to the locals that stay all year, there are several species that are here only during the winter. You may also see some of the “wintering ducks,” including the hooded merganser, the American black duck, and the green-winged teal duck.

See Lyndhurst mansion transformed into an extravagant wonderland of holiday splendor. Described as one of the “Ten Best Historic Holiday Tours” by USA Today, Lyndhurst goes all-out during the holiday season, filling the mansion with elaborate tableaus of décor, which change every year. Dozens of Christmas trees are expertly decorated and designed to complement the elegant period furnishings within the rooms of the house. During this month only, curators bring out rarely-seen items that belonged to Lyndhurst’s former owners. This is a once-a-year opportunity to see many of the glittering possessions that are usually tucked away in the archives. This one-hour tour visits the two main floors of the mansion.

This 110-year-old train terminal welcomes hundreds of thousands people daily. But how many stop to take in this world-class landmark? This 2-hour walking tour will give you reason to stop and admire this magnificent Beaux Arts building like never before.

This exploration of the Grand Central Terminal will include these, and more:

• A brief history of the Vanderbilt family behind the NY Central Railroad and the two Grand Centrals that came before the 1913 Terminal.
• A quick primer on what “Beaux Arts” architecture is and how to identify it.
• Vintage photos of the terminal’s construction, sculptures, and inaccessible areas.
• The incredible story of how the Terminal escaped the wrecking ball.
• The colossal mistake of the Terminal’s Grand Concourse ceiling.
• A trip to the Terminal’s hidden, landmarked cocktail bar that was once a private office.
• A peek into the window catwalks.
• An opportunity to tell secrets across the elliptical Guastavino “Whispering Gallery.”

After the tour, get some holiday shopping done at the annual Grand Central Holiday Market!

This 110-year-old train terminal welcomes hundreds of thousands people daily. But how many stop to take in this world-class landmark? This 2-hour walking tour will give you reason to stop and admire this magnificent Beaux Arts building like never before.

This exploration of the Grand Central Terminal will include these, and more:

• A brief history of the Vanderbilt family behind the NY Central Railroad and the two Grand Centrals that came before the 1913 Terminal.
• A quick primer on what “Beaux Arts” architecture is and how to identify it.
• Vintage photos of the terminal’s construction, sculptures, and inaccessible areas.
• The incredible story of how the Terminal escaped the wrecking ball.
• The colossal mistake of the Terminal’s Grand Concourse ceiling.
• A trip to the Terminal’s hidden, landmarked cocktail bar that was once a private office.
• A peek into the window catwalks.
• An opportunity to tell secrets across the elliptical Guastavino “Whispering Gallery.”

After the tour, get some holiday shopping done at the annual Grand Central Holiday Market!