Once upon a time, kids played in the neighborhood until either it was too dark to see or the proverbial dinner bell beckoned them inside. These days, children and teens are replacing the kickballs and jump ropes with the same boutique gym experiences it took their parents years to find. Here are some of your best bets for finding local, kid-focused fitness programs.
For sports-specific training, Ardsley’s House of Sports (1 Elm St, 914-479-5419; houseofsportsny.com) offers sessions for tots to teens in popular team sports like basketball (pictured below), baseball, soccer, and lacrosse—perfect for the child who shows a predisposition for swinging a bat or the dad who sees the words “point guard” in his 4-year-old’s future.
CrossFit Westchester (300 Hamilton Ave, White Plains 914-497-6229; crossfitwestchester.com) offers classes for kids aged 5 to 16, and CrossFit Port Chester (145 S Main St #6, Port Chester 646-379-0504; www.crossfitportchester.com) has them for kids as young as 3 and all the way up to 17. (It also offers birthday parties—because bowling parties are so ’90s.)
Ivivva is Lululemon’s answer for little-girl workout wear. But this White Plains store (Unit 3790, 125 Westchester Ave, White Plains 914-946-0507; ivivva.com) has more to offer than merchandise. At least once a week, there are in-store yoga classes—a previous Bronxville showroom had boot camp, barre, and even neighborhood runs to train for local races—making the store a mini-hub of sweat and spandex for girls who feel empowered about moving their bodies.
Dedicated yoga options, long ahead of the curve, include Best of Westchester winner Yoga Haven (62 Main St, Tuckahoe 914-337-1437; yogahaven.com), which offers a class for children ages 7 to 10 on Saturdays, along with a teen class for students 11 and older. YogaShine (7-11 Legion Dr, Valhalla 914-769-8745; yogashine.com) schedules sessions for kids of all ages, as well as family yoga (ages 3 to 103!) and classes for children with special needs.—Katrina Brewer
